"text","book","chapter" "THE BOY WHO LIVED Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "with such nonsense. Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "called Grunnings, which made drills. He was a big, beefy man with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache. Mrs.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbors. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dursleys had a small son called Dudley and in their opinion there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was no finer boy anywhere. The Dursleys had everything they wanted,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "somebody would discover it. They didn't think they could bear it if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "anyone found out about the Potters. Mrs. Potter was Mrs. Dursley's sister,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "but they hadn't met for several years; in fact, Mrs. Dursley pretended","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "she didn't have a sister, because her sister and her good-for-nothing husband","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "were as unDursleyish as it was possible to be. The Dursleys shuddered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to think what the neighbors would say if the Potters arrived in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the street. The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a small son,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "too, but they had never even seen him. This boy was another","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "good reason for keeping the Potters away; they didn't want Dudley mixing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "with a child like that. When Mr. and Mrs. Dursley woke","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "up on the dull, gray Tuesday our story starts, there was nothing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "about the cloudy sky outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "would soon be happening all over the country. Mr. Dursley hummed as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he picked out his most boring tie for work, and Mrs. Dursley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "gossiped away happily as she wrestled a screaming Dudley into his high","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "chair. None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the window. At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "briefcase, pecked Mrs. Dursley on the cheek, and tried to kiss Dudley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "good-bye but missed, because Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "his cereal at the walls. `Little tyke,` chortled Mr. Dursley as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "left the house. He got into his car and backed out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "number four's drive. It was on the corner of the street","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar -- a cat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "reading a map. For a second, Mr. Dursley didn't realize what he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "had seen -- then he jerked his head around to look again.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "There was a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "but there wasn't a map in sight. What could he have been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "thinking of? It must have been a trick of the light. Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dursley blinked and stared at the cat. It stared back. As Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dursley drove around the corner and up the road, he watched the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "cat in his mirror. It was now reading the sign that said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Privet Drive -- no, looking at the sign; cats couldn't read maps","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "or signs. Mr. Dursley gave himself a little shake and put the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "cat out of his mind. As he drove toward town he thought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "of nothing except a large order of drills he was hoping to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "get that day. But on the edge of town, drills were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "driven out of his mind by something else. As he sat in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the usual morning traffic jam, he couldn't help noticing that there seemed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to be a lot of strangely dressed people about. People in cloaks.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Mr. Dursley couldn't bear people who dressed in funny clothes -- the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "getups you saw on young people! He supposed this was some stupid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "new fashion. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "eyes fell on a huddle of these weirdos standing quite close by.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "They were whispering excitedly together. Mr. Dursley was enraged to see that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a couple of them weren't young at all; why, that man had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to be older than he was, and wearing an emerald-green cloak! The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "nerve of him! But then it struck Mr. Dursley that this was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "probably some silly stunt -- these people were obviously collecting for something...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "yes, that would be it. The traffic moved on and a few","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "minutes later, Mr. Dursley arrived in the Grunnings parking lot, his mind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "back on drills. Mr. Dursley always sat with his back to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the window in his office on the ninth floor. If he hadn't,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he might have found it harder to concentrate on drills that morning.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "He didn't see the owls swoop ing past in broad daylight, though","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "people down in the street did; they pointed and gazed open- mouthed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "as owl after owl sped overhead. Most of them had never seen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "an owl even at nighttime. Mr. Dursley, however, had a perfectly normal,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "owl-free morning. He yelled at five different people. He made several important","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "telephone calls and shouted a bit more. He was in a very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "good mood until lunchtime, when he thought he'd stretch his legs and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "walk across the road to buy himself a bun from the bakery.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " He'd forgotten all about the people in cloaks until he passed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a group of them next to the baker's. He eyed them angrily","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "as he passed. He didn't know why, but they made him uneasy.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "This bunch were whispering excitedly, too, and he couldn't see a single","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "collecting tin. It was on his way back past them, clutching a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "large doughnut in a bag, that he caught a few words of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "what they were saying. `The Potters, that's right, that's what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "I heard yes, their son, Harry` Mr. Dursley stopped dead. Fear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "flooded him. He looked back at the whisperers as if he wanted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to say something to them, but thought better of it. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "dashed back across the road, hurried up to his office, snapped at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "his secretary not to disturb him, seized his telephone, and had almost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "finished dialing his home number when he changed his mind. He put","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the receiver back down and stroked his mustache, thinking... no, he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "being stupid. Potter wasn't such an unusual name. He was sure there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "were lots of people called Potter who had a son called Harry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Come to think of it, he wasn't even sure his nephew was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "called Harry. He'd never even seen the boy. It might have been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Harvey. Or Harold. There was no point in worrying Mrs. Dursley; she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "always got so upset at any mention of her sister. He didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "blame her -- if he'd had a sister like that... but all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the same, those people in cloaks... He found it a lot","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "harder to concentrate on drills that afternoon and when he left the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "building at five o'clock, he was still so worried that he walked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "straight into someone just outside the door. `Sorry,` he grunted, as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the tiny old man stumbled and almost fell. It was a few","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "seconds before Mr. Dursley realized that the man was wearing a violet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "cloak. He didn't seem at all upset at being almost knocked to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the ground. On the contrary, his face split into a wide smile","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "and he said in a squeaky voice that made passersby stare, `Don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "be sorry, my dear sir, for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "celebrating, this happy, happy day!` And the old man hugged Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dursley around the middle and walked off. Mr. Dursley stood rooted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to the spot. He had been hugged by a complete stranger. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "also thought he had been called a Muggle, whatever that was. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was rattled. He hurried to his car and set off for home,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "hoping he was imagining things, which he had never hoped before, because","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he didn't approve of imagination. As he pulled into the driveway","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "of number four, the first thing he saw -- and it didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "improve his mood -- was the tabby cat he'd spotted that morning.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "It was now sitting on his garden wall. He was sure it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was the same one; it had the same markings around its eyes.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " `Shoo!` said Mr. Dursley loudly. The cat didn't move. It just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "gave him a stern look. Was this normal cat behavior? Mr. Dursley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "wondered. Trying to pull himself together, he let himself into the house.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "He was still determined not to mention anything to his wife. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Mrs. Dursley had had a nice, normal day. She told him over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "dinner all about Mrs. Next Door's problems with her daughter and how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dudley had learned a new word (`Won't!`). Mr. Dursley tried to act","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "normally. When Dudley had been put to bed, he went into the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "living room in time to catch the last report on the evening","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "news: `And finally, bird-watchers everywhere have reported that the nation's owls","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "have been behaving very unusually today. Although owls normally hunt at night","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "and are hardly ever seen in daylight, there have been hundreds of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "sightings of these birds flying in every direction since sunrise. Experts are","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "unable to explain why the owls have suddenly changed their sleeping pattern.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "The newscaster allowed himself a grin. `Most mysterious. And now, over to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Jim McGuffin with the weather. Going to be any more showers of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "owls tonight, Jim?` `Well, Ted,` said the weatherman, `I don't know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "about that, but it's not only the owls that have been acting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "oddly today. Viewers as far apart as Kent, Yorkshire, and Dundee have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "been phoning in to tell me that instead of the rain I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "promised yesterday, they've had a downpour of shooting stars! Perhaps people have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "been celebrating Bonfire Night early -- it's not until next week, folks!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "But I can promise a wet night tonight.` Mr. Dursley sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "frozen in his armchair. Shooting stars all over Britain? Owls flying by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "daylight? Mysterious people in cloaks all over the place? And a whisper,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a whisper about the Potters... Mrs. Dursley came into the living","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "room carrying two cups of tea. It was no good. He'd have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to say something to her. He cleared his throat nervously. `Er --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Petunia, dear -- you haven't heard from your sister lately, have you?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " As he had expected, Mrs. Dursley looked shocked and angry. After","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "all, they normally pretended she didn't have a sister. `No,` she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "said sharply. `Why?` `Funny stuff on the news,` Mr. Dursley mumbled.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "`Owls... shooting stars... and there were a lot of funny-looking people in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "town today...` `So?` snapped Mrs. Dursley. `Well, I just thought...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "maybe... it was something to do with... you know... her crowd.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Mrs. Dursley sipped her tea through pursed lips. Mr. Dursley wondered whether","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he dared tell her he'd heard the name `Potter.` He decided he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "didn't dare. Instead he said, as casually as he could, `Their son","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "-- he'd be about Dudley's age now, wouldn't he?` `I suppose","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "so,` said Mrs. Dursley stiffly. `What's his name again? Howard, isn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "it?` `Harry. Nasty, common name, if you ask me.` `Oh,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "yes,` said Mr. Dursley, his heart sinking horribly. `Yes, I quite agree.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " He didn't say another word on the subject as they went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "upstairs to bed. While Mrs. Dursley was in the bathroom, Mr. Dursley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "crept to the bedroom window and peered down into the front garden.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "The cat was still there. It was staring down Privet Drive as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "though it were waiting for something. Was he imagining things? Could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "all this have anything to do with the Potters? If it did...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "if it got out that they were related to a pair of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "-- well, he didn't think he could bear it. The Dursleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "got into bed. Mrs. Dursley fell asleep quickly but Mr. Dursley lay","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "awake, turning it all over in his mind. His last, comforting thought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "before he fell asleep was that even if the Potters were involved,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "there was no reason for them to come near him and Mrs.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dursley. The Potters knew very well what he and Petunia thought about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "them and their kind.... He couldn't see how he and Petunia could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "get mixed up in anything that might be going on -- he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "yawned and turned over -- it couldn't affect them.... How very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "wrong he was. Mr. Dursley might have been drifting into an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "uneasy sleep, but the cat on the wall outside was showing no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "sign of sleepiness. It was sitting as still as a statue, its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "eyes fixed unblinkingly on the far corner of Privet Drive. It didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "so much as quiver when a car door slammed on the next","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "street, nor when two owls swooped overhead. In fact, it was nearly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "midnight before the cat moved at all. A man appeared on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the corner the cat had been watching, appeared so suddenly and silently","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "you'd have thought he'd just popped out of the ground. The cat's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "tail twitched and its eyes narrowed. Nothing like this man had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "ever been seen on Privet Drive. He was tall, thin, and very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "broken at least twice. This man's name was Albus Dumbledore. Albus","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dumbledore didn't seem to realize that he had just arrived in a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "street where everything from his name to his boots was unwelcome. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was busy rummaging in his cloak, looking for something. But he did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "seem to realize he was being watched, because he looked up suddenly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "at the cat, which was still staring at him from the other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "end of the street. For some reason, the sight of the cat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "seemed to amuse him. He chuckled and muttered, `I should have known.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " He found what he was looking for in his inside pocket.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter. He flicked it open,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "held it up in the air, and clicked it. The nearest street","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "lamp went out with a little pop. He clicked it again --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the next lamp flickered into darkness. Twelve times he clicked the Put-Outer,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "until the only lights left on the whole street were two tiny","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "pinpricks in the distance, which were the eyes of the cat watching","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "him. If anyone looked out of their window now, even beady-eyed Mrs.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dursley, they wouldn't be able to see anything that was happening down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "on the pavement. Dumbledore slipped the Put-Outer back inside his cloak and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "set off down the street toward number four, where he sat down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "on the wall next to the cat. He didn't look at it,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "but after a moment he spoke to it. `Fancy seeing you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "here, Professor McGonagall.` He turned to smile at the tabby, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "it had gone. Instead he was smiling at a rather severe-looking woman","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "who was wearing square glasses exactly the shape of the markings the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "cat had had around its eyes. She, too, was wearing a cloak,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "an emerald one. Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "She looked distinctly ruffled. `How did you know it was me?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "she asked. `My dear Professor, I 've never seen a cat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "sit so stiffly.` `You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a brick wall all day,` said Professor McGonagall. `All day? When","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "you could have been celebrating? I must have passed a dozen feasts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "and parties on my way here.` Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "`Oh yes, everyone's celebrating, all right,` she said impatiently. `You'd think they'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "be a bit more careful, but no -- even the Muggles have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "noticed something's going on. It was on their news.` She jerked her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "head back at the Dursleys' dark living-room window. `I heard it. Flocks","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "of owls... shooting stars.... Well, they're not completely stupid. They were bound","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to notice something. Shooting stars down in Kent -- I'll bet that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was Dedalus Diggle. He never had much sense.` `You can't blame","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "them,` said Dumbledore gently. `We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "years.` `I know that,` said Professor McGonagall irritably. `But that's no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "reason to lose our heads. People are being downright careless, out on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the streets in broad daylight, not even dressed in Muggle clothes, swapping","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "rumors.` She threw a sharp, sideways glance at Dumbledore here, as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "though hoping he was going to tell her something, but he didn't,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "so she went on. `A fine thing it would be if, on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the very day YouKnow-Who seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "found out about us all. I suppose he really has gone, Dumbledore?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " `It certainly seems so,` said Dumbledore. `We have much to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "thankful for. Would you care for a lemon drop?` `A what?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " `A lemon drop. They're a kind of Muggle sweet I'm rather","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "fond of` `No, thank you,` said Professor McGonagall coldly, as though","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "she didn't think this was the moment for lemon drops. `As I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "say, even if You-Know-Who has gone -` `My dear Professor, surely","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? All","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "this 'You- Know-Who' nonsense -- for eleven years I have been trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort.` Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "McGonagall flinched, but Dumbledore, who was unsticking two lemon drops, seemed not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to notice. `It all gets so confusing if we keep saying 'You-Know-Who.'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemort's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "name. `I know you haven 't, said Professor McGonagall, sounding half","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "exasperated, half admiring. `But you're different. Everyone knows you're the only one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "You-Know- oh, all right, Voldemort, was frightened of.` `You flatter me,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "said Dumbledore calmly. `Voldemort had powers I will never have.` `Only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "because you're too -- well -- noble to use them.` `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "me she liked my new earmuffs.` Professor McGonagall shot a sharp","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "look at Dumbledore and said, `The owls are nothing next to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "rumors that are flying around. You know what everyone's saying? About why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he's disappeared? About what finally stopped him?` It seemed that Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "McGonagall had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "real reason she had been waiting on a cold, hard wall all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "day, for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was plain that whatever `everyone` was saying, she was not going to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true. Dumbledore, however, was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "choosing another lemon drop and did not answer. `What they're saying,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "she pressed on, `is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumor is that Lily","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "and James Potter are -- are -- that they're -- dead. `","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " Dumbledore bowed his head. Professor McGonagall gasped. `Lily and James...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "I can't believe it... I didn't want to believe it... Oh, Albus...`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. `I know...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "I know...` he said heavily. Professor McGonagall's voice trembled as she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "went on. `That's not all. They're saying he tried to kill the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Potter's son, Harry. But -- he couldn't. He couldn't kill that little","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "boy. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying that when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke -- and that's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "why he's gone. Dumbledore nodded glumly. `It's -- it's true?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "faltered Professor McGonagall. `After all he's done... all the people he's killed...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he couldn't kill a little boy? It's just astounding... of all the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "things to stop him... but how in the name of heaven did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Harry survive?` `We can only guess,` said Dumbledore. `We may never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "know.` Professor McGonagall pulled out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "her eyes beneath her spectacles. Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "little planets were moving around the edge. It must have made sense","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "to Dumbledore, though, because he put it back in his pocket and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "said, `Hagrid's late. I suppose it was he who told you I'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "be here, by the way?` `Yes,` said Professor McGonagall. `And I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here, of all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "places?` `I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "They're the only family he has left now.` `You don't mean","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "-- you can't mean the people who live here?` cried Professor McGonagall,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. `Dumbledore -- you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "can't. I've been watching them all day. You couldn't find two people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "who are less like us. And they've got this son -- I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "for sweets. Harry Potter come and live here!` `It's the best","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "place for him,` said Dumbledore firmly. `His aunt and uncle will be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "able to explain everything to him when he's older. I've written them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a letter.` `A letter?` repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, sitting back down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "on the wall. `Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "in a letter? These people will never understand him! He'll be famous","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "-- a legend -- I wouldn't be surprised if today was known","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "as Harry Potter day in the future -- there will be books","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "written about Harry -- every child in our world will know his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "name!` `Exactly,` said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "his half-moon glasses. `It would be enough to turn any boy's head.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "even remember! CarA you see how much better off he'll be, growing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "up away from all that until he's ready to take it?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "`Yes -- yes, you're right, of course. But how is the boy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "getting here, Dumbledore?` She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he might be hiding Harry underneath it. `Hagrid's bringing him.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "`You think it -- wise -- to trust Hagrid with something as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "important as this?` I would trust Hagrid with my life,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dumbledore. `I'm not saying his heart isn't in the right place,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "said Professor McGonagall grudgingly, `but you can't pretend he's not careless. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "does tend to -- what was that?` A low rumbling sound","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "had broken the silence around them. It grew steadily louder as they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "sky -- and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "landed on the road in front of them. If the motorcycle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was huge, it was nothing to the man sitting astride it. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "and so wild - long tangles of bushy black hair and beard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "hid most of his face, he had hands the size of trash","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "can lids, and his feet in their leather boots were like baby","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "dolphins. In his vast, muscular arms he was holding a bundle of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "blankets. `Hagrid,` said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. `At last. And where did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "you get that motorcycle?` `Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sit,` said the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. `Young Sirius Black","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "lent it to me. I've got him, sir.` `No problems, were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "there?` `No, sir -- house was almost destroyed, but I got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin' around. He fell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "asleep as we was flyin' over Bristol.` Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "bent forward over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jet-black hair over his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "lightning. `Is that where -?` whispered Professor McGonagall. `Yes,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Dumbledore. `He'll have that scar forever.` `Couldn't you do something about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "it, Dumbledore?` `Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a perfect map of the London Underground. Well -- give him here,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Hagrid -- we'd better get this over with.` Dumbledore took Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys' house. `Could I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "-- could I say good-bye to him, sir?` asked Hagrid. He bent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "his great, shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "been a very scratchy, whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "howl like a wounded dog. `Shhh!` hissed Professor McGonagall, `you'll wake","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "the Muggles!` `S-s-sorry,` sobbed Hagrid, taking out a large, spotted handkerchief","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "and burying his face in it. `But I c-c-can't stand it --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Lily an' James dead -- an' poor little Harry off ter live","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "with Muggles -` `Yes, yes, it's all very sad, but get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found,` Professor McGonagall whispered,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "garden wall and walked to the front door. He laid Harry gently","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "on the doorstep, took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "inside Harry's blankets, and then came back to the other two. For","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "little bundle; Hagrid's shoulders shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously, and the twinkling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "light that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes seemed to have gone out.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" " `Well,` said Dumbledore finally, `that's that. We've no business staying here.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "We may as well go and join the celebrations.` `Yeah,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Hagrid in a very muffled voice, `I'll be takin' Sirius his bike","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "back. G'night, Professor McGonagall -- Professor Dumbledore, sir.` Wiping his streaming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "eyes on his jacket sleeve, Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "kicked the engine into life; with a roar it rose into the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "air and off into the night. `I shall see you soon,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "I expect, Professor McGonagall,` said Dumbledore, nodding to her. Professor McGonagall blew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "her nose in reply. Dumbledore turned and walked back down the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "street. On the corner he stopped and took out the silver Put-Outer.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "He clicked it once, and twelve balls of light sped back to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "other end of the street. He could just see the bundle of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "blankets on the step of number four. `Good luck, Harry,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "murmured. He turned on his heel and with a swish of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "cloak, he was gone. A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen. Harry Potter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "rolled over inside his blankets without waking up. One small hand closed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "on the letter beside him and he slept on, not knowing he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "was special, not knowing he was famous, not knowing he would be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "woken in a few hours' time by Mrs. Dursley's scream as she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "opened the front door to put out the milk bottles, nor that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "his cousin Dudley... He couldn't know that at this very moment, people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "and saying in hushed voices: `To Harry Potter -- the boy who lived!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-1" "THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "had woken up to find their nephew on the front step, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the Dursleys' front door; it crept into their living room, which was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Mr. Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "like a large pink beach ball wearing different-colored bonnets -- but Dudley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the photographs showed a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "large blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a carousel at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "fair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "by his mother. The room held no sign at all that another","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "boy lived in the house, too. Yet Harry Potter was still","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "there, asleep at the moment, but not for long. His Aunt Petunia","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "noise of the day. `Up! Get up! Now!` Harry woke","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "with a start. His aunt rapped on the door again. `Up!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "she screeched. Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "sound of the frying pan being put on the stove. He rolled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "having. It had been a good one. There had been a flying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "motorcycle in it. He had a funny feeling he'd had the same","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "dream before. His aunt was back outside the door. `Are","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "you up yet?` she demanded. `Nearly,` said Harry. `Well, get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "a move on, I want you to look after the bacon. And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "don't you dare let it burn, I want everything perfect on Duddy's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "birthday.` Harry groaned. `What did you say?` his aunt snapped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "through the door. `Nothing, nothing...` Dudley's birthday -- how could he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "have forgotten? Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "socks. He found a pair under his bed and, after pulling a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "spider off one of them, put them on. Harry was used to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "spiders, because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "that was where he slept. When he was dressed he went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "down the hall into the kitchen. The table was almost hidden beneath","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "all Dudley's birthday presents. It looked as though Dudley had gotten the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "new computer he wanted, not to mention the second television and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "racing bike. Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "to Harry, as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise -- unless","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "of course it involved punching somebody. Dudley's favorite punching bag was Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "but he couldn't often catch him. Harry didn't look it, but he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "was very fast. Perhaps it had something to do with living","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "in a dark cupboard, but Harry had always been small and skinny","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "for his age. He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudley's,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was. Harry had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "a thin face, knobbly knees, black hair, and bright green eyes. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "He had had it as long as he could remember, and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Petunia was how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "he had gotten it. `In the car crash when your parents","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "died,` she had said. `And don't ask questions.` Don't ask questions","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "-- that was the first rule for a quiet life with the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dursleys. Uncle Vernon entered the kitchen as Harry was turning over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the bacon. `Comb your hair!` he barked, by way of a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "morning greeting. About once a week, Uncle Vernon looked over the top","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "of his newspaper and shouted that Harry needed a haircut. Harry must","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "have had more haircuts than the rest of the boys in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "class put together, but it made no difference, his hair simply","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "grew that way -- all over the place. Harry was frying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "eggs by the time Dudley arrived in the kitchen with his mother.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dudley looked a lot like Uncle Vernon. He had a large pink","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "face, not much neck, small, watery blue eyes, and thick blond hair","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head. Aunt Petunia often said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "that Dudley looked like a baby angel -- Harry often said that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dudley looked like a pig in a wig. Harry put the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "plates of egg and bacon on the table, which was difficult as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "there wasn't much room. Dudley, meanwhile, was counting his presents. His face","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "fell. `Thirty-six,` he said, looking up at his mother and father.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "`That's two less than last year.` `Darling, you haven't counted Auntie","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Marge's present, see, it's here under this big one from Mommy and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Daddy.` `All right, thirty-seven then,` said Dudley, going red in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "face. Harry, who could see a huge Dudley tantrum coming on, began","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "wolfing down his bacon as fast as possible in case Dudley turned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the table over. Aunt Petunia obviously scented danger, too, because she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "said quickly, `And we'll buy you another two presents while we're out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "today. How's that, popkin? Two more presents. Is that all right'' ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dudley thought for a moment. It looked like hard work. Finally he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "said slowly, `So I'll have thirty ... thirty...` `Thirty-nine, sweetums,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia. `Oh.` Dudley sat down heavily and grabbed the nearest","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "parcel. `All right then.` Uncle Vernon chuckled. `Little tyke wants his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "money's worth, just like his father. 'Atta boy, Dudley!` He ruffled Dudley's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "hair. At that moment the telephone rang and Aunt Petunia","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "went to answer it while Harry and Uncle Vernon watched Dudley unwrap","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the racing bike, a video camera, a remote control airplane, sixteen new","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "computer games, and a VCR. He was ripping the paper off a gold","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "wristwatch when Aunt Petunia came back from the telephone looking both angry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "and worried. `Bad news, Vernon,` she said. `Mrs. Figg's broken her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "leg. She can't take him.` She jerked her head in Harry's direction.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " Dudley's mouth fell open in horror, but Harry's heart gave a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "leap. Every year on Dudley's birthday, his parents took him and a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "friend out for the day, to adventure parks, hamburger restaurants, or the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "movies. Every year, Harry was left behind with Mrs. Figg, a mad","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "old lady who lived two streets away. Harry hated it there. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "whole house smelled of cabbage and Mrs. Figg made him look at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "photographs of all the cats she'd ever owned. `Now what?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia, looking furiously at Harry as though he'd planned this. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "knew he ought to feel sorry that Mrs. Figg had broken her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "leg, but it wasn't easy when he reminded himself it would be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "a whole year before he had to look at Tibbles, Snowy, Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Paws, and Tufty again. `We could phone Marge,` Uncle Vernon suggested.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " `Don't be silly, Vernon, she hates the boy.` The Dursleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "often spoke about Harry like this, as though he wasn't there --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "or rather, as though he was something very nasty that couldn't understand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "them, like a slug. `What about what's-her-name, your friend -- Yvonne?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " `On vacation in Majorca,` snapped Aunt Petunia. `You could just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "leave me here,` Harry put in hopefully (he'd be able to watch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "what he wanted on television for a change and maybe even have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "a go on Dudley's computer). Aunt Petunia looked as though she'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "just swallowed a lemon. `And come back and find the house","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "in ruins?` she snarled. `I won't blow up the house,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Harry, but they weren't listening. `I suppose we could take him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "to the zoo,` said Aunt Petunia slowly, `... and leave him in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the car....` `That car's new, he's not sitting in it alone....`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " Dudley began to cry loudly. In fact, he wasn't really crying --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "it had been years since he'd really cried -- but he knew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "that if he screwed up his face and wailed, his mother would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "give him anything he wanted. `Dinky Duddydums, don't cry, Mummy won't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "let him spoil your special day!` she cried, flinging her arms around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "him. `I... don't... want... him... t-t-to come!` Dudley yelled between huge,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "pretend sobs. `He always sp- spoils everything!` He shot Harry a nasty","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "grin through the gap in his mother's arms. Just then, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "doorbell rang -- `Oh, good Lord, they're here!` said Aunt Petunia frantically","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "-- and a moment later, Dudley's best friend, Piers Polkiss, walked in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "with his mother. Piers was a scrawny boy with a face like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "a rat. He was usually the one who held people's arms behind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "their backs while Dudley hit them. Dudley stopped pretending to cry at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "once. Half an hour later, Harry, who couldn't believe his luck,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "was sitting in the back of the Dursleys' car with Piers and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dudley, on the way to the zoo for the first time in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "his life. His aunt and uncle hadn't been able to think of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "anything else to do with him, but before they'd left, Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "had taken Harry aside. `I'm warning you,` he had said, putting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "his large purple face right up close to Harry's, `I'm warning you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "now, boy -- any funny business, anything at all -- and you'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "be in that cupboard from now until Christmas.` `I'm not going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "to do anything,` said Harry, `honestly.. But Uncle Vernon didn't believe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "him. No one ever did. The problem was, strange things often","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "happened around Harry and it was just no good telling the Dursleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "he didn't make them happen. Once, Aunt Petunia, tired of Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "coming back from the barbers looking as though he hadn't been at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "all, had taken a pair of kitchen scissors and cut his hair","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "so short he was almost bald except for his bangs, which she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "left `to hide that horrible scar.` Dudley had laughed himself silly at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Harry, who spent a sleepless night imagining school the next day, where he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "was already laughed at for his baggy clothes and taped glasses. Next","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "morning, however, he had gotten up to find his hair exactly as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "it had been before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off He had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "been given a week in his cupboard for this, even though he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "had tried to explain that he couldn't explain how it had grown","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "back so quickly. Another time, Aunt Petunia had been trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "force him into a revolting old sweater of Dudley's (brown with orange","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "puff balls) -- The harder she tried to pull it over his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "head, the smaller it seemed to become, until finally it might have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "fitted a hand puppet, but certainly wouldn't fit Harry. Aunt Petunia had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "decided it must have shrunk in the wash and, to his great","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "relief, Harry wasn't punished. On the other hand, he'd gotten into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "terrible trouble for being found on the roof of the school kitchens.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dudley's gang had been chasing him as usual when, as much to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Harry's surprise as anyone else's, there he was sitting on the chimney.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "The Dursleys had received a very angry letter from Harry's headmistress telling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "them Harry had been climbing school buildings. But all he'd tried to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "do (as he shouted at Uncle Vernon through the locked door of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "his cupboard) was jump behind the big trash cans outside the kitchen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "doors. Harry supposed that the wind must have caught him in mid-","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "jump. But today, nothing was going to go wrong. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "even worth being with Dudley and Piers to be spending the day","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "somewhere that wasn't school, his cupboard, or Mrs. Figg's cabbage-smelling living room.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " While he drove, Uncle Vernon complained to Aunt Petunia. He liked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "to complain about things: people at work, Harry, the council, Harry, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "bank, and Harry were just a few of his favorite subjects. This","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "morning, it was motorcycles. `... roaring along like maniacs, the young","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "hoodlums,` he said, as a motorcycle overtook them. I had a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "dream about a motorcycle,` said Harry, remembering suddenly. `It was flying.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon nearly crashed into the car in front. He turned right around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "in his seat and yelled at Harry, his face like a gigantic","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "beet with a mustache: `MOTORCYCLES DON'T FLY!` Dudley and Piers sniggered.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " I know they don't,` said Harry. `It was only a dream.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " But he wished he hadn't said anything. If there was one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "thing the Dursleys hated even more than his asking questions, it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "his talking about anything acting in a way it shouldn't, no matter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "if it was in a dream or even a cartoon -- they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "seemed to think he might get dangerous ideas. It was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "very sunny Saturday and the zoo was crowded with families. The Dursleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "bought Dudley and Piers large chocolate ice creams at the entrance and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "then, because the smiling lady in the van had asked Harry what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "he wanted before they could hurry him away, they bought him a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "cheap lemon ice pop. It wasn't bad, either, Harry thought, licking it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "as they watched a gorilla scratching its head who looked remarkably like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Dudley, except that it wasn't blond. Harry had the best morning","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "he'd had in a long time. He was careful to walk a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "little way apart from the Dursleys so that Dudley and Piers, who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "were starting to get bored with the animals by lunchtime, wouldn't fall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "back on their favorite hobby of hitting him. They ate in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "zoo restaurant, and when Dudley had a tantrum because his knickerbocker glory","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "didn't have enough ice cream on top, Uncle Vernon bought him another","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "one and Harry was allowed to finish the first. Harry felt,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "afterward, that he should have known it was all too good to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "last. After lunch they went to the reptile house. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "cool and dark in there, with lit windows all along the walls.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Behind the glass, all sorts of lizards and snakes were crawling and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "slithering over bits of wood and stone. Dudley and Piers wanted to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "see huge, poisonous cobras and thick, man-crushing pythons. Dudley quickly found the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "largest snake in the place. It could have wrapped its body twice around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon's car and crushed it into a trash can -- but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "at the moment it didn't look in the mood. In fact, it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "was fast asleep. Dudley stood with his nose pressed against the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "glass, staring at the glistening brown coils. `Make it move,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "whined at his father. Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass, but the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "snake didn't budge. `Do it again,` Dudley ordered. Uncle Vernon rapped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake just snoozed on.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " `This is boring,` Dudley moaned. He shuffled away. Harry moved","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "in front of the tank and looked intently at the snake. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "wouldn't have been surprised if it had died of boredom itself --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "no company except stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "to disturb it all day long. It was worse than having a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "cupboard as a bedroom, where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "on the door to wake you up; at least he got to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "visit the rest of the house. The snake suddenly opened its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "were on a level with Harry's. It winked. Harry stared.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Then he looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "weren't. He looked back at the snake and winked, too. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley, then raised its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "eyes to the ceiling. It gave Harry a look that said quite","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "plainly: `I get that all the time. `I know,` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "murmured through the glass, though he wasn't sure the snake could hear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "him. `It must be really annoying.` The snake nodded vigorously. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "`Where do you come from, anyway?` Harry asked. The snake jabbed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Harry peered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "at it. Boa Constrictor, Brazil. `Was it nice there?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "read on: This specimen was bred in the zoo. `Oh, I see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "-- so you've never been to Brazil?` As the snake shook its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "head, a deafening shout behind Harry made both of them jump. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "`DUDLEY! MR. DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "WHAT IT'S DOING!` Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "he could. `Out of the way, you,` he said, punching Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "in the ribs. Caught by surprise, Harry fell hard on the concrete","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "floor. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "happened -- one second, Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "to the glass, the next, they had leapt back with howls of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "horror. Harry sat up and gasped; the glass front of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "boa constrictor's tank had vanished. The great snake was uncoiling itself rapidly,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "slithering out onto the floor. People throughout the reptile house screamed and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "started running for the exits. As the snake slid swiftly past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "him, Harry could have sworn a low, hissing voice said, `Brazil, here","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "I come.... Thanksss, amigo.` The keeper of the reptile house was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "in shock. `But the glass,` he kept saying, `where did the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "glass go?` The zoo director himself made Aunt Petunia a cup","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "of strong, sweet tea while he apologized over and over again. Piers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "and Dudley could only gibber. As far as Harry had seen, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "snake hadn't done anything except snap playfully at their heels as it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "passed, but by the time they were all back in Uncle Vernon's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "car, Dudley was telling them how it had nearly bitten off his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "leg, while Piers was swearing it had tried to squeeze him to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "death. But worst of all, for Harry at least, was Piers calming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "down enough to say, `Harry was talking to it, weren't you, Harry?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" " Uncle Vernon waited until Piers was safely out of the house","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "before starting on Harry. He was so angry he could hardly speak.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "He managed to say, `Go -- cupboard -- stay -- no meals,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "before he collapsed into a chair, and Aunt Petunia had to run","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "and get him a large brandy. Harry lay in his dark","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "cupboard much later, wishing he had a watch. He didn't know what time","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "it was and he couldn't be sure the Dursleys were asleep yet.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "Until they were, he couldn't risk sneaking to the kitchen for some","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "food. He'd lived with the Dursleys almost ten years, ten miserable","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "years, as long as he could remember, ever since he'd been a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "baby and his parents had died in that car crash. He couldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "remember being in the car when his parents had died. Sometimes, when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "he strained his memory during long hours in his cupboard, he came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "up with a strange vision: a blinding flash of green light and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "a burn- ing pain on his forehead. This, he supposed, was the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "crash, though he couldn't imagine where all the green light came from.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "He couldn't remember his parents at all. His aunt and uncle never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "spoke about them, and of course he was forbidden to ask questions.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "There were no photographs of them in the house. When he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "had been younger, Harry had dreamed and dreamed of some unknown relation","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "coming to take him away, but it had never happened; the Dursleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "were his only family. Yet sometimes he thought (or maybe hoped) that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "strangers in the street seemed to know him. Very strange strangers they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "were, too. A tiny man in a violet top hat had bowed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "to him once while out shopping with Aunt Petunia and Dudley. After","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "asking Harry furiously if he knew the man, Aunt Petunia had rushed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "them out of the shop without buying anything. A wild-looking old woman","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "dressed all in green had waved merrily at him once on a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "bus. A bald man in a very long purple coat had actually","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "shaken his hand in the street the other day and then walked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "away without a word. The weirdest thing about all these people was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "the way they seemed to vanish the second Harry tried to get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "a closer look. At school, Harry had no one. Everybody knew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "that Dudley's gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "clothes and broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley's gang. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-2" "THE LETTERS FROM NO ONE The escape of the Brazilian boa","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "constrictor earned Harry his longest-ever punishment. By the time he was allowed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "out of his cupboard again, the summer holidays had started and Dudley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "had already broken his new video camera, crashed his remote control airplane,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and, first time out on his racing bike, knocked down old Mrs.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Figg as she crossed Privet Drive on her crutches. Harry was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "glad school was over, but there was no escaping Dudley's gang, who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "visited the house every single day. Piers, Dennis, Malcolm, and Gordon were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "all big and stupid, but as Dudley was the biggest and stupidest","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "of the lot, he was the leader. The rest of them were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "all quite happy to join in Dudley's favorite sport: Harry Hunting. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "This was why Harry spent as much time as possible out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the house, wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "where he could see a tiny ray of hope. When September came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he would be going off to secondary school and, for the first","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "time in his life, he wouldn't be with Dudley. Dudley had been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "accepted at Uncle Vernon's old private school, Smeltings. Piers Polkiss was going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "there too. Harry, on the other hand, was going to Stonewall High,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the local public school. Dudley thought this was very funny. `They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "stuff people's heads down the toilet the first day at Stonewall,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "told Harry. `Want to come upstairs and practice?` `No, thanks,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry. `The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "down it -- it might be sick.` Then he ran, before Dudley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "could work out what he'd said. One day in July, Aunt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Petunia took Dudley to London to buy his Smeltings uniform, leaving Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "at Mrs. Figg's. Mrs. Figg wasn 't as bad as usual. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "turned out she'd broken her leg tripping over one of her cats,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and she didn't seem quite as fond of them as before. She","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "let Harry watch television and gave him a bit of chocolate cake","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "that tasted as though she'd had it for several years. That","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "evening, Dudley paraded around the living room for the family in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "brand-new uniform. Smeltings' boys wore maroon tailcoats, orange knickerbockers, and flat straw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "hats called boaters. They also carried knobbly sticks, used for hitting each","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "other while the teachers weren't looking. This was supposed to be good","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "training for later life. As he looked at Dudley in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "new knickerbockers, Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "of his life. Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "believe it was her Ickle Dudleykins, he looked so handsome and grown-up.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry didn't trust himself to speak. He thought two of his ribs","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "might already have cracked from trying not to laugh. There was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "a horrible smell in the kitchen the next morning when Harry went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "in for breakfast. It seemed to be coming from a large metal","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "tub in the sink. He went to have a look. The tub","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "was full of what looked like dirty rags swimming in gray water.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " `What's this?` he asked Aunt Petunia. Her lips tightened as they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "always did if he dared to ask a question. `Your new","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "school uniform,` she said. Harry looked in the bowl again. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "`Oh,` he said, `I didn't realize it had to be so wet.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " `DotA be stupid,` snapped Aunt Petunia. `I'm dyeing some of Dudley's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "old things gray for you. It'll look just like everyone else's when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "I've finished.` Harry seriously doubted this, but thought it best not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "to argue. He sat down at the table and tried not to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "think about how he was going to look on his first day","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "at Stonewall High -- like he was wearing bits of old elephant","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "skin, probably. Dudley and Uncle Vernon came in, both with wrinkled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "noses because of the smell from Harry's new uniform. Uncle Vernon opened","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "his newspaper as usual and Dudley banged his Smelting stick, which he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "carried everywhere, on the table. They heard the click of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat. `Get the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "mail, Dudley,` said Uncle Vernon from behind his paper. `Make Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "get it.` `Get the mail, Harry.` `Make Dudley get it.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " `Poke him with your Smelting stick, Dudley.` Harry dodged the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Smelting stick and went to get the mail. Three things lay on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the doormat: a postcard from Uncle Vernon's sister Marge, who was vacationing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that looked like a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "bill, and -- a letter for Harry. Harry picked it up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and stared at it, his heart twanging like a giant elastic band.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "No one, ever, in his whole life, had written to him. Who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "would? He had no friends, no other relatives -- he didn't belong","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "to the library, so he'd never even got rude notes asking for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "books back. Yet here it was, a letter, addressed so plainly there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "could be no mistake: Mr. H. Potter The Cupboard under","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the Stairs 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging Surrey","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no stamp. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and a snake surrounding a large letter H. `Hurry up, boy!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "shouted Uncle Vernon from the kitchen. `What are you doing, checking for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "letter bombs?` He chuckled at his own joke. Harry went back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "to the kitchen, still staring at his letter. He handed Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the bill and the postcard, sat down, and slowly began to open","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the yellow envelope. Uncle Vernon ripped open the bill, snorted in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "disgust, and flipped over the postcard. `Marge's ill,` he informed Aunt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Petunia. `Ate a funny whelk. --.` `Dad!` said Dudley suddenly. `Dad,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry's got something!` Harry was on the point of unfolding his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "letter, which was written on the same heavy parchment as the envelope,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "when it was jerked sharply out of his hand by Uncle Vernon.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " `That's mine!` said Harry, trying to snatch it back. `Who'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "be writing to you?` sneered Uncle Vernon, shaking the letter open with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "one hand and glancing at it. His face went from red to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "green faster than a set of traffic lights. And it didn't stop","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "there. Within seconds it was the grayish white of old porridge. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "`P-P-Petunia!` he gasped. Dudley tried to grab the letter to read","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "it, but Uncle Vernon held it high out of his reach. Aunt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Petunia took it curiously and read the first line. For a moment","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "it looked as though she might faint. She clutched her throat and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "made a choking noise. `Vernon! Oh my goodness -- Vernon!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "They stared at each other, seeming to have forgotten that Harry and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Dudley were still in the room. Dudley wasn't used to being ignored.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "He gave his father a sharp tap on the head with his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Smelting stick. `I want to read that letter,` he said loudly.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "want to read it,` said Harry furiously, `as it's mine.` `Get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "out, both of you,` croaked Uncle Vernon, stuffing the letter back inside","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "its envelope. Harry didn't move. I WANT MY LETTER!` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "shouted. `Let me see it!` demanded Dudley. `OUT!` roared Uncle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Vernon, and he took both Harry and Dudley by the scruffs of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "their necks and threw them into the hall, slamming the kitchen door","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "behind them. Harry and Dudley promptly had a furious but silent fight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "over who would listen at the keyhole; Dudley won, so Harry, his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "glasses dangling from one ear, lay flat on his stomach to listen at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the crack between door and floor. `Vernon,` Aunt Petunia was saying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "in a quivering voice, `look at the address -- how could they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "possibly know where he sleeps? You don't think they're watching the house?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " `Watching -- spying -- might be following us,` muttered Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "wildly. `But what should we do, Vernon? Should we write back?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Tell them we don't want --` Harry could see Uncle Vernon's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "shiny black shoes pacing up and down the kitchen. `No,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "said finally. `No, we'll ignore it. If they don't get an answer...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Yes, that's best... we won't do anything.... `But --` `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "not having one in the house, Petunia! Didn't we swear when we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "took him in we'd stamp out that dangerous nonsense?` That evening","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "when he got back from work, Uncle Vernon did something he'd never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "done before; he visited Harry in his cupboard. `Where's my letter?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "said Harry, the moment Uncle Vernon had squeezed through the door. `Who's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "writing to me?` `No one. it was addressed to you by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "mistake,` said Uncle Vernon shortly. `I have burned it.` `It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "not a mistake,` said Harry angrily, `it had my cupboard on it.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " `SILENCE!` yelled Uncle Vernon, and a couple of spiders fell from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the ceiling. He took a few deep breaths and then forced his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "face into a smile, which looked quite painful. `Er -- yes,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry -- about this cupboard. Your aunt and I have been thinking...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "you're really getting a bit big for it... we think it might","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "be nice if you moved into Dudley's second bedroom. `Why?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry. `Don't ask questions!` snapped his uncle. `Take this stuff upstairs,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "now.` The Dursleys' house had four bedrooms: one for Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and Aunt Petunia, one for visitors (usually Uncle Vernon's sister, Marge), one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "where Dudley slept, and one where Dudley kept all the toys and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "things that wouldn't fit into his first bedroom. It only took Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "one trip upstairs to move everything he owned from the cupboard to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "this room. He sat down on the bed and stared around him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Nearly everything in here was broken. The month-old video camera was lying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "on top of a small, working tank Dudley had once driven over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the next door neighbor's dog; in the corner was Dudley's first-ever television","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "set, which he'd put his foot through when his favorite program had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "been canceled; there was a large birdcage, which had once held a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "parrot that Dudley had swapped at school for a real air rifle,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "which was up on a shelf with the end all bent because","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Dudley had sat on it. Other shelves were full of books. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "were the only things in the room that looked as though they'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "never been touched. From downstairs came the sound of Dudley bawling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "at his mother, I don't want him in there... I need that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "room... make him get out....` Harry sighed and stretched out on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the bed. Yesterday he'd have given anything to be up here. Today","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he'd rather be back in his cupboard with that letter than up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "here without it. Next morning at breakfast, everyone was rather quiet.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Dudley was in shock. He'd screamed, whacked his father with his Smelting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "stick, been sick on purpose, kicked his mother, and thrown his tortoise","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "through the greenhouse roof, and he still didn't have his room back.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry was thinking about this time yesterday and bitterly wishing he'd opened","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the letter in the hall. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia kept looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "at each other darkly. When the mail arrived, Uncle Vernon, who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "seemed to be trying to be nice to Harry, made Dudley go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and get it. They heard him banging things with his Smelting stick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "all the way down the hall. Then he shouted, `There's another one!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "'Mr. H. Potter, The Smallest Bedroom, 4 Privet Drive --'` With","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "a strangled cry, Uncle Vernon leapt from his seat and ran down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the hall, Harry right behind him. Uncle Vernon had to wrestle Dudley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "to the ground to get the letter from him, which was made","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "difficult by the fact that Harry had grabbed Uncle Vernon around the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "neck from behind. After a minute of confused fighting, in which everyone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "got hit a lot by the Smelting stick, Uncle Vernon straightened up,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "gasping for breath, with Harry's letter clutched in his hand. `Go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "to your cupboard -- I mean, your bedroom,` he wheezed at Harry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "`Dudley -- go -- just go.` Harry walked round and round","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "his new room. Someone knew he had moved out of his cupboard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and they seemed to know he hadn't received his first letter. Surely","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "that meant they'd try again? And this time he'd make sure they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "didn't fail. He had a plan. The repaired alarm clock rang","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "at six o'clock the next morning. Harry turned it off quickly and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "dressed silently. He mustn't wake the Dursleys. He stole downstairs without turning","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "on any of the lights. He was going to wait for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the postman on the corner of Privet Drive and get the letters","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "for number four first. His heart hammered as he crept across the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "dark hall toward the front door -- Harry leapt into the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "air; he'd trodden on something big and squashy on the doormat --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "something alive! Lights clicked on upstairs and to his horror Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "realized that the big, squashy something had been his uncle's face. Uncle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Vernon had been lying at the foot of the front door in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "a sleeping bag, clearly making sure that Harry didn't do exactly what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he'd been trying to do. He shouted at Harry for about half","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "an hour and then told him to go and make a cup","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "of tea. Harry shuffled miserably off into the kitchen and by the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "time he got back, the mail had arrived, right into Uncle Vernon's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "lap. Harry could see three letters addressed in green ink. I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "want --` he began, but Uncle Vernon was tearing the letters into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "pieces before his eyes. Uncle Vernon didnt go to work that day.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "He stayed at home and nailed up the mail slot. `See,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he explained to Aunt Petunia through a mouthful of nails, `if they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "can't deliver them they'll just give up.` `I'm not sure that'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "work, Vernon.` `Oh, these people's minds work in strange ways, Petunia,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "they're not like you and me,` said Uncle Vernon, trying to knock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "in a nail with the piece of fruitcake Aunt Petunia had just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "brought him. On Friday, no less than twelve letters arrived for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry. As they couldn't go through the mail slot they had been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "pushed under the door, slotted through the sides, and a few even","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "forced through the small window in the downstairs bathroom. Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "stayed at home again. After burning all the letters, he got out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "a hammer and nails and boarded up the cracks around the front","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and back doors so no one could go out. He hummed `Tiptoe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Through the Tulips` as he worked, and jumped at small noises. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "On Saturday, things began to get out of hand. Twenty-four letters to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry found their way into the house, rolled up and hidden inside","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "each of the two dozen eggs that their very confused milkman had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "handed Aunt Petunia through the living room window. While Uncle Vernon made","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "furious telephone calls to the post office and the dairy trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "find someone to complain to, Aunt Petunia shredded the letters in her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "food processor. `Who on earth wants to talk to you this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "badly?` Dudley asked Harry in amazement. On Sunday morning, Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "sat down at the breakfast table looking tired and rather ill, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "happy. `No post on Sundays,` he reminded them cheerfully as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "spread marmalade on his newspapers, `no damn letters today --` Something came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "whizzing down the kitchen chimney as he spoke and caught him sharply","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "on the back of the head. Next moment, thirty or forty letters","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "came pelting out of the fireplace like bullets. The Dursleys ducked, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Harry leapt into the air trying to catch one. `Out! OUT!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " Uncle Vernon seized Harry around the waist and threw him into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the hall. When Aunt Petunia and Dudley had run out with their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "arms over their faces, Uncle Vernon slammed the door shut. They could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "hear the letters still streaming into the room, bouncing off the walls","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and floor. `That does it,` said Uncle Vernon, trying to speak","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "calmly but pulling great tufts out of his mustache at the same","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "time. I want you all back here in five minutes ready to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "leave. We're going away. Just pack some clothes. No arguments!` He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "looked so dangerous with half his mustache missing that no one dared","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "argue. Ten minutes later they had wrenched their way through the boarded-up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "doors and were in the car, speeding toward the highway. Dudley was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "sniffling in the back seat; his father had hit him round the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "head for holding them up while he tried to pack his television,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "VCR, and computer in his sports bag. They drove. And they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "drove. Even Aunt Petunia didn't dare ask where they were going. Every","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "now and then Uncle Vernon would take a sharp turn and drive","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "in the opposite direction for a while. `Shake'em off... shake 'em off,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he would mutter whenever he did this. They didn't stop to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "eat or drink all day. By nightfall Dudley was howling. He'd never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "had such a bad day in his life. He was hungry, he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "missed five television programs he'd wanted to see, and he'd never gone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "so long without blowing up an alien on his computer. Uncle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Vernon stopped at last outside a gloomy-looking hotel on the outskirts of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "a big city. Dudley and Harry shared a room with twin beds","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "and damp, musty sheets. Dudley snored but Harry stayed awake, sitting on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the windowsill, staring down at the lights of passing cars and wondering....","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " They ate stale cornflakes and cold tinned tomatoes on toast for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "breakfast the next day. They had just finished when the owner of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the hotel came over to their table. `'Scuse me, but is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "one of you Mr. H. Potter? Only I got about an 'undred","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "of these at the front desk.` She held up a letter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "so they could read the green ink address: Mr. H. Potter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " Room 17 Railview Hotel Cokeworth Harry made a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "grab for the letter but Uncle Vernon knocked his hand out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the way. The woman stared. `I'll take them,` said Uncle Vernon,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "standing up quickly and following her from the dining room. Wouldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "it be better just to go home, dear?` Aunt Petunia suggested timidly,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "hours later, but Uncle Vernon didn't seem to hear her. Exactly what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he was looking for, none of them knew. He drove them into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the middle of a forest, got out, looked around, shook his head,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "got back in the car, and off they went again. The same","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "thing happened in the middle of a plowed field, halfway across a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "suspension bridge, and at the top of a multilevel parking garage. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "`Daddy's gone mad, hasn't he?` Dudley asked Aunt Petunia dully late that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "afternoon. Uncle Vernon had parked at the coast, locked them all inside","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the car, and disappeared. It started to rain. Great drops beat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "on the roof of the car. Dud ley sniveled. `It's Monday,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he told his mother. `The Great Humberto's on tonight. I want to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "stay somewhere with a television. ` Monday. This reminded Harry of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "something. If it was Monday -- and you could usually count on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Dudley to know the days the week, because of television -- then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "tomorrow, Tuesday, was Harry's eleventh birthday. Of course, his birthdays were never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "exactly fun -- last year, the Dursleys had given him a coat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "hanger and a pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks. Still, you weren't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "eleven every day. Uncle Vernon was back and he was smiling.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "He was also carrying a long, thin package and didn't answer Aunt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Petunia when she asked what he'd bought. `Found the perfect place!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "he said. `Come on! Everyone out!` It was very cold","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "outside the car. Uncle Vernon was pointing at what looked like a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "large rock way out at sea. Perched on top of the rock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "was the most miserable little shack you could imagine. One thing was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "certain, there was no television in there. `Storm forecast for tonight!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "said Uncle Vernon gleefully, clapping his hands together. `And this gentleman's kindly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "agreed to lend us his boat!` A toothless old man came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "ambling up to them, pointing, with a rather wicked grin, at an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "old rowboat bobbing in the iron-gray water below them. `I've already","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "got us some rations,` said Uncle Vernon, `so all aboard!` It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "was freezing in the boat. Icy sea spray and rain crept down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "their necks and a chilly wind whipped their faces. After what seemed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "like hours they reached the rock, where Uncle Vernon, slipping and sliding,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "led the way to the broken-down house. The inside was horrible;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "it smelled strongly of seaweed, the wind whistled through the gaps in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the wooden walls, and the fireplace was damp and empty. There were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "only two rooms. Uncle Vernon's rations turned out to be a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "bag of chips each and four bananas. He tried to start a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "fire but the empty chip bags just smoked and shriveled up. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "`Could do with some of those letters now, eh?` he said cheerfully.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" " He was in a very good mood. Obviously he thought nobody","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "stood a chance of reaching them here in a storm to deliver","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "mail. Harry privately agreed, though the thought didn't cheer him up at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "all. As night fell, the promised storm blew up around them.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Spray from the high waves splattered the walls of the hut and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "a fierce wind rattled the filthy windows. Aunt Petunia found a few","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "moldy blankets in the second room and made up a bed for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "Dudley on the moth-eaten sofa. She and Uncle Vernon went off to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "the lumpy bed next door, and Harry was left to find the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "softest bit of floor he could and to curl up under the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "thinnest, most ragged blanket. The storm raged more and more ferociously","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "as the night went on. Harry couldn't sleep. He shivered and turned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "over, trying to get comfortable, his stomach rumbling with hunger. Dudley's snores","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "were drowned by the low rolls of thunder that started near midnight.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "The lighted dial of Dudley's watch, which was dangling over the edge","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "of the sofa on his fat wrist, told Harry he'd be eleven","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "in ten minutes' time. He lay and watched his birthday tick nearer,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "wondering if the Dursleys would remember at all, wondering where the letter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "writer was now. Five minutes to go. Harry heard something creak","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "outside. He hoped the roof wasn't going to fall in, although he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "might be warmer if it did. Four minutes to go. Maybe the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "house in Privet Drive would be so full of letters when they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "got back that he'd be able to steal one somehow. Three","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "minutes to go. Was that the sea, slapping hard on the rock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "like that? And (two minutes to go) what was that funny crunching","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "noise? Was the rock crumbling into the sea? One minute to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "go and he'd be eleven. Thirty seconds... twenty ... ten... nine --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "maybe he'd wake Dudley up, just to annoy him -- three... two...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "one... BOOM. The whole shack shivered and Harry sat bolt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "upright, staring at the door. Someone was outside, knocking to come in. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-3" "THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS BOOM. They knocked again. Dudley jerked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "awake. `Where's the cannon?` he said stupidly. There was a crash","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "behind them and Uncle Vernon came skidding into the room. He was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "holding a rifle in his hands -- now they knew what had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "been in the long, thin package he had brought with them. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`Who's there?` he shouted. `I warn you -- I'm armed!` There","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "was a pause. Then -- SMASH! The door was hit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "with such force that it swung clean off its hinges and with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a deafening crash landed flat on the floor. A giant of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "under all the hair. The giant squeezed his way into the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "hut, stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "down, picked up the door, and fitted it easily back into its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "frame. The noise of the storm outside dropped a little. He turned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to look at them all. `Couldn't make us a cup o'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "tea, could yeh? It's not been an easy journey...` He strode","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen with fear. `Budge","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "up, yeh great lump,` said the stranger. Dudley squeaked and ran","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to hide behind his mother, who was crouching, terrified, behind Uncle Vernon.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " `An' here's Harry!` said the giant. Harry looked up into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "the fierce, wild, shadowy face and saw that the beetle eyes were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "crinkled in a smile. `Las' time I saw you, you was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "only a baby,` said the giant. `Yeh look a lot like yet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "dad, but yeh've got yet mom's eyes.` Uncle Vernon made a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "funny rasping noise. I demand that you leave at once, sit!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he said. `You are breaking and entering!` `Ah, shut up, Dursley,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "yeh great prune,` said the giant; he reached over the back of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "the sofa, jerked the gun out of Uncle Vernon's hands, bent it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "into a knot as easily as if it had been made of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "rubber, and threw it into a corner of the room. Uncle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Vernon made another funny noise, like a mouse being trodden on. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`Anyway -- Harry,` said the giant, turning his back on the Dursleys,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`a very happy birthday to yeh. Got summat fer yeh here --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll taste all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "right.` From an inside pocket of his black overcoat he pulled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a slightly squashed box. Harry opened it with trembling fingers. Inside was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a large, sticky chocolate cake with Happy Birthday Harry written on it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "in green icing. Harry looked up at the giant. He meant","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to say thank you, but the words got lost on the way","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to his mouth, and what he said instead was, `Who are you?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " The giant chuckled. `True, I haven't introduced meself. Rubeus Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.` He held out an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "enormous hand and shook Harry's whole arm. `What about that tea","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "then, eh?` he said, rubbing his hands together. `I'd not say no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "ter summat stronger if yeh've got it, mind.` His eyes fell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "on the empty grate with the shriveled chip bags in it and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he snorted. He bent down over the fireplace; they couldn't see what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he was doing but when he drew back a second later, there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "was a roaring fire there. It filled the whole damp hut with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "flickering light and Harry felt the warmth wash over him as though","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he'd sunk into a hot bath. The giant sat back down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "on the sofa, which sagged under his weight, and began taking all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "sorts of things out of the pockets of his coat: a copper","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "kettle, a squashy package of sausages, a poker, a teapot, several chipped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "mugs, and a bottle of some amber liquid that he took a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "swig from before starting to make tea. Soon the hut was full","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "of the sound and smell of sizzling sausage. Nobody said a thing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "while the giant was working, but as he slid the first six","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "fat, juicy, slightly burnt sausages from the poker, Dudley fidgeted a little.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Uncle Vernon said sharply, `Don't touch anything he gives you, Dudley.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "The giant chuckled darkly. `Yet great puddin' of a son don'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "need fattenin' anymore, Dursley, don' worry.` He passed the sausages to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Harry, who was so hungry he had never tasted anything so wonderful,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "but he still couldn't take his eyes off the giant. Finally, as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "nobody seemed about to explain anything, he said, `I'm sorry, but I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "still don't really know who you are.` The giant took a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "gulp of tea and wiped his mouth with the back of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "hand. `Call me Hagrid,` he said, `everyone does. An' like I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "told yeh, I'm Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts -- yeh'll know all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "about Hogwarts, o' course. `Er -- no,` said Harry. Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "looked shocked. `Sorry,` Harry said quickly. `Sony?` barked Hagrid, turning","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to stare at the Dursleys, who shrank back into the shadows. `It'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "s them as should be sorry! I knew yeh weren't gettin' yer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "letters but I never thought yeh wouldn't even know abou' Hogwarts, fer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "cryin' out loud! Did yeh never wonder where yet parents learned it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "all?` `All what?` asked Harry. `ALL WHAT?` Hagrid thundered. `Now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "wait jus' one second!` He had leapt to his feet. In","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "his anger he seemed to fill the whole hut. The Dursleys were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "cowering against the wall. `Do you mean ter tell me,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "growled at the Dursleys, `that this boy -- this boy! -- knows","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "nothin' abou' -- about ANYTHING?` Harry thought this was going a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "bit far. He had been to school, after all, and his marks","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "weren't bad. `I know some things,` he said. `I can, you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "know, do math and stuff.` But Hagrid simply waved his hand and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "said, `About our world, I mean. Your world. My world. Yer parents'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "world.` `What world?` Hagrid looked as if he was about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to explode. `DURSLEY!` he boomed. Uncle Vernon, who had gone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "very pale, whispered something that sounded like `Mimblewimble.` Hagrid stared wildly at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Harry. `But yeh must know about yet mom and dad,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "said. `I mean, they're famous. You're famous.` `What? My -- my","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "mom and dad weren't famous, were they?` `Yeh don' know... yeh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "don' know...` Hagrid ran his fingers through his hair, fixing Harry with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a bewildered stare. `Yeh don' know what yeh are?` he said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "finally. Uncle Vernon suddenly found his voice. `Stop!` he commanded.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`Stop right there, sit! I forbid you to tell the boy anything!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " A braver man than Vernon Dursley would have quailed under the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "furious look Hagrid now gave him; when Hagrid spoke, his every syllable","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "trembled with rage. `You never told him? Never told him what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "was in the letter Dumbledore left fer him? I was there! I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "saw Dumbledore leave it, Dursley! An' you've kept it from him all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "these years?` `Kept what from me?` said Harry eagerly. `STOP!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "I FORBID YOU!` yelled Uncle Vernon in panic. Aunt Petunia gave","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a gasp of horror. `Ah, go boil yet heads, both of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "yeh,` said Hagrid. `Harry -- yet a wizard.` There was silence","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "inside the hut. Only the sea and the whistling wind could be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "heard. `-- a what?` gasped Harry. `A wizard, o' course,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "said Hagrid, sitting back down on the sofa, which groaned and sank","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "even lower, `an' a thumpin' good'un, I'd say, once yeh've been trained","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "up a bit. With a mum an' dad like yours, what else","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "would yeh be? An' I reckon it's abou' time yeh read yer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "letter.` Harry stretched out his hand at last to take the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "yellowish envelope, addressed in emerald green to Mr. H. Potter, The Floor,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Hut-on-the-Rock, The Sea. He pulled out the letter and read: HOGWARTS","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE (Order of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Wizards) Dear Mr. Potter, We are pleased to inform you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "than July 31. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Questions exploded inside Harry's head like fireworks and he couldn't decide which","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to ask first. After a few minutes he stammered, `What does it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "mean, they await my owl?` `Gallopin' Gorgons, that reminds me,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Hagrid, clapping a hand to his forehead with enough force to knock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "over a cart horse, and from yet another pocket inside his overcoat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he pulled an owl -- a real, live, rather ruffled-looking owl --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a long quill, and a roll of parchment. With his tongue between","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "his teeth he scribbled a note that Harry could read upside down:","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " Dear Professor Dumbledore, Given Harry his letter. Taking him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to buy his things tomorrow. Weather's horrible. Hope you're Well. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Hagrid Hagrid rolled up the note, gave it to the owl,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "which clamped it in its beak, went to the door, and threw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "the owl out into the storm. Then he came back and sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "down as though this was as normal as talking on the telephone.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " Harry realized his mouth was open and closed it quickly. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`Where was I?` said Hagrid, but at that moment, Uncle Vernon, still","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "ashen-faced but looking very angry, moved into the firelight. `He's not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "going,` he said. Hagrid grunted. `I'd like ter see a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "great Muggle like you stop him,` he said. `A what?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Harry, interested. `A Muggle,` said Hagrid, `it's what we call nonmagic","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "folk like thern. An' it's your bad luck you grew up in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a family o' the biggest Muggles I ever laid eyes on.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`We swore when we took him in we'd put a stop to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "that rubbish,` said Uncle Vernon, `swore we'd stamp it out of him!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Wizard indeed!` `You knew?` said Harry. `You knew I'm a --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a wizard?` `Knew!` shrieked Aunt Petunia suddenly. `Knew! Of course we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "knew! How could you not be, my dratted sister being what she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "was? Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to that-that school-and came home every vacation with her pockets full of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "frog spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the only one who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "saw her for what she was -- a freak! But for my","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "mother and father, oh no, it was Lily this and Lily that,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "they were proud of having a witch in the family!` She","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "stopped to draw a deep breath and then went ranting on. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "seemed she had been wanting to say all this for years. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`Then she met that Potter at school and they left and got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "married and had you, and of course I knew you'd be just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "the same, just as strange, just as -- as -- abnormal --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "and then, if you please, she went and got herself blown up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "and we got landed with you!` Harry had gone very white.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "As soon as he found his voice he said, `Blown up? You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "told me they died in a car crash!` `CAR CRASH!` roared","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Hagrid, jumping up so angrily that the Dursleys scuttled back to their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "corner. `How could a car crash kill Lily an' James Potter? It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "an outrage! A scandal! Harry Potter not knowin' his own story when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "every kid in our world knows his name!` `But why? What happened?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Harry asked urgently. The anger faded from Hagrid's face. He looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "suddenly anxious. `I never expected this,` he said, in a low,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "worried voice. `I had no idea, when Dumbledore told me there might","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "be trouble gettin' hold of yeh, how much yeh didn't know. Ah,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Harry, I don' know if I'm the right person ter tell yeh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "-- but someone 3 s gotta -- yeh can't go off ter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Hogwarts not knowin'.` He threw a dirty look at the Dursleys.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " `Well, it's best yeh know as much as I can tell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "yeh -- mind, I can't tell yeh everythin', it's a great myst'ry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "parts of it....` He sat down, stared into the fire for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a few seconds, and then said, `It begins, I suppose, with --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "with a person called -- but it's incredible yeh don't know his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "name, everyone in our world knows --` `Who? ` `Well","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "-- I don' like sayin' the name if I can help it.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "No one does.` `Why not?` `Gulpin' gargoyles, Harry, people are","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "still scared. Blimey, this is difficult. See, there was this wizard who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "went... bad. As bad as you could go. Worse. Worse than worse.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "His name was...` Hagrid gulped, but no words came out. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`Could you write it down?` Harry suggested. `Nah -can't spell it.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "All right -- Voldemort. ` Hagrid shuddered. `Don' make me say it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "again. Anyway, this -- this wizard, about twenty years ago now, started","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "lookin' fer followers. Got 'em, too -- some were afraid, some just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "wanted a bit o' his power, 'cause he was gettin' himself power,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "all right. Dark days, Harry. Didn't know who ter trust, didn't dare","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "get friendly with strange wizards or witches... terrible things happened. He was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "takin' over. 'Course, some stood up to him -- an' he killed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "'em. Horribly. One o' the only safe places left was Hogwarts. Reckon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was afraid of. Didn't dare try takin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "the school, not jus' then, anyway. `Now, yer mum an' dad","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "were as good a witch an' wizard as I ever knew. Head","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "boy an' girl at Hogwarts in their day! Suppose the myst'ry is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "why You-Know-Who never tried to get 'em on his side before... probably","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "knew they were too close ter Dumbledore ter want anythin' ter do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "with the Dark Side. `Maybe he thought he could persuade 'em...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "maybe he just wanted 'em outta the way. All anyone knows is,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he turned up in the village where you was all living, on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Halloween ten years ago. You was just a year old. He came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "ter yer house an' -- an' --` Hagrid suddenly pulled out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a very dirty, spotted handkerchief and blew his nose with a sound","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "like a foghorn. `Sorry,` he said. `But it's that sad --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "knew yer mum an' dad, an' nicer people yeh couldn't find --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "anyway...` `You-Know-Who killed 'em. An' then -- an' this is the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "real myst'ry of the thing -- he tried to kill you, too.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Wanted ter make a clean job of it, I suppose, or maybe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he just liked killin' by then. But he couldn't do it. Never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead? That was no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "ordinary cut. That's what yeh get when a Powerful, evil curse touches","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "yeh -- took care of yer mum an' dad an' yer house,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "even -- but it didn't work on you, an' that's why yer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "famous, Harry. No one ever lived after he decided ter kill 'em,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "no one except you, an' he'd killed some o' the best witches","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "an' wizards of the age -- the McKinnons, the Bones, the Prewetts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "-- an' you was only a baby, an' you lived.` Something","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "very painful was going on in Harry's mind. As Hagrid's story came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to a close, he saw again the blinding flash of green light,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "more clearly than he had ever remembered it before -- and he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "remembered something else, for the first time in his life: a high,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "cold, cruel laugh. Hagrid was watching him sadly. `Took yeh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "from the ruined house myself, on Dumbledore's orders. Brought yeh ter this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "lot...` `Load of old tosh,` said Uncle Vernon. Harry jumped; he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "had almost forgotten that the Dursleys were there. Uncle Vernon certainly seemed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to have got back his courage. He was glaring at Hagrid and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "his fists were clenched. `Now, you listen here, boy,` he snarled,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`I accept there's something strange about you, probably nothing a good beating","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "wouldn't have cured -- and as for all this about your parents,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "well, they were weirdos, no denying it, and the world's better off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "without them in my opinion -- asked for all they got, getting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "mixed up with these wizarding types -- just what I expected, always","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "knew they'd come to a sticky end --` But at that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "moment, Hagrid leapt from the sofa and drew a battered pink umbrella","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "from inside his coat. Pointing this at Uncle Vernon like a sword,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he said, `I'm warning you, Dursley -I'm warning you -- one more","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "word... ` In danger of being speared on the end of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "an umbrella by a bearded giant, Uncle Vernon's courage failed again; he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "flattened himself against the wall and fell silent. `That's better,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Hagrid, breathing heavily and sitting back down on the sofa, which this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "time sagged right down to the floor. Harry, meanwhile, still had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "questions to ask, hundreds of them. `But what happened to Vol--,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "sorry -- I mean, You-Know-Who?` `Good question, Harry. Disappeared. Vanished. Same","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "night he tried ter kill you. Makes yeh even more famous. That's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "the biggest myst'ry, see... he was gettin' more an' more powerful --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "why'd he go? `Some say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Dunno if he had enough human left in him to die. Some","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "say he's still out there, bidin' his time, like, but I don'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "believe it. People who was on his side came back ter ours.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Some of 'em came outta kinda trances. Don~ reckon they could've done","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "if he was comin' back. `Most of us reckon he's still","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "out there somewhere but lost his powers. Too weak to carry on.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "'Cause somethin' about you finished him, Harry. There was somethin' goin' on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "that night he hadn't counted on -- I dunno what it was,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "no one does -- but somethin' about you stumped him, all right.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " Hagrid looked at Harry with warmth and respect blazing in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "eyes, but Harry, instead of feeling pleased and proud, felt quite sure","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "there had been a horrible mistake. A wizard? Him? How could he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "possibly be? He'd spent his life being clouted by Dudley, and bullied","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "by Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon; if he was really a wizard,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "why hadn't they been turned into warty toads every time they'd tried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to lock him in his cupboard? If he'd once defeated the greatest","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "sorcerer in the world, how come Dudley had always been able to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "kick him around like a football? `Hagrid,` he said quietly, `I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "think you must have made a mistake. I don't think I can","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "be a wizard.` To his surprise, Hagrid chuckled. `Not a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "wizard, eh? Never made things happen when you was scared or angry?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" " Harry looked into the fire. Now he came to think about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "it... every odd thing that had ever made his aunt and uncle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "furious with him had happened when he, Harry, had been upset or","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "angry... chased by Dudley's gang, he had somehow found himself out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "their reach... dreading going to school with that ridiculous haircut, he'd managed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to make it grow back... and the very last time Dudley had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "hit him, hadn't he got his revenge, without even realizing he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "doing it? Hadn't he set a boa constrictor on him? Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "looked back at Hagrid, smiling, and saw that Hagrid was positively beaming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "at him. `See?` said Hagrid. `Harry Potter, not a wizard --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "you wait, you'll be right famous at Hogwarts.` But Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "wasn't going to give in without a fight. `Haven't I told","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "you he's not going?` he hissed. `He's going to Stonewall High and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he'll be grateful for it. I've read those letters and he needs","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "all sorts of rubbish -- spell books and wands and --` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`If he wants ter go, a great Muggle like you won't stop","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "him,` growled Hagrid. `Stop Lily an' James Potter' s son goin' ter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Hogwarts! Yer mad. His name's been down ever since he was born.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "He's off ter the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "world. Seven years there and he won't know himself. He'll be with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "youngsters of his own sort, fer a change, an' he'll be under","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "the greatest headmaster Hogwarts ever had Albus Dumbled--` `I AM NOT","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL To TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!` yelled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Uncle Vernon. But he had finally gone too far. Hagrid seized","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "his umbrella and whirled it over his head, `NEVER,` he thundered, `-","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "INSULT- ALBUS- DUMBLEDORE- IN- FRONT- OF- ME!` He brought the umbrella","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "swishing down through the air to point at Dudley -- there was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a flash of violet light, a sound like a firecracker, a sharp","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "squeal, and the next second, Dudley was dancing on the spot with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "his hands clasped over his fat bottom, howling in pain. When he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "turned his back on them, Harry saw a curly pig's tail poking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "through a hole in his trousers. Uncle Vernon roared. Pulling Aunt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "Petunia and Dudley into the other room, he cast one last terrified","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "look at Hagrid and slammed the door behind them. Hagrid looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "down at his umbrella and stroked his beard. `Shouldn'ta lost me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "temper,` he said ruefully, `but it didn't work anyway. Meant ter turn","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "him into a pig, but I suppose he was so much like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a pig anyway there wasn't much left ter do.` He cast","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "a sideways look at Harry under his bushy eyebrows. `Be grateful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "if yeh didn't mention that ter anyone at Hogwarts,` he said. `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "-- er -- not supposed ter do magic, strictly speakin'. I was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "allowed ter do a bit ter follow yeh an' get yer letters","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "to yeh an' stuff -- one o' the reasons I was so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "keen ter take on the job `Why aren't you supposed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "do magic?` asked Harry. `Oh, well -- I was at Hogwarts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "meself but I -- er -- got expelled, ter tell yeh the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "truth. In me third year. They snapped me wand in half an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "everything. But Dumbledore let me stay on as gamekeeper. Great man, Dumbledore.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "`Why were you expelled?` `It's gettin' late and we've got lots","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "ter do tomorrow,` said Hagrid loudly. `Gotta get up ter town, get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "all yer books an' that.` He took off his thick black","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "coat and threw it to Harry. `You can kip under that,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "he said. `Don' mind if it wriggles a bit, I think I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "still got a couple o' dormice in one o' the pockets.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-4" "DIAGON ALLEY Harry woke early the next morning. Although he could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "tell it was daylight, he kept his eyes shut tight. `It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was a dream, he told himself firmly. `I dreamed a giant called","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a school for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wizards. When I open my eyes I'll be at home in my","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "cupboard.` There was suddenly a loud tapping noise. And there's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Aunt Petunia knocking on the door, Harry thought, his heart sinking. But","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he still didn't open his eyes. It had been such a good","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "dream. Tap. Tap. Tap. `All right,` Harry mumbled, `I'm getting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "up.` He sat up and Hagrid's heavy coat fell off him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "The hut was full of sunlight, the storm was over, Hagrid himself","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was asleep on the collapsed sofa, and there was an owl rapping","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "its claw on the window, a newspaper held in its beak. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry scrambled to his feet, so happy he felt as though a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "large balloon was swelling inside him. He went straight to the window","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and jerked it open. The owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "on top of Hagrid, who didn't wake up. The owl then fluttered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "onto the floor and began to attack Hagrid's coat. `Don't do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "that.` Harry tried to wave the owl out of the way,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "but it snapped its beak fiercely at him and carried on savaging","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the coat. `Hagrid!` said Harry loudly. `There's an owl `Pay","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "him,` Hagrid grunted into the sofa. `What?` `He wants payin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "fer deliverin' the paper. Look in the pockets.` Hagrid's coat seemed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "be made of nothing but pockets -- bunches of keys, slug pellets,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "balls of string, peppermint humbugs, teabags... finally, Harry pulled out a handful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of strange-looking coins. `Give him five Knuts,` said Hagrid sleepily. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Knuts?` `The little bronze ones.` Harry counted out five little","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "bronze coins, and the owl held out his leg so Harry could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "put the money into a small leather pouch tied to it. Then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he flew off through the open window. Hagrid yawned loudly, sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "up, and stretched. `Best be Off, Harry, lots ter do today,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "gotta get up ter London an' buy all yer stuff fer school.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " Harry was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "He had just thought of something that made him feel as though","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the happy balloon inside him had got a puncture. `Um --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Hagrid?` `Mm?` said Hagrid, who was pulling on his huge boots.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `I haven't got any money -- and you heard Uncle Vernon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "last night ... he won't pay for me to go and learn","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "magic.` `Don't worry about that,` said Hagrid, standing up and scratching","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "his head. `D'yeh think yer parents didn't leave yeh anything?` `But","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "if their house was destroyed --` `They didn' keep their gold","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in the house, boy! Nah, first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "bank. Have a sausage, they're not bad cold -- an' I wouldn'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "say no teh a bit o' yer birthday cake, neither.` `Wizards","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "have banks?` `Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins.` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "dropped the bit of sausage he was holding. `Goblins?` `Yeah","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "-- so yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it, I'll tell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "yeh that. Never mess with goblins, Harry. Gringotts is the safest place","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe -- 'cept","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "maybe Hogwarts. As a matter o' fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Fer Dumbledore. Hogwarts business.` Hagrid drew himself up proudly. `He usually gets","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you gettin' things from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Gringotts -- knows he can trust me, see. `Got everythin'? Come","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "on, then.` Harry followed Hagrid out onto the rock. The sky","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there, with a lot of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "water in the bottom after the storm. `How did you get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "here?` Harry asked, looking around for another boat. `Flew,` said Hagrid. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Flew?` `Yeah -- but we'll go back in this. Not s'pposed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ter use magic now I've got yeh.` They settled down in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the boat, Harry still staring at Hagrid, trying to imagine him flying.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `Seems a shame ter row, though,` said Hagrid, giving Harry another","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of his sideways looks. `If I was ter -- er -- speed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "things up a bit, would yeh mind not mentionin' it at Hogwarts?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `Of course not,` said Harry, eager to see more magic. Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "pulled out the pink umbrella again, tapped it twice on the side","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of the boat, and they sped off toward land. `Why would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?` Harry asked. `Spells","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "-- enchantments,` said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. `They say","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "there's dragons guardin' the highsecurity vaults. And then yeh gotta find yer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "way -- Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the Underground. Yeh'd die of hunger tryin' ter get out, even if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "yeh did manage ter get yer hands on summat.` Harry sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper, the Daily Prophet.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry had learned from Uncle Vernon that people liked to be left","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "alone while they did this, but it was very difficult, he'd never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had so many questions in his life. `Ministry o' Magic messin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "things up as usual,` Hagrid muttered, turning the page. `There's a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Ministry of Magic?` Harry asked, before he could stop himself. `'Course,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "said Hagrid. `They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, 0 ' course, but he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job. Bungler if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ever there was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "askin' fer advice.` `But what does a Ministry of Magic do?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "that there's still witches an' wizards up an' down the country.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Why?` `Why? Blimey, Harry, everyone'd be wantin' magic solutions to their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "problems. Nah, we're best left alone.` At this moment the boat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "bumped gently into the harbor wall. Hagrid folded up his newspaper, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "they clambered up the stone steps onto the street. Passersby stared","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the little town to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the station. Harry couldn't blame them. Not only was Hagrid twice as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "tall as anyone else, he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "parking meters and saying loudly, `See that, Harry? Things these Muggles dream","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "up, eh?` `Hagrid,` said Harry, panting a bit as he ran","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to keep up, `did you say there are dragons at Gringotts?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Well, so they say,` said Hagrid. `Crikey, I'd like a dragon.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`You'd like one?` `Wanted one ever since I was a kid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "-- here we go.` They had reached the station. There was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a train to London in five minutes' time. Hagrid, who didn't understand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Muggle money,` as he called it, gave the bills to Harry so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he could buy their tickets. People stared more than ever on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the train. Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "like a canary-yellow circus tent. `Still got yer letter, Harry?` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "asked as he counted stitches. Harry took the parchment envelope out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "his pocket. `Good,` said Hagrid. `There's a list there of everything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "yeh need.` Harry unfolded a second piece of paper he hadn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "noticed the night before, and read: HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "WIZARDRY UNIFORM First-year students will require: 1. Three sets","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of plain work robes (black) 2. One plain pointed hat (black)","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "for day wear 3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "or similar) 4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings) Please","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags COURSE BOOKS","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " All students should have a copy of each of the following:","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Waffling A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emetic Switch One","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore Magical Drafts and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Potions by Arsenius Jigger Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "by Newt Scamander The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Quentin Trimble OTHER EQUIPMENT wand cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "set glass or crystal phials telescope set brass scales","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "toad PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "OWN BROOMSTICKS `Can we buy all this in London?` Harry wondered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "aloud. `If yeh know where to go,` said Hagrid. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had never been to London before. Although Hagrid seemed to know where","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he was going, he was obviously not used to getting there in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "an ordinary way. He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Underground, and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "trains too slow. `I don't know how the Muggles manage without","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "magic,` he said as they climbed a broken-down escalator that led up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to a bustling road lined with shops. Hagrid was so huge","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "that he parted the crowd easily; all Harry had to do was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "keep close behind him. They passed book shops and music stores, hamburger","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as if it could sell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "you a magic wand. This was just an ordinary street full of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ordinary people. Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "beneath them? Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Might this not all be some huge joke that the Dursleys had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "cooked up? If Harry hadn't known that the Dursleys had no sense","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of humor, he might have thought so; yet somehow, even though everything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Hagrid had told him so far was unbelievable, Harry couldn't help trusting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "him. `This is it,` said Hagrid, coming to a halt, `the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place.` It was a tiny, grubby-looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "pub. If Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, Harry wouldn't have noticed it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was there. The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "slid from the big book shop on one side to the record","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "at all. In fact, Harry had the most peculiar feeling that only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he and Hagrid could see it. Before he could mention this, Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had steered him inside. For a famous place, it was very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. Everyone seemed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "reached for a glass, saying, `The usual, Hagrid?` `Can't, Tom, I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "on Hogwarts business,` said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on Harry's shoulder","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and making Harry's knees buckle. `Good Lord,` said the bartender, peering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "at Harry, `is this -- can this be --?` The Leaky","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent. `Bless my soul,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "whispered the old bartender, `Harry Potter... what an honor.` He hurried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "out from behind the bar, rushed toward Harry and seized his hand,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "tears in his eyes. `Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at him. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had gone out. Hagrid was beaming. Then there was a great","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry found himself shaking hands","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron. `Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "believe I'm meeting you at last.` `So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "just so proud.` `Always wanted to shake your hand -- I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "all of a flutter.` `Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can't tell you,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle.` `I've seen you before!` said Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. `You bowed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to me once in a shop.` `He remembers!` cried Dedalus Diggle,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "looking around at everyone. `Did you hear that? He remembers me!` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "shook hands again and again -- Doris Crockford kept coming back for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "more. A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "One of his eyes was twitching. `Professor Quirrell!` said Hagrid. `Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts.` `P-P-Potter,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand, `c-can't t-tell you how p- pleased","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "I am to meet you.` `What sort of magic do you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "teach, Professor Quirrell?` `D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts,` muttered Professor Quirrell,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "as though he'd rather not think about it. `N-not that you n-need","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "it, eh, P-P-Potter?` He laughed nervously. `You'll be g-getting all your equipment,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "m-myself.` He looked terrified at the very thought. But the others","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "make himself heard over the babble. `Must get on -- lots","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ter buy. Come on, Harry.` Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "last time, and Hagrid led them through the bar and out into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a few weeds. Hagrid grinned at Harry. `Told yeh, didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "meet yeh -- mind you, he's usually tremblin'.` `Is he always","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "that nervous?` `Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "year off ter get some firsthand experience.... They say he met vampires","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "with a hag -- never been the same since. Scared of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "students, scared of his own subject now, where's me umbrella?` Vampires?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Hags? Harry's head was swimming. Hagrid, meanwhile, was counting bricks in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wall above the trash can. `Three up... two across he muttered.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Right, stand back, Harry.` He tapped the wall three times with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the point of his umbrella. The brick he had touched quivered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "-- it wriggled -- in the middle, a small hole appeared --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "it grew wider and wider -- a second later they were facing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "street that twisted and turned out of sight. `Welcome,` said Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`to Diagon Alley.` He grinned at Harry's amazement. They stepped through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the archway. Harry looked quickly over his shoulder and saw the archway","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "shrink instantly back into solid wall. The sun shone brightly on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons -- All Sizes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "- Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver -- Self-Stirring -- Collapsible, said a sign","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "hanging over them. `Yeah, you'll be needin' one,` said Hagrid, `but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "we gotta get yer money first.` Harry wished he had about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping. A plump","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Dragon liver, seventeen Sickles an ounce, they're mad....` A low, soft","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Emporium -- Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Several boys of about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "it. `Look,` Harry heard one of them say, `the new Nimbus Two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Thousand -- fastest ever --` There were shops selling robes, shops selling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, windows stacked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon....","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `Gringotts,` said Hagrid. They had reached a snowy white building","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was - `Yeah,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "that's a goblin,` said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "stone steps toward him. The goblin was about a head shorter than","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "with words engraved upon them: Enter, stranger, but take heed ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Of what awaits the sin of greed, For those who take,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "but do not earn, Must pay most dearly in their turn.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was never yours, Thief, you have been warned, beware Of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "finding more than treasure there. `Like I said, Yeh'd be mad","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ter try an' rob it,` said Hagrid. A pair of goblins","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "bowed them through the silver doors and they were in a vast","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in and out of these. Hagrid and Harry made for the counter.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `Morning,` said Hagrid to a free goblin. `We've come ter take","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "some money outta Mr. Harry Potter's safe.` `You have his key,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Sir?` `Got it here somewhere,` said Hagrid, and he started emptying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "his pockets onto the counter, scattering a handful of moldy dog biscuits","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "over the goblin's book of numbers. The goblin wrinkled his nose. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "big as glowing coals. `Got it,` said Hagrid at last, holding","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "up a tiny golden key. The goblin looked at it closely.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `That seems to be in order.` `An' I've also got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a letter here from Professor Dumbledore,` said Hagrid importantly, throwing out his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "chest. `It's about the YouKnow-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "The goblin read the letter carefully. `Very well,` he said, handing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "it back to Hagrid, `I will have Someone take you down to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "both vaults. Griphook!` Griphook was yet another goblin. Once Hagrid had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets, he and Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?` Harry asked. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Can't tell yeh that,` said Hagrid mysteriously. `Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that.` Griphook","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "held the door open for them. Harry, who had expected more marble,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the floor. Griphook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "tracks toward them. They climbed in -- Hagrid with some difficulty --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and were off. At first they just hurtled through a maze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of twisting passages. Harry tried to remember, left, right, right, left, middle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "fork, right, left, but it was impossible. The rattling cart seemed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "know its own way, because Griphook wasn't steering. Harry's eyes stung","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "open. Once, he thought he saw a burst of fire at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a dragon, but too late - - they plunged even deeper, passing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and floor. I never know,` Harry called to Hagrid over the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "noise of the cart, `what's the difference between a stalagmite and a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "stalactite?` `Stalagmite's got an 'm' in it,` said Hagrid. `An' don'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ask me questions just now, I think I'm gonna be sick.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "He did look very green, and when the cart stopped at last","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid got out and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "out, and as it cleared, Harry gasped. Inside were mounds of gold","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts. `All yours,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "smiled Hagrid. All Harry's -- it was incredible. The Dursleys couldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "have known about this or they'd have had it from him faster","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "than blinking. How often had they complained how much Harry cost them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to keep? And all the time there had been a small fortune","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "belonging to him, buried deep under London. Hagrid helped Harry pile","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "some of it into a bag. `The gold ones are Galleons,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he explained. `Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a Sickle, it's easy enough. Right, that should be enough fer a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "couple o' terms, we'll keep the rest safe for yeh.` He turned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to Griphook. `Vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "go more slowly?` `One speed only,` said Griphook. They were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "going even deeper now and gathering speed. The air became colder and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "colder as they hurtled round tight corners. They went rattling over an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "underground ravine, and Harry leaned over the side to try to see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "what was down at the dark bottom, but Hagrid groaned and pulled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "him back by the scruff of his neck. Vault seven hundred","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and thirteen had no keyhole. `Stand back,` said Griphook importantly. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers and it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "simply melted away. `If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there,` said Griphook.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "asked. `About once every ten years,` said Griphook with a rather","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "nasty grin. Something really extraordinary had to be inside this top","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "security vault, Harry was sure, and he leaned forward eagerly, expecting to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "see fabulous jewels at the very least -- but at first he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "thought it was empty. Then he noticed a grubby little package wrapped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "up in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and tucked it deep inside his coat. Harry longed to know what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "it was, but knew better than to ask. `Come on, back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in this infernal cart, and don't talk to me on the way","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "back, it's best if I keep me mouth shut,` said Hagrid. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Gringotts. Harry didn't know where to run first now that he had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a bag full of money. He didn't have to know how many","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Galleons there were to a pound to know that he was holding","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "more money than he'd had in his whole life -- more money","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "than even Dudley had ever had. `Might as well get yer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "uniform,` said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. `Listen,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts.` He did still look","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a bit sick, so Harry entered Madam Malkin's shop alone, feeling nervous.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " `Hogwarts, clear?` she said, when Harry started to speak. `Got the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "lot here -- another young man being fitted up just now, in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "fact. ` In the back of the shop, a boy with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a stool next to him) slipped a long robe over his head,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and began to pin it to the right length. `Hello,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the boy, `Hogwarts, too?` `Yes,` said Harry. `My father's next","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice. `Then I'm going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to drag them off to took at racing brooms. I don't see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow.` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was strongly reminded of Dudley. `Have you got your own broom?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the boy went on. `No,` said Harry. `Play Quidditch at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "all?` `No,` Harry said again, wondering what on earth Quidditch could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "be. `I do -- Father says it's a crime if I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?` `No,` said Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "feeling more stupid by the minute. `Well, no one really knows","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Slytherin, all our family have been -- imagine being in Hufflepuff, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "think I'd leave, wouldn't you?` `Mmm,` said Harry, wishing he could say","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "something a bit more interesting. `I say, look at that man!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "said the boy suddenly, nodding toward the front window. Hagrid was standing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "there, grinning at Harry and pointing at two large ice creams to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "show he couldn't come in. `That's Hagrid,` said Harry, pleased to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "know something the boy didn't. `He works at Hogwarts.` `Oh,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the boy, `I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he?` `He's the gamekeeper,` said Harry. He was liking the boy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "less and less every second. `Yes, exactly. I heard he's a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "sort of savage -- lives in a hut on the school grounds","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and ends up setting fire to his bed.` `I think he's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "brilliant,` said Harry coldly. `Do you?` said the boy, with a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "slight sneer. `Why is he with you? Where are your parents?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`They're dead,` said Harry shortly. He didn't feel much like going into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the matter with this boy. `Oh, sorry,` said the other,. not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "sounding sorry at all. `But they were our kind, weren't they?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?` But before","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry could answer, Madam Malkin said, `That's you done, my dear,` and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry, not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "hopped down from the footstool. `Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "suppose,` said the drawling boy. Harry was rather quiet as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ate the ice cream Hagrid had bought him (chocolate and raspberry with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "chopped nuts). `What's up?` said Hagrid. `Nothing,` Harry lied. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "stopped to buy parchment and quills. Harry cheered up a bit when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he found a bottle of ink that changed color as you wrote.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "When they had left the shop, he said, `Hagrid, what's Quidditch?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Blimey, Harry, I keep forgettin' how little yeh know -- not knowin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "about Quidditch!` `Don't make me feel worse,` said Harry. He told","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Hagrid about the pate boy in Madam Malkin's. `--and he said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "people from Muggle families shouldn't even be allowed in.` `Yer not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "from a Muggle family. If he'd known who yeh were -- he's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "grown up knowin' yer name if his parents are wizardin' folk. You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "saw what everyone in the Leaky Cauldron was like when they saw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "yeh. Anyway, what does he know about it, some o' the best","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "I ever saw were the only ones with magic in 'em in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a long line 0' Muggles -- look at yer mum! Look what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "she had fer a sister!` `So what is Quidditch?` `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "our sport. Wizard sport. It's like -- like soccer in the Muggle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "world -- everyone follows Quidditch -- played up in the air on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "broomsticks and there's four balls -- sorta hard ter explain the rules.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?` `School houses. There's four. Everyone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but --` `I bet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "I'm in Hufflepuff` said Harry gloomily. `Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Hagrid darkly. `There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one.` `Vol-, sorry - You-Know-Who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was at Hogwarts?` `Years an' years ago,` said Hagrid. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "bought Harry's school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "with nothing in them at all. Even Dudley, who never read anything,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "would have been wild to get his hands on some of these.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Hagrid almost had to drag Harry away from Curses and Countercurses (Bewitch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Jelly-Legs, Tongue- Tying and Much, Much More) by Professor Vindictus Viridian. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`I was trying to find out how to curse Dudley.` `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "not sayin' that's not a good idea, but yer not ter use","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances,` said Hagrid.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`An' anyway, yeh couldn' work any of them curses yet, yeh'll need","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a lot more study before yeh get ter that level.` Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wouldn't let Harry buy a solid gold cauldron, either (`It says pewter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "on yer list`), but they got a nice set of scales for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope. Then they visited the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Apothecary, which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "hung from the ceiling. While Hagrid asked the man behind the counter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for Harry, Harry himself","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "examined silver unicorn horns at twenty-one Galleons each and minuscule, glittery-black beetle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "eyes (five Knuts a scoop). Outside the Apothecary, Hagrid checked Harry's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "list again. `Just yer wand left - A yeah, an' I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "still haven't got yeh a birthday present.` Harry felt himself go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "red. `You don't have to --` `I know I don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "have to. Tell yeh what, I'll get yer animal. Not a toad,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh'd be laughed at - an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "I don' like cats, they make me sneeze. I'll get yer an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "owl. All the kids want owls, they're dead useful, carry yer mail","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "an' everythin'.` Twenty minutes later, they left Eeylops Owl Emporium, which","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had been dark and full of rustling and flickering, jewel-bright eyes. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "now carried a large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl, fast","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "asleep with her head under her wing. He couldn't stop stammering his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "thanks, sounding just like Professor Quirrell. `Don' mention it,` said Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "gruffly. `Don' expect you've had a lotta presents from them Dursleys. Just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Ollivanders left now - only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeh gotta","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "have the best wand.` A magic wand... this was what Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had been really looking forward to. The last shop was narrow","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A single wand lay on a faded","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "purple cushion in the dusty window. A tinkling bell rang somewhere","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair that Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "sat on to wait. Harry felt strangely as though he had entered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a very strict library; he swallowed a lot of new questions that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "had just occurred to him and looked instead at the thousands of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "here seemed to tingle with some secret magic. `Good afternoon,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a soft voice. Harry jumped. Hagrid must have jumped, too, because there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "was a loud crunching noise and he got quickly off the spindly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "chair. An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop. `Hello,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "said Harry awkwardly. `Ah yes,` said the man. `Yes, yes. I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter.` It wasn't a question.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work.` Mr. Ollivander","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "moved closer to Harry. Harry wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "were a bit creepy. `Your father, on the other hand, favored","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it -- it's really","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the wand that chooses the wizard, of course.` Mr. Ollivander had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "come so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes. `And that's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "where...` Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "a long, white finger. `I'm sorry to say I sold the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wand that did it,` he said softly. `Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "that wand was going out into the world to do....` He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "shook his head and then, to Harry's relief, spotted Hagrid. `Rubeus!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again.... Oak, sixteen inches, rather","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "bendy, wasn't it?` `It was, sir, yes,` said Hagrid. `Good","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "you got expelled?` said Mr. Ollivander, suddenly stern. `Er -- yes,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "they did, yes,` said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. `I've still got the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "pieces, though,` he added brightly. `But you don't use them?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Mr. Ollivander sharply. `Oh, no, sit,` said Hagrid quickly. Harry noticed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he gripped his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke. `Hmmm,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "said Mr. Ollivander, giving Hagrid a piercing look. `Well, now -- Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Potter. Let me see.` He pulled a long tape measure with silver","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "markings out of his pocket. `Which is your wand arm?` `Er","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "-- well, I'm right-handed,` said Harry. `Hold out your arm. That's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "it.` He measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "measured, he said, `Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wand.` Harry suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "between his nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes. `That will do,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "inches. Nice and flexible. just take it and give it a wave.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " Harry took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "once. `Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try --`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " Harry tried -- but he had hardly raised the wand when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander. `No, no -here,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "go on, try it out.` Harry tried. And tried. He had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to become. `Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "perfect match here somewhere -- I wonder, now - - yes, why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "not -- unusual combination -- holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and supple.` Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "of light on to the walls. Hagrid whooped and clapped and Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Ollivander cried, `Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "how curious... how very curious... ` He put Harry's wand back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, `Curious...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "curious.. `Sorry,` said Harry, `but what's curious?` Mr. Ollivander fixed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry with his pale stare. `I remember every wand I've ever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather -- just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "for this wand when its brother why, its brother gave you that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "scar.` Harry swallowed. `Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember.... I think we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter.... After all, He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "did great things -- terrible, yes, but great.` Harry shivered. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wasn't sure he liked Mr. Ollivander too much. He paid seven gold","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Galleons for his wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" " The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "and Hagrid made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron, now empty. Harry didn't speak at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "all as they walked down the road; he didn't even notice how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "much people were gawking at them on the Underground, laden as they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "were with all their funny-shaped packages, with the snowy owl asleep in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "its cage on Harry's lap. Up another escalator, out into Paddington station;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Harry only realized where they were when Hagrid tapped him on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "shoulder. `Got time fer a bite to eat before yer train","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "leaves,` he said. He bought Harry a hamburger and they sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "down on plastic seats to eat them. Harry kept looking around. Everything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "looked so strange, somehow. `You all right, Harry? Yer very quiet,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "said Hagrid. Harry wasn't sure he could explain. He'd just had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "the best birthday of his life -- and yet -- he chewed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "his hamburger, trying to find the words. `Everyone thinks I'm special,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he said at last. `All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Quirrell, Mr. Ollivander... but I don't know anything about magic at all.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "How can they expect great things? I'm famous and I can't even","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "remember what I'm famous for. I don't know what happened when Vol-,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "sorry -- I mean, the night my parents died.` Hagrid leaned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "across the table. Behind the wild beard and eyebrows he wore a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "very kind smile. `Don' you worry, Harry. You'll learn fast enough.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts, you'll be just fine. just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "be yerself. I know it's hard. Yeh've been singled out, an' that's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "always hard. But yeh'll have a great time at Hogwarts -- I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "did -- still do, 'smatter of fact.` Hagrid helped Harry on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "to the train that would take him back to the Dursleys, then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "handed him an envelope. `Yer ticket fer Hogwarts, ` he said.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "`First o' September -- King's Cross -- it's all on yer ticket.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "Any problems with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "she'll know where to find me.... See yeh soon, Harry.` The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "train pulled out of the station. Harry wanted to watch Hagrid until","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "he was out of sight; he rose in his seat and pressed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "his nose against the window, but he blinked and Hagrid had gone. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-5" "THE JOURNEY FROM PLATFORM NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS Harry's last month with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the Dursleys wasn't fun. True, Dudley was now so scared of Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "he wouldn't stay in the same room, while Aunt Petunia and Uncle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Vernon didn't shut Harry in his cupboard, force him to do anything,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "or shout at him -- in fact, they didn't speak to him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "at all. Half terrified, half furious, they acted as though any chair","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "with Harry in it were empty. Although this was an improvement in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "many ways, it did become a bit depressing after a while. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry kept to his room, with his new owl for company. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "had decided to call her Hedwig, a name he had found in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "A History of Magic. His school books were very interesting. He lay","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "on his bed reading late into the night, Hedwig swooping in and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "out of the open window as she pleased. It was lucky that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Aunt Petunia didn't come in to vacuum anymore, because Hedwig kept bringing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "back dead mice. Every night before he went to sleep, Harry ticked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "off another day on the piece of paper he had pinned to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the wall, counting down to September the first. On the last","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "day of August he thought he'd better speak to his aunt and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "uncle about getting to King's Cross station the next day, so he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "went down to the living room where they were watching a quiz","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "show on television. He cleared his throat to let them know he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was there, and Dudley screamed and ran from the room. `Er","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "-- Uncle Vernon?` Uncle Vernon grunted to show he was listening.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Er -- I need to be at King's Cross tomorrow to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "-- to go to Hogwarts.` Uncle Vernon grunted again. `Would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "it be all right if you gave me a lift?` Grunt.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry supposed that meant yes. `Thank you.` He was about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to go back upstairs when Uncle Vernon actually spoke. `Funny way","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "punctures, have they?` Harry didn't say anything. `Where is this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "school, anyway?` `I don't know,` said Harry, realizing this for the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "first time. He pulled the ticket Hagrid had given him out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his pocket. `I just take the train from platform nine and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "three-quarters at eleven o'clock,` he read. His aunt and uncle stared.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Platform what?` `Nine and three-quarters.` `Don't talk rubbish,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Uncle Vernon. `There is no platform nine and three-quarters.` `It's on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "my ticket.` `Barking,` said Uncle Vernon, `howling mad, the lot of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "them. You'll see. You just wait. All right, we'll take you to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "King's Cross. We're going up to London tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "bother.` `Why are you going to London?` Harry asked, trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "keep things friendly. `Taking Dudley to the hospital,` growled Uncle Vernon.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " Harry woke at five o'clock the next morning and was too","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "excited and nervous to go back to sleep. He got up and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "pulled on his jeans because he didn't want to walk into the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "station in his wizard's robes -- he'd change on the train. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "checked his Hogwarts list yet again to make sure he had everything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "he needed, saw that Hedwig was shut safely in her cage, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "then paced the room, waiting for the Dursleys to get up. Two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "hours later, Harry's huge, heavy trunk had been loaded into the Dursleys'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "car, Aunt Petunia had talked Dudley into sitting next to Harry, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "they had set off. They reached King's Cross at half past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "ten. Uncle Vernon dumped Harry's trunk onto a cart and wheeled it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "into the station for him. Harry thought this was strangely kind until","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Uncle Vernon stopped dead, facing the platforms with a nasty grin on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his face. `Well, there you are, boy. Platform nine -- platform","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "seem to have built it yet, do they?` He was quite","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "right, of course. There was a big plastic number nine over one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "platform and a big plastic number ten over the one next to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "it, and in the middle, nothing at all. `Have a good","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "term,` said Uncle Vernon with an even nastier smile. He left without","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "another word. Harry turned and saw the Dursleys drive away. All three","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of them were laughing. Harry's mouth went rather dry. What on earth","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was he going to do? He was starting to attract a lot","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of funny looks, because of Hedwig. He'd have to ask someone. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "He stopped a passing guard, but didn't dare mention platform nine and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "three-quarters. The guard had never heard of Hogwarts and when Harry couldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "even tell him what part of the country it was in, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "started to get annoyed, as though Harry was being stupid on purpose.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Getting desperate, Harry asked for the train that left at eleven o'clock,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "but the guard said there wasn't one. In the end the guard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "strode away, muttering about time wasters. Harry was now trying hard not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to panic. According to the large clock over the arrivals board, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "had ten minutes left to get on the train to Hogwarts and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "he had no idea how to do it; he was stranded in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the middle of a station with a trunk he could hardly lift,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a pocket full of wizard money, and a large owl. Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "must have forgotten to tell him something you had to do, like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "tapping the third brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "He wondered if he should get out his wand and start tapping","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the ticket inspector's stand between platforms nine and ten. At that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "moment a group of people passed just behind him and he caught","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a few words of what they were saying. `-- packed with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Muggles, of course --` Harry swung round. The speaker was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "plump woman who was talking to four boys, all with flaming red","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "hair. Each of them was pushing a trunk like Harry's in front","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of him -- and they had an owl. Heart hammering, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "pushed his cart after them. They stopped and so did he, just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "near enough to hear what they were saying. `Now, what's the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "platform number?` said the boys' mother. `Nine and three-quarters!` piped a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "small girl, also red-headed, who was holding her hand, `Mom, can't I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "go... ` `You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "right, Percy, you go first.` What looked like the oldest boy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "marched toward platforms nine and ten. Harry watched, careful not to blink","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "in case he missed it -- but just as the boy reached","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the dividing barrier between the two platforms, a large crowd of tourists","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "came swarming in front of him and by the time the last","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "backpack had cleared away, the boy had vanished. `Fred, you next,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the plump woman said. `I'm not Fred, I'm George,` said the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "boy. `Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? CarA you tell I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "George?` `Sorry, George, dear.` `Only joking, I am Fred,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the boy, and off he went. His twin called after him to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "hurry up, and he must have done so, because a second later,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "he had gone -- but how had he done it? Now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the third brother was walking briskly toward the barrier he was almost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there -- and then, quite suddenly, he wasn't anywhere. There was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "nothing else for it. `Excuse me,` Harry said to the plump","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "woman. `Hello, dear,` she said. `First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "too.` She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and a long nose. `Yes,` said Harry. `The thing is --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the thing is, I don't know how to --` `How to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "get onto the platform?` she said kindly, and Harry nodded. `Not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to worry,` she said. `All you have to do is walk straight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "now before Ron.` `Er -- okay,` said Harry. He pushed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his trolley around and stared at the barrier. It looked very solid.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " He started to walk toward it. People jostled him on their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "way to platforms nine and ten. Harry walked more quickly. He was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "going to smash right into that barrier and then he'd be in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "trouble -- leaning forward on his cart, he broke into a heavy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "run -- the barrier was coming nearer and nearer -- he wouldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "be able to stop -- the cart was out of control --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "he was a foot away -- he closed his eyes ready for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the crash -- It didn't come... he kept on running... he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "opened his eyes. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven O'clock.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it, He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "had done it. Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound here and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "seats. Harry pushed his cart off down the platform in search of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "an empty seat. He passed a round-faced boy who was saying, `Gran,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "I've lost my toad again.` `Oh, Neville,` he heard the old","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "woman sigh. A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "crowd. `Give us a look, Lee, go on.` The boy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out a long,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "hairy leg. Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "an empty compartment near the end of the train. He put Hedwig","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "inside first and then started to shove and heave his trunk toward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the train door. He tried to lift it up the steps but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "could hardly raise one end and twice he dropped it painfully on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his foot. `Want a hand?` It was one of the red-haired","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "twins he'd followed through the barrier. `Yes, please,` Harry panted. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Oy, Fred! C'mere and help!` With the twins' help, Harry's trunk","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was at last tucked away in a corner of the compartment. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Thanks,` said Harry, pushing his sweaty hair out of his eyes. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`What's that?` said one of the twins suddenly, pointing at Harry's lightning","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "scar. `Blimey,` said the other twin. `Are you `He is,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "said the first twin. `Aren't you?` he added to Harry. `What?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "said Harry. `Harry Potter, `chorused the twins. `Oh, him,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry. `I mean, yes, I am.` The two boys gawked at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "him, and Harry felt himself turning red. Then, to his relief, a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "voice came floating in through the train's open door. `Fred? George?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Are you there?` `Coming, Mom.` With a last look at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry, the twins hopped off the train. Harry sat down next","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to the window where, half hidden, he could watch the red-haired family","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "on the platform and hear what they were saying. Their mother had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "just taken out her handkerchief. `Ron, you've got something on your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "nose.` The youngest boy tried to jerk out of the way,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Mom -- geroff` He wriggled free. `Aaah, has ickle Ronnie","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "got somefink on his nosie?` said one of the twins. `Shut","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "up,` said Ron. `Where's Percy?` said their mother. `He's coming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "now.` The oldest boy came striding into sight. He had already","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Harry noticed a shiny","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "silver badge on his chest with the letter P on it. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Can't stay long, Mother,` he said. `I'm up front, the prefects have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "got two compartments to themselves --` `Oh, are you a prefect,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Percy?` said one of the twins, with an air of great surprise.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`You should have said something, we had no idea.` `Hang on,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "I think I remember him saying something about it,` said the other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "twin. `Once --` `Or twice --` `A minute --` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`All summer --` `Oh, shut up,` said Percy the Prefect. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?` said one of the twins.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Because he's a prefect,` said their mother fondly. `All right, dear,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "well, have a good term -- send me an owl when you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "get there.` She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Then she turned to the twins. `Now, you two -- this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "you've -- you've blown up a toilet or --` `Blown up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet.` `Great idea though,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "thanks, Mom.` `It's not funny. And look after Ron.` `Don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us.` `Shut up,` said Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "again. He was almost as tall as the twins already and his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "nose was still pink where his mother had rubbed it. `Hey,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Mom, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry leaned back quickly so they couldn't see him looking. `You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "who he is?` `Who?` `Harry Potter!` Harry heard the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "little girl's voice. `Oh, Mom, can I go on the train","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and see him, Mom, eh please....` `You've already seen him, Ginny,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Is he really, Fred? How do you know?` `Asked him. Saw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his scar. It's really there - like lightning.` `Poor dear -","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "no wonder he was alone, I wondered. He was ever so polite","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "when he asked how to get onto the platform.` `Never mind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?` Their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "mother suddenly became very stern. `I forbid you to ask him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "on his first day at school.` `All right, keep your hair","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "on.` A whistle sounded. `Hurry up!` their mother said, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the three boys clambered onto the train. They leaned out of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "window for her to kiss them good-bye, and their younger sister began","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to cry. `Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.` `George!` `Only joking,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Mom.` The train began to move. Harry saw the boys' mother","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "waving and their sister, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "with the train until it gathered too much speed, then she fell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "back and waved. Harry watched the girl and her mother disappear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "as the train rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "felt a great leap of excitement. He didn't know what he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "going to but it had to be better than what he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "leaving behind. The door of the compartment slid open and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "youngest redheaded boy came in. `Anyone sitting there?` he asked, pointing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "at the seat opposite Harry. `Everywhere else is full.` Harry shook","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "then looked quickly out of the window, pretending he hadn't looked. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "saw he still had a black mark on his nose. `Hey,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Ron.` The twins were back. `Listen, we're going down the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "middle of the train -- Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there.` `Right,` mumbled Ron. `Harry,` said the other twin, `did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "brother. See you later, then. `Bye,` said Harry and Ron. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "twins slid the compartment door shut behind them. `Are you really","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry Potter?` Ron blurted out. Harry nodded. `Oh -well, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes,` said Ron.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`And have you really got -- you know...` He pointed at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry's forehead. Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "scar. Ron stared. `So that's where You-Know-Who `Yes,` said Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`but I can't remember it.` `Nothing?` said Ron eagerly. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Well -- I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Wow,` said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "few moments, then, as though he had suddenly realized what he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "doing, he looked quickly out of the window again. `Are all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "your family wizards?` asked Harry, who found Ron just as interesting as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Ron found him. `Er -- Yes, I think so,` said Ron.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`I think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "never talk about him.` `So you must know loads of magic","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "already.` The Weasleys were clearly one of those old wizarding families","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the pale boy in Diagon Alley had talked about. `I heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "you went to live with Muggles,` said Ron. `What are they like?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Horrible -well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "cousin are, though. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers.` `Five,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Ron. For some reason, he was looking gloomy. `I'm the sixth in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "me to do as well as the others, but if I do,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "old wand, and Percy's old rat.` Ron reached inside his jacket","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and pulled out a fat gray rat, which was asleep. `His","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, but they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "couldn't aff -- I mean, I got Scabbers instead.` Ron's ears","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "went pink. He seemed to think he'd said too much, because he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "went back to staring out of the window. Harry didn't think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there was anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "After all, he'd never had any money in his life until a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "month ago, and he told Ron so, all about having to wear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Dudley's old clothes and never getting proper birthday presents. This seemed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "cheer Ron up. `... and until Hagrid told me, I didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "know anything about be ing a wizard or about my parents or","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Voldemort` Ron gasped. `What?` said Harry. `You said You-Know-Who's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "name!` said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. `I'd have thought you,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of all people --` `I'm not trying to be brave or","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "anything, saying the name,` said Harry, I just never knew you shouldn't.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "See what I mean? I've got loads to learn.... I bet,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "added, voicing for the first time something that had been worrying him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a lot lately, `I bet I'm the worst in the class.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`You won't be. There's loads of people who come from Muggle families","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and they learn quick enough.` While they had been talking, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "train had carried them out of London. Now they were speeding past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "fields full of cows and sheep. They were quiet for a time,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "watching the fields and lanes flick past. Around half past twelve","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "dimpled woman slid back their door and said, `Anything off the cart,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "dears?` Harry, who hadn't had any breakfast, leapt to his feet,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "but Ron's ears went pink again and he muttered that he'd brought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "sandwiches. Harry went out into the corridor. He had never had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "any money for candy with the Dursleys, and now that he had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "pockets rattling with gold and silver he was ready to buy as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "many Mars Bars as he could carry -- but the woman didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "have Mars Bars. What she did have were Bettie Bott's Every Flavor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs. Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had never seen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "in his life. Not wanting to miss anything, he got some of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "everything and paid the woman eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " Ron stared as Harry brought it all back in to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "compartment and tipped it onto an empty seat. `Hungry, are you?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Starving,` said Harry, taking a large bite out of a pumpkin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "pasty. Ron had taken out a lumpy package and unwrapped it.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "There were four sandwiches inside. He pulled one of them apart and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "said, `She always forgets I don't like corned beef.` `Swap you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "for one of these,` said Harry, holding up a pasty. `Go on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "--` `You don't want this, it's all dry,` said Ron. `She","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "hasn't got much time,` he added quickly, `you know, with five of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "us.` `Go on, have a pasty,` said Harry, who had never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "through all Harry's pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten). ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`What are these?` Harry asked Ron, holding up a pack of Chocolate","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Frogs. `They're not really frogs, are they?` He was starting to feel","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "that nothing would surprise him. `No,` said Ron. `But see what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the card is. I'm missing Agrippa.` `What?` `Oh, of course,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "you wouldn't know -- Chocolate Frogs have cards, inside them, you know,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to collect -- famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy.` Harry unwrapped his Chocolate","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Frog and picked up the card. It showed a man's face. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "wore half- moon glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "hair, beard, and mustache. Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `So this is Dumbledore!` said Harry. `Don't tell me you'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "never heard of Dumbledore!` said Ron. `Can I have a frog? I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "might get Agrippa -- thanks Harry turned over his card and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "read: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS Considered by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "bowling. Harry turned the card back over and saw, to his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "astonishment, that Dumbledore's face had disappeared. `He's gone!` `Well, you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "can't expect him to hang around all day,` said Ron. `He'll be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "back. No, I've got Morgana again and I've got about six of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "her... do you want it? You can start collecting.` Ron's eyes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "strayed to the pile of Chocolate Frogs waiting to be unwrapped. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Help yourself,` said Harry. `But in, you know, the Muggle world, people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "just stay put in photos.` `Do they? What, they don't move","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "at all?` Ron sounded amazed. `weird!` Harry stared as Dumbledore sidled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "back into the picture on his card and gave him a small","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "smile. Ron was more interested in eating the frogs than looking at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the Famous Witches and Wizards cards, but Harry couldn't keep his eyes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "off them. Soon he had not only Dumbledore and Morgana, but Hengist","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of Woodcroft, Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, and Merlin. He finally tore his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "eyes away from the druidess Cliodna, who was scratching her nose, to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "open a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. `You want","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to be careful with those,` Ron warned Harry. `When they say every","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "flavor, they mean every flavor -- you know, you get all the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and mar- malade, but then you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "booger- flavored one once.` Ron picked up a green bean, looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "at it carefully, and bit into a corner. `Bleaaargh -- see?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Sprouts.` They had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry got toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, coffee, sardine, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was even brave enough to nibble the end off a funny gray","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "one Ron wouldn't touch, which turned out to be pepper. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " There was a knock on the door of their compartment and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the round-faced boy Harry had passed on platform nine and threequarters came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "in. He looked tearful. `Sorry,` he said, `but have you seen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a toad at all?` When they shook their heads, he wailed,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!` `He'll turn","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "up,` said Harry. `Yes,` said the boy miserably. `Well, if you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "see him...` He left. `Don't know why he's so bothered,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "said Ron. `If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " The rat was still snoozing on Ron's lap. `He might","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "have died and you wouldn't know the difference,` said Ron in disgust.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look...` He rummaged","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway He had just raised","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his 'wand when the compartment door slid open again. The toadless boy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes. `Has anyone seen a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "toad? Neville's lost one,` she said. She had a bossy sort of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`We've already told him we haven't seen it,` said Ron, but the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "girl wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then.` She","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "sat down. Ron looked taken aback. `Er -- all right.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "He cleared his throat. `Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "fat rat yellow.` He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "stayed gray and fast asleep. `Are you sure that's a real","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "spell?` said the girl. `Well, it's not very good, is it? I've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "witchcraft there is, I've heard -- I've learned all our course books","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you. She said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "all this very fast. Harry looked at Ron, and was relieved","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to see by his stunned face that he hadn't learned all the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "course books by heart either. `I'm Ron Weasley,` Ron muttered. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Harry Potter,` said Harry. `Are you really?` said Hermione. `I know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "all about you, of course -- I got a few extra books.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Twentieth Century. `Am I?` said Harry, feeling dazed. `Goodness, didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "me,` said Hermione. `Do either of you know what house you'll be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad.... Anyway, we'd better go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "I expect we'll be there soon.` And she left, taking the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "toadless boy with her. `Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "not in it,` said Ron. He threw his wand back into his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "trunk. `Stupid spell -- George gave it to me, bet he knew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "it was a dud.` `What house are your brothers in?` asked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry. `Gryffindor,` said Ron. Gloom seemed to be settling on him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "again. `Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin.` `That's the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "house Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who was in?` `Yeah,` said Ron. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "flopped back into his seat, looking depressed. `You know, I think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the ends of Scabbers' whiskers are a bit lighter,` said Harry, trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to take Ron's mind off houses. `So what do your oldest brothers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "do now that they've left, anyway?` Harry was wondering what a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "wizard did once he'd finished school. `Charlie's in Romania studying dragons,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts,` said Ron. `Did you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles -- someone tried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to rob a high security vault.` Harry stared. `Really? What","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "happened to them?` `Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "in case You-Know-Who's behind it.` Harry turned this news over in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his mind. He was starting to get a prickle of fear every","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "time You- Know-Who was mentioned. He supposed this was all part of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "entering the magical world, but it had been a lot more comfortable","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "saying `Voldemort` without worrying. `What's your Quidditch team?` Ron asked. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Er -- I don't know any,` Harry confessed. `What!` Ron looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "dumbfounded. `Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world --`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "And he was off, explaining all about the four balls and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "positions of the seven players, describing famous games he'd been to with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his brothers and the broomstick he'd like to get if he had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the money. He was just taking Harry through the finer points of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the game when the compartment door slid open yet again, but it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "wasn't Neville the toadless boy, or Hermione Granger this time. Three","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "boys entered, and Harry recognized the middle one at once: it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop. He was looking at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry with a lot more interest than he'd shown back in Diagon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Alley. `Is it true?` he said. `They're saying all down the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Yes,` said Harry. He was looking at the other boys. Both","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing on either side","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards. `Oh, this is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Crabbe and this is Goyle,` said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Harry was looking. `And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.` Ron gave","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigget. Draco Malfoy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "looked at him. `Think my name's funny, do you? No need","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "He turned back to Harry. `You'll soon find out some wizarding families","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.` He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "myself, thanks,` he said coolly. Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks. `I'd be careful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "if I were you, Potter,` he said slowly. `Unless you're a bit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Both Harry and Ron stood up. `Say that again,` Ron said,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "his face as red as his hair. `Oh, you're going to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "fight us, are you?` Malfoy sneered. `Unless you get out now,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "said Harry, more bravely than he felt, because Crabbe and Goyle were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a lot bigger than him or Ron. `But we don't feet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food and you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "still seem to have some.` Goyle reached toward the Chocolate Frogs","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "next to Ron - Ron leapt forward, but before he'd so much","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "as touched Goyle, Goyle let out a horrible yell. Scabbers the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth sunk deep into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Goyle's knuckle - Crabbe and Malfoy backed away as Goyle swung Scabbers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "round and round, howling, and when Scabbets finally flew off and hit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the window, all three of them disappeared at once. Perhaps they thought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there were more rats lurking among the sweets, or perhaps they'd heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "footsteps, because a second later, Hermione Granger had come in. `What","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "has been going on?` she said, looking at the sweets all over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the floor and Ron picking up Scabbers by his tail. I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "think he's been knocked out,` Ron said to Harry. He looked closer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "at Scabbers. `No -- I don't believe it -- he's gone back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to sleep-` And so he had. `You've met Malfoy before?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " Harry explained about their meeting in Diagon Alley. `I've heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of his family,` said Ron darkly. `They were some of the first","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "an excuse to go over to the Dark Side.` He turned to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Hermione. `Can we help you with something?` `You'd better hurry up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there!` `Scabbers has been fighting, not us,` said Ron, scowling at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "her. `Would you mind leaving while we change?` `All right --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "racing up and down the corridors,` said Hermione in a sniffy voice.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "know?` Ron glared at her as she left. Harry peered out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of the window. It was getting dark. He could see mountains and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "slowing down. He and Ron took off their jackets and pulled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "on their long black robes. Ron's were a bit short for him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "you could see his sneakers underneath them. A voice echoed through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the train: `We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "school separately.` Harry's stomach lurched with nerves and Ron, he saw,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "looked pale under his freckles. They crammed their pockets with the last","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "of the sweets and joined the crowd thronging the corridor. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "heads of the students, and Harry heard a familiar voice: `Firs' years!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?` Hagrid's big hairy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "face beamed over the sea of heads. `C'mon, follow me --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "twice. `Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "sec,` Hagrid called over his shoulder, `jus' round this bend here.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "There was a loud `Oooooh!` The narrow path had opened suddenly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "onto the edge of a great black take. Perched atop a high","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. `No more'n","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "four to a boat!` Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "followed into their boat by Neville and Hermione. `Everyone in?` shouted Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "who had a boat to himself. `Right then -- FORWARD!` And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "`Heads down!` yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles. `Oy, you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "there! Is this your toad?` said Hagrid, who was checking the boats","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "as people climbed out of them. `Trevor!` cried Neville blissfully, holding","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, Oak front door.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" " `Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?` Hagrid raised","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-6" "THE SORTING HAT The door swung open at once. A tall,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "face and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "cross. `The firs' years, Professor McGonagall,` said Hagrid. `Thank you,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Hagrid. I will take them from here.` She pulled the door","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "whole of the Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls were lit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to the upper floors. They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a doorway to the right -the rest of the school must already","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "be here -- but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously. `Welcome","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to Hogwarts,` said Professor McGonagall. `The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "while you are here, your house will be something like your family","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "common room. `The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the end of the year, the house with the most points is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. `The Sorting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "much as you can while you are waiting.` Her eyes lingered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "hair. `I shall return when we are ready for you,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Professor McGonagall. `Please wait quietly.` She left the chamber. Harry swallowed.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " `How exactly do they sort us into houses?` he asked Ron.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " `Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "lot, but I think he was joking.` Harry's heart gave a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "horrible jolt. A test? In front of the whole school? But he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "didn't know any magic yet -- what on earth would he have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to do? He hadn't expected something like this the moment they arrived.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "He looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else looked terrified, too.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "No one was talking much except Hermione Granger, who was whispering very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "fast about all the spells she'd learned and wondering which one she'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "need. Harry tried hard not to listen to her. He'd never been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "more nervous, never, not even when he'd had to take a school","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "report home to the Dursleys saying that he'd somehow turned his teacher's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "wig blue. He kept his eyes fixed on the door. Any second","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "now, Professor McGonagall would come back and lead him to his doom.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " Then something happened that made him jump about a foot in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the air -- several people behind him screamed. `What the --?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " He gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "fat little monk was saying: `Forgive and forget, I say, we ought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to give him a second chance --` `My dear Friar, haven't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "-- I say, what are you all doing here?` A ghost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Nobody answered. `New students!` said the Fat Friar, smiling around at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "them. `About to be Sorted, I suppose?` A few people nodded","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "mutely. `Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!` said the Friar. `My","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "old house, you know.` `Move along now,` said a sharp voice.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "`The Sorting Ceremony's about to start.` Professor McGonagall had returned. One","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall. `Now,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "form a line,` Professor McGonagall told the first years, `and follow me.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " Feeling oddly as though his legs had turned to lead, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with Ron behind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "they came to a halt in a line facing the other students,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the staring eyes, Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper, `Its bewitched to look","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "heavens. Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and frayed and extremely dirty. Aunt Petunia wouldn't have let it in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the house. Maybe they had to try and get a rabbit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "out of it, Harry thought wildly, that seemed the sort of thing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "-- noticing that everyone in the hall was now staring at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "hat, he stared at it, too. For a few seconds, there was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "wide like a mouth -- and the hat began to sing: ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "`Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "A smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " Your top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Sorting Hat And I can cap them all. There's nothing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can't see, So","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "try me on and I will tell you Where you ought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffis are true And unafraid of toil; ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " Where those of wit and learning, Will always find","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "ends. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "get in a flap! You're in safe hands (though I have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "none) For I'm a Thinking Cap!` The whole hall burst","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "of the four tables and then became quite still again. `So","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "we've just got to try on the hat!` Ron whispered to Harry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "`I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry. smiled weakly. Yes, trying on the hat was a lot better","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "than having to do a spell, but he did wish they could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "have tried it on without everyone watching. The hat seemed to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "asking rather alot; Harry didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "it at the moment. If only the hat had mentioned a house","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "one for him. Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "roll of parchment. `When I call your name, you will put","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,` she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "said. `Abbott, Hannah!` A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "eyes, and sat down. A moments pause -- `HUFFLEPUFF!` shouted the hat.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the Fat Friar waving merrily at her. `Bones, Susan!` `HUFFLEPUFF!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Hannah. `Boot, Terry!` `RAVENCLAW!` The table second from the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Terry as he joined them. ` Brocklehurst, Mandy` went to Ravenclaw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "too, but `Brown, Lavender` became the first new Gryffindor, and the table","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "on the far left exploded with cheers; Harry could see Ron's twin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "brothers catcalling. `Bulstrode, Millicent` then became a Slytherin. Perhaps it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry's imagination, after all he'd heard about Slytherin, but he thought they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "looked like an unpleasant lot. He was starting to feel definitely sick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "now. He remembered being picked for teams during gym at his old","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "school. He had always been last to be chosen, not because he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "was no good, but because no one wanted Dudley to think they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "liked him. `Finch-Fletchley, Justin!` `HUFFLEPUFF!` Sometimes, Harry noticed, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "hat shouted out the house at once, but at others it took","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a little while to decide. `Finnigan, Seamus,` the sandy-haired boy next to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor. `Granger, Hermione!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "her head. `GRYFFINDOR!` shouted the hat. Ron groaned. A horrible","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "thought struck Harry, as horrible thoughts always do when you're very nervous.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "What if he wasn't chosen at all? What if he just sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "there with the hat over his eyes for ages, until Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "jerked it off his head and said there had obviously been a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "mistake and he'd better get back on the train? When Neville","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his toad, was called, he fell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, `GRYFFINDOR,` Neville ran","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "laughter to give it to `MacDougal, Morag.` Malfoy swaggered forward when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "had barely touched his head when it screamed, `SLYTHERIN!` Malfoy went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "There weren't many people left now. `Moon` `Nott` `Parkinson` then a pair","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "of twin girls, `Patil` and `Patil` then `Perks, Sally-Anne` and then, at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "last -- `Potter, Harry!` As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "out like little hissing fires all over the hall. `Potter, did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "she say?` The Harry Potter?` The last thing Harry saw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "before the hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Hmm,` said a small voice in his ear. `Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "my goodness, yes -- and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "that's interesting.... So where shall I put you?` Harry gripped the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin. `Not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Slytherin, eh?` said the small voice. `Are you sure? You could be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "no? Well, if you're sure -- better be GRYFFINDOR!` Harry heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the hat shout the last word to the whole hall. He took","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "off the hat and walked shakily toward the Gryffindor table. He was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "so relieved to have been chosen and not put in Slytherin, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "hardly noticed that he was getting the loudest cheer yet. Percy the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Prefect got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "yelled, `We got Potter! We got Potter!` Harry sat down opposite the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "ghost in the ruff he'd seen earlier. The ghost patted his arm,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "giving Harry the sudden, horrible feeling he'd just plunged it into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "bucket of ice-cold water. He could see the High Table properly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "now. At the end nearest him sat Hagrid, who caught his eye","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and gave him the thumbs up. Harry grinned back. And there, in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the center of the High Table, in a large gold chair, sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Albus Dumbledore. Harry recognized him at once from the card he'd gotten","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "out of the Chocolate Frog on the train. Dumbledore's silver hair was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the only thing in the whole hall that shone as brightly as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the ghosts. Harry spotted Professor Quirtell, too, the nervous young man from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the Leaky Cauldron. He was looking very peculiar in a large purple","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "turban. And now there were only three people left to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sorted. `Thomas, Dean,` a Black boy even taller than Ron, joined Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "at the Gryffindor table. `Turpin, Lisa,` became a Ravenclaw and then it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "was Ron's turn. He was pale green by now. Harry crossed his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "fingers under the table and a second later the hat had shouted,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "`GRYFFINDOR!` Harry clapped loudly with the rest as Ron collapsed into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the chair next to him. `Well done, Ron, excellent,` said Percy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Weasley Pompously across Harry as `Zabini, Blaise,` was made a Slytherin. Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry looked down at his empty gold plate. He had only just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "realized how hungry he was. The pumpkin pasties seemed ages ago. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "more than to see them all there. `Welcome,` he said. `Welcome","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! `Thank you!` He sat back down. Everybody","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "clapped and cheered. Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " `Is he -- a bit mad?` he asked Percy uncertainly. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "`Mad?` said Percy airily. `He's a genius! Best wizard in the world!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?` Harry's mouth","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "fell open. The dishes in front of him were now piled with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "food. He had never seen so many things he liked to eat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Dursleys had never exactly starved Harry, but he'd never been allowed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "eat as much as he liked. Dudley had always taken anything that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry really wanted, even if It made him sick. Harry piled his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "plate with a bit of everything except the peppermints and began to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "eat. It was all delicious. `That does look good,` said the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "ghost in the ruff sadly, watching Harry cut up his steak, ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "`Can't you --?` I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "said the ghost. `I don't need to, of course, but one does","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "miss it. I don't think I've in troduced myself? Sir Nicholas de","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.` `I know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "who you are!` said Ron suddenly. `My brothers told me about you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "-- you're Nearly Headless Nick!` `I would prefer you to call","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy --` the ghost began stiffly, but sandy-haired","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Seamus Finnigan interrupted. `Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " Sir Nicholas looked extremely miffed, as if their little chat wasn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "going at all the way he wanted. `Like this,` he said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "irritably. He seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head swung","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "off his neck and fell onto his shoulder as if it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "on a hinge. Someone had obviously tried to behead him, but not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "done it properly. Looking pleased at the stunned looks on their faces,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Nearly Headless Nick flipped his head back onto his neck, coughed, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "said, `So -- new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable -- he's the Slytherin ghost.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and saw a horrible ghost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sitting there, with blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "with silver blood. He was right next to Malfoy who, Harry was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "pleased to see, didn't look too pleased with the seating arrangements. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "`How did he get covered in blood?` asked Seamus with great interest.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " `I've never asked,` said Nearly Headless Nick delicately. When everyone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before. A moment","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavor you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding -- ` As Harry helped himself to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a treacle tart, the talk turned to their families. `I'm half-and-half,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "said Seamus. `Me dad's a Muggle. Mom didn't tell him she was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "for him.` The others laughed. `What about you, Neville?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Ron. `Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "said Neville, `but the family thought I was all- Muggle for ages.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and force some magic out of me -- he pushed me off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned -- but nothing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "accidentally let go. But I bounced -- all the way down the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "when I got in here -- they thought I might not be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "he bought me my toad.` On Harry's other side, Percy Weasley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and Hermione were talking about lessons (`I do hope they start right","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "away, there's so much to learn, I'm particularly interested in Transfiguration, you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "know, turning something into something else, of course, it's supposed to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "very difficult-`; `You'll be starting small, just matches into needles and that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sort of thing -- `). Harry, who was starting to feel","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "warm and sleepy, looked up at the High Table again. Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "was drinking deeply from his goblet. Professor McGonagall was talking to Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Dumbledore. Professor Quirrell, in his absurd turban, was talking to a teacher","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "happened very suddenly. The hook-nosed teacher looked past Quirrell's turban straight into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry's eyes -- and a sharp, hot pain shot across the scar","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "on Harry's forehead. `Ouch!` Harry clapped a hand to his head.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " `What is it?` asked Percy. `N-nothing.` The pain had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "gone as quickly as it had come. Harder to shake off was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the feeling Harry had gotten from the teacher's look -- a feeling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "that he didn't like Harry at all. `Who's that teacher talking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to Professor Quirrell?` he asked Percy. `Oh, you know Quirrell already,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "do you? No wonder he's looking so nervous, that's Professor Snape. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "teaches Potions, but he doesn't want to -- everyone knows he's after","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Quirrell's job. Knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts, Snape.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Harry watched Snape for a while, but Snape didn't look at him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "again. At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "to his feet again. The hall fell silent. `Ahern -- just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a few more words now that we are all fed and watered.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. `First years","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "remember that as well.` Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "of the Weasley twins. `I have also been asked by Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "used between classes in the corridors. `Quidditch trials will be held","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. `And finally, I must","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a very painful death.` Harry laughed, but he was one of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "the few who did. `He's not serious?` he muttered to Percy.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " `Must be,` said Percy, frowning at Dumbledore. `It's odd, because he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "-- the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "think he might have told us prefects, at least.` `And now,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!` cried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Dumbledore. Harry noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "twisted itself, snakelike, into words. `Everyone pick their favorite tune,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Dumbledore, `and off we go!` And the school bellowed: `Hogwarts, Hogwarts,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, Teach us something please, Whether we be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "old and bald Or young with scabby knees, Our heads","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "could do with filling With some interesting stuff, For now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "they're bare and full of air, Dead flies and bits of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "fluff, So teach us things worth knowing, Bring back what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "we've forgot, just do your best, we'll do the rest, ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "And learn until our brains all rot. Everybody finished the song","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "of those who clapped loudest. `Ah, music,` he said, wiping his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "eyes. `A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "you trot!` The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the chattering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. Harry's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "legs were like lead again, but only because he was so tired","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and full of food. He was too sleepy even to be surprised","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "that the people in the portraits along the corridors whispered and pointed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "as they passed, or that twice Percy led them through doorways hidden","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries. They climbed more staircases, yawning and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "dragging their feet, and Harry was just wondering how much farther they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "had to go when they came to a sudden halt. A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "bundle of walking sticks was floating in midair ahead of them, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "as Percy took a step toward them they started throwing themselves at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "him. `Peeves,` Percy whispered to the first years. `A poltergeist.` He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "raised his voice, `Peeves -- show yourself` A loud, rude sound,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "like the air being let out of a balloon, answered. `Do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?` There was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a pop, and a little man with wicked, dark eyes and a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "wide mouth appeared, floating cross- legged in the air, clutching the walking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sticks. `Oooooooh!` he said, with an evil cackle. `Ickle Firsties! What","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "fun!` He swooped suddenly at them. They all ducked. `Go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "away, Peeves, or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!` barked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Percy. Peeves stuck out his tongue and vanished, dropping the walking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sticks on Neville's head. They heard him zooming away, rattling coats of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "armor as he passed. `You want to watch out for Peeves,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "said Percy, as they set off again. `The Bloody Baron's the only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Here we are.` At the very end of the corridor hung","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" " `Password?` she said. `Caput Draconis,` said Percy, and the portrait swung","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all scrambled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "through it -- Neville needed a leg up -- and found themselves","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "in the Gryffindor common room, a cozy, round room full of squashy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "armchairs. Percy directed the girls through one door to their dormitory","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "and the boys through another. At the top of a spiral staircase","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "-- they were obviously in one of the towers -- they found","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "their beds at last: five four-posters hung with deep red, velvet curtains.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Their trunks had already been brought up. Too tired to talk much,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "they pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed. ` Great","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "food, isn't it?` Ron muttered to Harry through the hangings. `Get off,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Scabbers! He's chewing my sheets.` Harry was going to ask Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "if he'd had any of the treacle tart, but he fell asleep","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "almost at once. Perhaps Harry had eaten a bit too much,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "because he had a very strange dream. He was wearing Professor Quirrell's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "turban, which kept talking to him, telling him he must transfer to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Slytherin at once, because it was his destiny. Harry told the turban","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "he didn't want to be in Slytherin; it got heavier and heavier;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "he tried to pull it off but it tightened painfully -- and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "there was Malfoy, laughing at him as he struggled with it -then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "Malfoy turned into the hook-nosed teacher, Snape, whose laugh became high and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "cold -- there was a burst of green light and Harry woke,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "sweating and shaking. He rolled over and fell asleep again, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "when he woke next day, he didn't remember the dream at all. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-7" "THE POTIONS MASTER There, look.` `Where?` `Next to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "tall kid with the red hair.` `Wearing the glasses?` `Did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "you see his face?` `Did you see his scar?` Whispers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "followed Harry from the moment he left his dormitory the next day.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "People lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe to get a look","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "at him, or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "staring. Harry wished they wouldn't, because he was trying to concentrate on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "finding his way to classes. There were a hundred and forty-two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "that you had to remember to jump. Then there were doors that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "right place, and doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "walls just pretending. It was also very hard to remember where anything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "was, because it all seemed to move around a lot. The people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "in the portraits kept going to visit each other, and Harry was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "sure the coats of armor could walk. The ghosts didn't help,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "either. It was always a nasty shock when one of them glided","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "suddenly through a door you were trying to open. Nearly Headless Nick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "was always happy to point new Gryffindors in the right direction, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Peeves the Poltergeist was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "if you met him when you were late for class. He would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "drop wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from under your feet,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak up behind you, invisible,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "grab your nose, and screech, `GOT YOUR CONK!` Even worse than","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Peeves, if that was possible, was the caretaker, Argus Filch. Harry and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Ron managed to get on the wrong side of him on their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "very first morning. Filch found them trying to force their way through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "a door that unluckily turned out to be the entrance to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "out-of-bounds corridor on the third floor. He wouldn't believe they were lost,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "was sure they were trying to break into it on purpose, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "was threatening to lock them in the dungeons when they were rescued","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "by Professor Quirrell, who was passing. Filch owned a cat called","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust-colored creature with bulging, lamp like eyes just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "like Filch's. She patrolled the corridors alone. Break a rule in front","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "of her, put just one toe out of line, and she'd whisk","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "off for Filch, who'd appear, wheezing, two seconds later. Filch knew the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "secret passageways of the school better than anyone (except perhaps the Weasley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "twins) and could pop up as suddenly as any of the ghosts.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "The students all hated him, and it was the dearest ambition of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "many to give Mrs. Norris a good kick. And then, once","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "you had managed to find them, there were the classes themselves. There","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "waving your wand and saying a few funny words. They had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "to study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "planets. Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Sprout, where they learned how to take care of all the strange","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, which was the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staff","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "room fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving his body","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "behind him. Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "and dates, and got Emetic the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "up. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "who had to stand on a pile of books to see over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "his desk. At the start of their first class he took the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "roll call, and when he reached Harry's name he gave an excited","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "squeak and toppled out of sight. Professor McGonagall was again different.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Harry had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "cross. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking-to the moment they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "sat down in her first class. `Transfiguration is some of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts,` she said.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "`Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "You have been warned.` Then she changed her desk into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldn't wait","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "to get started, but soon realized they weren't going to be changing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the furniture into animals for a long time. After taking a lot","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "gave Hermione a rare smile. The class everyone had really been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell's lessons","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "he'd met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "get him one of these days. His turban, he told them, had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren't sure they believed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "this story. For one thing, when Seamus Finnigan asked eagerly to hear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "how Quirrell had fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "talking about the weather; for another, they had noticed that a funny","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "smell hung around the turban, and the Weasley twins insisted that it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "was stuffed full of garlic as well, so that Quirrell was protected","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "wherever he went. Harry was very relieved to find out that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "he wasn't miles behind everyone else. Lots of people had come from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Muggle families and, like him, hadn't had any idea that they were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "witches and wizards. There was so much to learn that even people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "like Ron didn't have much of a head start. Friday was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "an important day for Harry and Ron. They finally managed to find","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast without getting lost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "once. `What have we got today?` Harry asked Ron as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "poured sugar on his porridge. `Double Potions with the Slytherins,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Ron. `Snape's Head of Slytherin House. They say he always favors them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "-- we'll be able to see if it's true.` `Wish McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "favored us, ` said Harry. Professor McGonagall was head of Gryffindor House,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "but it hadn't stopped her from giving them a huge pile of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "homework the day before. Just then, the mail arrived. Harry had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "gotten used to this by now, but it had given him a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "bit of a shock on the first morning, when about a hundred","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "tables until they saw their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "their laps. Hedwig hadn't brought Harry anything so far. She sometimes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "flew in to nibble his ear and have a bit of toast","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "before going off to sleep in the owlery with the other school","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "owls. This morning, however, she fluttered down between the marmalade and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "sugar bowl and dropped a note onto Harry's plate. Harry tore it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "open at once. It said, in a very untidy scrawl: Dear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Harry, I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "like to come and have a cup of tea with me around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "three? I want to hear all about your first week. Send","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "us an answer back with Hedwig. Hagrid Harry borrowed Ron's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "quill, scribbled Yes, please, see you later on the back of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "note, and sent Hedwig off again. It was lucky that Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "had tea with Hagrid to look forward to, because the Potions lesson","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "turned out to be the worst thing that had happened to him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "so far. At the start-of-term banquet, Harry had gotten the idea","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of the first Potions","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "lesson, he knew he'd been wrong. Snape didn't dislike Harry -- he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "hated him. Potions lessons took place down in one of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "glass jars all around the walls. Snape, like Flitwick, started the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Harry's name. `Ah, Yes,` he said softly, `Harry Potter. Our new","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "-- celebrity.` Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "of dark tunnels. `You are here to learn the subtle science","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "and exact art of potionmaking,` he began. He spoke in barely more","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "than a whisper, but they caught every word -- like Professor McGonagall,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Snape had y caught every word -- like Professor McGonagall, Snape had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. `As there is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses.... I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "-- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "usually have to teach.` More silence followed this little speech. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione Granger was on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "wasn't a dunderhead. `Potter!` said Snape suddenly. `What would I get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "shot into the air. `I don't know, sit,` said Harry. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Snape's lips curled into a sneer. `Tut, tut -- fame clearly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "isn't everything.` He ignored Hermione's hand. `Let's try again. Potter,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "where would you look if I told you to find me a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "bezoar?` Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn't have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter. `I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "don't know, sit.` `Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Potter?` Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into those cold eyes.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "He had looked through his books at the Dursleys', but did Snape","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand. `What is the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?` At this, Hermione stood up,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling. `I don't know,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Harry quietly. `I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus's eye, and Seamus winked.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Snape, however, was not pleased. `Sit down,` he snapped at Hermione.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "`For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?` There was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, `And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "up all over his arms and legs. `Idiot boy!` snarled Snape,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. `I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "fire?` Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "his nose. `Take him up to the hospital wing,` Snape spat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "working next to Neville. `You -- Potter -- why didn't you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "lost for Gryffindor.` This was so unfair that Harry opened his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron. `Doi*","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "push it,` he muttered, `I've heard Snape can turn very nasty.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Harry's mind was racing and his spirits were low. He'd lost two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "points for Gryffindor in his very first week -- why did Snape","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "hate him so much? `Cheer up,` said Ron, `Snape's always taking points","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "off Fred and George. Can I come and meet Hagrid with you?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " At five to three they left the castle and made their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "galoshes were outside the front door. When Harry knocked they heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "rang out, saying, `Back, Fang -- back.` Hagrid's big, hairy face","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open. `Hang","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "on,` he said. `Back, Fang.` He let them in, struggling to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "it. `Make yerselves at home,` said Hagrid, letting go of Fang,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked. `This is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Ron,` Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate. `Another Weasley, eh?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles. I spent half me life chasin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "yer twin brothers away from the forest.` The rock cakes were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but Harry and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Ron pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "their first -lessons. Fang rested his head on Harry's knee and drooled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "all over his robes. Harry and Ron were delighted to hear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Hagrid call Fitch `that old git.` `An' as fer that cat,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Can't get rid of her -- Fitch puts her up to it.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "students. `But he seemed to really hate me.` `Rubbish!` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Hagrid. `Why should he?` Yet Harry couldn't help thinking that Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "didn't quite meet his eyes when he said that. `How's yer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "brother Charlie?` Hagrid asked Ron. `I liked him a lot -- great","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "with animals.` Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" " GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "or witches unknown. Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "same day. `But we're not telling you what was in there,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon. Harry remembered Ron telling him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "on the train that someone had tried to rob Gringotts, but Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "hadn't mentioned the date. `Hagrid!` said Harry, `that Gringotts break-in happened","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "this time. He grunted and offered him another rock cake. Harry read","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "emptied earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "thirteen, if you could call it emptying, taking out that grubby little","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for? As","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Harry and Ron walked back to the castle for dinner, their pockets","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "weighed down with rock cakes they'd been too polite to refuse, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "thought that none of the lessons he'd had so far had given","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "him as much to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "collected that package just in time? Where was it now? And did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "Hagrid know something about Snape that he didn't want to tell Harry? ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-8" "THE MIDNIGHT DUEL Harry had never believed he would meet a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "boy he hated more than Dudley, but that was before he met","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Draco Malfoy. Still, first-year Gryffindors only had Potions with the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Slytherins, so they didn't have to put up with Malfoy much. Or","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "at least, they didn't until they spotted a notice pinned up in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the Gryffindor common room that made them all groan. Flying lessons would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "be starting on Thursday -- and Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "together. `Typical,` said Harry darkly. `Just what I always wanted. To","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " He had been looking forward to learning to fly more than","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "anything else. `You don't know that you'll make a fool of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "yourself,` said Ron reasonably. `Anyway, I know Malfoy's always going on about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "how good he is at Quidditch, but I bet that's all talk.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Malfay certainly did talk about flying a lot. He complained loudly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "about first years never getting on the house Quidditch teams and told","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "long, boastful stories that always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Muggles in helicopters. He wasn't the only one, though: the way Seamus","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Finnigan told it, he'd spent most of his childhood zooming around the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "countryside on his broomstick. Even Ron would tell anyone who'd listen about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the time he'd almost hit a hang glider on Charlie's old broom.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Everyone from wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly. Ron had already had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a big argument with Dean Thomas, who shared their dormitory, about soccer.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Ron couldn't see what was exciting about a game with only one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "ball where no one was allowed to fly. Harry had caught Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "prodding Dean's poster of West Ham soccer team, trying to make the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "players move. Neville had never been on a broomstick in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "life, because his grandmother had never let him near one. Privately, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "felt she'd had good reason, because Neville managed to have an extraordinary","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "number of accidents even with both feet on the ground. Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Granger was almost as nervous about flying as Neville was. This was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "something you couldn't learn by heart out of a book -- not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "that she hadn't tried. At breakfast on Thursday she bored them all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "stupid with flying tips she'd gotten out of a library book called","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Quidditch Through the Ages. Neville was hanging on to her every word,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "desperate for anything that might help him hang on to his broomstick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "later, but everybody else was very pleased when Hermione's lecture was interrupted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "by the arrival of the mail. Harry hadn't had a single","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "letter since Hagrid's note, something that Malfoy had been quick to notice,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of course. Malfoy's eagle owl was always bringing him packages of sweets","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "from home, which he opened gloatingly at the Slytherin table. A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "barn owl brought Neville a small package from his grandmother. He opened","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "it excitedly and showed them a glass ball the size of a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke. `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a Remembrall!` he explained. `Gran knows I forget things -- this tells","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "tight like this and if it turns red -- oh...` His face","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "fell, because the Remembrall had suddenly glowed scarlet, `You've forgotten something...`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Neville was trying to remember what he'd forgotten when Draco Malfoy,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "who was passing the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall out of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "hand. Harry and Ron jumped to their feet. They were half","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "hoping for a reason to fight Malfay, but Professor McGonagall, who could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "spot trouble quicker than any teacher in the school, was there in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a flash. `What's going on?` `Malfoy's got my Remembrall, Professor.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Scowling, Malfoy quickly dropped the Remembrall back on the table. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`Just looking,` he said, and he sloped away with Crabbe and Goyle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "behind him. At three-thirty that afternoon, Harry, Ron, and the other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Gryffindors hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day, and the grass rippled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns toward a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "smooth, flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty broomsticks lying in neat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "lines on the ground. Harry had heard Fred and George Weasley complain","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "about the school brooms, saying that some of them started to vibrate","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "if you flew too high, or always flew slightly to the left.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short, gray hair, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "yellow eyes like a hawk. `Well, what are you all waiting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "for?` she barked. `Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Harry glanced down at his broom. It was old and some","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of the twigs stuck out at odd angles. `Stick out your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "right hand over your broom,` called Madam Hooch at the front, `and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "say 'Up!`' `UPF everyone shouted. Harry's broom jumped into his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "hand at once, but it was one of the few that did.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Hermione Granger's had simply rolled over on the ground, and Neville's hadn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "moved at all. Perhaps brooms, like horses, could tell when you were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "afraid, thought Harry; there was a quaver in Neville's voice that said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "only too clearly that he wanted to keep his feet on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "ground. Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "correcting their grips. Harry and Ron were delighted when she told Malfoy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "he'd been doing it wrong for years. `Now, when I blow","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard,` said Madam Hooch.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle -- three --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "two --` But Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Madam Hooch's lips. `Come back, boy!` she shouted, but Neville was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "twelve feet -- twenty feet. Harry saw his scared white face look","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, slip sideways off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the broom and -- WHAM -- a thud and a nasty","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "crack and Neville lay facedown on the grass in a heap. His","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "broomstick was still rising higher and higher, and started to drift lazily","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "toward the forbidden forest and out of sight. Madam Hooch was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "bending over Neville, her face as white as his. `Broken wrist,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry heard her mutter. `Come on, boy -- it's all right, up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "you get.`. She turned to the rest of the class. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`None of you is to move while I take this boy to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on, dear.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Neville, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Madam","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Hooch, who had her arm around him. No sooner were they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "out of earshot than Malfoy burst into laughter. `Did you see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "his face, the great lump?` The other Slytherins joined in. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`Shut up, Malfoy,` snapped Parvati Patil. `Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "said Pansy Parkinson, a hard-faced Slytherin girl. `Never thought you'd like fat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "little crybabies, Parvati.` `Look!` said Malfoy, darting forward and snatching something","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "out of the grass. `It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " The Remembrall glittered in the sun as he held it up.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `Give that here, Malfoy,` said Harry quietly. Everyone stopped talking to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "watch. Malfoy smiled nastily. `I think I'll leave it somewhere","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "for Longbottom to find -- how about -- up a tree?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`Give it here!` Harry yelled, but Malfoy had leapt onto his broomstick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and taken off. He hadn't been lying, he could fly well. Hovering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "level with the topmost branches of an oak he called, `Come and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "get it, Potter!` Harry grabbed his broom. `No!` shouted Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Granger. `Madam Hooch told us not to move -- you'll get us","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "all into trouble.` Harry ignored her. Blood was pounding in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "ears. He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "up, up he soared; air rushed through his hair, and his robes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "whipped out behind him -and in a rush of fierce joy he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "realized he'd found something he could do without being taught -- this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "was easy, this was wonderful. He pulled his broomstick up a little","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to take it even higher, and heard screams and gasps of girls","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "back on the ground and an admiring whoop from Ron. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "turned his broomstick sharply to face Malfoy in midair. Malfoy looked stunned.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `Give it here,` Harry called, `or I'll knock you off that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "broom!` `Oh, yeah?` said Malfoy, trying to sneer, but looking worried. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry knew, somehow, what to do. He leaned forward and grasped the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "broom tightly in both hands, and it shot toward Malfay like a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "javelin. Malfoy only just got out of the way in time; Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "made a sharp about-face and held the broom steady. A few people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "below were clapping. `No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "your neck, Malfoy,` Harry called. The same thought seemed to have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "struck Malfoy. `Catch it if you can, then!` he shouted, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "he threw the glass ball high into the air and streaked back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "toward the ground. Harry saw, as though in slow motion, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "ball rise up in the air and then start to fall. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "leaned forward and pointed his broom handle down -- next second he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "was gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball -- wind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of people watching --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "he stretched out his hand -- a foot from the ground he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "toppled gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "fist. `HARRY POTTER!` His heart sank faster than he'd just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "dived. Professor McGonagall was running toward them. He got to his feet,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "trembling. `Never -- in all my time at Hogwarts --` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`-- how dare you -- might have broken your neck --` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`It wasn't his fault, Professor --` `Be quiet, Miss Patil ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`But Malfoy --` `That's enough, Mr. Weasley. Potter, follow me, now.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Harry caught sight of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle's triumphant faces as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "he left, walking numbly in Professor McGonagall's wake as she strode toward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the castle. He was going to be expelled, he just knew it.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "He wanted to say something to defend himself, but there seemed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "be something wrong with his voice. Professor McGonagall was sweeping along without","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "even looking at him; he had to jog to keep up. Now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "he'd done it. He hadn't even lasted two weeks. He'd be packing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "his bags in ten minutes. What would the Dursleys say when he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "turned up on the doorstep? Up the front steps, up the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "marble staircase inside, and still Professor McGonagall didn't say a word to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "him. She wrenched open doors and marched along corridors with Harry trotting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "miserably behind her. Maybe she was taking him to Dumbledore. He thought","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of Hagrid, expelled but allowed to stay on as gamekeeper. Perhaps he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "could be Hagrid's assistant. His stomach twisted as he imagined it, watching","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Ron and the others becoming wizards, while he stumped around the grounds","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "carrying Hagrid's bag. Professor McGonagall stopped outside a classroom. She opened","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the door and poked her head inside. `Excuse me, Professor Flitwick,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "could I borrow Wood for a moment?` Wood? thought Harry, bewildered;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "was Wood a cane she was going to use on him? ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "But Wood turned out to be a person, a burly fifth-year boy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "who came out of Flitwicles class looking confused. `Follow me, you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "two,` said Professor McGonagall, and they marched on up the corridor, Wood","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "looking curiously at Harry. `In here.` Professor McGonagall pointed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "them into a classroom that was empty except for Peeves, who was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "busy writing rude words on the blackboard. `Out, Peeves!` she barked.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Peeves threw the chalk into a bin, which clanged loudly, and he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "swooped out cursing. Professor McGonagall slammed the door behind him and turned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to face the two boys. `Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "-- I've found you a Seeker.` Wood's expression changed from puzzlement","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to delight. `Are you serious, Professor?` `Absolutely,` said Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "crisply. `The boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "that your first time on a broomstick, Potter?` Harry nodded silently.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "He didn't have a clue what was going on, but he didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "seem to be being expelled, and some of the feeling started coming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "back to his legs. `He caught that thing in his hand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "after a fifty-foot dive,` Professor McGonagall told Wood. `Didn't even scratch himself.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it.` Wood was now looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "as though all his dreams had come true at once. `Ever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "seen a game of Quidditch, Potter?` he asked excitedly. `Wood's captain","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of the Gryffindor team,` Professor McGonagall explained. `He's just the build","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "for a Seeker, too,` said Wood, now walking around Harry and staring","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "at him. `Light -- speedy -- we'll have to get him a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "decent broom, Professor -- a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "I'd say.` I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "we can't bend the first-year rule. Heaven knows, we need a better","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "couldn't look Severus Snape in the face for weeks....` Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "peered sternly over her glasses at Harry. `I want to hear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "you're training hard, Potter, or I may change my mind about punishing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "you.` Then she suddenly smiled. `Your father would have been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "proud,` she said. `He was an excellent Quidditch player himself.` `You're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "joking.` It was dinnertime. Harry had just finished telling Ron what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "had happened when he'd left the grounds with Professor McGonagall. Ron had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "he'd forgotten all about it. `Seeker?` he said. `But first years","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "never -- you must be the youngest house player in about a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "century, said Harry, shoveling pie into his mouth. He felt particularly hungry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "after the excitement of the afternoon. `Wood told me.` Ron was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "so amazed, so impressed, he just sat and gaped at Harry. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`I start training next week,` said Harry. `Only don't tell anyone, Wood","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "wants to keep it a secret.` Fred and George Weasley now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "came into the hall, spotted Harry, and hurried over. `Well done,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "said George in a low voice. `Wood told us. We're on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "team too -- Beaters.` `I tell you, we're going to win","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "that Quidditch cup for sure this year,` said Fred. `We haven't won since","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant. You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "must be good, Harry, Wood was almost skipping when he told us.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `Anyway, we've got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he's found a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "new secret passageway out of the school.` `Bet it's that one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "first week. See you.` Fred and George had hardly disappeared when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "someone far less welcome turned up: Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "back to the Muggles?` `You're a lot braver now that you're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "said Harry coolly. There was of course nothing at all little about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Crabbe and Goyle, but as the High Table was full of teachers,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "neither of them could do more than crack their knuckles and scowl.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `I'd take you on anytime on my own,` said Malfoy. `Tonight,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only -- no contact. What's the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?` `Of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "course he has,` said Ron, wheeling around. `I'm his second, who's yours?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up. `Crabbe,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "he said. `Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "that's always unlocked.` When Malfoy had gone, Ron and Harry looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "at each other. `What is a wizard's duel?` said Harry. `And what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "do you mean, you're my second?` `Well, a second's there to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "take over if you die,` said Ron casually, getting started at last","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "on his cold pie. Catching the look on Harry's face, he added","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "quickly, `But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "wizards. The most you and Malfoy'll be able to do is send","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "sparks at each other. Neither of you knows enough magic to do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "any real damage. I bet he expected you to refuse, anyway.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?` `Throw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "it away and punch him on the nose,` Ron suggested. `Excuse me.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " They both looked up. It was Hermione Granger. `Can't a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "person eat in peace in this place?` said Ron. Hermione ignored","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "him and spoke to Harry. `I couldn't help overhearing what you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and Malfoy were saying --` `Bet you could,` Ron muttered. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`--and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night, think of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "be. It's really very selfish of you.` `And it's really none","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of your business,` said Harry. `Good-bye,` said Ron. All the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "same, it wasn't what you'd call the perfect end to the day,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry thought, as he lay awake much later listening to Dean and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Seamus falling asleep (Neville wasn't back from the hospital wing). Ron had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "spent all evening giving him advice such as `If he tries to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "curse you, you'd better dodge it, because I can't remember how to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "block them.` There was a very good chance they were going to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "get caught by Filch or Mrs. Norris, and Harry felt he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "pushing his luck, breaking another school rule today. On the other hand,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Malfoys sneering face kept looming up out of the darkness - this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "was his big chance to beat Malfoy face-to-face. He couldn't miss it.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `Half-past eleven,` Ron muttered at last, `we'd better go.` They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "pulled on their bathrobes, picked up their wands, and crept across the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "tower room, down the spiral staircase, and into the Gryffindor common room.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "A few embers were still glowing in the fireplace, turning all the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "armchairs into hunched black shadows. They had almost reached the portrait hole","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "when a voice spoke from the chair nearest them, `I can't believe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "you're going to do this, Harry.` A lamp flickered on. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "was Hermione Granger, wearing a pink bathrobe and a frown. `You!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "said Ron furiously. `Go back to bed!` `I almost told your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "brother,` Hermione snapped, `Percy -- he's a prefect, he'd put a stop","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to this.` Harry couldn't believe anyone could be so interfering. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`Come on,` he said to Ron. He pushed open the portrait of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the Fat Lady and climbed through the hole. Hermione wasn't going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to give up that easily. She followed Ron through the portrait hole,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "hissing at them like an angry goose. `Don't you care about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Gryffindor, do you only care about yourselves, I don't want Slytherin to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "win the house cup, and you'll lose all the points I got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "from Professor McGonagall for knowing about Switching Spells.` `Go away.` `All","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "right, but I warned you, you just remember what I said when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "you're on the train home tomorrow, you're so --` But what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "they were, they didn't find out. Hermione had turned to the portrait","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of the Fat Lady to get back inside and found herself facing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "an empty painting. The Fat Lady had gone on a nighttime visit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and Hermione was locked out of Gryffindor tower. `Now what am","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "I going to do?` she asked shrilly. `That's your problem,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Ron. `We've got to go, we 3 re going to be late.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " They hadn't even reached the end of the corridor when Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "caught up with them. `I'm coming with you,` she said. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`You are not.` `D'you think I'm going to stand out here","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and wait for Filch to catch me? If he finds all three","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of us I'll tell him the truth, that I was trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "stop you, and you can back me up.` `You've got some","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "nerve --` said Ron loudly. `Shut up, both of you!` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry sharply. I heard something.` It was a sort of snuffling.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `Mrs. Norris?` breathed Ron, squinting through the dark. It wasn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Mrs. Norris. It was Neville. He was curled up on the floor,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "fast asleep, but jerked suddenly awake as they crept nearer. `Thank","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "goodness you found me! I've been out here for hours, I couldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "remember the new password to get in to bed.` `Keep your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "voice down, Neville. The password's 'Pig snout' but it won't help you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "now, the Fat Lady's gone off somewhere.` `How's your arm?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry. `Fine,` said Neville, showing them. `Madam Pomfrey mended it in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "about a minute.` `Good - well, look, Neville, we've got to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "be somewhere, we'll see you later --` `Don't leave me!` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Neville, scrambling to his feet, `I don't want to stay here alone,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the Bloody Baron's been past twice already.` Ron looked at his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "watch and then glared furiously at Hermione and Neville. `If either","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of you get us caught, I'll never rest until I've learned that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Curse of the Bogies Quirrell told us about, and used it on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "you. Hermione opened her mouth, perhaps to tell Ron exactly how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to use the Curse of the Bogies, but Harry hissed at her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to be quiet and beckoned them all forward. They flitted along","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "corridors striped with bars of moonlight from the high windows. At every","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "turn Harry expected to run into Filch or Mrs. Norris, but they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "were lucky. They sped up a staircase to the third floor and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "tiptoed toward the trophy room. Malfoy and Crabbe weren't there yet.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "The crystal trophy cases glimmered where the moonlight caught them. Cups, shields,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "plates, and statues winked silver and gold in the darkness. They edged","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "along the walls, keeping their eyes on the doors at either end","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of the room. Harry took out his wand in case Malfoy leapt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "in and started at once. The minutes crept by. `He's late,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "maybe he's chickened out,` Ron whispered. Then a noise in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "next room made them jump. Harry had only just raised his wand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "when they heard someone speak -and it wasn't Malfoy. `Sniff around,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner.` It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Filch speaking to Mrs. Norris. Horror-struck, Harry waved madly at the other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "three to follow him as quickly as possible; they scurried silently toward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the door, away from Filch's voice. Neville's robes had barely whipped round","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the corner when they heard Filch enter the trophy room. `They're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "in here somewhere,` they heard him mutter, `probably hiding.` `This way!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry mouthed to the others and, petrified, they began to creep down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a long gallery full of suits of armor. They could hear Filch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "getting nearer. Neville suddenly let out a frightened squeak and broke into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a run -he tripped, grabbed Ron around the waist, and the pair","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of them toppled right into a suit of armor. The clanging","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and crashing were enough to wake the whole castle. `RUN!` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "yelled, and the four of them sprinted down the gallery, not looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "back to see whether Filch was following -- they swung around the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "doorpost and galloped down one corridor then another, Harry in the lead,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "without any idea where they were or where they were going --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "they ripped through a tapestry and found themselves in a hidden passageway,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "hurtled along it and came out near their Charms classroom, which they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "knew was miles from the trophy room. `I think we've lost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "him,` Harry panted, leaning against the cold wall and wiping his forehead.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Neville was bent double, wheezing and spluttering. I -- told -you,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Hermione gasped, clutching at the stitch in her chest, `I -- told","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "-- you.` `We've got to get back to Gryffindor tower,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Ron, `quickly as possible.` `Malfoy tricked you,` Hermione said to Harry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`You realize that, don't you? He was never going to meet you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "-- Filch knew someone was going to be in the trophy room,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Malfoy must have tipped him off.` Harry thought she was probably","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "right, but he wasn't going to tell her that. `Let's go.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " It wasn't going to be that simple. They hadn't gone more","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "than a dozen paces when a doorknob rattled and something came shooting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "out of a classroom in front of them. It was Peeves.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "He caught sight of them and gave a squeal of delight. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "`Shut up, Peeves -- please -- you'll get us thrown out.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Peeves cackled. `Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty.` `Not if you don't give us","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "away, Peeves, please.` `Should tell Filch, I should,` said Peeves in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a saintly voice, but his eyes glittered wickedly. `It's for your own","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "good, you know.` `Get out of the way,` snapped Ron, taking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a swipe at Peeves this was a big mistake. `STUDENTS OUT","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "OF BED!` Peeves bellowed, `STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " Ducking under Peeves, they ran for their lives, right to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "end of the corridor where they slammed into a door -- and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "it was locked. `This is it!` Ron moaned, as they pushed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "helplessly at the door, `We're done for! This is the end!` They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "could hear footsteps, Filch running as fast as he could toward Peeves's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "shouts. `Oh, move over,` Hermione snarled. She grabbed Harry's wand, tapped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the lock, and whispered, 'Alohomora!` The lock clicked and the door","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "swung open -- they piled through it, shut it quickly, and pressed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "their ears against it, listening. `Which way did they go, Peeves?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Filch was saying. `Quick, tell me.` `Say 'please.`' `Don't mess","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "with me, Peeves, now where did they go?` `Shan't say nothing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "if you don't say please,` said Peeves in his annoying singsong voice.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `All right -please.` `NOTHING! Ha haaa! Told you I wouldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "say nothing if you didn't say please! Ha ha! Haaaaaa!` And they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "heard the sound of Peeves whooshing away and Filch cursing in rage.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" " `He thinks this door is locked,` Harry whispered. `I think we'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "be okay -- get off, Neville!` For Neville had been tugging on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the sleeve of Harry's bathrobe for the last minute. `What?` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "turned around -- and saw, quite clearly, what. For a moment, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "was sure he'd walked into a nightmare -- this was too much,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "on top of everything that had happened so far. They weren't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "in a room, as he had supposed. They were in a corridor.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "The forbidden corridor on the third floor. And now they knew why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "it was forbidden. They were looking straight into the eyes of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "a monstrous dog, a dog that filled the whole space between ceiling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and floor. It had three heads. Three pairs of rolling, mad eyes;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "three noses, twitching and quivering in their direction; three drooling mouths,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "saliva hanging in slippery ropes from yellowish fangs. It was standing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "quite still, all six eyes staring at them, and Harry knew that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the only reason they weren't already dead was that their sudden appearance","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "had taken it by surprise, but it was quickly getting over that,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "there was no mistaking what those thunderous growls meant. Harry groped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "for the doorknob -- between Filch and death, he'd take Filch. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "They fell backward -- Harry slammed the door shut, and they ran,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "they almost flew, back down the corridor. Filch must have hurried off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "to look for them somewhere else, because they didn't see him anywhere,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "but they hardly cared -- all they wanted to do was put","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "as much space as possible between them and that monster. They didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "stop running until they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "the seventh floor. `Where on earth have you all been?` she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "asked, looking at their bathrobes hanging off their shoulders and their flushed,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "sweaty faces. `Never mind that -- pig snout, pig snout,` panted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry, and the portrait swung forward. They scrambled into the common room","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and collapsed, trembling, into armchairs. It was a while before any","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of them said anything. Neville, indeed, looked as if he'd never speak","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "again. `What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "that locked up in a school?` said Ron finally. `If any dog","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "needs exercise, that one does.` Hermione had got both her breath","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "and her bad temper back again. `You don't use your eyes, any","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "of you, do you?` she snapped. `Didn't you see what it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "standing on. `The floor?` Harry suggested. `I wasn't looking at its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "feet, I was too busy with its heads.` `No, not the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "floor. It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "She stood up, glaring at them. I hope you're pleased with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "yourselves. We could all have been killed -- or worse, expelled. Now,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "if you don't mind, I'm going to bed.` Ron stared after","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "her, his mouth open. `No, we don't mind,` he said. `You'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "think we dragged her along, wouldn't you. But Hermione had given","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "Harry something else to think about as he climbed back into bed.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "The dog was guarding something.... What had Hagrid said? Gringotts was the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "safest place in the world for something you wanted to hide --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "except perhaps Hogwarts. It looked as though Harry had found out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "where the grubby littie package from vault seven hundred and thirteen was. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-9" "HALLOWEEN Malfoy couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "and Ron were still at Hogwarts the next day, looking tired but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "perfectly cheerful. Indeed, by the next morning Harry and Ron thought that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "meeting the three-headed dog had been an excellent adventure, and they were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "quite keen to have another one. In the meantime, Harry filled Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "in about the package that seemed to have been moved from Gringotts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to Hogwarts, and they spent a lot of time wondering what could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "possibly need such heavy protection. `It's either really valuable or really dangerous,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "said Ron. `Or both,` said Harry. But as all they knew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "for sure about the mysterious object was that it was about two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "inches long, they didn't have much chance of guessing what it was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "without further clues. Neither Neville nor Hermione showed the slightest interest","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "in what lay underneath the dog and the trapdoor. All Neville cared","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "about was never going near the dog again. Hermione was now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "refusing to speak to Harry and Ron, but she was such a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "bossy know-it-all that they saw this as an added bonus. All they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "really wanted now was a way of getting back at Malfoy, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to their great delight, just such a thing arrived in the mail","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "about a week later. As the owls flooded into the Great","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "thin package carried by six large screech owls. Harry was just as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "and was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "in front of him, knocking his bacon to the floor. They had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "on top of the parcel. Harry ripped open the letter first,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "which was lucky, because it said: DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "AT THE TABLE. It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "I don't want everybody knowing you've got a broomstick or they'll all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "at seven o'clock for your first training session. Professor McGonagall ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Harry had difficulty hiding his glee as he handed the note to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Ron to read. `A Nimbus Two Thousand!` Ron moaned enviously. `I've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "never even touched one.` They left the hall quickly, wanting to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class, but halfway across","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the entrance hall they found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Goyle. Malfoy seized the package from Harry and felt it. `That's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a broomstick,` he said, throwing it back to Harry with a mixture","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "of jealousy and spite on his face. `You'll be in for it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them.` Ron couldn't resist","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "it. `It's not any old broomstick,` he said, `it's a Nimbus","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Comet Two Sixty?` Ron grinned at Harry. `Comets look flashy, but they're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "not in the same league as the Nimbus.` `What would you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle,` Malfoy snapped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "back. `I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "by twig.` Before Ron could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " `Not arguing, I hope, boys?` he squeaked. `Potter's been sent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a broomstick, Professor,` said Malfoy quickly. `Yes, yes, that's right,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry. `Professor McGonagall told me all about the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?` `A Nimbus Two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Thousand, sit,` said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "horror on Malfoy's face. `And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "I've got it,` he added. Harry and Ron headed upstairs, smothering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "their laughter at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion. `Well, it's true,` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "chortled as they reached the top of the marble staircase, `If he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouln't be on the team....` `So","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?` came an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "angry voice from just behind them. Hermione was stomping up the stairs,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "looking disapprovingly at the package in Harry's hand. `I thought you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "weren't speaking to us?` said Harry. `Yes, don't stop now,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Ron, `it's doing us so much good.` Hermione marched away with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "her nose in the air. Harry had a lot of trouble","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "keeping his mind on his lessons that day. It kept wandering up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to the dormitory where his new broomstick was lying under his bed,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "or straying off to the Quidditch field where he'd be learning to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "play that night. He bolted his dinner that evening without noticing what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "he was eating, and then rushed upstairs with Ron to unwrap the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Nimbus Two Thousand at last. `Wow,` Ron sighed, as the broomstick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "rolled onto Harry's bedspread. Even Harry, who knew nothing about the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "different brooms, thought it looked wonderful. Sleek and shiny, with a mahogany","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "handle, it had a long tail of neat, straight twigs and Nimbus","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Two Thousand written in gold near the top. As seven o'clock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "drew nearer, Harry left the castle and set off in the dusk","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "toward the Quidditch field. Held never been inside the stadium before. Hundreds","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "of seats were raised in stands around the field so that the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "spectators were high enough to see what was going on. At either","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "end of the field were three golden poles with hoops on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "end. They reminded Harry of the little plastic sticks Muggle children","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "blew bubbles through, except that they were fifty feet high. Too","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "eager to fly again to wait for Wood, Harry mounted his broomstick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "and kicked off from the ground. What a feeling -- he swooped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "in and out of the goal posts and then sped up and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "down the field. The Nimbus Two Thousand turned wherever he wanted at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "his lightest touch. `Hey, Potter, come down!' Oliver Wood had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "arrived. fie was carrying a large wooden crate under his arm. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "landed next to him. `Very nice,` said Wood, his eyes glinting.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`I see what McGonagall meant... you really are a natural. I'm just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "going to teach you the rules this evening, then you'll be joining","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "team practice three times a week.` He opened the crate. Inside","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "were four different-sized balls. `Right,` said Wood. `Now, Quidditch is easy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "enough to understand, even if it's not too easy to play. There","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "are seven players on each side. Three of them are called Chasers.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Three Chasers,` Harry repeated, as Wood took out a bright red ball","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "about the size of a soccer ball. `This ball's called the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Quaffle,` said Wood. `The Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "try and get it through one of the hoops to score a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "goal. Ten points every time the Quaffle goes through one of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "hoops. Follow me?` `The Chasers throw the Quaffle and put it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "through the hoops to score,` Harry recited. `So -- that's sort of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "like basketball on broomsticks with six hoops, isn't it?` `What's basketball?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "said Wood curiously. `Never mind,` said Harry quickly. `Now, there's another","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "player on each side who's called the Keeper -I'm Keeper for Gryffindor.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "I have to fly around our hoops and stop the other team","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "from scoring.` `Three Chasers, one Keeper,` said Harry, who was determined","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to remember it all. `And they play with the Quaffle. Okay, got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "that. So what are they for?` He pointed at the three balls","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "left inside the box. `I'll show you now,` said Wood. `Take","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "this.` He handed Harry a small club, a bit like a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "short baseball bat. `I'm going to show you what the Bludgers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "do,` Wood said. `These two are the Bludgers.` He showed Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "two identical balls, jet black and slightly smaller than the red Quaffle.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Harry noticed that they seemed to be straining to escape the straps","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "holding them inside the box. `Stand back,` Wood warned Harry. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "bent down and freed one of the Bludgers. At once, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "black ball rose high in the air and then pelted straight at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Harry's face. Harry swung at it with the bat to stop it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "from breaking his nose, and sent it zigzagging away into the air","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "-- it zoomed around their heads and then shot at Wood, who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "dived on top of it and managed to pin it to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "ground. `See?` Wood panted, forcing the struggling Bludger back into the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "crate and strapping it down safely. `The Bludgers rocket around, trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "knock players off their brooms. That's why you have two Beaters on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "each team -- the Weasley twins are ours -- it's their job","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to protect their side from the Bludgers and try and knock them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "toward the other team. So -- think you've got all that?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Three Chasers try and score with the Quaffle; the Keeper guards the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "goal posts; the Beaters keep the Bludgers away from their team,` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "reeled off. `Very good,` said Wood. `Er -- have the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Bludgers ever killed anyone?` Harry asked, hoping he sounded offhand. `Never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "at Hogwarts. We've had a couple of broken jaws but nothing worse","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "than that. Now, the last member of the team is the ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Seeker. That's you. And you don't have to worry about the Quaffle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "or the Bludgers unless they crack my head open.` `Don't worry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the Weasleys are more than a match for the Bludgers -- I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "mean, they're like a pair of human Bludgers themselves.` Wood reached","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "into the crate and took out the fourth and last ball. Compared","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "with the Quaffle and the Bludgers, it was tiny, about the size","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "of a large walnut. It was bright gold and had little fluttering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "silver wings. `This,` said Wood, `is the Golden Snitch, and it's the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "most important ball of the lot. It's very hard to catch because","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "it's so fast and difficult to see. It's the Seeker's job to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "catch it. You've got to weave in and out of the Chasers,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Beaters, Bludgers, and Quaffle to get it before the other team's Seeker,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "because whichever Seeker catches the Snitch wins his team an extra hundred","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "and fifty points, so they nearly always win. That's why Seekers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "get fouled so much. A game of Quidditch only ends when the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Snitch is caught, so it can go on for ages -- I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "think the record is three months, they had to keep bringing on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "substitutes so the players could get some sleep. `Well, that's it --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "any questions?` Harry shook his head. He understood what he had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to do all right, it was doing it that was going to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "be the problem. `We won't practice with the Snitch yet,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Wood, carefully shutting it back inside the crate, `it's too dark, we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "might lose it. Let's try you out with a few of these.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " He pulled a bag of ordinary golf balls out of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "pocket and a few minutes later, he and Harry were up in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the air, Wood throwing the golf balls as hard as he could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "in every direction for Harry to catch. Harry didn't miss a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "single one, and Wood was delighted. After half an hour, night had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "really fallen and they couldn't carry on. `That Quidditch cup'll have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "our name on it this year,` said Wood happily as they trudged","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "back up to the castle. `I wouldn't be surprised if you turn","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons.` Perhaps it was because","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "he was now so busy, what with Quidditch practice three evenings a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "week on top of all his homework, but Harry could hardly believe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "it when he realized that he'd already been at Hogwarts two months.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "The castle felt more like home than Privet Drive ever had. His","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "lessons, too, were becoming more and more interesting now that they had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "mastered the basics. On Halloween morning they woke to the delicious","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors. Even better, Professor Flitwick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "announced in Charms that he thought they were ready to start making","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "objects fly, something they had all been dying to try since they'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "seen him make Neville's toad zoom around the classroom. Professor Flitwick put","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the class into pairs to practice. Harry's partner was Seamus Finnigan (which","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was a relief, because Neville had been trying to catch his eye).","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Ron, however, was to be working with Hermione Granger. It was hard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to tell whether Ron or Hermione was angrier about this. She hadn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "spoken to either of them since the day Harry's broomstick had arrived.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " `Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!` squeaked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "properly is very important, too -- never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "'s' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "buffalo on his chest.` It was very difficult. Harry and Seamus swished","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "and flicked, but the feather they were supposed to be sending skyward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "just lay on the desktop. Seamus got so impatient that he prodded","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "it with his wand and set fire to it -- Harry had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "to put it out with his hat. Ron, at the next","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "table, wasn't having much more luck. `Wingardium Leviosa!` he shouted, waving","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "his long arms like a windmill. `You're saying it wrong,` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "heard Hermione snap. `It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " `You do it, then, if you're so clever,` Ron snarled. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "said, `Wingardium Leviosa!` Their feather rose off the desk and hovered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "about four feet above their heads. `Oh, well done!` cried Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Flitwick, clapping. `Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!` Ron was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "in a very bad mood by the end of the class. `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "no wonder no one can stand her,` he said to Harry as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "they pushed their way into the crowded corridor, `she's a nightmare, honestly.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "` Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face -- and was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "startled to see that she was in tears. `I think she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "heard you.` `So?` said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`She must've noticed she's got no friends.` Hermione didn't turn up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. On their way","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry and Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "overheard Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the girls' bathroom and wanted to be left alone. Ron looked still","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "more awkward at this, but a moment later they had entered the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Great Hall, where the Halloween decorations put Hermione out of their minds.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The feast appeared suddenly on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term banquet. Harry was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "just helping himself to a baked potato when Professor Quirrell came sprinting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "gasped, `Troll -- in the dungeons -- thought you ought to know.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " He then sank to the floor in a dead faint. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "There was an uproar. It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence. `Prefects,` he rumbled,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!` Percy was in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "his element. `Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "now. Make way, first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " `How could a troll get in?` Harry asked as they climbed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the stairs. `Don't ask me, they're supposed to be really stupid,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "said Ron. `Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween joke.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "They passed different groups of people hurrying in different directions. As they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "jostled their way through a crowd of confused Hufflepuffs, Harry suddenly grabbed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Ron's arm. `I've just thought -- Hermione.` `What about her?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`She doesn't know about the troll.` Ron bit his lip. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Oh, all right,` he snapped. `But Percy'd better not see us.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Ducking down, they joined the Hufflepuffs going the other way, slipped down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a deserted side corridor, and hurried off toward the girls' bathroom. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "had just turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps behind them.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " `Percy!` hissed Ron, pulling Harry behind a large stone griffin. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Peering around it, however, they saw not Percy but Snape. He crossed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the corridor and disappeared from view. `What's he doing?` Harry whispered.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Why isn't he down in the dungeons with the rest of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "teachers?` `Search me.` Quietly as possible, they crept along the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "next corridor after Snape's fading footsteps. `He's heading for the third","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "floor,` Harry said, but Ron held up his hand. `Can you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "smell something?` Harry sniffed and a foul stench reached his nostrils,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a mixture of old socks and the kind of public toilet no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "one seems to clean. And then they heard it -- a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. Ron pointed --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "at the end of a passage to the left, something huge was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "moving toward them. They shrank into the shadows and watched as it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "emerged into a patch of moonlight. It was a horrible sight.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite gray, its great","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "its arms were so long. The troll stopped next to a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "doorway and peered inside. It waggled its long ears, making up its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "tiny mind, then slouched slowly into the room. `The keys in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the lock,` Harry muttered. `We could lock it in.` `Good idea,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "said Ron nervously. They edged toward the open door, mouths dry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "praying the troll wasn't about to come out of it. With one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "great leap, Harry managed to grab the key, slam the door, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "lock it. 'Yes!` Flushed with their victory, they started to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "run back up the passage, but as they reached the corner they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "heard something that made their hearts stop -- a high, petrified scream","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "-- and it was coming from the chamber they'd just chained up.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" " `Oh, no,` said Ron, pale as the Bloody Baron. `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the girls' bathroom!` Harry gasped. `Hermione!` they said together. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was the last thing they wanted to do, but what choice did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "they have? Wheeling around, they sprinted back to the door and turned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the key, fumbling in their panic. Harry pulled the door open and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "they ran inside. Hermione Granger was shrinking against the wall opposite,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "looking as if she was about to faint. The troll was advancing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "on her, knocking the sinks off the walls as it went. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Confuse it!` Harry said desperately to Ron, and, seizing a tap, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "threw it as hard as he could against the wall. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "troll stopped a few feet from Hermione. It lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "see what had made the noise. Its mean little eyes saw Harry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "It hesitated, then made for him instead, lifting its club as it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "went. `Oy, pea-brain!` yelled Ron from the other side of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "chamber, and he threw a metal pipe at it. The troll didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "even seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder, but it heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the yell and paused again, turning its ugly snout toward Ron instead,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "giving Harry time to run around it. `Come on, run, run!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Harry yelled at Hermione, trying to pull her toward the door, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "she couldn't move, she was still flat against the wall, her mouth","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "open with terror. The shouting and the echoes seemed to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "driving the troll berserk. It roared again and started toward Ron, who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was nearest and had no way to escape. Harry then did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "something that was both very brave and very stupid: He took a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "great running jump and managed to fasten his arms around the troll's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "neck from behind. The troll couldn't feel Harry hanging there, but even","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a troll will notice if you stick a long bit of wood","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "up its nose, and Harry's wand had still been in his hand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "when he'd jumped -- it had gone straight up one of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "troll's nostrils. Howling with pain, the troll twisted and flailed its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "club, with Harry clinging on for dear life; any second, the troll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was going to rip him off or catch him a terrible blow","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "with the club. Hermione had sunk to the floor in fright;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Ron pulled out his own wand -- not knowing what he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "going to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "into his head: `Wingardium Leviosa!` The club flew suddenly out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the troll's hand, rose high, high up into the air, turned slowly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "over -- and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner's head.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "The troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "got to his feet. He was shaking and out of breath. Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was standing there with his wand still raised, staring at what he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "had done. It was Hermione who spoke first. `Is it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "-- dead?` I don't think so,` said Harry, I think it's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "just been knocked out.` He bent down and pulled his wand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "out of the troll's nose. It was covered in what looked like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "lumpy gray glue. `Urgh -- troll boogers.` He wiped it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "on the troll's trousers. A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the three of them look up. They hadn't realized what a racket","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "they had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "the crashes and the troll's roars. A moment later, Professor McGonagall had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "come bursting into the room, closely followed by Snape, with Quirrell bringing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a faint whimper, and sat quickly down on a toilet, clutching his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "heart. Snape bent over the troll. Professor McGonagall was looking at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Ron and Harry. Harry had never seen her look so angry. Her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "lips were white. Hopes of winning fifty points for Gryffindor faded quickly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "from Harry's mind. `What on earth were you thinking of?` said Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Harry looked at Ron, who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was still standing with his wand in the air. `You're lucky you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?` Snape gave Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "a swift, piercing look. Harry looked at the floor. He wished Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "would put his wand down. Then a small voice came out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "of the shadows. `Please, Professor McGonagall -- they were looking for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "me.` `Miss Granger!` Hermione had managed to get to her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "feet at last. I went looking for the troll because I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "-- I thought I could deal with it on my own --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "you know, because I've read all about them.` Ron dropped his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher? `If they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "finish me off when they arrived.` Harry and Ron tried to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "look as though this story wasn't new to them. `Well --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "in that case...` said Professor McGonagall, staring at the three of them,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "mountain troll on your own?` Hermione hung her head. Harry was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "speechless. Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "and here she was, pretending she had, to get them out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "trouble. It was as if Snape had started handing out sweets. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "`Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Professor McGonagall. `I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "feast in their houses.` Hermione left. Professor McGonagall turned to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Harry and Ron. `Well, I still say you were lucky, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "this. You may go.` They hurried out of the chamber and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "didn't speak at all until they had climbed two floors up. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "was a relief to be away from the smell of the troll,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "quite apart from anything else. `We should have gotten more than","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "ten points,` Ron grumbled. `Five, you mean, once she's taken off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Hermione's.` `Good of her to get us out of trouble like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "that,` Ron admitted. `Mind you, we did save her.` `She might","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "not have needed saving if we hadn't locked the thing in with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "her,` Harry reminded him. They had reached the portrait of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "Fat Lady. `Pig snout,` they said and entered. The common","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "room was packed and noisy. Everyone was eating the food that had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "been sent up. Hermione, however, stood alone by the door, waiting for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "them. There was a very embarrassed pause. Then, none of them looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "at each other, they all said `Thanks,` and hurried off to get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "plates. But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-10" "QUIDDITCH As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "boots. The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry would be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "house championship. Hardly anyone had seen Harry play because Wood had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "decided that, as their secret weapon, Harry should be kept, well, secret.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "But the news that he was playing Seeker had leaked out somehow,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "and Harry didn't know which was worse -- people telling him he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "be brilliant or people telling him they'd be running around underneath him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "holding a mattress. It was really lucky that Harry now had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Hermlone as a friend. He didn't know how he'd have gotten through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "all his homework without her, what with all the last-minute Quidditch practice","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Wood was making them do. She had also tent him Quidditch Through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the Ages, which turned out to be a very interesting read. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Harry learned that there were seven hundred ways of committing a Quidditch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "foul and that all of them had happened during a World Cup","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "match in 1473; that Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "and that most serious Quidditch accidents seemed to happen to them; that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "although people rarely died playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert. Hermione had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "become a bit more relaxed about breaking rules since Harry and Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "had saved her from the mountain troll, and she was much nicer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "for it. The day before Harry's first Quidditch match the three of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and she had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "in a jam jar. They were standing with their backs to it,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "getting warm, when Snape crossed the yard. Harry noticed at once that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Snape was limping. Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer together to block","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the fire from view; they were sure it wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "something about their guilty faces caught Snape's eye. He limped over. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "reason to tell them off anyway. `What's that you've got there,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Potter?` It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry showed him. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`Library books are not to be taken outside the school,` said Snape.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor.` `He's just made","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that rule up,` Harry muttered angrily as Snape limped away. `Wonder what's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "wrong with his leg?` `Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "him,` said Ron bitterly. The Gryffindor common room was very noisy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that evening. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together next to a window.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Hermione was checking Harry and Ron's Charms homework for them. She would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "never let them copy (`How will you learn?`), but by asking her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to read it through, they got the right answers anyway. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "felt restless. He wanted Quidditch Through the Ages back, to take his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "mind off his nerves about tomorrow. Why should he be afraid of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Snape? Getting up, he told Ron and Hermione he was going to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "ask Snape if he could have it. `Better you than me,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "they said together, but Harry had an idea that Snape wouldn't refuse","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "if there were other teachers listening. He made his way down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to the staffroom and knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Nothing. Perhaps Snape had left the book in there? It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "worth a try. He pushed the door ajar and peered inside --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "and a horrible scene met his eyes. Snape and Filch were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "inside, alone. Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`Blasted thing*,` Snape was saying. `How are you supposed to keep your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "eyes on all three heads at once?` Harry tried to shut","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the door quietly, but -- `POTTER!` Snape's face was twisted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "with fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Harry gulped. `I just wondered if I could have my book","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "back.` `GET OUT! OUT!` Harry left, before Snape could take","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "any more points from Gryffindor. He sprinted back upstairs. `Did you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "get it?` Ron asked as Harry joined them. `What's the matter?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "In a low whisper, Harry told them what he'd seen. `You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "know what this means?` he finished breathlessly. `He tried to get past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "saw him -- he's after whatever it's guarding! And Id bet my","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!` Hermione's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "eyes were wide. `No -- he wouldn't, she said. `I know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "was keeping safe.` `Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "or something,` snapped Ron. `I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?` Harry went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to bed with his head buzzing with the same question. Neville was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "snoring loudly, but Harry couldn't sleep. He tried to empty his mind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "-- he needed to sleep, he had to, he had his first","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Quidditch match in a few hours -- but the expression on Snape's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "face when Harry had seen his leg wasn't easy to forget. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheer ful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match. `You've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "got to eat some breakfast.` `I don't want anything.` `Just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "a bit of toast,` wheedled Hermione. `I'm not hungry.` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "felt terrible. In an hour's time he'd be walking onto the field.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " `Harry, you need your strength,` said Seamus Finnigan. `Seekers are always","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the ones who get clobbered by the other team.` `Thanks, Seamus,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "said Harry, watching Seamus pile ketchup on his sausages. By eleven","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "was going on sometimes. Ron and Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Dean the West Ham fan up in the top row. As a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "surprise for Harry, they had painted a large banner on one of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President, and Dean,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "who was good at drawing, had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Hermione had performed a tricky little charm so that the paint flashed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "different colors. Meanwhile, in the locker room, Harry and the rest","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "of the team were changing into their scarlet Quidditch robes (Slytherin would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "be playing in green). Wood cleared his throat for silence. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`Okay, men,` he said. `And women,` said Chaser Angelina Johnson. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`And women,` Wood agreed. `This is it.` `The big one,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Fred Weasley. `The one we've all been waiting for,` said George.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " `We know Oliver's speech by heart,` Fred told Harry, `we were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "on the team last year.` `Shut up, you two,` said Wood.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "win. I know it.` He glared at them all as if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to say, `Or else.` `Right. It's time. Good luck, all of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "you.` Harry followed Fred and George out of the locker room","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "and, hoping his knees weren't going to give way, walked onto the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "field to loud cheers. Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "in her hand. `Now, I want a nice fair game, all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "of you,` she said, once they were all gathered around her. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Marcus Flint, a sixth year. Harry thought Flint looked as if he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "had some troll blood in him. Out of the corner of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "eye he saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing Potter for President","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "over the crowd. His heart skipped. He felt braver. `Mount your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "brooms, please.` Harry clambered onto his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "rose up, high, high into the air. They were off. `And the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor -- what an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too --` `JORDAN!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " `Sorry, Professor.` The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall. `And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "back to Johnson and -- no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Flint flying like an eagle up there -- he's going to sc-","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Gryffindors take the Quaffle -- that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "nice dive around Flint, off up the field and -- OUCH --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "a Bludger -- Quaffle taken by the Slytherins -- that's Adrian Pucey","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Bludger -- sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "which -- nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "goes -- she's really flying -- dodges a speeding Bludger -- the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "goal posts are ahead -- come on, now, Angelina -- Keeper Bletchley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "dives -- misses -- GRYFFINDORS SCORE!` Gryffindor cheers filled the cold","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins. `Budge up there,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "move along.` `Hagrid!` Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Hagrid enough space to join them. `Bin watchin' from me hut,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "said Hagrid, patting a large pair of binoculars around his neck, `But","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the Snitch yet, eh?` `Nope,` said Ron. `Harry hasn't had much","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to do yet.` `Kept outta trouble, though, that's somethin',` said Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Harry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " Way up above them, Harry was gliding over the game, squinting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "about for some sign of the Snitch. This was part of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "and Wood's game plan. `Keep out of the way until you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "catch sight of the Snitch,` Wood had said. `We don't want you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "attacked before you have to be.` When Angelina had scored, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "had done a couple of loop-the-loops to let off his feelings. Now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "he was back to staring around for the Snitch. Once he caught","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "sight of a flash of gold, but it was just a reflection","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "from one of the Weasleys' wristwatches, and once a Bludger decided to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "come pelting his way, more like a cannonball than anything, but Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "dodged it and Fred Weasley came chasing after it. `All right","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "there, Harry?` he had time to yell, as he beat the Bludger","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "furiously toward Marcus Flint. `Slytherin in possession,` Lee Jordan was saying,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "toward the -- wait a moment -- was that the Snitch?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "had passed his left ear. Harry saw it. In a great","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "rush of excitement he dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Seeker Terence Higgs had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "toward the Snitch -all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " Harry was faster than Higgs -- he could see the little","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead - - he put on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "an extra spurt of speed -- WHAM! A roar of rage","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "echoed from the Gryffindors below -- Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "purpose, and Harry's broom spun off course, Harry holding on for dear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "life. `Foul!` screamed the Gryffindors. Madam Hooch spoke angrily to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Flint and then ordered a free shot at the goal posts for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Gryffindor. But in all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "disappeared from sight again. Down in the stands, Dean Thomas was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "yelling, `Send him off, ref! Red card!` `What are you talking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "about, Dean?` said Ron. `Red card!` said Dean furiously. `In soccer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " `But this isn't soccer, Dean,` Ron reminded him. Hagrid, however,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "was on Dean's side. `They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "knocked Harry outta the air.` Lee Jordan was finding it difficult","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "not to take sides. `So -- after that obvious and disgusting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "bit of cheating `Jordan!` growled Professor McGonagall. `I mean, after","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that open and revolting foul 'Jordan, I'm warning you --` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Spinner, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "in possession.` It was as Harry dodged another Bludger, which went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "spinning dangerously past his head, that it happened. His broom gave a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "sudden, frightening lurch. For a split second, he thought he was going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to fall. He gripped the broom tightly with both his hands and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "knees. He'd never felt anything like that. It happened again. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "was as though the broom was trying to buck him off. But","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Nimbus Two Thousands did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Harry tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goal- posts -- he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "had half a mind to ask Wood to call time-out -- and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "then he realized that his broom was completely out of his control.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "He couldn't turn it. He couldn't direct it at all. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "zigzagging through the air, and every now and then making violent swishing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "movements that almost unseated him. Lee was still commentating. `Slytherin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "in possession -- Flint with the Quaffle -- passes Spinnet -- passes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Bell -- hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "broke his nose -- only joking, Professor -- Slytherins score -- A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "no... The Slytherins were cheering. No one seemed to have noticed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that Harry's broom was behaving strangely. It was carrying- him slowly higher,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`Dunno what Harry thinks he's doing,` Hagrid mumbled. He stared through his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "binoculars. `If I didn' know better, I'd say he'd lost control of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "his broom... but he can't have....` Suddenly, people were pointing up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "at Harry all over the stands. His broom had started to roll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "over and over, with him only just managing to hold on. Then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the whole crowd gasped. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "with only one hand. `Did something happen to it when Flint","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "blocked him?` Seamus whispered. `Can't have,` Hagrid said, his voice shaking.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "`Can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic -- no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand.` At these","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "words, Hermione seized Hagrid's binoculars, but instead of looking up at Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "she started looking frantically at the crowd. `What are you doing?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "moaned Ron, gray-faced. `I knew it,` Hermione gasped, `Snape -- look.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " Ron grabbed the binoculars. Snape was in the middle of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "stands opposite them. He had his eyes fixed on Harry and was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "muttering nonstop under his breath. `He's doing something -- jinxing the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "broom,` said Hermione. `What should we do?` `Leave it to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "me.` Before Ron could say another word, Hermione had disappeared. Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "turned the binoculars back on Harry. His broom was vibrating so hard,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "it was almost impossible for him to hang on much longer. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "whole crowd was on its feet, watching, terrified, as the Weasleys flew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "up to try and pull Harry safely onto one of their brooms,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "but it was no good -- every time they got near him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the broom would jump higher still. They dropped lower and circled beneath","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "him, obviously hoping to catch him if he fell. Marcus Flint","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "seized the Quaffle and scored five times without anyone noticing. `Come","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "on, Hermione,` Ron muttered desperately. Hermione had fought her way across","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to the stand where Snape stood, and was now racing along the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "row behind him; she didn't even stop to say sorry as she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row in front. Reaching Snape, she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "crouched down, pulled out her wand, and whispered a few, well- chosen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the hem of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Snape's robes. It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realize","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that he was on fire. A sudden yelp told her she had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "done her job. Scooping the fire off him into a little jar","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "in her pocket, she scrambled back along the row -- Snape would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "never know what had happened. It was enough. Up in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "air, Harry was suddenly able to clamber back on to his broom.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" " `Neville, you can look!` Ron said. Neville had been sobbing into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Hagrid's jacket for the last five minutes. Harry was speeding toward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the ground when the crowd saw him clap his hand to his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "mouth as though he was about to be sick -- he hit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the field on all fours -- coughed -- and something gold fell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "into his hand. `I've got the Snitch!` he shouted, waving it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "above his head, and the game ended in complete confusion. `He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "didn't catch it, he nearly swallowed it,` Flint was still howling twenty","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "minutes later, but it made no difference -- Harry hadn't broken any","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "rules and Lee Jordan was still happily shouting the results -- Gryffindor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "had won by one hundred and seventy points to sixty. Harry heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "none of this, though. He was being made a cup of strong","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "tea back in Hagrid's hut, with Ron and Hermione. `It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Snape,` Ron was explaining, `Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you.` `Rubbish,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "said Hagrid, who hadn't heard a word of what had gone on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "next to him in the stands. `Why would Snape do somethin' like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "that?` Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another, wondering what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to tell him. Harry decided on the truth. `I found out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "something about him,` he told Hagrid. `He tried to get past that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to steal whatever it's guarding.` Hagrid dropped the teapot. `How","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "do you know about Fluffy?` he said. `Fluffy?` `Yeah --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "he's mine -- bought him off a Greek chappie I met in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the pub las' year -- I lent him to Dumbledore to guard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "the `Yes?` said Harry eagerly. `Now, don't ask me anymore,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "said Hagrid gruffly. `That's top secret, that is.` `But Snape's trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to steal it.` `Rubbish,` said Hagrid again. `Snape's a Hogwarts teacher,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "he'd do nothin' of the sort.` `So why did he just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "try and kill Harry?` cried Hermione. The afternoon's events certainly seemed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "to have changed her mind about Snape. I know a jinx","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "saw him!` `I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!` said Hagrid hotly. `I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "-- yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel --` `Aha!` said Harry, `so there's someone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?` Hagrid looked furious with himself. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-11" "THE MIRROR OF ERISED Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "his turban. The few owls that managed to battle their way through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "health by Hagrid before they could fly off again. No one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "could wait for the holidays to start. While the Gryffindor common room","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms. Worst","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of all were Professor Snape's classes down in the dungeons, where their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "breath rose in a mist before them and they kept as close","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "as possible to their hot cauldrons. `I do feel so sorry,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "said Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, `for all those people who have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " He was looking over at Harry as he spoke. Crabbe and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Goyle chuckled. Harry, who was measuring out powdered spine of lionfish, ignored","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "them. Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "match. Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he had tried to get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "everyone laughing at how a wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "as Seeker next. Then he'd realized that nobody found this funny, because","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "they were all so impressed at the way Harry had managed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "stay on his bucking broomstick. So Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "back to taunting Harry about having no proper family. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "true that Harry wasn't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas. Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "McGonagall had come around the week before, making a list of students","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "who would be staying for the holidays, and Harry had signed up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "at once. He didn't feel sorry for himself at all; this would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "probably be the best Christmas he'd ever had. Ron and his brothers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "were staying, too, because Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to visit Charlie. When they left the dungeons at the end","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of Potions, they found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "sound told them that Hagrid was behind it. `Hi, Hagrid, want","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "any help?` Ron asked, sticking his head through the branches. `Nah,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "I'm all right, thanks, Ron.` `Would you mind moving out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the way?` came Malfoys cold drawl from behind them. `Are you trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "you leave Hogwarts, I suppose -- that hut of Hagrid's must seem","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "like a palace compared to what your family's used to.` Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "dived at Malfoy just as Snape came up the stairs. `WEASLEY!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " Ron let go of the front of Malfoy's robes. `He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was provoked, Professor Snape,` said Hagrid, sticking his huge hairy face out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "from behind the tree. `Malfoy was insultin' his family.` `Be that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid,` said Snape silkily.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "along, all of you.` Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking. `I'll get him,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Ron, grinding his teeth at Malfoy's back, `one of these days, I'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "get him --` `I hate them both,` said Harry, `Malfoy and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Snape.` `Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas,` said Hagrid. `Tell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "treat.` So the three of them followed Hagrid and his tree","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "off to -the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "busy with the Christmas decorations. `Ah, Hagrid, the last tree --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "put it in the far corner, would you?` The hall looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "no less than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles. `How","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "many days you got left until yer holidays?` Hagrid asked. `Just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "one,` said Hermione. `And that reminds me -Harry, Ron, we've got half","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "an hour before lunch, we should be in the library.` `Oh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "yeah, you're right,` said Ron, tearing his eyes away from Professor Flitwick,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "who had golden bubbles blossoming out of his wand and was trailing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "them over the branches of the new tree. `The library?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Hagrid, following them out of the hall. `Just before the holidays? Bit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "keen, aren't yeh?` `Oh, we're not working,` Harry told him brightly.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "who he is.` `You what?` Hagrid looked shocked. `Listen here --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "I've told yeh -- drop it. It's nothin' to you what that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "dog's guardin'.` `We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "that's all,` said Hermione. `Unless you'd like to tell us and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "save us the trouble?` Harry added. `We must've been through hundreds of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "books already and we can't find him anywhere -- just give us","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a hint -- I know I've read his name somewhere.` `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "sayin' nothin, said Hagrid flatly. `Just have to find out for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "ourselves, then,` said Ron, and they left Hagrid looking disgruntled and hurried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "off to the library. They had indeed been searching books for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Flamel's name ever since Hagrid had let it slip, because how else","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "were they going to find out what Snape was trying to steal?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "The trouble was, it was very hard to know where to begin,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "not knowing what Flamel might have done to get himself into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "book. He wasn't in Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, or Notable","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Magical Names of Our Time; he was missing, too, from Important Modern","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Magical Discoveries, and A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. And then,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of course, there was the sheer size of the library; tens of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "thousands of books; thousands of shelves; hundreds of narrow rows. Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "took out a list of subjects and titles she had decided to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "search while Ron strode off down a row of books and started","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "pulling them off the shelves at random. Harry wandered over to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Restricted Section. He had been wondering for a while if Flamel wasn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "somewhere in there. Unfortunately, you needed a specially signed note from one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of the teachers to look in any of the restricted books, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he knew he'd never get one. These were the books containing powerful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Dark Magic never taught at Hogwarts, and only read by older students","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "studying advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. `What are you looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "for, boy?` `Nothing,` said Harry. Madam Pince the librarian brandished","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a feather duster at him. `You'd better get out, then. Go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "on -- out!` Wishing he'd been a bit quicker at thinking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "up some story, Harry left the library. He, Ron, and Hermione had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "already agreed they'd better not ask Madam Pince where they could find","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Flamel. They were sure she'd be able to tell them, but they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "couldn't risk Snape hearing what they were up to. Harry waited","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "outside in the corridor to see if the other two had found","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "anything, but he wasn't very hopeful. They had been looking for two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "weeks, after A, but as they only had odd moments between lessons","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "it wasn't surprising they'd found nothing. What they really needed was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "nice long search without Madam Pince breathing down their necks. Five","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "minutes later, Ron and Hermione joined him, shaking their heads. They went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "off to lunch. `You will keep looking while I'm away, won't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "you?` said Hermione. `And send me an owl if you find anything.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "is,` said Ron. `It'd be safe to ask them.` `Very safe,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "as they're both dentists,` said Hermione. Once the holidays had started,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Ron and Harry were having too good a time to think much","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "about Flamel. They had the dormitory to themselves and the common room","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was far emptier than usual, so they were able to get the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "good armchairs by the fire. They sat by the hour eating anything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "they could spear on a toasting fork -- bread, English muffins, marshmallows","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "-- and plotting ways of getting Malfoy expelled, which were fun to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "talk about even if they wouldn't work. Ron also started teaching","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Harry wizard chess. This was exactly like Muggle chess except that the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "figures were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "battle. Ron's set was very old and battered. Like everything else he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "owned, it had once belonged to someone else in his family --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "in this case, his grandfather. However, old chessmen weren't a drawback at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "all. Ron knew them so well he never had trouble getting them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to do what he wanted. Harry played with chessmen Seamus Finnigan","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "had lent him, and they didn't trust him at all. He wasn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a very good player yet and they kept shouting different bits of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "advice at him, which was confusing. `Don't send me there, can't you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "see his knight? Send him, we can afford to lose him.` On","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Christmas Eve, Harry went to bed looking forward to the next day","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "for the food and the fun, but not expecting any presents at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "all. When he woke early in the morning, however, the first thing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he saw was a small pile of packages at the foot of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "his bed. `Merry Christmas,` said Ron sleepily as Harry scrambled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "out of bed and pulled on his bathrobe. `You, too,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Harry. `Will you look at this? I've got some presents!` `What","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "did you expect, turnips?` said Ron, turning to his own pile, which","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was a lot bigger than Harry's. Harry picked up the top","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "parcel. It was wrapped in thick brown paper and scrawled across it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was To Harry, from Hagrid. Inside was a roughly cut wooden flute.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Hagrid had obviously whittled it himself. Harry blew it -- it sounded","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a bit like an owl. A second, very small parcel contained","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a note. We received your message and enclose your Christmas present.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "From Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. Taped to the note was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "fifty-pence piece. `That's friendly,` said Harry. Ron was fascinated by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the fifty pence. `Weird!` he said, 'NMat a shape! This is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "money?` `You can keep it,` said Harry, laughing at how pleased","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Ron was. `Hagrid and my aunt and uncle -- so who sent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "these?` `I think I know who that one's from,` said Ron,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "turning a bit pink and pointing to a very lumpy parcel. `My","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "mom. I told her you didn't expect any presents and -- oh,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "no,` he groaned, `she's made you a Weasley sweater.` Harry had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "torn open the parcel to find a thick, hand-knitted sweater in emerald","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "green and a large box of homemade fudge. `Every year she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "makes us a sweater,` said Ron, unwrapping his own, `and mine's always","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "maroon.` `That's really nice of her,` said Harry, trying the fudge,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "which was very tasty. His next present also contained candy --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a large box of Chocolate Frogs from Hermione. This only left","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "one parcel. Harry picked it up and felt it. It was very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "light. He unwrapped it. Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds. Ron gasped. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`I've heard of those,` he said in a hushed voice, dropping the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "box of Every Flavor Beans he'd gotten from Hermione. `If that's what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "I think it is -- they're really rare, and really valuable.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`What is it?` Harry picked the shining, silvery cloth off the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "floor. It was strange to the touch, like water woven into material.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `It's an invisibility cloak,` said Ron, a look of awe on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "his face. `I'm sure it is -- try it on.` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "threw the cloak around his shoulders and Ron gave a yell. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`It is! Look down!` Harry looked down at his feet, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "they were gone. He dashed to the mirror. Sure enough, his reflection","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "looked back at him, just his head suspended in midair, his body","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "completely invisible. He pulled the cloak over his head and his reflection","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "vanished completely. `There's a note!` said Ron suddenly. `A note fell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "out of it!` Harry pulled off the cloak and seized the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "letter. Written in narrow, loopy writing he had never seen before were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the following words: Your father left this in my possession before he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " A Very Merry Christmas to you. There was no signature.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Harry stared at the note. Ron was admiring the cloak. `I'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "give anything for one of these,` he said. `Anything. What's the matter?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `Nothing,` said Harry. He felt very strange. Who had sent the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "cloak? Had it really once belonged to his father? Before he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "could say or think anything else, the dormitory door was flung open","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "and Fred and George Weasley bounded in. Harry stuffed the cloak quickly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "out of sight. He didn't feel like sharing it with anyone else","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "yet. `Merry Christmas!` `Hey, look -- Harry's got a Weasley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "sweater, too!` Fred and George were wearing blue sweaters, one with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a large yellow F on it, the other a G. `Harry's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "is better than ours, though,` said Fred, holding up Harry's sweater. `She","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "obviously makes more of an effort if you're not family.` `Why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "aren't you wearing yours, Ron?` George demanded. `Come on, get it on,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "they're lovely and warm.` `I hate maroon,` Ron moaned halfheartedly as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he pulled it over his head. `You haven't got a letter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "on yours,` George observed. `I suppose she thinks you don't forget your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "name. But we're not stupid -- we know we're called Gred and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Forge.` `What's all th is noise. Percy Weasley stuck his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "head through the door, looking disapproving. He had clearly gotten halfway through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "unwrapping his presents as he, too, carried a lumpy sweater over his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "arm, which Fred seized. `P for prefect! Get it on,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Percy, come on, we're all wearing ours, even Harry got one.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`I -- don't -- want said Percy thickly, as the twins forced","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the sweater over his head, knocking his glasses askew. `And you're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "not sitting with the prefects today, either,` said George. `Christmas is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a time for family.` They frog-marched Percy from the room, his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "arms pinned to his side by his sweater. Harry had never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "-- and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "These fantastic party favors were nothing like the feeble Muggle ones the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Dursleys usually bought, with their little plastic toys and their flimsy paper","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "hats inside. Harry pulled a wizard cracker with Fred and it didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "just bang, it went off with a blast like a cannon and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke, while from the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "inside exploded a rear admiral's hat and several live, white mice. Up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "at the High Table, Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "a flowered bonnet, and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor Flitwick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "had just read him. Flaming Christmas puddings followed the turkey. Percy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "nearly broke his teeth on a silver sickle embedded in his slice.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Harry watched Hagrid getting redder and redder in the face as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "called for more wine, finally kissing Professor McGonagall on the cheek, who,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to Harry's amazement, giggled and blushed, her top hat lopsided. When","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Harry finally left the table, he was laden down with a stack","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of things out of the crackers, including a pack of nonexplodable, luminous","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "balloons, a Grow-Your-Own-Warts kit, and his own new wizard chess set. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "white mice had disappeared and Harry had a nasty feeling they were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "going to end up as Mrs. Norris's Christmas dinner. Harry and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the Weasleys spent a happy afternoon having a furious snowball fight on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the grounds. Then, cold, wet, and gasping for breath, they returned to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the fire in the Gryffindor common room, where Harry broke in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "new chess set by losing spectacularly to Ron. He suspected he wouldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "have lost so badly if Percy hadn't tried to help him so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "much. After a meal of turkey sandwiches, crumpets, trifle, and Christmas","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "cake, everyone felt too full and sleepy to do much before bed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "except sit and watch Percy chase Fred and George all over Gryffindor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "tower because they'd stolen his prefect badge. It had been Harry's best","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Christmas day ever. Yet something had been nagging at the back of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "his mind all day. Not until he climbed into bed was he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "free to think about it: the invisibility cloak and whoever had sent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "it. Ron, full of turkey and cake and with nothing mysterious","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to bother him, fell asleep almost as soon as he'd drawn the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "curtains of his four-poster. Harry leaned over the side of his own","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "bed and pulled the cloak out from under it. His father's...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "this had been his father's. He let the material flow over his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "hands, smoother than silk, light as air. Use it well, the note","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "had said. He had to try it, now. He slipped out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of bed and wrapped the cloak around himself. Looking down at his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "legs, he saw only moonlight and shadows. It was a very funny","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "feeling. Use it well. Suddenly, Harry felt wide-awake. The whole","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of Hogwarts was open to him in this cloak. Excitement flooded through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "him as he stood there in the dark and silence. He could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "go anywhere in this, anywhere, and Filch would never know. Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "grunted in his sleep. Should Harry wake him? Something held him back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "-- his father's cloak -- he felt that this time -- the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "first time -- he wanted to use it alone. He crept","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "out of the dormitory, down the stairs, across the common room, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "climbed through the portrait hole. `Who's there?` squawked the Fat Lady.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Harry said nothing. He walked quickly down the corridor. Where should","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he go? He stopped, his heart racing, and thought. And then it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "came to him. The Restricted Section in the library. He'd be able","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to read as long as he liked, as long as it took","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to find out who Flamel was. He set off, drawing the invisibility","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "cloak tight around him as he walked. The library was pitch-black","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "and very eerie. Harry lit a lamp to see his way along","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the rows of books. The lamp looked as if it was floating","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "along in midair, and even though Harry could feel his arm supporting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "it, the sight gave him the creeps. The Restricted Section was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "right at the back of the library. Step ping carefully over the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "rope that separated these books from the rest of the library, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "held up his lamp to read the titles. They didn't tell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "him much. Their peeling, faded gold letters spelled words in languages Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "couldn't understand. Some had no title at all. One book had a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "dark stain on it that looked horribly like blood. The hairs on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the back of Harry's neck prickled. Maybe he was imagining it, maybe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "not, but he thought a faint whispering was coming from the books,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "as though they knew someone was there who shouldn't be. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "had to start somewhere. Setting the lamp down carefully on the floor,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he looked along the bottom shelf for an interestinglooking book. A large","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "black and silver volume caught his eye. He pulled it out with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "difficulty, because it was very heavy, and, balancing it on his knee,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "let it fall open. A piercing, bloodcurdling shriek split the silence","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "-- the book was screaming! Harry snapped it shut, but the shriek","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "went on and on, one high, unbroken, earsplitting note. He stumbled backward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "and knocked over his lamp, which went out at once. Panicking, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "heard footsteps coming down the corridor outside -- stuffing the shrieking book","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "back on the shelf, he ran for it. He passed Filch in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the doorway; Filch's pale, wild eyes looked straight through him, and Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "slipped under Filch's outstretched arm and streaked off up the corridor, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "book's shrieks still ringing in his ears. He came to a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "sudden halt in front of a tall suit of armor. He had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "been so busy getting away from the library, he hadn't paid attention","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to where he was going. Perhaps because it was dark, he didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "recognize where he was at all. There was a suit of armor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "near the kitchens, he knew, but he must be five floors above","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "there. `You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Restricted Section.` Harry felt the blood drain out of his face.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Wherever he was, Filch must know a shortcut, because his soft, greasy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "voice was getting nearer, and to his horror, it was Snape who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "replied, `The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far, we'll catch them.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " Harry stood rooted to the spot as Filch and Snape came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "around the corner ahead. They couldn't see him, of course, but it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was a narrow corridor and if they came much nearer they'd knock","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "right into him -- the cloak didn't stop him from being solid.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " He backed away as quietly as he could. A door stood","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "ajar to his left. It was his only hope. He squeezed through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "it, holding his breath, trying not to move it, and to his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "relief he managed to get inside the room without their noticing anything.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "They walked straight past, and Harry leaned against the wall, breathing deeply,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "listening to their footsteps dying away. That had been close, very close.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "It was a few seconds before he noticed anything about the room","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he had hidden in. It looked like an unused classroom. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "there was an upturned wastepaper basket -- but propped against the wall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "facing him was something that didn't look as if it belonged there,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "something that looked as if someone had just put it there to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "keep it out of the way. It was a magnificent mirror,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "two clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. His panic fading now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "that there was no sound of Filch and Snape, Harry moved nearer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to the mirror, wanting to look at himself but see no reflection","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "again. He stepped in front of it. He had to clap","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "his hands to his mouth to stop himself from screaming. He whirled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "around. His heart was pounding far more furiously than when the book","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "had screamed -- for he had seen not only himself in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "mirror, but a whole crowd of people standing right behind him. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "But the room was empty. Breathing very fast, he turned slowly back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to the mirror. There he was, reflected in it, white and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "scared-looking, and there, reflected behind him, were at least ten others. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "looked over his shoulder -- but still, no one was there. Or","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "were they all invisible, too? Was he in fact in a room","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "full of invisible people and this mirror's trick was that it reflected","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "them, invisible or not? He looked in the mirror again. A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "woman standing right behind his reflection was smiling at him and waving.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "He reached out a hand and felt the air behind him. If","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "she was really there, he'd touch her, their reflections were so close","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "together, but he felt only air -- she and the others existed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "only in the mirror. She was a very pretty woman. She","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "had dark red hair and her eyes -- her eyes are just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "like mine, Harry thought, edging a little closer to the glass. Bright","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "green -- exactly the same shape, but then he noticed that she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was crying; smiling, but crying at the same time. The tall, thin,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "black-haired man standing next to her put his arm around her. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "wore glasses, and his hair was very untidy. It stuck up at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the back, just as Harry's did. Harry was so close to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the mirror now that his nose was nearly touching that of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "reflection. `Mom?` he whispered. `Dad?` They just looked at him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "smiling. And slowly, Harry looked into the faces of the other people","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "in the mirror, and saw other pairs of green eyes like his,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "other noses like his, even a little old man who looked as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "though he had Harry's knobbly knees -- Harry was looking at his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "family, for the first time in his life. The Potters smiled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "and waved at Harry and he stared hungrily back at them, his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "hands pressed flat against the glass as though he was hoping to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "fall right through it and reach them. He had a powerful kind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness. How long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he stood there, he didn't know. The reflections did not fade and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he looked and looked until a distant noise brought him back to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "his senses. He couldn't stay here, he had to find his way","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "back to bed. He tore his eyes away from his mother's face,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "whispered, `I'll come back,` and hurried from the room. `You could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "have woken me up,` said Ron, crossly. `You can come tonight,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "I'm going back, I want to show you the mirror. `I'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "like to see your mom and dad,` Ron said eagerly. `And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "I want to see all your family, all the Weasleys, you'll be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "able to show me your other brothers and everyone.` `You can","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "see them any old time,` said Ron. `Just come round my house","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "this summer. Anyway, maybe it only shows dead people. Shame about not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "finding Flamel, though. Have some bacon or something, why aren't you eating","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "anything?` Harry couldn't eat. He had seen his parents and would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "be seeing them again tonight. He had almost forgotten about Flamel. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "didn't seem very important anymore. Who cared what the three headed dog","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was guarding? What did it matter if Snape stole it, really? ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`Are you all right?` said Ron. `You look odd.` What Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "feared most was that he might not be able to find the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "mirror room again. With Ron covered in the cloak, too, they had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to walk much more slowly the next night. They tried retracing Harry's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "route from the library, wandering around the dark passageways for nearly an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "hour. `I'm freezing,` said Ron. `Let's forget it and go back.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `No!` Harry hissed. I know it's here somewhere.` They passed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the ghost of a tall witch gliding in the opposite direction, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "saw no one else. just as Ron started moaning that his feet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "were dead with cold, Harry spotted the suit of armor. `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "here -- just here -- yes!` They pushed the door open.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Harry dropped the cloak from around his shoulders and ran to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "mirror. There they were. His mother and father beamed at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "sight of him. `See?` Harry whispered. `I can't see anything.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `Look! Look at them all... there are loads of them....` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`I can only see you.` `Look in it properly, go on,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "stand where I am.` Harry stepped aside, but with Ron in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "front of the mirror, he couldn't see his family anymore, just Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "in his paisley pajamas. Ron, though, was staring transfixed at his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "image. `Look at me!` he said. `Can you see all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "your family standing around you?` `No -- I'm alone -- but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "I'm different -- I look older -- and I'm head boy!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`What?` `I am -- I'm wearing the badge like Bill used","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to -- and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "-- I'm Quidditch captain, too. Ron tore his eyes away from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "this splendid sight to look excitedly at Harry. `Do you think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "this mirror shows the future?` `How can it? All my family","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "are dead -- let me have another look --` `You had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "it to yourself all last night, give me a bit more time.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `You're only holding the Quidditch cup, what's interesting about that? I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "want to see my parents.` `Don't push me --` A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "sudden noise outside in the corridor put an end to their discussion.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "They hadn't realized how loudly they had been talking. `Quick!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Ron threw the cloak back over them as the luminous eyes of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Mrs. Norris came round the door. Ron and Harry stood quite still,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "both thinking the same thing -- did the cloak work on cats?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "After what seemed an age, she turned and left. `This isn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "safe -- she might have gone for Filch, I bet she heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "us. Come on.` And Ron pulled Harry out of the room.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " The snow still hadn't melted the next morning. `Want to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "play chess, Harry?` said Ron. `No.` `Why don't we go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "down and visit Hagrid?` `No... you go...` `I know what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "you're thinking about, Harry, that mirror. Don't go back tonight.` `Why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "not?` `I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "-- and anyway, you've had too many close shaves already. Filch, Snape,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. So what if they can't see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "you? What if they walk into you? What if you knock something","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "over?` `You sound like Hermione.` `I'm serious, Harry, don't go.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " But Harry only had one thought in his head, which was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to get back in front of the mirror, and Ron wasn't going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to stop him. That third night he found his way more","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "quickly than before. He was walking so fast he knew he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "making more noise than was wise, but he didn't meet anyone. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "And there were his mother and father smiling at him again, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "one of his grandfathers nodding happily. Harry sank down to sit on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the floor in front of the mirror. There was nothing to stop","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "him from staying here all night with his family. Nothing at all.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " Except -- `So -- back again, Harry?` Harry felt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "as though his insides had turned to ice. He looked behind him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Sitting on one of the desks by the wall was none other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "than Albus Dumbledore. Harry must have walked straight past him, so desperate","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to get to the mirror he hadn't noticed him. ` --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "I didn't see you, sir.` `Strange how nearsighted being invisible can","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "make you,` said Dumbledore, and Harry was relieved to see that he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was smiling. `So,` said Dumbledore, slipping off the desk to sit","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "on the floor with Harry, `you, like hundreds before you, have discovered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the delights of the Mirror of Erised.` `I didn't know it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "was called that, Sir.` `But I expect you've realized by now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "what it does?` `It -- well -- it shows me my","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "family --` `And it showed your friend Ron himself as head","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "boy.` `How did you know --?` `I don't need a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "cloak to become invisible,` said Dumbledore gently. `Now, can you think what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "the Mirror of Erised shows us all?` Harry shook his head.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Does that help?` Harry thought. Then he said slowly, `It shows","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "us what we want... whatever we want...` `Yes and no,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Dumbledore quietly. `It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "or even possible. `The Mirror will be moved to a new","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "back on and get off to bed?` Harry stood up. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`Sir -- Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?` `Obviously, you've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "just done so,` Dumbledore smiled. `You may ask me one more thing,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "however.` `What do you see when you look in the mirror?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " `I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" " Harry stared. `One can never have enough socks,` said Dumbledore.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "`Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "pair. People will insist on giving me books.` It was only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "when he was back in bed that it struck Harry that Dumbledore","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "might not have been quite truthful. But then, he thought, as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "shoved Scabbers off his pillow, it had been quite a personal question. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-12" "NICOLAS FLAMEL Dumbledore had convinced Harry not to go looking for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the Mirror of Erised again, and for the rest of the Christmas","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "holidays the invisibility cloak stayed folded at the bottom of his trunk.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Harry wished he could forget what he'd seen in the mirror as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "easily, but he couldn't. He started having nightmares. Over and over again","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "he dreamed about his parents disappearing in a flash of green light,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "while a high voice cackled with laughter. `You see, Dumbledore was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "right, that mirror could drive you mad,` said Ron, when Harry told","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "him about these drearns. Hermione, who came back the day before","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "term started, took a different view of things. She was torn between","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "horror at the idea of Harry being out of bed, roaming the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "school three nights in a row (`If Filch had caught you!`), and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "disappointment that he hadn't at least found out who Nicolas Flamel was.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " They had almost given up hope of ever finding Flamel in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "a li- brary book, even though Harry was still sure he'd read","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the name somewhere. Once term had started, they were back to skimming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "through books for ten minutes during their breaks. Harry had even less","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "time than the other two, because Quidditch practice had started again. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Wood was working the team harder than ever. Even the endless rain","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "that had replaced the snow couldn't dampen his spirits. The Weasleys complained","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "that Wood was becoming a fanatic, but Harry was on Wood's side.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "If they won their next match, against Hufflepuff, they would overtake Slytherin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "in the house championship for the first time in seven years. Quite","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "apart from wanting to win, Harry found that he had fewer nightmares","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "when he was tired out after training. Then, during one particularly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "wet and muddy practice session, Wood gave the team a bit of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "bad news. He'd just gotten very angry with the Weasleys, who kept","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "dive-bombing each other and pretending to fall off their brooms. `Will","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "you stop messing around!` he yelled. `That's exactly the sort of thing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "that'll lose us the match! Snape's refereeing this time, and he'll be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "looking for any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor!` George Weasley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "really did fall off his broom at these words. `Snape's refereeing?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "he spluttered through a mouthful of mud. `When's he ever refereed a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Quidditch match? He's not going to be fair if we might overtake","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Slytherin.` The rest of the team landed next to George to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "complain, too. `It's not my fault,` said Wood. `We've just got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to make sure we play a clean game, so Snape hasn't got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "an excuse to pick on us.` Which was all very well,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "thought Harry, but he had another reason for not wanting Snape near","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "him while he was playing Quidditch.... The rest of the team","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "hung back to talk to one another as usual at the end","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "of practice, but Harry headed straight back to the Gryffindor common room,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "where he found Ron and Hermione playing chess. Chess was the only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "thing Hermione ever lost at, something Harry and Ron thought was very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "good for her. `Don't talk to me for a moment,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Ron when Harry sat down next to him, `I need to concen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "--` He caught sight of Harry's face. `What's the matter with you?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "You look terrible.` Speaking quietly so that no one else would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "hear, Harry told the other two about Snape's sudden, sinister desire to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "be a Quidditch referee. `Don't play,` said Hermione at once. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "`Say you're ill,` said Ron. `Pretend to break your leg,` Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "suggested. `Really break your leg,` said Ron. `I can't,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Harry. `There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "play at all.` At that moment Neville toppled into the common","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "room. How he had managed to climb through the portrait hole was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with what they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "recognized at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "bunny hop all the way up to Gryffindor tower. Everyone fell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "over laughing except Hermione, who leapt up and performed the countercurse. Neville's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling. `What happened?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Hermione asked him, leading him over to sit with Harry and Ron.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " `Malfoy,` said Neville shakily. `I met him outside the library. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on.` `Go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to Professor McGonagall!` Hermione urged Neville. `Report him!` Neville shook his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "head. `I don't want more trouble,` he mumbled. `You've got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to stand up to him, Neville!` said Ron. `He's used to walking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "of him and make it easier.` `There's no need to tell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "that,` Neville choked out. Harry felt in the pocket of his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "robes and pulled out a Chocolate Frog, the very last one from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the box Hermione had given him for Christmas. He gave it to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Neville, who looked as though he might cry. `You're worth twelve","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "of Malfoy,` Harry said. `The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin.` Neville's lips twitched in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "a weak smile as he unwrapped the frog. `Thanks, Harry... I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "think I'll go to bed.... D'you want the card, you collect them,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "don't you?` As Neville walked away, Harry looked at the Famous","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Wizard card. `Dumbledore again,` he said, `He was the first one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "I ever-` He gasped. He stared at the back of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "card. Then he looked up at Ron and Hermione. `I've found","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "him!` he whispered. `I've found Flamel! I told you I'd read the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "listen to this: 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Flamel'!` Hermione jumped to her feet. She hadn't looked so excited","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "since they'd gotten back the marks for their very first piece of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "homework. `Stay there!` she said, and she sprinted up the stairs","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to the girls' dormitories. Harry and Ron barely had time to exchange","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "mystified looks before she was dashing back, an enormous old book in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "her arms. `I never thought to look in here!` she whispered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "excitedly. `I got this out of the library weeks ago for a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "bit of light reading.` `Light?` said Ron, but Hermione told him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to be quiet until she'd looked something up, and started flicking frantically","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "through the pages, muttering to herself. At last she found what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "she was looking for. `I knew it! I knew it!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "`Are we allowed to speak yet?` said Ron grumpily. Hermione ignored him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " `Nicolas Flamel,` she whispered dramatically, `is the only known maker of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the Sorcerer's Stone!` This didn't have quite the effect she'd expected.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " `The what?` said Harry and Ron. `Oh, honestly, don't you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "two read? Look -- read that, there.` She pushed the book","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "toward them, and Harry and Ron read: The ancient study of alchemy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight). `See?` said Hermione,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "when Harry and Ron had finished. `The dog must be guarding Flamel's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Sorcerer's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!` `A stone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!` said Harry. `No","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "wonder Snape's after it! Anyone would want it.` `And no wonder","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "said Ron. `He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "is he?` The next morning in Defense Against the Dark Arts,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "while copying down different ways of treating werewolf bites, Harry and Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "were still discussing what they'd do with a Sorcerer's Stone if they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "had one. It wasn't until Ron said he'd buy his own Quidditch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "team that Harry remembered about Snape and the coming match. `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "going to play,` he told Ron and Hermione. `If I don't, all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the Slytherins will think I'm just too scared to face Snape. I'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "show them... it'll really wipe the smiles off their faces if we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "win.` `Just as long as we're not wiping you off the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "field,` said Hermione. As the match drew nearer, however, Harry became","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "more and more nervous, whatever he told Ron and Hermione. The rest","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "of the team wasn't too calm, either. The idea of overtaking Slytherin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "in the house championship was wonderful, no one had done it for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "seven years, but would they be allowed to, with such a biased","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "referee? Harry didn't know whether he was imagining it or not,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "but he seemed to keep running into Snape wherever he went. At","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "times, he even wondered whether Snape was following him, trying to catch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "him on his own. Potions lessons were turning into a sort of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "weekly torture, Snape was so horrible to Harry. Could Snape possibly know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "they'd found out about the Sorcerer's Stone? Harry didn't see how he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "could -- yet he sometimes had the horrible feeling that Snape could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "read minds. Harry knew, when they wished him good luck outside","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the locker rooms the next afternoon, that Ron and Hermione were wondering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "whether they'd ever see him alive again. This wasn't what you'd call","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "comforting. Harry hardly heard a word of Wood's pep talk as he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "pulled on his Quidditch robes and picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " Ron and Hermione, meanwhile, had found a place in the stands","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "next to Neville, who couldn't understand why they looked so grim and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "worried, or why they had both brought their wands to the match.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Little did Harry know that Ron and Hermione had been secretly practicing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the Leg-Locker Curse. They'd gotten the idea from Malfoy using it on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Neville, and were ready to use it on Snape if he showed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "any sign of wanting to hurt Harry. `Now, don't forget, it's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Locomotor Mortis,` Hermione muttered as Ron slipped his wand up his sleeve.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " `I know,` Ron snapped. `Don't nag.` Back in the locker","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "room, Wood had taken Harry aside. `Don't want to pressure you,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Potter, but if we ever need an early capture of the Snitch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "it's now. Finish the game before Snape can favor Hufflepuff too much.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " `The whole school's out there!` said Fred Weasley, peering out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the door. `Even -- blimey -- Dumbledore's come to watch!` Harry's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "heart did a somersault. `Dumbledore?` he said, dashing to the door","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to make sure. Fred was right. There was no mistaking that silver","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "beard. Harry could have laughed out loud with relief He was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "safe. There was simply no way that Snape would dare to try","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to hurt him if Dumbledore was watching. Perhaps that was why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Snape was looking so angry as the teams marched onto the field,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "something that Ron noticed, too. `I've never seen Snape look so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "mean,` he told Hermione. `Look -they're off Ouch!` Someone had poked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Ron in the back of the head. It was Malfoy. `Oh,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "sorry, Weasley, didn't see you there.` Malfoy grinned broadly at Crabbe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "and Goyle. `Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "broom this time? Anyone want a bet? What about you, Weasley?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Ron didn't answer; Snape had just awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Weasley had hit a Bludger at him. Hermione, who had all her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "fingers crossed in her lap, was squinting fixedly at Harry, who was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "circling the game like a hawk, looking for the Snitch. `You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Malfoy loudly a few minutes later, as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "for no reason at all. `It's people they feel sorry for. See,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "no money -- you should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "no brains.` Neville went bright red but turned in his seat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to face Malfoy. `I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy,` he stammered.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle howled with laughter, but Ron, still not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "daring to take his eyes from the game, said, `You tell him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Neville.` `Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "and that's saying something.` Ron's nerves were already stretched to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "breaking point with anxiety about Harry. `I'm warning you, Malfoy --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "one more word `Ron!` said Hermione suddenly, `Harry --` `What?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Where?` Harry had suddenly gone into a spectacular dive, which drew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "gasps and cheers from the crowd. Hermione stood up, her crossed fingers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "in her mouth, as Harry streaked toward the ground like a bullet.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" " `You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "ground!` said Malfoy. Ron snapped. Before Malfoy knew what was happening,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Ron was on top of him, wrestling him to the ground. Neville","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "hesitated, then clambered over the back of his seat to help. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "`Come on, Harry!` Hermione screamed, leaping onto her seat to watch as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Harry sped straight at Snape -- she didn't even notice Malfoy and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Ron rolling around under her seat, or the scuffles and yelps coming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "from the whirl of fists that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Up in the air, Snape turned on his broomstick just in time","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to see something scarlet shoot past him, missing him by inches --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the next second, Harry had pulled out of the dive, his arm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "raised in triumph, the Snitch clasped in his hand. The stands","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "erupted; it had to be a record, no one could ever remember","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the Snitch being caught so quickly. `Ron! Ron! Where are you?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "The game's over! Harry's won! We've won! Gryffindor is in the lead!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "shrieked Hermione, dancing up and down on her seat and hugging Parvati","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Patil in the row in front. Harry jumped off his broom,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "a foot from the ground. He couldn't believe it. He'd done it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "-- the game was over; it had barely lasted five minutes. As","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Gryffindors came spilling onto the field, he saw Snape land nearby, white-faced","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "and tight-lipped -- then Harry felt a hand on his shoulder and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "looked up into Dumbledore's smiling face. `Well done,` said Dumbledore quietly,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "so that only Harry could hear. `Nice to see you haven't been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "brooding about that mirror... been keeping busy... excellent...` Snape spat bitterly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "on the ground. Harry left the locker room alone some time","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "later, to take his Nimbus Two Thousand back to the broomshed. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "couldn't ever remember feeling happier. He'd really done something to be proud","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "of now -- no one could say he was just a famous","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "name any more. The evening air had never smelled so sweet. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "walked over the damp grass, reliving the last hour in his head,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "which was a happy blur: Gryffindors running to lift him onto their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "shoulders; Ron and Hermione in the distance, jumping up and down, Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "cheering through a heavy nosebleed. Harry had reached the shed. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "leaned against the wooden door and looked up at Hogwarts, with its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "windows glowing red in the setting sun. Gryffindor in the lead. He'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "done it, he'd shown Snape.... And speaking of Snape... A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "hooded figure came swiftly down the front steps of the castle. Clearly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "not wanting to be seen, it walked as fast as possible toward","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "the forbidden forest. Harry's victory faded from his mind as he watched.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "He recognized the figure's prowling walk. Snape, sneaking into the forest while","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "everyone else was at dinner -- what was going on? Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "jumped back on his Nimbus Two Thousand and took off. Gliding silently","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "over the castle he saw Snape enter the forest at a run.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "He followed. The trees were so thick he couldn't see where","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Snape had gone. He flew in circles, lower and lower, brushing the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "top branches of trees until he heard voices. He glided toward them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "and landed noiselessly in a towering beech tree. He climbed carefully","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "along one of the branches, holding tight to his broomstick, trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "see through the leaves. Below, in a shadowy clearing, stood Snape, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "he wasn't alone. Quirrell was there, too. Harry couldn't make out the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "look on his face, but he was stuttering worse than ever. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "strained to catch what they were saying. `... d-don't know why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus...` `Oh, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "thought we'd keep this private,` said Snape, his voice icy. `Students aren't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, after all.` Harry leaned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "forward. Quirrell was mumbling something. Snape interrupted him. `Have you found","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?` `B-b-but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Severus, I --` `You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "said Snape, taking a step toward him. `I-I don't know what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "you `You know perfectly well what I mean.` An owl","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "hooted loudly, and Harry nearly fell out of the tree. He steadied","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "himself in time to hear Snape say, `-- your little bit of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "hocus-pocus. I'm waiting.` `B-but I d-d-don't --` `Very well,` Snape","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "cut in. `We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie.` He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the clearing.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "It was almost dark now, but Harry could see Quirrell, standing quite","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "still as though he was petrified. `Harry, where have you been?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Hermione squeaked. `We won! You won! We won!` shouted Ron, thumping","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Harry on the back. `And I gave Malfoy a black eye, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Neville tried to take on Crabbe and Goyle single-handed! He's still out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "cold but Madam Pomftey says he'll be all right - talk about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "showing Slytherin! Everyone's waiting for you in the common room, we're having","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "a party, Fred and George stole some cakes and stuff from the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "kitchens.` `Never mind that now,` said Harry breathlessly. `Let's find an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "empty room, you wait 'til you hear this....` He made sure","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Peeves wasn't inside before shutting the door behind them, then he told","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "them what he'd seen and heard. `So we were right, it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "is the Sorcerer's Stone, and Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "him get it. He asked if he knew how to get past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Fluffy - and he said something about Quirrell's 'hocus pocuss-- I reckon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "there are other things guarding the stone apart from Fluffy, loads of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "enchantments, probably, and Quirrell would have done some anti-Dark Arts spell that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "Snape needs to break through --` `So you mean the Stone's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "only safe as long as Quirrell stands up to Snape?` said Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "in alarm. `It'll be gone by next Tuesday,` said Ron. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-13" "NORBERT THE NORWEGIAN RIDGEBACK Quirrell, however, must have been braver","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "than they'd thought. In the weeks that followed he did seem to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "be getting paler and thinner, but it didn't look as though he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "cracked yet. Every time they passed the third-floor corridor, Harry, Ron,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "and Hermione would press their ears to the door to check that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Fluffy was still growling inside. Snape was sweeping about in his usual","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "bad temper, which surely meant that the Stone was still safe. Whenever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Harry passed Quirrell these days he gave him an encouraging sort of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "smile, and Ron had started telling people off for laughing at Quirrell's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "stutter. Hermione, however, had more on her mind than the Sorcerer's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Stone. She had started drawing up study schedules and colorcoding all her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "notes. Harry and Ron wouldn't have minded, but she kept nagging them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "to do the same. `Hermione, the exams are ages away.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "`Ten weeks,` Hermione snapped. `That's not ages, that's like a second to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Nicolas Flamel.` `But we're not six hundred years old,` Ron reminded","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "her. `Anyway, what are you studying for, you already know it A.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " `What am I studying for? Are you crazy? You realize we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "need to pass these exams to get into the second year? They're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "very important, I should have started studying a month ago, I don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "know what's gotten into me....` Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "thinking along the same lines as Hermione. They piled so much homework","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "on them that the Easter holidays weren't nearly as much fun as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the Christmas ones. It was hard to relax with Hermione next to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "you reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood or practicing wand movements.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Moaning and yawning, Harry and Ron spent most of their free time","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "in the library with her, trying to get through all their extra","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "work. `I'll never remember this,` Ron burst out one afternoon, throwing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "down his quill and looking longingly out of the library window. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "was the first really fine day they'd had in months. The sky","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "was a clear, forget-me-not blue, and there was a feeling in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "air of summer coming. Harry, who was looking up `Dittany` in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, didn't look up until he heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Ron say, `Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?` Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "shuffled into view, hiding something behind his back. He looked very out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "of place in his moleskin overcoat. `Jus' lookin',` he said, in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "a shifty voice that got their interest at once. `An' what're you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "lot up ter?` He looked suddenly suspicious. `Yer not still lookin' fer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Nicolas Flamel, are yeh?` `Oh, we found out who he is ages","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "ago,` said Ron impressively. `And we know what that dog's guarding, it's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "a Sorcerer's St --` `Shhhh!` Hagrid looked around quickly to see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "if anyone was listening. `Don' go shoutin' about it, what's the matter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "with yeh?` `There are a few things we wanted to ask","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "you, as a matter of fact,` said Harry, `about what's guarding the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Stone apart from Fluffy --` `SHHHH!` said Hagrid again. `Listen -","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "come an' see me later, I'm not promisin' I'll tell yeh anythin',","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "mind, but don' go rabbitin' about it in here, students aren' s'pposed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "ter know. They'll think I've told yeh --` `See you later,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "then,` said Harry. Hagrid shuffled off. `What was he hiding","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "behind his back?` said Hermione thoughtfully. `Do you think it had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "anything to do with the Stone?` `I'm going to see what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "section he was in,` said Ron, who'd had enough of working. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "came back a minute later with a pile of books in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "arms and slammed them down on the table. `Dragons!` he whispered.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "`Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons! Look at these: Dragon Species","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "of Great Britain and Ireland; From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keeper's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Guide.` `Hagrid's always wanted a dragon, he told me so the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "first time I ever met him, ` said Harry. `But it's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "against our laws,` said Ron. `Dragon breeding was outlawed by the Warlocks'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Convention of 1709, everyone knows that. It's hard to stop Muggles from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "noticing us if we're keeping dragons in the back garden - anyway,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "you can't tame dragons, it's dangerous. You should see the burns Charlie's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "got off wild ones in Romania.` `But there aren't wild dragons","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "in Britain?` said Harry. `Of course there are,` said Ron. `Common","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Welsh Green and Hebridean Blacks. The Ministry of Magic has a job","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "hushing them up, I can tell you. Our kind have to keep","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "putting spells on Muggles who've spotted them, to make them forget.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "`So what on earths Hagrid up to?` said Hermione. When they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "knocked on the door of the gamekeeper's hut an hour later, they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "were surprised to see that all the curtains were closed. Hagrid called","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "`Who is it?` before he let them in, and then shut the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "door quickly behind them. It was stifling hot inside. Even though","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "it was such a warm day, there was a blazing fire in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the grate. Hagrid made them tea and offered them stoat sandwiches, which","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "they refused. `So -- yeh wanted to ask me somethin'?` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "`Yes,` said Harry. There was no point beating around the bush. `We","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Sorcerer's Stone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "apart from Fluffy.` Hagrid frowned at him. `0' course I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "cant, he said. `Number one, I don' know meself. Number two, yeh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "That Stone's here fer a good reason. It Was almost stolen outta","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Gringotts - I s'ppose yeh've worked that out an' all? Beats me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "how yeh even know abou' Fluffy.` `Oh, come on, Hagrid, you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "might not want to tell us, but you do know, you know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "everything that goes on round here,` said Hermione in a warm, flattering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "voice. Hagrid's beard twitched and they could tell he was smiling. `We","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "only wondered who had done the guarding, really.` Hermione went on. `We","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words. Harry and Ron beamed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "at Hermione. `Well, I don' s'pose it could hurt ter tell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "yeh that... let's see... he borrowed Fluffy from me... then some o'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the teachers did enchantments... Professor Sprout -- Professor Flitwick -- Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "--` he ticked them off on his fingers, `Professor Quirrell -- an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten someone. Oh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "yeah, Professor Snape.` `Snape?` `Yeah -- yer not still on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "abou' that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "about ter steal it.` Harry knew Ron and Hermione were thinking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the same as he was. If Snape had been in on protecting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the Stone, it must have been easy to find out how the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "other teachers had guarded it. He probably knew everything -- except, it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "seemed, Quirrell's spell and how to get past Fluffy. `You're the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "only one who knows how to get past Fluffy. aren't you, Hagrid?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "said Harry anxiously. `And you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "one of the teachers?` `Not a soul knows except me an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Dumbledore,` said Hagrid proudly. `Well, that's something,` Harry muttered to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "others. `Hagrid, can we have a window open? I'm boiling.` `Can't,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Harry, sorry,` said Hagrid. Harry noticed him glance at the fire. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "looked at it, too. `Hagrid -- what's that?` But he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "already knew what it was. In the very heart of the fire,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "underneath the kettle, was a huge, black egg. `Ah,` said Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "fiddling nervously with his beard, `That's er...` `Where did you get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "it, Hagrid?` said Ron, crouching over the fire to get a closer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "look at the egg. `It must've cost you a fortune.` `Won","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "it,` said Hagrid. `Las' night. I was down in the village havin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "be honest.` `But what are you going to do with it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "when it's hatched?` said Hermione. `Well, I've bin doin' some readin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" ", said Hagrid, pulling a large book from under his pillow. `Got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "this outta the library -- Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "how ter recognize diff'rent eggs -- what I got there's a Norwegian","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Ridgeback. They're rare, them.` He looked very pleased with himself, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Hermione didn't. `Hagrid, you live in a wooden house,` she said.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " But Hagrid wasn't listening. He was humming merrily as he stoked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the fire. So now they had something else to worry about:","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was hiding","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "an illegal dragon in his hut. `Wonder what it's like to have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "a peaceful life,` Ron sighed, as evening after evening they struggled through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "all the extra homework they were getting. Hermione had now started making","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "study schedules for Harry and Ron, too. It was driving them nuts.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " Then, one breakfast time, Hedwig brought Harry another note from Hagrid.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "He had written only two words: It's hatching. Ron wanted to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "skip Herbology and go straight down to the hut. Hermione wouldn't hear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "of it. `Hermione, how many times in our lives are we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "going to see a dragon hatching?` `We've got lessons, we'll get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "into trouble, and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "when someone finds out what he's doing --` `Shut up!` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "whispered. Malfoy was only a few feet away and he had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "stopped dead to listen. How much had he heard? Harry didn't like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the look on Malfoy's face at all. Ron and Hermione argued","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "all the way to Herbology and in the end, Hermione agreed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "run down to Hagrid's with the other two during morning break. When","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the bell sounded from the castle at the end of their lesson,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the three of them dropped their trowels at once and hurried through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the grounds to the edge of the forest. Hagrid greeted them, looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "flushed and excited. `It's nearly out.` He ushered them inside. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "The egg was lying on the table. There were deep cracks in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "it. Something was moving inside; a funny clicking noise was coming from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "it. They all drew their chairs up to the table and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "watched with bated breath. All at once there was a scraping","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "table. It wasn't exactly pretty; Harry thought it looked like a crumpled,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "black umbrella. Its spiny wings were huge compared to its skinny jet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "body, it had a long snout with wide nostrils, the stubs of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "horns and bulging, orange eyes. It sneezed. A couple of sparks","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "flew out of its snout. `Isn't he beautiful?` Hagrid murmured. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "reached out a hand to stroke the dragon's head. It snapped at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "his fingers, showing pointed fangs. `Bless him, look, he knows his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "mommy!` said Hagrid. `Hagrid,` said Hermione, `how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "grow, exactly?` Hagrid was about to answer when the color suddenly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "drained from his face -- he leapt to his feet and ran","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "to the window. `What's the matter?` `Someone was lookin' through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the gap in the curtains -- it's a kid -- he's runnin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "back up ter the school.` Harry bolted to the door and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "looked out. Even at a distance there was no mistaking him. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Malfoy had seen the dragon. Something about the smile lurking on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Malfoy's face during the next week made Harry, Ron, and Hermione very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "nervous. They spent most of their free time in Hagrid's darkened hut,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "trying to reason with him. `Just let him go,` Harry urged.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "`Set him free.` `I can't,` said Hagrid. `He's too little. He'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "die.` They looked at the dragon. It had grown three times","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "in length in just a week. Smoke kept furling out of its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "nostrils. Hagrid hadn't been doing his gamekeeping duties because the dragon was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "keeping him so busy. There were empty brandy bottles and chicken feathers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "all over the floor. `I've decided to call him Norbert,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Hagrid, looking at the dragon with misty eyes. `He really knows me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where's Mommy?` `He's lost his marbles,` Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "muttered in Harry's ear. `Hagrid,` said Harry loudly, `give it two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Malfoy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "could go to Dumbledore at any moment.` Hagrid bit his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "lip. `I -- I know I can't keep him forever, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "I can't jus' dump him, I can't.` Harry suddenly turned to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Ron. Charlie, he said. `You're losing it, too,` said Ron. `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Ron, remember?` `No -- Charlie -- your brother, Charlie. In Romania.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Studying dragons. We could send Norbert to him. Charlie can take care","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "of him and then put him back in the wild!` `Brilliant!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "said Ron. `How about it, Hagrid?` And in the end, Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "agreed that they could send -an owl to Charlie to ask him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " The following week dragged by. Wednesday night found Hermione and Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "sitting alone in the common room, long after everyone else had gone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "to bed. The clock on the wall had just chimed midnight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "when the portrait hole burst open. Ron appeared out of nowhere as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "he pulled off Harry's invisibility cloak. He had been down at Hagrid's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "hut, helping him feed Norbert, who was now eating dead rats by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the crate. `It bit me!` he said, showing them his hand,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "which was wrapped in a bloody handkerchief. `I'm not going to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "able to hold a quill for a week. I tell you, that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "rabbit. When it bit me he told me off for frightening it.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "And when I left, he was singing it a lullaby.` There","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "was a tap on the dark window. `It's Hedwig!` said Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "hurrying to let her in. `She'll have Charlie's answer!` The three","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "of them put their heads together to read the note. Dear","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Ron, How are you? Thanks for the letter -- I'd be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "him here. I think the best thing will be to send him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "over with some friends of mine who are coming to visit me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "next week. Trouble is, they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal dragon.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at midnight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him away while","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "it's still dark. Send me an answer as soon as possible.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " Love, Charlie They looked at one another. `We've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "got the invisibility cloak,` said Harry. `It shouldn't be too difficult --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "I think the cloaks big enough to cover two of us and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Norbert.` It was a mark of how bad the last week","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "had been that the other two agreed with him. Anything to get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "rid of Norbert -- and Malfoy. There was a hitch. By","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the next morning, Ron's bitten hand had swollen to twice its usual","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "size. He didn't know whether it was safe to go to Madam","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Pomfrey -- would she recognize a dragon bite? By the afternoon, though,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "he had no choice. The cut had turned a nasty shade of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "green. It looked as if Norbert's fangs were poisonous. Harry and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Hermione rushed up to the hospital wing at the end of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "day to find Ron in a terrible state in bed. `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "not just my hand,` he whispered, `although that feels like it's about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "to fall off. Malfoy told Madam Pomfrey he wanted to borrow one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "of my books so he could come and have a good laugh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "at me. He kept threatening to tell her what really bit me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "-- I've told her it was a dog, but I don't think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "she believes me -I shouldn't have hit him at the Quidditch match,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "that's why he's doing this.` Harry and Hermione tried to calm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Ron down. `It'll all be over at midnight on Saturday,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Hermione, but this didn't soothe Ron at all. On the contrary, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "sat bolt upright and broke into a sweat. `Midnight on Saturday!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "he said in a hoarse voice. `Oh no oh no -- I've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "just remembered -- Charlie's letter was in that book Malfoy took, he's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "going to know we're getting rid of Norbert.` Harry and Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "didn't get a chance to answer. Madam Pomfrey came over at that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "moment and made them leave, saying Ron needed sleep. `It's too","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "late to change the plan now,` Harry told Hermione. `We haven't got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "time to send Charlie another owl, and this could be our only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "chance to get rid of Norbert. We'll have to risk it. And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "we have got the invisibility cloak, Malfoy doesn't know about that.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "They found Fang, the boarhound, sitting outside with a bandaged tail when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "they went to tell Hagrid, who opened a window to talk to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "them. `I won't let you in,` he puffed. `Norbert's at a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "tricky stage -- nothin' I can't handle.` When they told him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "about Charlie's letter, his eyes filled with tears, although that might have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "been because Norbert had just bitten him on the leg. `Aargh!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "It's all right, he only got my boot -- jus' playin' --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "he's only a baby, after all.` The baby banged its tail","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "on the wall, making the windows rattle. Harry and Hermione walked back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "to the castle feeling Saturday couldn't come quickly enough. They would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "have felt sorry for Hagrid when the time came for him to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "say good-bye to Norbert if they hadn't been so worried about what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "they had to do. It was a very dark, cloudy night, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "they were a bit late arriving at Hagrid's hut because they'd had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "to wait for Peeves to get out of their way in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "entrance hall, where he'd been playing tennis against the wall. Hagrid had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Norbert packed and ready in a large crate. `He's got lots","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "o' rats an' some brandy fer the journey,` said Hagrid in a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "muffled voice. `An' I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "lonely.` From inside the crate came ripping noises that sounded to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "Harry as though the teddy was having his head torn off. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "`Bye-bye, Norbert!` Hagrid sobbed, as Harry and Hermione covered the crate with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the invisibility cloak and stepped underneath it themselves. `Mommy will never forget","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "you!` How they managed to get the crate back up to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the castle, they never knew. Midnight ticked nearer as they heaved Norbert","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "up the marble staircase in the entrance hall and along the dark","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "corridors. UP another staircase, then another -- even one of Harry's shortcuts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "didn't make the work much easier. `Nearly there!` Harry panted as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "they reached the corridor beneath the tallest tower. Then a sudden","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "movement ahead of them made them almost drop the crate. Forgetting that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "they were already invisible, they shrank into the shadows, staring at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "dark outlines of two people grappling with each other ten feet away.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "A lamp flared. Professor McGonagall, in a tartan bathrobe and a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "hair net, had Malfoy by the ear. `Detention!` she shouted. `And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "how dare you --` `You don't understand, Professor. Harry Potter's coming","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "-- he's got a dragon!` `What utter rubbish! How dare you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "tell such lies! Come on -- I shall see Professor Snape about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "you, Malfoy!` The steep spiral staircase up to the top of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the tower seemed the easiest thing in the world after that. Not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "until they'd stepped out into the cold night air did they throw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "off the cloak, glad to be able to breathe properly again. Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "did a sort of jig. `Malfoy's got detention! I could sing!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " `Don't,` Harry advised her. Chuckling about Malfoy, they waited, Norbert","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "thrashing about in his crate. About ten minutes later, four broomsticks came","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "swooping down out of the darkness. Charlie's friends were a cheery","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "lot. They showed Harry and Hermione the harness they'd rigged up, so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "they could suspend Norbert between them. They all helped buckle Norbert safely","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "into it and then Harry and Hermione shook hands with the others","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "and thanked them very much. At last, Norbert was going... going...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "gone. They slipped back down the spiral staircase, their hearts as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "light as their hands, now that Norbert was off them. No more","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "dragon -- Malfoy in detention -- what could spoil their happiness? ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "The answer to that was waiting at the foot of the stairs.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "As they stepped into the corridor, Filch's face loomed suddenly out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "the darkness. `Well, well, well,` he whispered, `we are in trouble.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" " They'd left the invisibility cloak on top of the tower. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-14" "THE FORIBIDDEN FOREST Things couldn't have been worse. Filch took","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "them down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "sat and waited without saying a word to each other. Hermione was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "trembling. Excuses, alibis, and wild cover- up stories chased each other around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry's brain, each more feeble than the last. He couldn't see how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "they were going to get out of trouble this time. They were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "cornered. How could they have been so stupid as to forget the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "cloak? There was no reason on earth that Professor McGonagall would accept","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "for their being out of bed and creeping around the school in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the dead of night, let alone being up the tallest astronomy tower,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "which was out-of-bounds except for classes. Add Norbert and the invisibility cloak,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and they might as well be packing their bags already. Had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry thought that things couldn't have been worse? He was wrong. When","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville. `Harry!` Neville burst Out,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the moment he saw the other two. `I was trying to find","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "you to warn you, I heard Malfoy saying he was going to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "catch you, he said you had a drag --` Harry shook","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall had seen.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "She looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert as she towered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "over the three of them. `I would never have believed it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "of any of you. Mr. Filch says you were up in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves.` It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "was the first time Hermione had ever failed to answer a teacher's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "question. She was staring at her slippers, as still as a statue.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `I think I've got a good idea of what's been going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "on,` said Professor McGonagall. `It doesn't take a genius to work it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to get him out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "story and believed it, too?` Harry caught Neville's eye and tried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to tell him without words that this wasn't true, because Neville was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "looking stunned and hurt. Poor, blundering Neville -- Harry knew what it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "must have cost him to try and find them in the dark,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to warn them. `I'm disgusted,` said Professor McGonagall. `Four students out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "before! You, Miss Granger, I thought you had more sense. As for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "you, Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "All three of you will receive detentions -- yes, you too, Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "especially these days, it's very dangerous -- and fifty points will be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "taken from Gryffindor.` `Fifty?` Harry gasped -- they would lose the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "lead, the lead he'd won in the last Quidditch match. `Fifty","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "points each,` said Professor McGonagall, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `Professor -- please `You can't --` `Don't tell me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "what I can and can't do, Potter. Now get back to bed,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "all of you. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "A hundred and fifty points lost. That put Gryffindor in last place.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "In one night, they'd ruined any chance Gryffindor had had for the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "house cup. Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "his stomach. How could they ever make up for this? Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "didn't sleep all night. He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "for what seemed like hours. Harry couldn't think of anything to say","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to comfort him. He knew Neville, like himself, was dreading the dawn.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "done? At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hourglasses that recorded the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "house points the next day thought there'd been a mistake. How could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "they suddenly have a hundred and fifty points fewer than yesterday? And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "then the story started to spread: Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "their hero of two Quidditch matches, had lo st them all those","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "points, him and a couple of other stupid first years. From","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "being one of the most popular and admired people at the school,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry was suddenly the most hated. Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "him, because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the house","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "cup. Everywhere Harry went, people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "voices as they insulted him. Slytherins, on the other hand, clapped as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "he walked past them, whistling and cheering, `Thanks Potter, we owe you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "one!` Only Ron stood by him. `They'll all forget this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "in all the time they've been here, and people still like them.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "though, have they?` said Harry miserably. `Well -- no,` Ron admitted.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "from now on. He'd had it with sneaking around and spying. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "felt so ashamed of himself that he went to Wood and offered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to resign from the Quidditch team. `Resign?` Wood thundered. `What good'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "that do? How are we going to get any points back if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "we can't win at Quidditch?` But even Quidditch had lost its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "fun. The rest of the team wouldn't speak to Harry during practice,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and if they had to speak about him, they called him `the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Seeker.` Hermione and Neville were suffering, too. They didn't have as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "bad a time as Harry, because they weren't as well-known, but nobody","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "would speak to them, either. Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "in class, keeping her head down and working in silence. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "was almost glad that the exams weren't far away. All the studying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "he had to do kept his mind off his misery. He, Ron,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and Hermione kept to themselves, working late into the night, trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "remember the ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells by heart,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "memorize the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions.... Then, about","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "a week before the exams were due to start, Harry's new resolution","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "not to interfere in anything that didn't concern him was put to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "an unexpected test. Walking back from the library on his own one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "afternoon, he heard somebody whimpering from a classroom up ahead. As he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "drew closer, he heard Quirrell's voice. `No -- no -- not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "again, please --` It sounded as though someone was threatening him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry moved closer. `All right -- all right --` he heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Quirrell sob. Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "straightening his turban. He was pale and looked as though he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "about to cry. He strode out of sight; Harry didn't think Quirrell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "had even noticed him. He waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "peered into the classroom. It was empty, but a door stood ajar","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "at the other end. Harry was halfway toward it before he remembered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "what he'd promised himself about not meddling. All the same, he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "have gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones that Snape had just left the room,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and from what Harry had just heard, Snape would be walking with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "a new spring in his step -- Quirrell seemed to have given","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "in at last. Harry went back to the library, where Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "was testing Ron on Astronomy. Harry told them what he'd heard. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`Snape's done it, then!` said Ron. `If Quirrell's told him how to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "break his Anti-Dark Force spell --` `There's still Fluffy, though,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Hermione. `Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "asking Hagrid,` said Ron, looking up at the thousands of books surrounding","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "them. `I bet there's a book somewhere in here telling you how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to get past a giant three-headed dog. So what do we do,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry?` The light of adventure was kindling again in Ron's eyes,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "but Hermione answered before Harry could. `Go to Dumbledore. That's what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves we'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "be thrown out for sure.` `But we've got no proof!` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry. `Quirrell's too scared to back us up. Snape's only got to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "say he doesn't know how the troll got in at Halloween and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "that he was nowhere near the third floor -- who do you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "think they'll believe, him or us? It's not exactly a secret we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "hate him, Dumbledore'll think we made it up to get him sacked.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Filch wouldn't help us if his life depended on it, he's too","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "he'll think. And don't forget, we're not supposed to know about the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining.` Hermione looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "convinced, but Ron didn't. `If we just do a bit of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "poking around --` `No,` said Harry flatly, `we've done enough poking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "around.` He pulled a map of Jupiter toward him and started","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to learn the names of its moons. The following morning, notes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "were delivered to Harry, Hermione, and Neville at the breakfast table. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "were all the same: Your detention will take place at eleven","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall. Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the furor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "over the points they'd lost. He half expected Hermione to complain that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "this was a whole night of studying lost, but she didn't say","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "a word. Like Harry, she felt they deserved what they'd got. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "At eleven o'clock that night, they said good-bye to Ron in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "common room and went down to the entrance hall with Neville. Filch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "was already there -- and so was Malfoy. Harry had also forgotten","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "that Malfoy had gotten a detention, too. `Follow me,` said Filch,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "lighting a lamp and leading them outside. I bet you'll think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?` he said,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "leering at them. `Oh yes... hard work and pain are the best","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "teachers if you ask me.... It's just a pity they let the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "old punishments die out... hang you by your wrists from the ceiling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed.... Right, off we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "you if you do.` They marched off across the dark grounds.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Neville kept sniffing. Harry wondered what their punishment was going to be.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "delighted. The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout. `Is that you,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started.` Harry's heart rose;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "so bad. His relief must have showed in his -face, because Filch","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "said, `I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf?","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Well, think again, boy -- it's into the forest you're going and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Malfoy stopped dead","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "in his tracks. `The forest?` he repeated, and he didn't sound","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "quite as cool as usual. `We can't go in there at night","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "-- there's all sorts of things in there -- werewolves, I heard.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "noise. `That's your problem, isn't it?` said Filch, his voice cracking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "with glee. `Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "shouldn't you?` Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Fang at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, and a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder. `Abou' time,` he said.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid,` said Filch coldly,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "they're here to be punished, after all.` `That's why yer late,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "is it?` said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. `Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "from here.` `I'll be back at dawn,` said Filch, `for what's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "left of them,` he added nastily, and he turned and started back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness. Malfoy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "now turned to Hagrid. `I'm not going in that forest, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "said, and Harry was pleased to hear the note of panic in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "his voice. `Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "said Hagrid fiercely. `Yeh've done wrong an' now yehve got ter pay","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "fer it.` `But this is servant stuff, it's not for students","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "father knew I was doing this, he'd tell yer that's how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "it is at Hogwarts,` Hagrid growled. `Copyin' lines! What good's that ter","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or Yeh'll get out. If yeh think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "castle an' pack. Go on`' Malfoy didn't move. He looked at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Hagrid furiously, but then dropped his gaze. `Right then,` said Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "moment.` He led them to the very edge of the forest.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Holding his lamp up high, he pointed down a narrow, winding earth","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "track that disappeared into the thick black trees. A light breeze lifted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "their hair as they looked into the forest. `Look there,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Hagrid, `see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "is the second time in a week. I found one dead last","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "ter put it out of its misery.` `And what if whatever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "hurt the unicorn finds us first?` said Malfoy, unable to keep the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "fear out of his voice. `There's nothin' that lives in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang,` said Hagrid.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `I want Fang,` said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward,` said Hagrid.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "` So me, Harry, an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "an' Fang'll go the other. Now, if any of us finds the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "practice now -- that's it -- an' if anyone gets in trouble,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "so, be careful -- let's go.` The forest was black and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "earth path, and Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Malfoy, Neville, and Fang took the right. They walked in silence,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "their eyes on the ground. Every now and then a ray of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "moonlight through the branches above lit a spot of silver-blue blood on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the fallen leaves. Harry saw that Hagrid looked very worried. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?` Harry asked. `Not fast","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "enough,` said Hagrid. `It's not easy ter catch a unicorn, they're powerful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "magic creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before.` They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "walked past a mossy tree stump. Harry could hear running water; there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "must be a stream somewhere close by. There were still spots of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "unicorn blood here and there along the winding path. `You all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "right, Hermione?` Hagrid whispered. `Don' worry, it can't've gone far if it's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "this badly hurt, an' then we'll be able ter -- GET BEHIND","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "THAT TREE!` Hagrid seized Harry and Hermione and hoisted them off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the path behind a towering oak. He pulled out an arrow and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "fitted it into his crossbow, raising it, ready to fire. The three","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby: it sounded","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "like a cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting up the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "dark path, but after a few seconds, the sound faded away. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`I knew it, ` he murmured. `There's summat in here that shouldn'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "be.` `A werewolf?` Harry suggested. `That wasn' no werewolf an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "it wasn' no unicorn, neither,` said Hagrid grimly. `Right, follow me, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "careful, now.` They walked more slowly, ears straining for the faintest","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, something definitely moved. `Who's there?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Hagrid called. `Show yerself -- I'm armed!` And into the clearing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "came -- was it a man, or a horse? To the waist,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail. Harry and Hermione's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "jaws dropped. `Oh, it's you, Ronan,` said Hagrid in relief. `How","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "are yeh?` He walked forward and shook the centaur's hand. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`Good evening to you, Hagrid,` said Ronan. He had a deep, sorrowful","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "voice. `Were you going to shoot me?` `Can't be too careful,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Ronan,` said Hagrid, patting his crossbow. `There's summat bad loose in this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "forest. This is Harry Potter an' Hermione Granger, by the way. Students","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "up at the school. An' this is Ronan, you two. He's a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "centaur.)) `We'd noticed,` said Hermione faintly. `Good evening,` said Ronan.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`Students, are you? And do you learn much, up at the school?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `Erm --` `A bit,` said Hermione timidly. `A bit.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Well, that's something.` Ronan sighed. He flung back his head and stared","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "at the sky. `Mars is bright tonight.` `Yeah,` said Hagrid, glancing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "up, too. `Listen, I'm glad we've run inter yeh, Ronan, 'cause there's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "a unicorn bin hurt -- you seen anythin'?` Ronan didn't answer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "immediately. He stared unblinkingly upward, then sighed again. `Always the innocent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "are the first victims,` he said. `So it has been for ages","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "past, so it is now.` `Yeah,` said Hagrid, `but have yeh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "seen anythin', Ronan? Anythin' unusual?` `Mars is bright tonight,` Ronan repeated,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "while Hagrid watched him impatiently. `Unusually bright.` `Yeah, but I was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "meanin' anythin' unusual a bit nearer home, said Hagrid. `So yeh haven't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "noticed anythin' strange?` Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "At last, he said, `The forest hides many secrets.` A movement","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "in the trees behind Ronan made Hagrid raise his bow again, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "it was only a second centaur, black-haired and -bodied and wilder-looking than","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Ronan. `Hullo, Bane,` said Hagrid. `All right?` `Good evening, Hagrid,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "I hope you are well?` `Well enough. Look, I've jus' bin","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "askin' Ronan, you seen anythin' odd in here lately? There's a unicorn","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "bin injured -- would yeh know anythin' about it?` Bane walked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "over to stand next to Ronan. He looked skyward. `Mars is bright","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "tonight,` he said simply. `We've heard,` said Hagrid grumpily. `Well, if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "either of you do see anythin', let me know, won't yeh? We'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "be off, then.` Harry and Hermione followed him out of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "clearing, staring over their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until the trees","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "blocked their view. `Never,` said Hagrid irritably, `try an' get a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "closer'n the moon.` `Are there many of them in here?` asked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Hermione. `Oh, a fair few... Keep themselves to themselves mostly, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "they're good enough about turnin' up if ever I want a word.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "They're deep, mind, centaurs... they know things... jus' don' let on much.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `D'you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?` said Harry.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `Did that sound like hooves to you? Nah, if yeh ask","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "me, that was what's bin killin' the unicorns -- never heard anythin'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "like it before.` They walked on through the dense, dark trees.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry kept looking nervously over his shoulder. He had the nasty feeling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "they were being watched. He was very glad they had Hagrid and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "his crossbow with them. They had just passed a bend in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "path when Hermione grabbed Hagrid's arm. `Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "others are in trouble!` `You two wait here!` Hagrid shouted. `Stay","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "on the path, I'll come back for yeh!` They heard him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other, very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "scared, until they couldn't hear anything but the rustling of leaves around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "them. `You don't think they've been hurt, do you?` whispered Hermione.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `I don't care if Malfoy has, but if something's got Neville...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "it's our fault he's here in the first place.` The minutes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "dragged by. Their ears seemed sharper than usual. Harry's seemed to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "picking up every sigh of the wind, every cracking twig. What was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "going on? Where were the others? At last, a great crunching","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "noise announced Hagrid's return. Malfoy, Neville, and Fang were with him. Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "was fuming. Malfoy, it seemed, had sneaked up behind Neville and grabbed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "him as a joke. Neville had panicked and sent up the sparks.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "two were makin'. Right, we're changin' groups -- Neville, you stay with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "me an' Hermione, Harry, you go with Fang an' this idiot. I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "sorry,` Hagrid added in a whisper to Harry, `but he'll have a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "harder time frightenin' you, an' we've gotta get this done.` So","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry set off into the heart of the forest with Malfoy and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Fang. They walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the forest, until the path became almost impossible to follow because the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "trees were so thick. Harry thought the blood seemed to be getting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "thicker. There were splashes on the roots of a tree, as though","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the poor creature had been thrashing around in pain close by. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "could see a clearing ahead, through the tangled branches of an ancient","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "oak. `Look --` he murmured, holding out his arm to stop","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Malfoy. Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "closer. It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long, slender","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leaves. Harry had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "taken one step toward it when a slithering sound made him freeze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "where he stood. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered....","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "ground like some stalking beast. Harry, Malfoy, and Fang stood transfixed. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the animal's side, and began to drink its blood. `AAAAAAAAAARGH!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Malfoy let out a terrible scream and bolted -- so did Fang.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "unicorn blood was dribbling down its front. It got to its feet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and came swiftly toward Harry -- he couldn't move for fear. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Then a pain like he'd never felt before pierced his head; it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "was as though his scar were on fire. Half blinded, he staggered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "backward. He heard hooves behind him, galloping, and something jumped clean over","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry, charging at the figure. The pain in Harry's head was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "so bad he fell to his knees. It took a minute or","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "two to pass. When he looked up, the figure had gone. A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "centaur was standing over him, not Ronan or Bane; this one looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "younger; he had white-blond hair and a palomino body. `Are you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "all right?` said the centaur, pulling Harry to his feet. `Yes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "-- thank you -- what was that?` The centaur didn't answer.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "He had astonishingly blue eyes, like pale sapphires. He looked carefully at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry, his eyes lingering on the scar that stood out, livid, on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry's forehead. `You are the Potter boy,` he said. `You had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "time -- especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "this way. `My name is Firenze,` he added, as he lowered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "himself on to his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "his back. There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the other side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane came bursting through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty. `Firenze!` Bane thundered. `What","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "are you doing? You have a human on your back! Have you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "no shame? Are you a common mule?` `Do you realize who","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "this is?` said Firenze. `This is the Potter boy. The quicker he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "leaves this forest, the better.` `What have you been telling him?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "growled Bane. `Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "movements of the planets?` Ronan pawed the ground nervously. `I'm sure","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Firenze thought he was acting for the best, ` he said in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "his gloomy voice. Bane kicked his back legs in anger. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!` Firenze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "suddenly reared on to his hind legs in anger, so that Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "had to grab his shoulders to stay on. `Do you not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "see that unicorn?` Firenze bellowed at Bane. `Do you not understand why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must.` And Firenze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "whisked around; with Harry clutching on as best he could, they plunged","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "off into the trees, leaving Ronan and Bane behind them. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "didn't have a clue what was going on. `Why's Bane so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "angry?` he asked. `What was that thing you saved me from, anyway?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " Firenze slowed to a walk, warned Harry to keep his head","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "bowed in case of low-hanging branches, but did not answer Harry's question.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "They made their way through the trees in silence for so long","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "that Harry thought Firenze didn't want to talk to him anymore. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "were passing through a particularly dense patch of trees, however, when Firenze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "suddenly stopped. `Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "used -for?` `No,` said Harry, startled by the odd question. `We've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "only used the horn and tail hair in Potions.` `That is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn,` said Firenze.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "moment the blood touches your lips.` Harry stared at the back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "of Firenze's head, which was dappled silver in the moonlight. `But","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "who'd be that desperate?` he wondered aloud. `If you're going to be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "cursed forever, deaths better, isn't it?` `It is,` Firenze agreed, `unless","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "else -- something that will bring you back to full strength and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "power -- something that will mean you can never die. Mr. Potter,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "do you know what is hidden in the school at this very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "moment?` `The Sorcerer's Stone! Of course -- the Elixir of Life!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "But I don't understand who --` `Can you think of nobody","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to life, awaiting their chance?` It was as though an iron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "fist had clenched suddenly around Harry's heart. Over the rustling of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "trees, he seemed to hear once more what Hagrid had told him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "on the night they had met: `Some say he died. Codswallop, in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "my opinion. Dunno if he had enough human left in him to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "die.` `Do you mean,` Harry croaked, `that was Vol-` `Harry!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry, are you all right?` Hermione was running toward them down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her. `I'm fine,` said Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "hardly knowing what he was saying. `The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "that clearing back there.` `This is where I leave you,` Firenze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "murmured as Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn. `You are safe","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "now.` Harry slid off his back. `Good luck, Harry Potter,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "said Firenze. `The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.` He turned","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and cantered back into the depths of the forest, leaving Harry shivering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "behind him. Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "waiting for them to return. He shouted something about Quidditch fouls when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "Harry roughly shook him awake. In a matter of seconds, though, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "was wide-eyed as Harry began to tell him and Hermione what had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "happened in the forest. Harry couldn't sit down. He paced up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and down in front of the fire. He was still shaking. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`Snape wants the stone for Voldemort... and Voldemort's waiting in the forest...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich....`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `Stop saying the name!` said Ron in a terrified whisper, as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "if he thought Voldemort could hear them. Harry wasn't listening. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "`Firenze saved me, but he shouldn't have done so.... Bane was furious...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to happen.... They must show that Voldemort's coming back.... Bane thinks Firenze","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "should have let Voldemort kill me.... I suppose that's written in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "stars as well.` `Will you stop saying the name!` Ron hissed.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "steal the Stone,` Harry went on feverishly, `then Voldemort will be able","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "to come and finish me off... Well, I suppose Bane'll be happy.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " Hermione looked very frightened, but she had a word of comfort.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" " `Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "of With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. Anyway, who says the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "says that's a very imprecise branch of magic.` The sky had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "turned light before they stopped talking. They went to bed exhausted, their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "throats sore. But the night's surprises weren't over. When Harry pulled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "back his sheets, he found his invisibility cloak folded neatly underneath them.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "There was a note pinned to it: Just in case. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-15" "THROUGH THE TRAPDOOR In years to come, Harry would never quite","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "remember how he had managed to get through his exams when he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "half expected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at any moment.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Yet the days crept by, and there could be no doubt that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Fluffy was still alive and well behind the locked door. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was sweltering hot, especially in the large classroom where they did their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "written papers. They had been given special, new quills for the exams,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "which had been bewitched with an AntiCheating spell. They had practical","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "exams as well. Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "class to see if they could make a pineapple tapdance across a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "desk. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was, but taken away","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "if it had whiskers. Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness potion.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " Harry did the best he could, trying to ignore the stabbing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "pains in his forehead, which had been bothering him ever since his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "trip into the forest. Neville thought Harry had a bad case of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "exam nerves because Harry couldn't sleep, but the truth was that Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "kept being woken by his old nightmare, except that it was now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "worse than ever because there was a hooded figure dripping blood in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "it. Maybe it was because they hadn't seen what Harry had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "seen in the forest, or because they didn't have scars burning on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "their foreheads, but Ron and Hermione didn't seem as worried about the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Stone as Harry. The idea of Voldemort certainly scared them, but he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "didn't keep visiting them in dreams, and they were so busy with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "their studying they didn't have much time to fret about what Snape","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "or anyone else might be up to. Their very last exam","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was History of Magic. One hour of answering questions about batty old","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "wizards who'd invented selfstirring cauldrons and they'd be free, free for a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "whole wonderful week until their exam results came out. When the ghost","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of Professor Binns told them to put down their quills and roll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "up their parchment, Harry couldn't help cheering with the rest. `That","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was far easier than I thought it would be,` said Hermione as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "they joined the crowds flocking out onto the sunny grounds. `I needn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of Elfric the Eager.` Hermione always liked to go through their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "exam papers afterward, but Ron said this made him feel ill, so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "they wandered down to the lake and flopped under a tree. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of a giant","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "squid, which was basking in the warm shallows. `No more studying,` Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "sighed happily, stretching out on the grass. `You could look more cheerful,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "done, there's no need to worry yet.` Harry was rubbing his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "forehead. `I wish I knew what this means!` he burst out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "angrily. `My scar keeps hurting -- it's happened before, but never as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "often as this.` `Go to Madam Pomfrey,` Hermione suggested. `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "not ill,` said Harry. `I think it's a warning... it means danger's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "coming....` Ron couldn't get worked up, it was too hot. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down.` Harry nodded, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "he couldn't shake off a lurking feeling that there was something he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "forgotten to do, something important. When he tried to explain this, Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "said, `That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " Harry was quite sure the unsettled feeling didn't have anything to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "do with work, though. He watched an owl flutter toward the school","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "across the bright blue sky, a note clamped in its mouth. Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was the only one who ever sent him letters. Hagrid would never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "betray Dumbledore. Hagrid would never tell anyone how to get past Fluffy...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "never... but -- Harry suddenly jumped to his feet. `Where're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you going?` said Ron sleepily. `I've just thought of something,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "said Harry. He had turned white. `We've got to go and see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Hagrid, now.` `Why?` panted Hermione, hurrying to keep up. `Don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you think it's a bit odd,` said Harry, scrambling up the grassy","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "slope, `that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "didn't I see it before?` `What are you talking about?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron, but Harry, sprinting across the grounds toward the forest, didn't answer.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and sleeves were rolled up, and he was shelling peas into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "large bowl. `Hullo,` he said, smiling. `Finished yer exams? Got time","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "fer a drink?` `Yes, please,` said Ron, but Harry cut him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "off. `No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "stranger you were playing cards with look like?` `Dunno,` said Hagrid","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "casually, `he wouldn' take his cloak off.` He saw the three","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of them look stunned and raised his eyebrows. `It's not that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "-- that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "up.` Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas. `What","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "all?` `Mighta come up,` said Hagrid, frowning as he tried to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "remember. `Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was gamekeeper here.... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "took after... so I told him... an' I said what I'd always","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "really wanted was a dragon... an' then... I can' remember too well,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "'cause he kept buyin' me drinks.... Let's see... yeah, then he said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "if I wanted... but he had ter be sure I could handle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home.... So","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy...` `And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "did he -- did he seem interested in Fluffy?` Harry asked, try","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "ing to keep his voice calm. `Well -- yeah -- how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "off ter sleep --` Hagrid suddenly looked horrified. `I shouldn'ta","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "told yeh that!` he blurted out. `Forget I said it! Hey --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "where're yeh goin'?` Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't speak to each","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "other at all until they came to a halt in the entrance","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "hall, which seemed very cold and gloomy after the grounds. `We've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "got to go to Dumbledore,` said Harry. `Hagrid told that stranger how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "that cloak -- it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?` They looked around, as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "if hoping to see a sign pointing them in the right direction.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "They had never been told where Dumbledore lived, nor did they know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "anyone who had been sent to see him. `We'll just have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to --` Harry began, but a voice suddenly rang across the hall.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `What are you three doing inside?` It was Professor McGonagall,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "carrying a large pile of books. `We want to see Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Dumbledore,` said Hermione, rather bravely, Harry and Ron thought. `See Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Dumbledore?` Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to want to do. `Why?` Harry swallowed -- now what? ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`It's sort of secret,` he said, but he wished at once he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "hadn't, because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared. `Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "ago,` she said coldly. `He received an urgent owl from the Ministry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of Magic and flew off for London at once.` `He's gone?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "said Harry frantically. `Now?` `Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Potter, he has many demands on his time -- `But this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "is important.` `Something you have to say is more important than","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the Ministry of Magic, Potter. `Look,` said Harry, throwing caution to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the winds, `Professor -- it's about the Sorcerer's tone --` Whatever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn't that. The books she was carrying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "tumbled out of her arms, but she didn't pick them up. `How","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "do you know --?` she spluttered. `Professor, I think -- I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "know -- that Sn- that someone's going to try and steal the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore.` She eyed him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "with a mixture of shock and suspicion. `Professor Dumbledore will be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "back tomorrow,` she said finally. I don't know how you found out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "it's too well protected.` `But Professor --` `Potter, I know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "what I'm talking about,` she said shortly. She bent down and gathered","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "up the fallen books. I suggest you all go back outside and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "enjoy the sunshine.` But they didn't. `It's tonight,` said Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "once he was sure Professor McGonagall was out of earshot. `Snape's going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "turns up.` `But what can we --` Hermione gasped. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and Ron wheeled round. Snape was standing there. `Good afternoon,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "he said smoothly. They stared at him. `You shouldn't be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "inside on a day like this,` he said, with an odd, twisted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "smile. `We were --` Harry began, without any idea what he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was going to say. `You want to be more careful,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Snape. `Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "it?` Harry flushed. They turned to go outside, but Snape called","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "them back. `Be warned, Potter -- any more nighttime wanderings and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " He strode off in the direction of the staffroom. Out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "on the stone steps, Harry turned to the others. `Right, here's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "what we've got to do,` he whispered urgently. `One of us has","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "got to keep an eye on Snape -- wait outside the staff","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "room and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "that.` `Why me?` `It's obvious,` said Ron. `You can pretend","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know.` He put on a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "high voice, `'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "question fourteen b wrong....'` `Oh, shut up,` said Hermione, but she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "agreed to go and watch out for Snape. `And we'd better","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "stay outside the third-floor corridor,` Harry told Ron. `Come on.` But","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "that part of the plan didn't work. No sooner had they reached","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the school than Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "McGonagall turned up again and this time, she lost her temper. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of enchantments!` she stormed. `Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "'ve come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Gryffindor! Yes, Weasley, from my own house!` Harry and Ron went back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to the common room, Harry had just said, `At least Hermione's on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Snape's tail,` when the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Hermione came in. `I'm sorry, Harry!` she wailed. `Snape came out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and asked me what I was doing, so I said I was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "waiting for Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I've only","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "just got away, I don't know where Snape went.` `Well, that's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "it then, isn't it?` Harry said. The other two stared at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "him. He was pale and his eyes were glittering. `I'm going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the Stone first.` `You're mad!` said Ron. `You can't!` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Hermione. `After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`SO WHAP` Harry shouted. `Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "see? D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "bit later than I would have, because I'm never going over to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "two say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " He glared at them. `You're right Harry,` said Hermione in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "a small voice. `I'll use the invisibility cloak,` said Harry. `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "just lucky I got it back.` `But will it cover all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "three of us?` said Ron. `All -- all three of us?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "alone?` `Of course not,` said Hermione briskly. `How do you think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go and took","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "through my books, there might be something useful...` `But if we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "get caught, you two will be expelled, too.` `Not if I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "can help it,` said Hermione grimly. `Flitwick told me in secret that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "I got a hundred and twelve percent on his exam. They're not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "throwing me out after that.` After dinner the three of them","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "sat nervously apart in the common room. Nobody bothered them; none of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the Gryffindors had anything to say to Harry any more, after all.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "This was the first night he hadn't been upset by it. Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was skimming through all her notes, hoping to come across one of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the enchantments they were about to try to break. Harry and Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "didn't talk much. Both of them were thinking about what they were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "about to do. Slowly, the room emptied as people drifted off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to bed. `Better get the cloak,` Ron muttered, as Lee Jordan","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "finally left, stretching and yawning. Harry ran upstairs to their dark dormitory.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "He putted out the cloak and then his eyes fell on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "flute Hagrid had given him for Christmas. He pocketed it to use","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "on Fluffy -- he didn't feel much like singing. He ran","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "back down to the common room. `We'd better put the cloak","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "on here, and make sure it covers all three of us --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "--` `What are you doing?` said a voice from the corner","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of the room. Neville appeared from behind an armchair, clutching Trevor the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "toad, who looked as though he'd been making another bid for freedom.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `Nothing, Neville, nothing,` said Harry, hurriedly putting the cloak behind his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "back. Neville stared at their guilty faces. `You're going out","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "again,` he said. `No, no, no,` said Hermione. `No, we're not.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Why don't you go to bed, Neville?` Harry looked at the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "grandfather clock by the door. They couldn't afford to waste any more","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "time, Snape might even now be playing Fluffy to sleep. `You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "can't go out,` said Neville, `you'll be caught again. Gryffindor will be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "in even more trouble.` `You don't understand,` said Harry, `this is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "important.` But Neville was clearly steeling himself to do something desperate.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " I won't let you do it,` he said, hurrying to stand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "in front of the portrait hole. `I'll -- I'll fight you!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`Neville, `Ron exploded, `get away from that hole and don't be an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "idiot --` `Don't you call me an idiot!` said Neville. I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "don't think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the one who told me to stand up to people!` `Yes,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "but not to us,` said Ron in exasperation. `Neville, you don't know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "what you're doing.` He took a step forward and Neville dropped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Trevor the toad, who leapt out of sight. `Go on then,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "try and hit me!` said Neville, raising his fists. `I'm ready!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Harry turned to Hermione. `Do something,` he said desperately. Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "stepped forward. `Neville,` she said, `I'm really, really sorry about this.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " She raised her wand. `Petrificus Totalus!` she cried, pointing it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "at Neville. Neville's arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprang","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "together. His whole body rigid, he swayed where he stood and then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "fell flat on his face, stiff as a board. Hermione ran","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to turn him over. Neville's jaws were jammed together so he couldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "speak. Only his eyes were moving, looking at them in horror. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`What've you done to him?` Harry whispered. `It's the full Body-Bind,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "said Hermione miserably. `Oh, Neville, I'm so sorry.` `We had to,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Neville, no time to explain,` said Harry. `You'll understand later, Neville,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "said Ron as they stepped over him and pulled on the invisibility","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "cloak. But leaving Neville lying motionless on the floor didn't feel","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "like a very good omen. In their nervous state, every statue's shadow","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "looked like Filch, every distant breath of wind sounded like Peeves swooping","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "down on them. At the foot of the first set of stairs,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "they spotted Mrs. Norris skulking near the top. `Oh, let's kick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "her, just this once,` Ron whispered in Harry's ear, but Harry shook","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "his head. As they climbed carefully around her, Mrs. Norris turned her","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "lamplike eyes on them, but didn't do anything. They didn't meet","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "anyone else until they reached the staircase up to the third floor.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Peeves was bobbing halfway up, loosening the carpet so that people would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "trip. `Who's there?` he said suddenly as they climbed toward him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "He narrowed his wicked black eyes. `Know you're there, even if I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " He rose up in the air and floated there, squinting at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "them. `Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " Harry had a sudden idea. `Peeves,` he said, in a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "hoarse whisper, `the Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. He caught","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "himself in time and hovered about a foot off the stairs. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, Sir,` he said greasily. `My mistake,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "my mistake -- I didn't see you -- of course I didn't,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you're invisible -- forgive old Peevsie his little joke, sir.` `I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "have business here, Peeves,` croaked Harry. `Stay away from this place tonight.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `I will, sir, I most certainly will,` said Peeves, rising up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "in the air again. `Hope your business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you.` And he scooted off `Brilliant, Harry!` whispered Ron. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "A few seconds later, they were there, outside the third-floor corridor --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and the door was already ajar. `Well, there you are,` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "said quietly, `Snape's already got past Fluffy.` Seeing the open door","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "somehow seemed to impress upon all three of them what was facing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "them. Underneath the cloak, Harry turned to the other two. `If","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you want to go back, I won't blame you,` he said. `You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "can take the cloak, I won't need it now.` `Don't be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "stupid,` said Ron. `We're coming,` said Hermione. Harry pushed the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "door open. As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "ears. All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in their direction,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "even though it couldn't see them. `What's that at its feet?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Hermione whispered. `Looks like a harp,` said Ron. `Snape must have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "left it there.` `It must wake up the moment you stop","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "playing,` said Harry. `Well, here goes...` He put Hagrid's flute to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "his lips and blew. It wasn't really a tune, but from the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "first note the beast's eyes began to droop. Harry hardly drew breath.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Slowly, the dog's growls ceased -- it tottered on its paws and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `Keep playing,` Ron warned Harry as they slipped out of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "cloak and crept toward the trapdoor. They could feel the dog's hot,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "smelly breath as they approached the giant heads. `I think we'll be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "able to pull the door open,` said Ron, peering over the dog's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "back. `Want to go first, Hermione?` `No, I don't!` `All","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "right.` Ron gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the dog's legs.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "He bent and pulled the ring of the trapdoor, which swung up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and open. `What can you see?` Hermione said anxiously. `Nothing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "-- just black -- there's no way of climbing down, we'll just","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "have to drop.` Harry, who was still playing the flute, waved","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "at Ron to get his attention and pointed at himself. `You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "want to go first? Are you sure?` said Ron. `I don't know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "can keep him asleep.` Harry handed the flute over. In the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "few seconds' silence, the dog growled and twitched, but the moment Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "began to play, it fell back into its deep sleep. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "climbed over it and looked down through the trapdoor. There was no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "sign of the bottom. He lowered himself through the hole until","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "he was hanging on by his fingertips. Then he looked up at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron and said, `If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?` `Right,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron. `See you in a minute, I hope... And Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "let go. Cold, damp air rushed past him as he fell down,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "down, down and -- FLUMP. With a funny, muffled sort of thump","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "he landed on something soft. He sat up and felt around, his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "eyes not used to the gloom. It felt as though he was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "sitting on some sort of plant. `It's okay!` he called up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to the light the size of a postage stamp, which was the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "open trapdoor, `it's a soft landing, you can jump!` Ron followed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "right away. He landed, sprawled next to Harry. `What's this stuff?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "were his first words. `Dunno, some sort of plant thing. I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "suppose it's here to break the fall. Come on, Hermione!` The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "distant music stopped. There was a loud bark from the dog, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Hermione had already jumped. She landed on Harry's other side. `We","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "must be miles under the school , she said. `Lucky this","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "plant thing's here, really,` said Ron. `Lucky!` shrieked Hermione. `Look at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you both!` She leapt up and struggled toward a damp wall.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "She had to struggle because the moment she had landed, the plant","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "had started to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles. As for Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and Ron, their legs had already been bound tightly in long creepers","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "without their noticing. Hermione had managed to free herself before the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "plant got a firm grip on her. Now she watched in horror","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "as the two boys fought to pull the plant off them, but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the more they strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "wound around them. `Stop moving!` Hermione ordered them. `I know what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "this is -- it's Devil's Snare!` `Oh, I'm so glad we","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "know what it's called, that's a great help,` snarled Ron, leaning back,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "trying to stop the plant from curling around his neck. `Shut up,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "I'm trying to remember how to kill it!` said Hermione. `Well,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "hurry up, I can't breathe!` Harry gasped, wrestling with it as it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "curled around his chest. `Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... what did Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Sprout say? -- it likes the dark and the damp `So","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "light a fire!` Harry choked. `Yes -- of course -- but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "there's no wood!` Hermione cried, wringing her hands. `HAVE YOU GONE","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "MAD?` Ron bellowed. `ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?` `Oh, right!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "said Hermione, and she whipped out her wand, waved it, muttered something,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and sent a jet of the same bluebell flames she had used","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "on Snape at the plant. In a matter of seconds, the two","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "boys felt it loosening its grip as it cringed away from the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it unraveled itself from their bodies,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and they were able to pull free. `Lucky you pay attention","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "in Herbology, Hermione,` said Harry as he joined her by the wall,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "wiping sweat off his face. `Yeah,` said Ron, `and lucky Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "doesn't lose his head in a crisis -- 'there's no wood,' honestly.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `This way,` said Harry, pointing down a stone passageway, which was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the only way forward. All they could hear apart from their","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "footsteps was the gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "passageway sloped downward, and Harry was reminded of Gringotts. With an unpleasant","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "jolt of the heart, he remembered the dragons said to be guarding","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "vaults in the wizards' bank. If they met a dragon, a fully-grown","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "dragon -- Norbert had been bad enough... `Can you hear something?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron whispered. Harry listened. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "be coming from up ahead. `Do you think it's a ghost?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `I don't know... sounds like wings to me.` `There's light","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "ahead -- I can see something moving.` They reached the end","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the chamber was a heavy wooden door. `Do you think they'll","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "attack us if we cross the room?` said Ron. `Probably,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Harry. `They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "swooped down at once... well, there's no other choice... I'll run.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "He took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "sprinted across the room. He expected to feel sharp beaks and claws","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "tearing at him any second, but nothing happened. He reached the door","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "untouched. He pulled the handle, but it was locked. The other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "two followed him. They tugged and heaved at the door, but it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "wouldn't budge, not even when Hermione tried her Alohomora charm. `Now","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "what?` said Ron. `These birds... they can't be here just for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "decoration,` said Hermione. They watched the birds soaring overhead, glittering --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "glittering? `They're not birds!` Harry said suddenly. `They're keys! Winged keys","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "-- look carefully. So that must mean...` he looked around the chamber","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "while the other two squinted up at the flock of keys. `...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "yes -- look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "door!` `But there are hundreds of them!` Ron examined the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "lock on the door. `We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "-- probably silver, like the handle.` They each seized a broomstick","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and kicked off into the air, soaring into the midst of the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "cloud of keys. They grabbed and snatched, but the bewitched keys darted","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and dived so quickly it was almost impossible to catch one. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Not for nothing, though, was Harry the youngest Seeker in a century.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "He had a knack for spotting things other people didn't. After a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "minute's weaving about through the whirl of rainbow feathers, he noticed a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "large silver key that had a bent wing, as if it had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "already been caught and stuffed roughly into the keyhole. `That one!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "he called to the others. `That big one -- there -- no,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "there -- with bright blue wings -- the feathers are all crumpled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "on one side.` Ron went speeding in the direction that Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was pointing, crashed into the ceiling, and nearly fell off his broom.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `We've got to close in on it!` Harry called, not taking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "his eyes off the key with the damaged wing. `Ron, you come","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "at it from above -- Hermione, stay below and stop it from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "going down and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!` Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "dived, Hermione rocketed upward, the key dodged them both, and Harry streaked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "after it; it sped toward the wall, Harry leaned forward and with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one hand.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron and Hermione's cheers echoed around the high chamber. They landed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "quickly, and Harry ran to the door, the key struggling in his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "hand. He rammed it into the lock and turned -- it worked.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "The moment the lock had clicked open, the key took flight again,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "looking very battered now that it had been caught twice. `Ready?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Harry asked the other two, his hand on the door handle. They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "nodded. He pulled the door open. The next chamber was so","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "dark they couldn't see anything at all. But as they stepped into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "it, light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing sight. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the white pieces. Harry, Ron and Hermione shivered slightly -- the towering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "white chessmen had no faces. `Now what do we do?` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "whispered. `It's obvious, isn't it?` said Ron. `We've got to play","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "our way across the room.` Behind the white pieces they could","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "see another door. `How?` said Hermione nervously. `I think,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron, `we're going to have to be chessmen.` He walked up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "knight's horse. At once, the stone sprang to life. The horse pawed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "at Ron. `Do we -- er -- have to join you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to get across?` The black knight nodded. Ron turned to the other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "two. `This needs thinking about he said. I suppose we've got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to take the place of three of the black pieces....` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and Hermione stayed quiet, watching Ron think. Finally he said, `Now, don't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "chess --` `We're not offended,` said Harry quickly. `Just tell us","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "what to do.` `Well, Harry, you take the place of that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "bishop, and Hermione, YOU 90 next to him instead of that castle.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `What about you?` `I'm going to be a knight,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron. The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "words a knight, a bishop, and a castle turned their backs on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the white pieces and walked off the board, leaving three empty squares","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "that Harry, Ron, and Hermione took. `White always plays first in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "chess,` said Ron, peering across the board. `Yes... look...` A white","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "pawn had moved forward two squares. Ron started to direct the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "black pieces. They moved silently wherever he sent them. Harry's knees were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "trembling. What if they lost? `Harry -- move diagonally four squares","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to the right.` Their first real shock came when their other","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "knight was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "dragged him off the board, where he lay quite still, facedown. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`Had to let that happen,` said Ron, looking shaken. `Leaves you free","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to take that bishop, Hermione, go on.` Every time one of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "their men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. Soon there","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was a huddle of limp black players slumped along the wall. Twice,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Ron only just noticed in time that Harry and Hermione were in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "danger. He himself darted around the board, taking almost as many white","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "pieces as they had lost black ones. `We're nearly there,` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "muttered suddenly. `Let me think let me think...` The white queen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "turned her blank face toward him. `Yes...` said Ron softly, `It's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the only way... I've got to be taken.` `NOF Harry and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Hermione shouted. `That's chess!` snapped Ron. `You've got to make some","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me -- that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!` `But --` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`Do you want to stop Snape or not?` `Ron --` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "There was no alternative. `Ready?` Ron called, his face pale but","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "determined. `Here I go - now, don't hang around once you've won.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "hard across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the floor - Hermione screamed but stayed on her square - the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "been knocked out. Shaking, Harry moved three spaces to the left.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " The white king took off his crown and threw it at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Harry's feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "door ahead clear. With one last desperate look back at Ron, Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and Hermione charged through the door and up the next passageway. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "`What if he's --?` `He'll be all right,` said Harry, trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "to convince himself. `What do you reckon's next?` `We've had Sprout's,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must've put charms on the keys;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and Snape's.` They had reached another door. `All right?` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "whispered. `Go on.` Harry pushed it open. A disgusting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "smell filled their nostrils, making both of them pull their robes up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "over their noses. Eyes watering, they saw, flat on the floor in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "front of them, a troll even larger than the one they had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "tackled, out cold with a bloody lump on its head. `I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "glad we didn't have to fight that one,` Harry whispered as they","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "stepped carefully over one of its massive legs. `Come on, I can't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "breathe.` He pulled open the next door, both of them hardly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "daring to look at what came next - but there was nothing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "very frightening in here, just a table with seven differently shaped bottles","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "standing on it in a line. `Snape's,` said Harry. `What do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "we have to do?` They stepped over the threshold, and immediately","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "a fire sprang up behind them in the doorway. It wasn't ordinary","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "fire either; it was purple. At the same instant, black flames shot","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "up in the doorway leading onward. They were trapped. `Look!` Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "seized a roll of paper lying next to the bottles. Harry looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "over her shoulder to read it: Danger lies before you, while","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "safety lies behind, Two of us will help you, which ever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you would find, One among us seven will let you move","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "ahead, Another will transport the drinker back instead, Two among","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "our number hold only nettle wine, Three of us are killers,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "waiting bidden in line. Choose, unless you wish to stay here","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "forevermore, To help you in your choice, we give you these","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "clues four: First, however slyly the poison tries to hide ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "You will always find some on nettle wine's left side; Second,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "different are those who stand at either end, But if you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "would move onward, neither is your friend; Third, as you see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "clearly, all are different size, Neither dwarf nor giant holds death","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "in their insides; Fourth, the second left and the second on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the right Are twins once you taste them, though different at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "first sight. Hermione let out a great sigh and Harry, amazed,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "saw that she was smiling, the very last thing he felt like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "doing. `Brilliant,` said Hermione. `This isn't magic -- it's logic --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "of logic, they'd be stuck in here forever.` `But so will","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "we, won't we?` `Of course not,` said Hermione. `Everything we need is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "one will get us safely through the black fire, and one will","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "get us back through the purple.` `But how do we know","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "which to drink?` `Give me a minute.` Hermione read the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "paper several times. Then she walked up and down the line of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "bottles, muttering to herself and pointing at them. At last, she clapped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "her hands. `Got it,` she said. `The smallest bottle will get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "us through the black fire -- toward the Stone.` Harry looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "at the tiny bottle. `There's only enough there for one of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "us,` he said. `That's hardly one swallow.` They looked at each","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "other. `Which one will get you back through the purple flames?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " Hermione pointed at a rounded bottle at the right end of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the line. `You drink that,` said Harry. `No, listen, get back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "and get Ron. Grab brooms from the flying- key room, they'll get","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy -- go straight to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "be able to hold Snape off for a while, but I'm no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "match for him, really.` `But Harry -- what if You-Know-Who's with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "him?` `Well -- I was lucky once, wasn't I?` said Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "pointing at his scar. `I might get lucky again.` Hermione's lip","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "trembled, and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "him. `Hermione!` `Harry -- you're a great wizard, you know.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `I'm not as good as you,` said Harry, very embarrassed, as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "she let go of him. `Me!` said Hermione. `Books! And cleverness!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "There are more important things -- friendship and bravery and -- oh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "Harry -- be careful!` `You drink first,` said Harry. `You are","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "sure which is which, aren't you?` `Positive,` said Hermione. She took","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "a long drink from the round bottle at the end, and shuddered.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" " `It's not poison?` said Harry anxiously. `No -- but it's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "like ice.` `Quick, go, before it wears off.` `Good luck","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "-- take care.` `GO!` Hermione turned and walked straight through","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the purple fire. Harry took a deep breath and picked up","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the smallest bottle. He turned to face the black flames. `Here","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "I come,` he said, and he drained the little bottle in one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "gulp. It was indeed as though ice was flooding his body.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "He put the bottle down and walked forward; he braced himself, saw","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "the black flames licking his body, but couldn't feel them -- for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "a moment he could see nothing but dark fire -- then he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "was on the other side, in the last chamber. There was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "already someone there -- but it wasn't Snape. It wasn't even Voldemort. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-16" "THE MAN WITH TWO FACES It was Quirrell. `You!` gasped","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry. Quirrell smiled. His face wasn't twitching at all. `Me,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he said calmly. `I wondered whether I'd be meeting you here, Potter.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `But I thought -- Snape --` `Severus?` Quirrell laughed, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "it wasn't his usual quivering treble, either, but cold and sharp. `Yes,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Severus does seem the type, doesn't he? So useful to have him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would suspect","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?` Harry couldn't take it in. This couldn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "be true, it couldn't. `But Snape tried to kill me!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`No, no, no. I tried to kill you. Your friend Miss Granger","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Snape","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "at that Quidditch match. She broke my eye contact with you. Another","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom. I'd have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering a countercurse, trying","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to save you.` `Snape was trying to save me?` `Of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "course,` said Quirrell coolly. `\Why do you think he wanted to referee","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "your next match? He was trying to make sure I didn't do","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "it again. Funny, really... he needn't have bothered. I couldn't do anything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "with Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought Snape was trying to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "stop Gryffindor from winning, he did make himself unpopular... and what a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "waste of time, when after all that, I'm going to kill you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "tonight.` Quirrell snapped his fingers. Ropes sprang out of thin air","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and wrapped themselves tightly around Harry. `You're too nosy to live,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Potter. Scurrying around the school on Halloween like that, for all I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "knew you'd seen me coming to look at what was guarding the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Stone.` `You let the troll in?` `Certainly. I have a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "special gift with trolls -- you must have seen what I did","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to the one in the chamber back there? Unfortunately, while everyone else","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was running around looking for it, Snape, who already suspected me, went","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "straight to the third floor to head me off -- and not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "only did my troll fail to beat you to death, that three-headed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "dog didn't even manage to bite Snape's leg off properly. `Now,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "wait quietly, Potter. I need to examine this interesting mirror. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was only then that Harry realized what was standing behind Quirrell. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was the Mirror of Erised. `This mirror is the key to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "finding the Stone,` Quirrell murmured, tapping his way around the frame. `Trust","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Dumbledore to come up with something like this... but he's in London...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "I'll be far away by the time he gets back....` All","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry could think of doing was to keep Quirrell talking and stop","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "him from concentrating on the mirror. `I saw you and Snape","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "in the forest --` he blurted out. `Yes,` said Quirrell idly,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "walking around the mirror to look at the back. `He was on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to me by that time, trying to find out how far I'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "got. He suspected me all along. Tried to frighten me - as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "though he could, when I had Lord Voldemort on my side....` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Quirrell came back out from behind the mirror and stared hungrily into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "it. `I see the Stone... I'm presenting it to my master...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "but where is it?` Harry struggled against the ropes binding him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "but they didn't give. He had to keep Quirrell from giving his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "whole attention to the mirror. `But Snape always seemed to hate","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "me so much.` `Oh, he does,` said Quirrell casually, `heavens, yes.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn't you know? They loathed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "each other. But he never wanted you dead.` `But I heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "you a few days ago, sobbing -- I thought Snape was threatening","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "you....` For the first time, a spasm of fear flitted across","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Quirrell's face. `Sometimes,` he said, `I find it hard to follow","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "my master's instructions -- he is a great wizard and I am","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "weak --` `You mean he was there in the classroom with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "you?` Harry gasped. `He is with me wherever I go,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Quirrell quietly. `I met him when I traveled around the world. A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to seek it.... Since then, I have served him faithfully, although I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "have let him down many times. He has had to be very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "hard on me.` Quirrell shivered suddenly. `He does not forgive mistakes easily.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts, he was most","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "displeased. He punished me... decided he would have to keep a closer","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "watch on me....` Quirrell's voice trailed away. Harry was remembering his trip","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to Diagon Alley -how could he have been so stupid? He'd seen","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Quirrell there that very day, shaken hands with him in the Leaky","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Cauldron. Quirrell cursed under his breath. `I don't understand... is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the Stone inside the mirror? Should I break it?` Harry's mind","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was racing. What I want more than anything else in the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "world at the moment, he thought, is to find the Stone before","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Quirrell does. So if I look in the mirror, I should see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "myseff finding it -- which means I'll see where it's hidden! But","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "how can I look without Quirrell realizing what I'm up to? ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "He tried to edge to the left, to get in front of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the glass without Quirrell noticing, but the ropes around his ankles were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "too tight: he tripped and fell over. Quirrell ignored him. He was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "still talking to himself. `What does this mirror do? How does it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "work? Help me, Master!` And to Harry's horror, a voice answered,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and the voice seemed to come from Quirrell himself `Use the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "boy... Use the boy...` Quirrell rounded on Harry. `Yes --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Potter -- come here.` He clapped his hands once, and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "ropes binding Harry fell off. Harry got slowly to his feet. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`Come here,` Quirrell repeated. `Look in the mirror and tell me what","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "you see.` Harry walked toward him. I must lie, he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "thought desperately. I must look and lie about what I see, that's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "all. Quirrell moved close behind him. Harry breathed in the funny","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "smell that seemed to come from Quirrell's turban. He closed his eyes,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "stepped in front of the mirror, and opened them again. He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "saw his reflection, pale and scared-looking at first. But a moment later,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the reflection smiled at him. It put its hand into its pocket","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and pulled out a blood-red stone. It winked and put the Stone","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "back in its pocket -- and as it did so, Harry felt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "something heavy drop into his real pocket. Somehow -- incredibly -- he'd","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "gotten the Stone. `Well?` said Quirrell impatiently. `What do you see?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Harry screwed up his courage. `I see myself shaking hands","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "with Dumbledore,` he invented. `I -- I've won the house cup for","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Gryffindor.` Quirrell cursed again. `Get out of the way,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he said. As Harry moved aside, he felt the Sorcerer's Stone against","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "his leg. Dare he make a break for it? But he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "hadn't walked five paces before a high voice spoke, though Quirrell wasn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "moving his lips. `He lies... He lies...` `Potter, come back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "here!` Quirrell shouted. `Tell me the truth! What did you just see?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " The high voice spoke again. `Let me speak to him...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "face-to-face...` `Master, you are not strong enough!` `I have strength","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "enough... for this....` Harry felt as if Devil's Snare was rooting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "him to the spot. He couldn't move a muscle. Petrified, he watched","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "as Quirrell reached up and began to unwrap his turban. What was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "going on? The turban fell away. Quirrell's head looked strangely small without","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "it. Then he turned slowly on the spot. Harry would have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "screamed, but he couldn't make a sound. Where there should have been","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "a back to Quirrell's head, there was a face, the most terrible","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake. `Harry Potter...` it","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "whispered. Harry tried to take a step backward but his legs","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "wouldn't move. `See what I have become?` the face said. `Mere","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "shadow and vapor ... I have form only when I can share","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "another's body... but there have always been those willing to let me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "into their hearts and minds.... Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "weeks... you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the forest...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to create a body of my own.... Now... why don't you give","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "me that Stone in your pocket?` So he knew. The feeling","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "suddenly surged back into Harry's legs. He stumbled backward. `Don't be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "a fool,` snarled the face. `Better save your own life and join","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "me... or you'll meet the same end as your parents.... They died","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "begging me for mercy...` `LIAR!` Harry shouted suddenly. Quirrell was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "walking backward at him, so that Voldemort could still see him. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "evil face was now smiling. `How touching...` it hissed. `I always","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "value bravery... Yes, boy, your parents were brave.... I killed your father","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "first; and he put up a courageous fight... but your mother needn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "have died... she was trying to protect you.... Now give me the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Stone, unless you want her to have died in vain.` `NEVER!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry sprang toward the flame door, but Voldemort screamed `SEIZE HIM!` and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the next second, Harry felt Quirrell's hand close on his wrist. At","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "once, a needle-sharp pain seared across Harry's scar; his head felt as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "though it was about to split in two; he yelled, struggling with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "all his might, and to his surprise, Quirrell let go of him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "The pain in his head lessened -- he looked around wildly to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "see where Quirrell had gone, and saw him hunched in pain, looking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "at his fingers -- they were blistering before his eyes. `Seize","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "him! SEIZE HIM!` shrieked Voldemort again, and Quirrell lunged, knocking Harry clean","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "off his feet' landing on top of him, both hands around Harry's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "neck -- Harry's scar was almost blinding him with pain, yet he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "could see Quirrell howling in agony. `Master, I cannot hold him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "-- my hands -- my hands!` And Quirrell, though pinning Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to the ground with his knees, let go of his neck and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "stared, bewildered, at his own palms -- Harry could see they looked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "burned, raw, red, and shiny. `Then kill him, fool, and be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "done!` screeched Voldemort. Quirrell raised his hand to perform a deadly","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "curse, but Harry, by instinct, reached up and grabbed Quirrell's face --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `AAAARGH!` Quirrell rolled off him, his face blistering, too, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "then Harry knew: Quirrell couldn't touch his bare skin, not without suffering","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "terrible pain -- his only chance was to keep hold of Quirrell,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "keep him in enough pain to stop him from doing a curse.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Harry jumped to his feet, caught Quirrell by the arm, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "hung on as tight as he could. Quirrell screamed and tried to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "throw Harry off -- the pain in Harry's head was building --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he couldn't see -- he could only hear Quirrell's terrible shrieks and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Voldemort's yells of, `KILL HIM! KILL HIM!` and other voices, maybe in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry's own head, crying, `Harry! Harry!` He felt Quirrell's arm wrenched","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "from his grasp, knew all was lost, and fell into blackness, down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "... down... down... Something gold was glinting just above him. The","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Snitch! He tried to catch it, but his arms were too heavy.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " He blinked. It wasn't the Snitch at all. It was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "pair of glasses. How strange. He blinked again. The smiling face","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "of Albus Dumbledore swam into view above him. `Good afternoon, Harry,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "said Dumbledore. Harry stared at him. Then he remembered: `Sir! The Stone!","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "It was Quirrell! He's got the Stone! Sir, quick --` `Calm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "yourself, dear boy, you are a little behind the times,` said Dumbledore.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`Quirrell does not have the Stone.` `Then who does? Sir, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "--` `Harry, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me thrown","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "out. Harry swallowed and looked around him. He realized he must","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "be in the hospital wing. He was lying in a bed with","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "white linen sheets, and next to him was a table piled high","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "with what looked like half the candy shop. `Tokens from your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "friends and admirers,` said Dumbledore, beaming. `What happened down in the dungeons","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "whole school knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "they thought it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "not be very hygienic, and confiscated it.` `How long have I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "been in here?` `Three days. Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Granger","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "will be most relieved you have come round, they have been extremely","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "worried.` `But sit, the Stone I see you are not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to be distracted. Very well, the Stone. Professor Quirrell did not manage","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to take it from you. I arrived in time to prevent that,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "although you were doing very well on your own, I must say.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `You got there? You got Hermione's owl?` `We must have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "crossed in midair. No sooner had I reached London than it became","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "clear to me that the place I should be was the one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "I had just left. I arrived just in time to pull Quirrell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "off you.` `It was you.` `I feared I might be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "too late.` `You nearly were, I couldn't have kept him off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the Stone much longer --` `Not the Stone, boy, you --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the effort involved nearly killed you. For one terrible moment there, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was afraid it had. As for the Stone, it has been destroyed.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `Destroyed?` said Harry blankly. `But your friend -- Nicolas Flamel --`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `Oh, you know about Nicolas?` said Dumbledore, sounding quite delighted. `You","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "did do the thing properly, didn't you? Well, Nicolas and I have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "had a little chat, and agreed it's all for the best.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`But that means he and his wife will die, won't they?` `They","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "yes, they will die.` Dumbledore smiled at the look of amazement","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "on Harry's face. `To one as young as you, I'm sure","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and life as you could want! The two things most human beings","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "would choose above all -- the trouble is, humans do have a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.` Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "lay there, lost for words. Dumbledore hummed a little and smiled at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the ceiling. `Sir?` said Harry. `I've been thinking... sir -- even","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "if the Stone's gone, Vol-, I mean, You-Know- Who --` `Call","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "a name increases fear of the thing itself.` `Yes, sir. Well,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Voldemort's going to try other ways of coming back, isn't he? I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "mean, he hasn't gone, has he?` `No, Harry, he has not.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "share... not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to die; he shows just as little mercy to his followers as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "his enemies. Nevertheless, Harry, while you may only have delayed his return","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to power, it will merely take someone else who is prepared to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "fight what seems a losing battle next time -- and if he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "is delayed again, and again, why, he may never return to power.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Harry nodded, but stopped quickly, because it made his head hurt.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Then he said, `Sir, there are some other things I'd like to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "know, if you can tell me... things I want to know the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "truth about....` `The truth.` Dumbledore sighed. `It is a beautiful and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution. However, I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "of course, lie.` `Well... Voldemort said that he only killed my","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "mother because she tried to stop him from killing me. But why","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "would he want to kill me in the first place?` Dumbledore","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "sighed very deeply this time. `Alas, the first thing you ask","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "one day... put it from your mind for now, Harry. When you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "are older... I know you hate to hear this... when you are","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "ready, you will know.` And Harry knew it would be no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "good to argue. `But why couldn't Quirrell touch me?` `Your","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Dumbledore now became very interested in a bird out on the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "windowsill, which gave Harry time to dry his eyes on the sheet.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "When he had found his voice again, Harry said, `And the invisibility","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "cloak - do you know who sent it to me?` `Ah","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "- your father happened to leave it in my possession, and I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "thought you might like it.` Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. `Useful things... your father","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "used it mainly for sneaking off to the kitchens to steal food","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "when he was here.` `And there's something else...` `Fire away.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `Quirrell said Snape --` `Professor Snape, Harry.` `Yes, him --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Quirrell said he hates me because he hated my father. Is that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "true?` `Well, they did rather detest each other. Not unlike yourself","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and Mr. Malfoy. And then, your father did something Snape could never","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "forgive.` `What?` `He saved his life.` `What?` `Yes...`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "said Dumbledore dreamily. `Funny, the way people's minds work, isn't it? Professor","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt.... I do believe he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "would make him and your father even. Then he could go back","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to hating your father's memory in peace....` Harry tried to understand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "this but it made his head pound, so he stopped. `And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "sir, there's one more thing...` `Just the one?` `How did I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "get the Stone out of the mirror?` `Ah, now, I'm glad","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and between you and me, that's saying something. You see, only one","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "who wanted to find the Stone -- find it, but not use","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "it -- would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "me sometimes.... Now, enough questions. I suggest you make a start on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "these sweets. Ah! Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "in my youth to come across a vomitflavored one, and since then","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them -- but I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "think I'll be safe with a nice toffee, don't you?` He","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "smiled and popped the golden-brown bean into his mouth. Then he choked","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and said, `Alas! Ear wax!` Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "nice woman, but very strict. `Just five minutes,` Harry pleaded. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`Absolutely not.` `You let Professor Dumbledore in...` `Well, of course,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "that was the headmaster, quite different. You need rest.` `I am","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "resting, look, lying down and everything. Oh, go on, Madam Pomfrey...` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`Oh, very well,` she said. `But five minutes only.` And she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "let Ron and Hermione in. `Harry!` Hermione looked ready to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "fling her arms around him again, but Harry was glad she held","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "herself in as his head was still very sore. `Oh, Harry,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "we were sure you were going to -- Dumbledore was so worried","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "--` `The whole school's talking about it,` said Ron. `What really","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "happened?` It was one of those rare occasions when the true","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "story is even more strange and exciting than the wild rumors. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "told them everything: Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. Ron and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Hermione were a very good audience; they gasped in all the right","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "places, and when Harry told them what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "screamed out loud. `So the Stone's gone?` said Ron finally. `Flamel's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "just going to die?` `That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "that -- what was it? -- 'to the well-organized mind, death is","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "but the next great adventure. `I always said he was off","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "his rocker,` said Ron, looking quite impressed at how crazy his hero","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was. `So what happened to you two?` said Harry. `Well,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "I got back all right,` said Hermione. `I brought Ron round --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "that took a while -- and we were dashing up to the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "-- he already knew -- he just said, 'Harry's gone after him,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "hasn't he?' and hurtled off to the third floor.` `D'you think","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he meant you to do it?` said Ron. `Sending you your father's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "cloak and everything?` `Well, ` Hermione exploded, `if he did --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "I mean to say that's terrible -- you could have been killed.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `No, it isn't,` said Harry thoughtfully. `He's a funny man, Dumbledore.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "had the right to face Voldemort if I could....` `Yeah, Dumbledore's","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "off his rocker, all right,` said Ron proudly. `Listen, you've got to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and Slytherin won, of course -- you missed the last Quidditch match,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you -- but the food'll be","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "good.` At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over. `You've had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT` she said firmly. After a good","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "night's sleep, Harry felt nearly back to normal. I want to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "go to the feast,` he told Madam Pomfrey as she straightened his","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "many candy boxes. I can, can't I?` `Professor Dumbledore says you","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "are to be allowed to go,` she said stiffily, as though in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "her opinion Professor Dumbledore didn't realize how risky feasts could be. `And","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "you have another visitor.` `Oh, good,` said Harry. `Who is it?`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke. As usual when","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he was indoors, Hagrid looked too big to be allowed. He sat","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "down next to Harry, took one look at him, and burst into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "tears. `It's -- all -- my -- ruddy -- fault!` he","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "sobbed, his face in his hands. I told the evil git how","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only thing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he didn't know, an' I told him! Yeh could've died! All fer a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "made ter live as a Muggle!` `Hagrid!` said Harry, shocked to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "see Hagrid shaking with grief and remorse, great tears leaking down into","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "his beard. `Hagrid, he'd have found out somehow, this is Voldemort we're","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "talking about, he'd have found out even if you hadn't told him.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `Yeh could've died!` sobbed Hagrid. `An' don' say the name!` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`VOLDEMORT!` Harry bellowed, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stopped crying. `I've","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "met him and I'm calling him by his name. Please cheer up,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Hagrid, we saved the Stone, it's gone, he can't use it. Have","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "a Chocolate Frog, I've got loads....` Hagrid wiped his nose on","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the back of his hand and said, `That reminds me. I've got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "yeh a present.` `It's not a stoat sandwich, is it?` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry anxiously, and at last Hagrid gave a weak chuckle. `Nah. Dumbledore","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "gave me the day off yesterday ter fix it. 'Course, he shoulda","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "sacked me instead -- anyway, got yeh this...` It seemed to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "be a handsome, leather-covered book. Harry opened it curiously. It was full","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "of wizard photographs. Smiling and waving at him from every page were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "his mother and father. `Sent owls off ter all yer parents'","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "old school friends, askin' fer photos... knew yeh didn' have any... d'yeh","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "like it?` Harry couldn't speak, but Hagrid understood. Harry made","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "his way down to the end-of-year feast alone that night. He had","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "been held up by Madam Pomfrey's fussing about, insisting on giving him","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "one last checkup, so the Great Hall was already full. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "decked out in the Slytherin colors of green and silver to celebrate","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Slytherin's winning the house cup for the seventh year in a row.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "A huge banner showing the Slytherin serpent covered the wall behind the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "High Table. When Harry walked in there was a sudden hush,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and then everybody started talking loudly at once. He slipped into a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "seat between Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table and tried to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "ignore the fact that people were standing up to look at him.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Fortunately, Dumbledore arrived moments later. The babble died away. `Another","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "year gone!` Dumbledore said cheerfully. `And I must trouble you with an","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to get them nice and empty before next year starts.... `Now,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy- two.` A","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "could see Draco Malfoy banging his goblet on the table. It was","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "a sickening sight. `Yes, Yes, well done, Slytherin,` said Dumbledore. `However,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "recent events must be taken into account.` The room went very","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "still. The Slytherins' smiles faded a little. `Ahem,` said Dumbledore. `I","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `First -- to Mr. Ronald Weasley...` Ron went purple in","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the face; he looked like a radish with a bad sunburn. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`...for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "I award Gryffindor house fifty points.` Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver. Percy could be heard","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "telling the other prefects, `My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "past McGonagall's giant chess set!` At last there was silence again.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `Second -- to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Hermione buried her face in her arms; Harry strongly suspected she","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "had burst into tears. Gryffindors up and down the table were beside","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "themselves -- they were a hundred points up. `Third -- to Mr.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry Potter...` said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet for pure nerve","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points.` The din","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was deafening. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two points -- exactly the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "same as Slytherin. They had tied for the house cup -- if","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "only Dumbledore had given Harry just one more point. Dumbledore raised","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "his hand. The room gradually fell silent. `There are all kinds","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "of courage,` said Dumbledore, smiling. `It takes a great deal of bravery","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom.`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "erupted from the Gryffindor table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up to","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "yell and cheer as Neville, white with shock, disappeared under a pile","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "of people hugging him. He had never won so much as a","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "point for Gryffindor before. Harry, still cheering, nudged Ron in the ribs","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and pointed at Malfoy, who couldn't have looked more stunned and horrified","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "if he'd just had the Body-Bind Curse put on him. `Which","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "means, Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, for even Ravenclaw and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Hufflepuff were celebrating the downfall of Slytherin, `we need a little change","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "of decoration.` He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place. Snape was shaking","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Professor McGonagall's hand, with a horrible, forced smile. He caught Harry's eye","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and Harry knew at once that Snape's feelings toward him hadn't changed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "one jot. This didn't worry Harry. It seemed as though life would","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "be back to normal next year, or as normal as it ever","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "was at Hogwarts. It was the best evening of Harry's life,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "better than winning at Quidditch, or Christmas, or knocking out mountain trolls...","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he would never, ever forget tonight. Harry had almost forgotten that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the exam results were still to come, but come they did. To","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "their great surprise, both he and Ron passed with good marks; Hermione,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "of course, had the best grades of the first years. Even Neville","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "scraped through, his good Herbology mark making up for his abysmal Potions","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "one. They had hoped that Goyle, who was almost as stupid as","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "he was mean, might be thrown out, but he had passed, too.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "It was a shame, but as Ron said, you couldn't have everything","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "in life. And suddenly, their wardrobes were empty, their trunks were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "packed, Neville's toad was found lurking in a corner of the toilets;","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "notes were handed out to all students, warning them not to use","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "magic over the holidays (`I always hope they'll forget to give us","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "these,` said Fred Weasley sadly); Hagrid was there to take them down","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake; they were","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "boarding the Hogwarts Express; talking and laughing as the countryside became greener","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and tidier; eating Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans as they sped past","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Muggle towns; pulling off their wizard robes and putting on jackets and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "coats; pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station. ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "It took quite a while for them all to get off the","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "them go through the gate in twos and threes so they didn't","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "attract attention by all bursting out of a solid wall at once","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "and alarming the Muggles. `You must come and stay this summer,`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "said Ron, `both of you -- I'll send you an owl.` ","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`Thanks,` said Harry, `I'll need something to look forward to.` People jostled","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "them as they moved forward toward the gateway back to the Muggle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "world. Some of them called: `Bye, Harry!` `See you, Potter!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `Still famous,` said Ron, grinning at him. `Not where I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "going, I promise you,` said Harry. He, Ron, and Hermione passed","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "through the gateway together. `There he is, Mom, there he is, look!`","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " It was Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, but she wasn't pointing","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "at Ron. `Harry Potter!` she squealed. `Look, Mom! I can see","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" " `Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point.` Mrs. Weasley","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "smiled down at them. `Busy year?` she said. `Very,` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry. `Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. Weasley.` `Oh,","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "it was nothing, dear.` `Ready, are you?` It was Uncle","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Vernon, still purple-faced, still mustached, still looking furious at the nerve of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Harry, carrying an owl in a cage in a station full of","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "ordinary people. Behind him stood Aunt Petunia and Dudley, looking terrified at","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "the very sight of Harry. `You must be Harry's family!` said","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "Mrs. Weasley. `In a manner of speaking,` said Uncle Vernon. `Hurry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "up, boy, we haven't got all day.` He walked away. Harry","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "hung back for a last word with Ron and Hermione. `See","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "you over the summer, then.` `Hope you have -- er --","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "a good holiday,` said Hermione, looking uncertainly after Uncle Vernon, shocked that","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "anyone could be so unpleasant. `Oh, I will,` said Harry, and","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "they were surprised at the grin that was spreading over his face.","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "`They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer....` THE END","Book 1: Philosopher's Stone","chap-17" "THE WORST BIRTHDAY Not for the first time, an argument had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive. Mr. Vernon Dursley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "had been woken in the early hours of the morning by a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "loud, hooting noise from his nephew Harry's room. `Third time this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "week!` he roared across the table. `If you can't control that owl,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "it'll have to go!` Harry tried, yet again, to explain. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "`She's bored,` he said. `She's used to flying around outside. If I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "could just let her out at night -` `Do I look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "stupid?` snarled Uncle Vernon, a bit of fried egg dangling from his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "bushy mustache. `I know what'll happen if that owl's let out.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "He exchanged dark looks with his wife, Petunia. Harry tried to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "argue back but his words were drowned by a long, loud belch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "from the Dursleys' son, Dudley. 1 `I want more bacon.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " `There's more in the frying pan, sweetums,` said Aunt Petunia, turning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "misty eyes on her massive son. `We must build you up while","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "we've got the chance .... I don't like the sound of that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "school food ......` `Nonsense, Petunia, I never went hungry when I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "was at Smeltings,` said Uncle Vernon heartily. `Dudley gets enough, don't you,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "son?` Dudley, who was so large his bottom drooped over either","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "side of the kitchen chair, grinned and turned to Harry. `Pass","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the frying pan.` `You've forgotten the magic word,` said Harry irritably.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " The effect of this simple sentence on the rest of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "family was incredible: Dudley gasped and fell off his chair with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "crash that shook the whole kitchen; Mrs. Dursley gave a small scream","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and clapped her hands to her mouth; Mr. Dursley jumped to his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "feet, veins throbbing in his temples. `I meant `please'!` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "quickly. `I didn't mean -` `WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU,` thundered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "his uncle, spraying spit over the table, `ABOUT SAYING THE `M' WORD","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "IN OUR HOUSE?` `But I -` `HOW DARE YOU THREATEN","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "DUDLEY!` roared Uncle Vernon, pounding the table with his fist. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "just -` `I WARNED YOU! I WILL NOT TOLERATE MENTION OF","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "YOUR ABNORMALITY UNDER THIS ROOF!` Harry stared from his purple-faced uncle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "to his pale aunt, who was trying to heave Dudley to his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "feet. `All right,` said Harry, `all right. . . ` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " Uncle Vernon sat back down, breathing like a winded rhinoceros and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "watching Harry closely out of the corners of his small, sharp eyes.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " Ever since Harry had come home for the summer holidays, Uncle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Vernon had been treating him like a bomb that might go off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "at any moment, because Harry Potter wasn't a normal boy. As a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "matter of fact, he was as not normal as it is possible","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "to be. Harry Potter was a wizard - a wizard fresh","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "from his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "if the Dursleys were unhappy to have him back for the holidays,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "it was nothing to how Harry felt. He missed Hogwarts so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "much it was like having a constant stomachache. He missed the castle,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "with its secret passageways and ghosts, his classes (though perhaps not Snape,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the Potions master), the mail arriving by owl, eating banquets in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Great Hall, sleeping in his four-poster bed in the tower dormitory, visiting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the gamekeeper, Hagrid, in his cabin next to the Forbidden Forest in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the grounds, and, especially, Quidditch, the most popular sport in the wizarding","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "world (six tall goal posts, four flying balls, and fourteen players on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "broomsticks). All Harry's spellbooks, his wand, robes, cauldron, and top-of-the-line Nimbus","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Two Thousand broomstick had been locked in a cupboard under the stairs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "by Uncle Vernon the instant Harry had come home. What did the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Dursleys care if Harry lost his place on the House Quidditch team","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "because he hadn't practiced all summer? What was it to the Dursleys","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "if Harry went back to school without any of his homework done?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "The Dursleys were what wizards called Muggles (not a drop of magical","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "blood in their veins), and as far as they were concerned,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "having a wizard in the family was a matter of deepest shame.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Uncle Vernon had even padlocked Harry's owl, Hedwig, inside her cage, to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "stop her from carrying messages to anyone in the wizarding world. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Harry looked nothing like the rest of the family. Uncle Vernon was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "large and neckless, with an enormous black mustache; Aunt Petunia was horse-faced","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and bony; Dudley was blond, pink, and porky. Harry, on the other","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "hand, was small and skinny, with brilliant green eyes and jet-black hair","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "that was always untidy. He wore round glasses, and on his forehead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "was a thin, lightning-shaped scar. It was this scar that made","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Harry so particularly unusual, even for a wizard. This scar was the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "only hint of Harry's very mysterious past, of the reason he had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "been left on the Dursleys' doorstep eleven years before. At the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "age of one year old, Harry had somehow survived a curse from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the greatest Dark sorcerer of all time, Lord Voldemort, whose name most","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "witches and wizards still feared to speak. Harry's parents had died in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Voldemort's attack, but Harry had escaped with his lightning scar, and somehow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "- nobody understood why Voldemort's powers had been destroyed the instant he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "had failed to kill Harry. So Harry had been brought up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "by his dead mother's sister and her husband. He had spent ten","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "years with the Dursleys, never understanding why he kept making odd things","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "happen without meaning to, believing the Dursleys' story that he had got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "his scar in the car crash that had killed his parents. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "And then, exactly a year ago, Hogwarts had written to Harry, ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and the whole story had come out. Harry had taken up his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "place at wizard school, where he and his scar were famous ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "but now the school year was over, and he was back with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the Dursleys for the summer, back to being treated like a dog","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "that had rolled in something smelly. The Dursleys hadn't even remembered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "that today happened to be Harry's twelfth birthday. Of course, his hopes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "hadn't been high; they'd never given him a real present, let alone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "a cake - but to ignore it completely ... At that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "moment, Uncle Vernon cleared his throat importantly and said, `Now, as we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "all know, today is a very important day.` Harry looked up,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "hardly daring to believe it. `This could well be the day","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "I make the biggest deal of my career, ` said Uncle Vernon.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " Harry went back to his toast. Of course, he thought bitterly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Un cle Vernon was talking about the stupid dinner party. He'd been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "talk ing of nothing else for two weeks. Some rich builder and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "his wife were coming to dinner and Uncle Vernon was hoping to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "get a huge order from him (Uncle Vernon's company made drills). ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "`I think we should run through the schedule one more time,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Uncle Vernon. `We should all be in position at eight o'clock. Petunia,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "you will be -?` `In the lounge,` said Aunt Petunia promptly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "`waiting to welcome them graciously to our home.` `Good, good. And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Dudley?` `I'll be waiting to open the door.` Dudley put on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "a foul, simpering smile. `May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Mason?` `They'll love him!` cried Aunt Petunia rapturously. `Excellent, Dudley,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "said Uncle Vernon. Then he rounded on Harry. `And you?` `I'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I'm not there,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "said Harry tonelessly. `Exactly,` said Uncle Vernon nastily. `I will lead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "them into the lounge, introduce you, Petunia, and pour them -drinks. At","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "eight- fifteen -` `I'll announce dinner,` said Aunt Petunia. `And,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Dudley, you'll say -` `May I take you through to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "dining room, Mrs. Mason?` said Dudley, offering his fat arm to an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "invisible woman. `My perfect little gentleman!` sniffed Aunt Petunia. `And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "you?` said Uncle Vernon viciously to Harry. `I'll be in my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "room, making no noise and pretending I'm not there,` said Harry dully.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " `Precisely. Now, we should aim to get in a few good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "compliments at dinner. Petunia, any ideas?` `Vernon tells me you're a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "wonderful golfer, Mr. Mason.... Do tell me where you bought your dress,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Mrs. Mason ...... `Perfect. . . Dudley?` `How about -'We","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "had to write an essay about our hero at school, Mr. Mason,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and I wrote about you.`' This was too much for both","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Aunt Petunia and Harry. Aunt Petunia burst into tears and hugged her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "son, while Harry ducked under the table so they wouldn't see him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "laughing. `And you, boy?` Harry fought to keep his face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "straight as he emerged. `I'll be in my room, making no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "noise and pretending I'm not there,` he said. `Too right, you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "will,` said Uncle Vernon forcefully. `The Ma sons don't know anything about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "you and it's going to stay that way. When dinner's over, you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "take Mrs. Mason back to the lounge for coffee, Petunia, and I'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "bring the subject around to drills. With any luck, I'll have the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "deal signed and sealed before the news at ten. be shopping for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "a vacation home in Majorca this time to morrow. Harry couldn't feel","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "too excited about this. He didn't think the Dursleys would like him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "any better in Majorca than they did on Privet Drive. `Right -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "I'm off into town to pick up the dinner jackets for Dudley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and me. And you,` he snarled at Harry. `You stay out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "your aunt's way while she's cleaning.` Harry left through the back door.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "It was a brilliant, sunny day. He crossed the lawn, slumped down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "on the garden bench, and sang under his breath: `Happy birthday to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "me ... happy birthday to me. . . No cards, no presents,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and he would be spending the evening pretending not to exist. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "gazed miserably into the hedge. He had never felt so lonely. More","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "than anything else at Hogwarts, more even than playing Quidditch, Harry missed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They, however, didn't seem","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "to be missing him at all. Neither of them had written to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "him all summer, even though Ron had said he was going to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "ask Harry to come and stay. Countless times, Harry had been on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the point of unlocking Hedwig's cage by magic and sending her to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Ron and Hermione with a letter, but it wasn't worth the risk.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Underage wizards weren't allowed to use magic outside of school. Harry hadn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "told the Dursleys this; he knew it was only their terror","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "that he might turn them all into dung beetles that stopped them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "from locking him in the cupboard under the stairs with his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and broomstick. For the first couple of weeks back, Harry had enjoyed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "muttering nonsense words under his breath and watching Dudley tearing out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the room as fast as his fat legs would carry him. But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the long silence from Ron and Hermione had made Harry feel so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "cut off from the magical world that even taunting Dudley had lost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "its appeal - and now Ron and Hermione had forgotten his birthday.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " What wouldn't he give now for a message from Hogwarts? From","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "any witch or wizard? He'd almost be glad of a sight of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "his archenemy, Draco Malfoy, just to be sure it hadn't all been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "a dream .... Not that his whole year at Hogwarts had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "been fun. At the very end of last term, Harry had come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "face-to-face with none other than Lord Voldemort himself. Voldemort might be a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "ruin of his former self, but he was still terrifying, still cunning,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "still determined to regain power. Harry had slipped through Voldemort's clutches for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "a second time, but it had been a narrow escape, and even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "now, weeks later, Harry kept waking in the night, drenched in cold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "sweat, wondering where Voldemort was now, remembering his livid face, his wide,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "mad eyes Harry suddenly sat bolt upright on the garden bench.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "He had been staring absent-mindedly into the hedge - and the hedge","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "was staring back. Two enormous green eyes had appeared among the leaves.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " Harry jumped to his feet just as a jeering voice floated","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "across the lawn. `I know what day it is,` sang Dudley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "waddling toward him. The huge eyes blinked and vanished. `What?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "said Harry, not taking his eyes off the spot where they had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "been. `I know what day it is,` Dudley repeated, coming right","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "up to him. `Well done,` said Harry. `So you've finally learned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the days of the week.` `Today's your birthday,` sneered Dudley. `How","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "come you haven't got any cards? Haven't you even got friends at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "that freak place?` `Better not let your mum hear you talking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "about my school,` said Harry coolly. Dudley hitched up his trousers,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "which were slipping down his fat bottom. `Why're you staring at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "the hedge?` he said suspiciously. `I'm trying to decide what would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "be the best spell to set it on fire,` said Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Dudley stumbled backward at once, a look of panic on his fat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "face. `You c-can't - Dad told you you're not to do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "m-magic - he said he'll chuck you out of the house -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and you haven't got anywhere else to go - you haven't got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "any friends to take you -` `Jiggery pokery!` said Harry in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "a fierce voice. `Hocus pocus squiggly wiggly -` `MUUUUUUM!` howled Dudley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "tripping over his feet as he dashed back toward the house. `MUUUUM!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "He's doing you know what!` Harry paid dearly for his moment","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "of fun. As neither Dudley nor the hedge was in any","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "way hurt, Aunt Petunia knew he hadn't really done magic, but he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "still had to duck as she aimed a heavy blow at his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "head with the soapy frying pan. Then she gave him work to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "do, with the promise he wouldn't eat again until he'd finished. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "While Dudley lolled around watching and eating ice cream, Harry cleaned the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "windows, washed the car, mowed the lawn, trimmed the flowerbeds, pruned and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "watered the roses, and repainted the garden bench. The sun blazed overhead,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "burning the back of his neck. Harry knew he shouldn't have risen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "to Dudley's bait, but Dudley had said the very thing Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "been thinking himself... maybe he didn't have any friends at Hogwarts ....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " Wish they could see famous Harry Potter now, he thought savagely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "as he spread manure on the flower beds, his back aching, sweat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "running down his face. It was half past seven ,in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "evening when at last, exhausted, he heard Aunt Petunia calling him. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "`Get in here! And walk on the newspaper!` Harry moved gladly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "into the shade of the gleaming kitchen. On top of the fridge","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "stood tonight's pudding: a huge mound of whipped cream and sugared violets.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "A loin of roast pork was sizzling in the oven. `Eat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "quickly! The Masons will be here soon!` snapped Aunt Petunia, pointing to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "two slices of bread and a lump of cheese on the kitchen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "table. She was already wearing a salmon-pink cocktail dress. Harry washed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "his hands and bolted down his pitiful supper. The moment he had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "finished, Aunt Petunia whisked away his plate. `Upstairs! Hurry!` As he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "passed the door to the living room, Harry caught a glimpse of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "Uncle Vernon and Dudley in bow ties and dinner jack ets. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "had only just reached the upstairs landing when the door bell rang","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "and Uncle Vernon's furious face appeared at the foot of the stairs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "`Remember, boy - one sound -` Harry crossed to his bedroom on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "tiptoe slipped inside, closed the door, and turned to collapse on his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" "bed. The trouble was, there was already someone sitting on it. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-1" " DOBBY'S WARNING arry managed not to shout out, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "it was a close thing. The little creature on the bed had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "large, bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry knew instantly that this was what had been watching him out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of the garden hedge that morning. As they stared at each","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "other, Harry heard Dudley's voice from the hall. `May I take","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?` The creature slipped off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "the bed and bowed so low that the end of its long,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "thin nose touched the carpet. Harry noticed that it was wearing what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "looked like an old pillowcase, with rips for arm- and leg-holes. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`Er - hello,` said Harry nervously. `Harry Potter!` said the creature","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "in a high-pitched voice Harry was sure would carry down the stairs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir ... Such an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "honor it is . . . .` `Th-thank you,` said Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "edging along the wall and sinking into his desk chair, next to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Hedwig, who was asleep in her large cage. He wanted to ask,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`What are you?` but thought it would sound too rude, so instead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "he said, `Who are you?` `Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "house-elf,` said the creature. `Oh - really?` said Harry. `Er -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "I don't want to be rude or anything, but - this isn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "a great time for me to have a house-elf in my bedroom.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " Aunt Petunias high, false laugh sounded from the living room. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "elf hung his head. `Not that I'm not pleased to meet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "you,` said Harry quickly, `but, er, is there any particular reason you're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "here?` `Oh, yes, sir,` said Dobby earnestly. `Dobby has come to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "tell you, sir ... it is difficult, sir ... Dobby wonders where to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "begin . . . .` `Sit down,` said Harry politely, pointing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "at the bed. To his horror, the elf burst into tears","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "- very noisy tears. `S-sit down!` he wailed. `Never ... never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "ever. . . ` Harry thought he heard the voices downstairs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "falter. `I'm sorry,` he whispered, `I didn't mean to offend","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "you or anything -` `Offend Dobby!` choked the elf. `Dobby has","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "never been asked to sit down by a wizard - like an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "equal-` Harry, trying to say `Shh!` and look comforting at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "same time, ushered Dobby back onto the bed where he sat hiccoughing,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "looking like a large and very ugly doll. At last he managed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "to control himself, and sat with his great eyes fixed on Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "in an expression of watery adoration. `You can't have met many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "decent wizards,` said Harry, trying to cheer him up. Dobby shook","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "his head. Then, without warning, he leapt up and started banging his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "head furiously on the window, shouting, `Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!` `Don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "- what are you doing?` Harry hissed, springing up and pulling Dobby","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "back onto the bed - Hedwig had woken up with a particularly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "loud screech and was beating her wings wildly against the bars of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "her cage. `Dobby had to punish himself, sir,` said the elf,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "who had gone slightly cross-eyed. `Dobby almost spoke ill of his family,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "sir . . . .` `Your family?` `The wizard family","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Dobby serves, sir... DOBBY'S is a houseelf - bound to serve one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "house and one family forever . ..... `Do they know you're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "here?` asked Harry curiously. Dobby shuddered. `Oh, no, sir, no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "... Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "see you, sir. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "door for this. If they ever knew, sir _` `But won't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "they notice if you shut your ears in the oven door?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`Dobby doubts it, sir. Dobby is always having to punish himself for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "something, sir. They lets Dobby get on with it, sir. Sometimes they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "reminds me to do extra punishments ...... `But why don't you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "leave? Escape?` `A house-elf must be set free, sir. And the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "family will never set Dobby free ... Dobby will serve the family","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "until he dies, sir . . . .` Harry stared. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`And I thought I had it bad staying here for another four","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "weeks,` he said. `This makes the Dursleys sound almost human. Can't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "anyone help you? Can't I?` Almost at once, Harry wished he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "hadn't spoken. Dobby dissolved again into wails of gratitude. `Please,` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "whispered frantically, `please be quiet. If the Dursleys hear anything, if they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "know you're here -` `Harry Potter asks if he can help","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Dobby ... Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but of your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "goodness, Dobby never knew . ..... Harry, who was feeling distinctly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "hot in the face, said, `Whatever you've heard about my greatness is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "a load of rubbish. I'm not even top of my year at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Hogwarts; that's Hermione, she -` But he stopped quickly, because thinking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "about Hermione was painful. `I-Tarry Potter is humble and modest,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Dobby reverently, his orb- like eyes aglow. `Harry Potter speaks not of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "his triumph over He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named -` `Voldemort?` said Harry. Dobby","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "clapped his hands over his bat ears and moaned, `Ah, speak not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "the name, sir! Speak not the name!` `Sorry` said Harry quickly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`I know lots of people don't like it. My friend Ron -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " He stopped again. Thinking about Ron was painful, too. Dobby leaned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "toward Harry, his eyes wide as headlights. 'Dobby heard tell,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "said hoarsely, `that Harry Potter met the Dark Lord for a second","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "time just weeks ago ... that Harry Potter escaped Yet again. `","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " Harry nodded and Dobby's eyes suddenly shone with tears. ,Ah,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "sir,` he gasped, dabbing his face with a corner of the grubby","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " pillowcase he was wearing. `Harry Potter is valiant and bold! He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "has braved so many dangers already! But Dobby has come to protect","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry Potter, to warn him, even if he does have to shut","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "his ears in the oven door later... Harry Potter must notgo back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "to Hogwarts.` There was a silence broken only by the chink","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of knives and forks from downstairs and the distant rumble of Uncle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Vernon's voice. `W-what?` Harry stammered. `But I've got to go back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "- term starts on September first. It's all that's keeping me going.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "You don't know what it's like here. I don't belong here. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "belong in your world - at Hogwarts.` `No, no, no,` squeaked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Dobby, shaking his head so hard his ears flapped. `Harry Potter must","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "stay where he is safe. He is too great, too good, to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "lose. If Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts, he will be in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "mortal danger.` `Why?` said Harry in surprise. `There is a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year,` whispered Dobby, suddenly trembling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "all over. `Dobby has known it for months, sir. Harry Potter must","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "not put himself in peril. He is too important, sir!` `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "terrible things?` said Harry at once. `Who's plotting them?` Dobby made","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "a funny choking noise and then banged his head frantically against the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "wall. `All right!` cried Harry, grabbing the elf's arm to stop him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`You can't tell me. I understand. But why are you warning me?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "A sudden, unpleasant thought struck him. `Hang on - this hasn't got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "anything to do with Vol- - sorry - with You-Know-Who, has it?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " You could just shake or nod,` he added hastily as Dobby's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "head tilted worryingly close to the wall again. Slowly, Dobby shook","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "his head. `Not -not He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, sir =' But Dobby's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "eyes were wide and he seemed to be trying to give Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "a hint. Harry, however, was completely lost. `He hasn't got a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "brother, has he?` Dobby shook his head, his eyes wider than","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "ever. `Well then, I can't think who else would have a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "chance of making horrible things happen at Hogwarts,` said Harry. `I mean,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "there's Dumbledore, for one thing - you know who Dumbledore is, don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "you?` Dobby bowed his head. `Albus Dumbledore is the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever had. Dobby knows it, sir. Dobby has","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "heard Dumbledore's powers rival those of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named at the height of his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "strength. But, sir` - Dobby's voice dropped to an urgent whisper -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`there are powers Dumbledore doesn't ... powers no decent wizard. . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " And before Harry could stop him, Dobby bounded off the bed,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "seized Harry's desk lamp, and started beating himself around the head with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "earsplitting yelps. A sudden silence fell downstairs. Two seconds later Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "heart thudding madly, heard Uncle Vernon coming into the hall, calling, `Dudley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "must have left his television on again, the little tyke!` `Quick!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "In the closet!` hissed Harry, stuffing Dobby in, shutting the door, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "flinging himself onto the bed just as the door handle turned. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`What - the - devil - are - you - doing?` said Uncle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Vernon through gritted teeth, his face horribly close to Harry's. `You've just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "ruined the punch line of my Japanese golfer joke .... One more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "sound and you'll wish you'd never been born, boy!` He stomped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "flat-footed from the room. Shaking, Harry let Dobby out of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "closet. `See what it's like here?` he said. `See why I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "got to go back to Hogwarts? It's the only place I've got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "-well, I think I've got friends. ` `Friends who don't even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "write to Harry Potter?` said Dobby slyly. `I expect they've just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "been - wait a minute,` said Harry, frowning. `How do you know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "my friends haven't been writing to me?` Dobby shuffled his feet.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " `Harry Potter mustn't be angry with Dobby. Dobby did it for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "the best - ` `Have you been stopping my letters?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "`Dobby has them here, sir,` said the elf. Stepping nimbly out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry's reach, he pulled a thick wad of envelopes from the inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of the pillowcase he was wearing. Harry could make out Hermione's neat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "writing, Ron's untidy scrawl, and even a scribble that looked as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "it was from the Hogwarts gamekeeper, Hagrid. Dobby blinked anxiously up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "at Harry. `Harry Potter mustn't be angry... Dobby hoped ... if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry Potter thought his friends had forgotten him ... Harry Potter might","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "not want to go back to school, sir . ..... ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry wasn't listening. He made a grab for the letters, but Dobby","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "jumped out of reach. `Harry Potter will have them, sir, if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "he gives Dobby his word that he will not return to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Hogwarts. Ah, sir, this is a danger you must not face! Say","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "you won't go back, sir!` `No,` said Harry angrily. `Give me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "my friends' letters!` `Then Harry Potter leaves Dobby no choice,` said the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "elf sadly. Before Harry could move, Dobby had darted to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "bedroom door, pulled it open, and sprinted down the stairs. Mouth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "dry, stomach lurching, Harry sprang after him, trying not to make a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "sound. He jumped the last six steps, landing catlike on the hall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "carpet, looking around for Dobby. From the dining room he heard Uncle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Vernon saying, `. . . tell Petunia that very funny story about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "those American plumbers, Mr. Mason. She's been dying to hear. . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "` Harry ran up the hall into the kitchen and felt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "his stomach disappear. Aunt Petunia's masterpiece of a pudding, the mountain","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of cream and sugared violets, was floating up near the ceiling. On","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "top of a cupboard in the corner crouched Dobby. `No,` croaked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry. `Please ... they'll kill me ...... `Harry Potter must say","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "he's not going back to school -` `Dobby ... please ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " `Say it, sir -` `I can't -` Dobby gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "him a tragic look. `Then Dobby must do it, sir, for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry Potter's own good.` The pudding fell to the floor with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "a heart-stopping crash. Cream splattered the windows and walls as the dish","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "shattered. With a crack like a whip, Dobby vanished. There were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "screams from the dining room and Uncle Vernon burst into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "kitchen to find Harry, rigid with shock, covered from head to foot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "in Aunt Petunias pudding. At first, it looked as though Uncle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Vernon would manage to gloss the whole thing over. (`Just our nephew","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "- very disturbed meeting strangers upsets him, so we kept him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "upstairs ) He shooed the shocked Masons back into the dining","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "room, promised Harry he would flay him to within an inch of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "his life when the Ma sons had left, and handed him a mop.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia dug some ice cream out of the freezer and Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "still shaking, started scrubbing the kitchen clean. Uncle Vernon might still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "have been able to make his deal - if it hadn't been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "for the owl. Aunt Petunia was just passing around a box","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of after-dinner mints when a huge barn owl swooped through the dining","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "room window, dropped a letter on Mrs. Mason's head, and swooped out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "again. Mrs. Mason screamed like a banshee and ran from the house","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "shouting about lunatics. Mr. Mason stayed just long enough to tell the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Dursleys that his wife was mortally afraid of birds of all shapes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "and sizes, and to ask whether this was their idea of a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "joke. Harry stood in the kitchen, clutching the mop for support,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "as Uncle Vernon advanced on him, a demonic glint in his tiny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "eyes. `Read it!` he hissed evilly, brandishing the letter the owl","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "had delivered. `Go on - read it!` Harry took it.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "It did not contain birthday greetings. Dear Mr. Potter, We","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "have received intelligence that a Hover Charm was used at your place","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of residence this evening at twelve minutes past nine. As you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "know, underage wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "further spellwork on your part may lead to expulsion from said school","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "(Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C). ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "We would also ask you to remember that any magical activity that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Secrecy. Enjoy your holidays! Yours sincerely, Mafalda Hopkirk IMPROPER","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "USE OF MAGIC OFFICE Ministry of Magic Harry looked up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "from the letter and gulped. `You didn't tell us you weren't allowed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "to use magic outside school,` said Uncle Vernon, a mad gleam dancing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "in his eyes. `For got to mention it .... Slipped your mind,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "I daresay ..... He was bearing down on Harry like a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "great bulldog, all his teeth bared. `Well, I've got news for you,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "boy . ... I'm locking you up .... You're never going back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "to that school ... never ... and if you try and magic","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "yourself out - they'll expel you!` And laughing like a maniac,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "he dragged Harry back upstairs. Uncle Vernon was as bad as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "his word. The following morning, he paid a man to fit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "bars on Harry's window. He himself fitted a cat- flap in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "bedroom door, so that small amounts of food could be pushed inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "three times a day. They let Harry out to use the bathroom","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "morning and evening. Otherwise, he was locked in his room around the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "clock. Three days later, the Dursleys were showing no sign of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "relenting, and Harry couldn't see any way out of his situation. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "lay on his bed watching the sun sinking behind the bars on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "the window and wondered miserably what was going to happen to him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " What was the good of magicking himself out of his room","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "if Hogwarts would expel him for doing it? Yet life at Privet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Drive had reached an all-time low. Now that the Dursleys knew they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "weren't going to wake up as fruit bats, he had lost his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "only weapon. Dobby might have saved Harry from horrible happenings at Hogwarts,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "but the way things were going, he'd probably starve to death anyway.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " The cat-flap rattled and Aunt Petunias hand appeared, pushing a bowl","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of canned soup into the room. Harry, whose insides were aching with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "hunger, jumped off his bed and seized it. The soup was stone-cold, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "he drank half of it in one gulp. Then he crossed the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "room to Hedwig's cage and tipped the soggy vegetables at the bottom","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "of the bowl into her empty food tray. She ruffled her feathers","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "and gave him a look of deep disgust. `It's no good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "turning your beak up at it - that's all we've got,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "Harry grimly. He put the empty bowl back on the floor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "next to the cat-flap and lay back down on the bed, somehow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "even hungrier than he had been before the soup. Supposing he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "was still alive in another four weeks, what would happen if he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "didn't turn up at Hogwarts? Would someone be sent to see why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "he hadn't come back? Would they be able to make the Dursleys","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "let him go? The room was growing dark. Exhausted, stomach rumbling,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "mind spinning over the same unanswerable questions, Harry fell into an uneasy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "sleep. He dreamed that he was on show in a zoo,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "with a card reading UNDERAGE WIZARD attached to his cage. People goggled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "through the bars at him as he lay, starving and weak, on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "a bed of straw. He saw Dobby's face in the crowd and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "shouted out, asking for help, but Dobby called, `Harry Potter is safe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "there, sir!` and vanished. Then the Dursleys appeared and Dudley rattled the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "bars of the cage, laughing at him. `Stop it,` Harry muttered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "as the rattling pounded in his sore head. `Leave me alone ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "cut it out ... I'm trying to sleep . . . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" " He opened his eyes. Moonlight was shining through the bars on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "the window. And someone was goggling through the bars at him: a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "freckle- faced, red-haired, long-nosed someone. Ron Weasley was outside Harry's window. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-2" "THE BURROW Ron.l` breathed Harry, creeping to the window and pushing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "it up so they could talk through the bars. `Ron, how did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "you - What the -?` Harry's mouth fell open as the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "full impact of what he was seeing hit him. Ron was leaning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "out of the back window of an old turquoise car, which was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "parked in midair Grinning at Harry from the front seats were Fred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and George, Ron's elder twin brothers. `All right, Harry?` asked George.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `What's been going on?` said Ron. `Why haven't you been answering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "my letters? I've asked you to stay about twelve times, and then","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Dad came home and said you'd got an official warning for using","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "magic in front of Muggles -` `It wasn't me - and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "how did he know?` `He works for the Ministry,` said Ron.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`You know we're not supposed to do spells outside school -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`You should talk,` said Harry, staring at the floating car. `Oh,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "this doesn't count,` said Ron. `We're only borrowing this. It's Dad's, we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "didn't enchant it. But doing magic in front of those Muggles you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "live with -` `I told you, I didn't - but it'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "take too long to explain now look, can you tell them at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Hogwarts that the Dursleys have locked me up and won't let me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "come back, and obviously I can't magic myself out, because the Ministry'Il","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "think that's the second spell I've done in three days, so -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `Stop gibbering,` said Ron. `We've come to take you home with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "us.` `But you can't magic me out either -` `We","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "don't need to,` said Ron, jerking his head toward the front seat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and grinning. `You forget who I've got with me.` `Tie that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "around the bars,` said Fred, throwing the end of a rope to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Harry. `If the Dursleys wake up, I'm dead,` said Harry as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "he tied the rope tightly around a bar and Fred revved up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the car. `Don't worry,` said Fred, `and stand back.` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "moved back into the shadows next to Hedwig, who seemed to have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "realized how important this was and kept still and silent. The car","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "revved louder and louder and suddenly, with a crunching noise, the bars","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "were pulled clean out of the window as Fred drove straight up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in the air. Harry ran back to the window to see the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "bars dangling a few feet above the ground. Panting, Ron hoisted them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "up into the car. Harry listened anxiously, but there was no sound","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "from the Dursleys' bedroom. When the bars were safely in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "back seat with Ron, Fred reversed as close as possible to Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "window. `Get in,` Ron said. `But all my Hogwarts stuff","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "- my wand - my broomstick -` `Where is it?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `Locked in the cupboard under the stairs, and I can't get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "out of this room -` `No problem,` said George from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "front passenger seat. `Out of the way, Harry.` Fred and George","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "climbed catlike through the window into Harry's room. You had to hand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "it to them, thought Harry, as George took an ordinary hairpin from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "his pocket and started to pick the lock. `A lot of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "wizards think it's a waste of time, knowing this sort of Muggle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "trick,` said Fred, `but we feel they're skills worth learning, even if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "they are a bit slow.` There was a small click and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the door swung open. `So - we'll get your trunk -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "you grab anything you need from your room and hand it out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "to Ron,` whispered George. `Watch out for the bottom stair -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "it creaks,` Harry whispered back as the twins disappeared onto the dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "landing. Harry dashed around his room, collecting his things and passing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "them out of the window to Ron. Then he went to help","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Fred and George heave his trunk up the stairs. Harry heard Uncle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Vernon cough. At last, panting, they reached the landing, then carried the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "trunk through Harry's room to the open window. Fred climbed back into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the car to pull with Ron, and Harry and George pushed from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the bedroom side. Inch by inch, the trunk slid through the window.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " Uncle Vernon coughed again. `A bit more,` panted Fred, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was pulling from inside the car. `One good push -` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and George threw their shoulders against the trunk and it slid out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of the window into the back seat of the car. `Okay,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "let's go,` George whispered. But as Harry climbed onto the windowsill","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "there came a sudden loud screech from behind him, followed immediately by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the thunder of Uncle Vernon's voice. `THAT RUDDY OWL!` `I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "forgotten Hedwig!` Harry tore back across the room as the landing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "light clicked on - he snatched up Hedwig's cage, dashed to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "window, and passed it out to Ron. He was scrambling back onto","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the chest of drawers when Uncle Vernon hammered on the unlocked door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and it crashed open. For a split second, Uncle Vernon stood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "framed in the doorway; then he let out a bellow like an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "angry bull and dived at Harry, grabbing him by the ankle. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Ron, Fred, and George seized Harry's arms and pulled as hard as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "they could. `Petunia!` roared Uncle Vernon. `He's getting away! HE'S GETTING","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "AWAY!` But the Weasleys gave a gigantic tug and Harry's leg","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "slid out of Uncle Vernon's grasp - Harry was in the car","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "- he'd slammed the door shut `Put your foot down, Fred!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "yelled Ron, and the car shot suddenly toward the moon. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "couldn't believe it - he was free. He rolled down the ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "window, the night air whipping his hair, and looked back at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "shrinking rooftops of Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "all hanging, dumbstruck, out of Harry's window. `See you next summer!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Harry yelled. The Weasleys roared with laughter and Harry settled back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in his seat, grinning from ear to ear. `Let Hedwig out,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "he told Ron. `She can fly behind us. She hasn't had a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "chance to stretch her wings for ages.` George handed the hairpin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "to Ron and, a moment later, Hedwig soared joyfully out of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "window to glide alongside them like a ghost. `So - what's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the story, Harry?` said Ron impatiently. `What's been happening?` Harry told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "them all about Dobby, the warning he'd given Harry and the fiasco","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of the violet pudding. There was a long, shocked silence when he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "had finished. `Very fishy,` said Fred finally. `Definitely dodgy` agreed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "George. `So he wouldn't even tell you who's supposed to be plotting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "all this stuff?` `I don't think he could,` said Harry. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "told you, every time he got close to letting something slip, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "started banging his head against the wall.` He saw Fred and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "George look at each other. `What, you think he was lying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "to me?` said Harry. `Well,` said Fred, `put it this way","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "- house-elves have got powerful magic of their own, but they can't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "usually use it without their master's permission. I reckon old Dobby was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "sent to stop you com ing back to Hogwarts. Someone's idea","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of a joke. Can you think of anyone at school with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "grudge against you?` `Yes,` said Harry and Ron together, instantly. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Draco Malfoy,` Harry explained. `He hates me.` `Draco Malfoy?` said George,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "turning around. `Not Lucius Malfoy's son?` `Must be, it's not a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "very common name, is it?` said Harry. Y. `I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "heard Dad talking about him,` said George. `He was a big supporter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of You-Know-Who.` `And when You-Know-Who disappeared,` said Fred, craning around to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "look at Harry, `Lucius Malfoy came back saying he'd never meant any","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of it. Load of dung - Dad reckons he was right in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "You- Know-Who's inner circle.` Harry had heard these rumors about Malfoy's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "family before, and they didn't surprise him at all. Malfoy made Dudley Dursley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "look like a kind, thoughtful, and sensitive boy. `I don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "know whether the Malfoys own a house-elf said Harry. `Well,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "whoever owns him will be an old wizarding family, and they'll be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "rich,` said Fred. `Yeah, Mum's always wishing we had a house-elf","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "to do the ironing,` said George. `But all we've got is a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "lousy old ghoul in the attic and gnomes all over the garden.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "House-elves come with big old manors and castles and places like that;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "you wouldn't catch one in our house . . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Harry was silent. Judging by the fact that Draco Malfoy usually had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the best of everything, his family was rolling in wizard gold; he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " could just see Malfoy strutting around a large manor house. Sending","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the family servant to stop Harry from going back to Hogwarts also","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "sounded exactly like the sort of thing Malfoy would do. Had Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "been stupid to take Dobby seriously? `I'm glad we came to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "get you, anyway,` said Ron. `I was getting really worried when you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "didn't answer any of my letters. I thought it was Errol's fault","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "at first -` `Who's Errol?` `Our owl. He's ancient.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "It wouldn't be the first time he'd collapsed on a delivery. So","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "then I tried to borrow Hermes -` `Who?` `The owl","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Mum and Dad bought Percy when he was made prefect,` said Fred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "from the front. `But Percy wouldn't lend him to me,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Ron. `Said he needed him.` `Percy's been acting very oddly this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "summer,` said George, frowning. `And he has been sending a lot of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "letters and spending a load of time shut up in his room","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" ".... I mean, there's only so many times you can polish a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "prefect badge .... You're driving too far west, Fred,` he added, pointing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "at a compass on the dashboard. Fred twiddled the steering wheel. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`So, does your dad know you've got the car?` said Harry, guessing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the answer. `Er, no,` said Ron, `he had to work tonight.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Hopefully we'll be able to get it back in the garage without","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Mum noticing we flew it.` `What does your dad do at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the Ministry of Magic, anyway?` `He works in the most boring","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "department,` said Ron. `The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office.` `The what?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `It's all to do with bewitching things that are Muggle-made, you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "know, in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "house. Like, last year, some old witch died and her tea set","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was sold to an antiques shop. This Muggle woman bought it, took","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "it home, and tried to serve her friends tea in it. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was a nightmare - Dad was working overtime for weeks.` `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "happened?` `The teapot went berserk and squirted boiling tea all over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the place and one man ended up in the hospital with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "sugar tongs clamped to his nose. Dad was going frantic - it's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "only him and an old warlock called Perkins in the office -and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "they had to do Memory Charms and all sorts of stuff to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "cover it up -` `But your dad - this car -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " Fred laughed. `Yeah, Dad's crazy about everything to do with Muggles;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "our shed's full of Muggle stuff. He takes it apart, puts spells","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "on it, and puts it back together again. If he raided our","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "house he'd have to put himself under arrest. It drives Mum mad.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `That's the main road,` said George, peering down through the windshield.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`We'll be there in ten minutes .... Just as well, it's getting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "light . . . .` A faint pinkish glow was visible","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "along the horizon to the east. Fred brought the car lower,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and Harry saw a dark patchwork of fields and clumps of trees.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `We're a little way outside the village,` said George. `Ottery St.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Catchpole.` Lower and lower went the flying car. The edge of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "a brilliant red sun was now gleaming through the trees. `Touchdown!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Fred as, with a slight bump, they hit the ground. They had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "landed next to a tumbledown garage in a small yard, and Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "looked out for the first time at Ron's house. It looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "as though it had once been a large stone pigpen, but extra","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "rooms had been added here and there until it was several stories","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "high and so crooked it looked as though it were held up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "by magic (which, Harry reminded himself, it probably was). Four or five","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "chimneys were perched on top of the red roof. A lopsided sign","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "stuck in the ground near the entrance read, THE BuRRow. Around the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "front door lay a jumble of rubber boots and a very rusty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "cauldron. Several fat brown chickens were pecking their way around the yard.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `It's not much,` said Ron. `It's wonderful,` said Harry happily,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "thinking of Privet Drive. They got out of the car. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Now, we'll go upstairs really quietly,` said Fred, `and wait for Mum","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "to call us for breakfast Then, Ron, you come bounding downstairs going,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Mum, look who turned up in the night!' and she'll be all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "pleased to see Harry and no one need ever know we flew","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the car.` `Right,` said Ron. `Come on, Harry, I sleep at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the - at the top Ron had gone a nasty greenish","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "color, his eyes fixed on the house. The other three wheeled around.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " Mrs. Weasley was marching across the yard, scattering chickens, and for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "a short, plump, kind-faced woman, it was remarkable how much she looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "like a saber-toothed tiger. `Ah, `said Fred. `Oh, dear,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "George. Mrs. Weasley came to a halt in front of them,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "her hands on her hips, staring from one guilty face to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "next. She was wearing a flowered apron with a wand sticking out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of the pocket. `So, `she said. `Morning, Mum,` said George,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in what he clearly thought was a jaunty, winning voice. `Have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "you any idea how worried I've been?` said Mrs. Weasley in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "deadly whisper. `Sorry, Mum, but see, we had to -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "All three of Mrs. Weasley's sons were taller than she was, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "they cowered as her rage broke over them. `Beds empty! No","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "note! Cargone - could have crashed - out of my mind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "with worry - did you care? - never, as long as I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "lived - you wait until your father gets home, we never had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy -` `Perfect","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Percy,` muttered Fred. `YOU COULD DO WITH TAKING A LEAF OUT","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "OF PERCY'S BOOK!` yelled Mrs. Weasley, prodding a finger in Fred's chest.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`You could have died, you could have been seen, you could have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "lost your father his job -` It seemed to go on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "for hours. Mrs. Weasley had shouted herself hoarse before she turned on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Harry, who backed away. `I'm very pleased to see you, Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "dear,` she said. `Come in and have some breakfast.` She turned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and walked back into the house and Harry, after a nervous glance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "at Ron, who nodded encouragingly, followed her. The kitchen was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "small and rather cramped. There was a scrubbed wooden table and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "chairs in the middle, and Harry sat down on the edge of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "his seat, looking around. He had never been in a wizard house","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "before. The clock on the wall opposite him had only one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "hand and no numbers at all. Written around the edge were things","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "like Time to make tea, Time to feed the chickens, and You're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "late. Books were stacked three deep on the mantelpiece, books with titles","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "like Charm Your Own Cheese, Enchantment in Baking, and One Minute Feasts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "- It's Magic! And unless Harry's ears were deceiving him, the old","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "radio next to the sink had just announced that coming up was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Witching Hour, with the popular singing sorceress, Celestina Warbeck.` Mrs. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was clattering around, cooking breakfast a little haphazardly, throwing dirty looks at her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "sons as she threw sausages into the frying pan. Every now and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "then she muttered things like `don't know what you were thinking of,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and `never would have believed it.` `I don't blame you, dear,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "she assured Harry, tipping eight or nine sausages onto his plate. `Arthur","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and I have been worried about you, too. Just last night we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "were saying we'd come and get you ourselves if you hadn't written","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "back to Ron by Friday. But really,` (she was now adding three","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "fried eggs to his plate) `flying an illegal car halfway across the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "country - anyone could have seen you -` She flicked her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "wand casually at the dishes in the sink, which began to clean","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "themselves, clinking gently in the background. `It was cloudy, Mum!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Fred. `You keep your mouth closed while you're eating!` Mrs. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "snapped. `They were starving him, Mum!` said George. `And you!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "said Mrs. Weasley, but it was with a slightly softened expression that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "she started cutting Harry bread and buttering it for him. At","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "that moment there was a diversion in the form of a small,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "redheaded figure in a long nightdress, who appeared in the kitchen, gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "a small squeal, and ran out again. `Ginny,` said Ron in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "an undertone to Harry. `My sister. She's been talking about you all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "summer.` `Yeah, she'll be wanting your autograph, Harry,` Fred said with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "a grin, but he caught his mother's eye and bent his face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "over his plate without another word. Nothing more was said until all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "four plates were clean, which took a surprisingly short time. `Blimey,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "I'm tired,` yawned Fred, setting down his knife and fork at last.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`I think I'll go to bed and -` `You will not,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "snapped Mrs. Weasley. `It's your own fault you've been up all night.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "You're going to de-gnome the garden for me; they're getting completely out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of hand again -` `Oh, Mum -` `And you two,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "she said, glaring at Ron and Fred. `You can go up to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "bed, dear,` she added to Harry. `You didn't ask them to fly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "that wretched car -` But Harry, who felt wide awake, said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "quickly, `I'll help Ron. I've never seen a de-gnoming -` `That's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "very sweet of you, dear, but it's dull work,` said Mrs. Weasley.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Now, let's see what Lockhart's got to say on the subject -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " And she pulled a heavy book from the stack on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "mantelpiece. George groaned. `Mum, we know how to de-gnome a garden","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "-` Harry looked at the cover of Mrs. Weasley's book. Written","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "across it in fancy gold letters were the words Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "to Household Pests. There was a big photograph on the front of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "a very good- IOI)king wizard with wavy blond hair and bright blue","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "eyes. As always in the wizarding world, the photograph was moving; the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "wizard, who Harry supposed was Gilderoy Lockhart, kept winking cheekily up at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "them all. Mrs. Weasley beamed down at him. `Oh, he is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "marvelous,` she said. `He knows his household pests, all right, it's a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "wonderful book . . . .` `Mum fancies him,` said Fred,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in a very audible whisper. `Don't be so ridiculous, Fred,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Mrs. Weasley, her cheeks rather pink. `All right, if you think you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "know better than Lockhart, you can go and get on with it,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and woe betide you if there's a single gnome in that garden","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "when I come out to inspect it.` Yawning and grumbling, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Weasleys slouched outside with Harry behind them. The garden was large, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in Harry's eyes, exactlY what a garden should be. The Dursleys wouldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "have liked it - there were plenty of weeds, and the grass","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "needed cutting but there were gnarled trees all around the walls, plants","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Harry had never seen spilling from every flower bed, and a big","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "green pond full of frogs. `Muggles have garden gnomes, too, you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "know,` Harry told Ron they crossed the lawn. `Yeah, I've seen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "those things they think are gnomes,` said Ron, bent double with his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "head in a peony bush, `like fat little Santa Clauses with fishing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "rods . . . .` There was a violent scuffling noise,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the peony bush shuddered, and Ron straightened up. `This is a gnome,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "he said grimly. `Gerroff me! Gerroff me!` squealed the gnome. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "It was certainly nothing like Santa Claus. It was small and leathery","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "looking, with a large, knobby, bald head exactly like a potato. Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "held it at arm's length as it kicked out at him with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "its horny little feet; he grasped it around the ankles and turned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "it upside down. `This is what you have to do,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "said. He raised the gnome above his head (`Gerroff me!`) and started","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "to swing it in great circles like a lasso. Seeing the shocked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "look on Harry's face, Ron added, `It doesn't hurt them - you've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "just got to make them really dizzy so they can't find their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "way back to the gnomeholes.` He let go of the gnome's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "ankles: It flew twenty feet into the air and landed with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "thud in the field over the hedge. `Pitiful,` said Fred. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "bet I can get mine beyond that stump.` Harry learned quickly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "not to feel too sorry for the gnomes. He decided just to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "drop the first one he caught over the hedge, but the gnome,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "sensing weakness, sank its razor-sharp teeth into Harry's finger and he had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "a hard job shaking it off - until `Wow, Harry -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "that must've been fifty feet ...... The air was soon thick","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "with flying gnomes. `See, they're not too bright,` said George, seizing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "five or six gnomes at once. `The moment they know the de-gnoming's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "going on they storm up to have a look. You'd think they'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "have learned by now just to stay put.` Soon, the crowd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of gnomes in the field started walking away in a straggling line,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "their little shoulders hunched. `They'll be back,` said Ron as they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "watched the gnomes disappear into the hedge on the other side of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the field. `They love it here .... Dad's too soft with them;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "he thinks they're funny . . . .` Just then, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "front door slammed. `He's back!` said George. `Dad's home!` They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "hurried through the garden and back into the house. Mr. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was slumped in a kitchen chair with his glasses off and his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "eyes closed. He was a thin man, going bald, but the little","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "hair he had was as red as any of his children's. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was wearing long green robes, which were dusty and travel-worn. `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "a night,` he mumbled, groping for the teapot as they all sat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "down around him. `Nine raids. Nine! And old Mundungus Fletcher tried to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "put a hex on me when I had my back turned ......","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " Mr. Weasley took a long gulp of tea and sighed. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Find anything, Dad?` said Fred eagerly. `All I got were a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "few shrinking door keys and a biting kettle,` yawned Mr. Weasley. `There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was some pretty nasty stuff that wasn't my department, though. Mortlake was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "taken away for questioning about some extremely odd ferrets, but that's the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Committee on Experimental Charms, thank goodness ...... `Why would anyone bother","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "making door keys shrink?` said George. `Just Muggle-baiting,` sighed Mr. Weasley.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Sell them a key that keeps shrinking to nothing so they can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "never find it when they need it .... Of course, it's very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "hard to convict anyone because no Muggle would admit their key keeps","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "shrinking - they'll insist they just keep losing it. Bless them, they'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "go to any lengths to ignore magic, even if it's staring them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in the face .... But the things our lot have taken to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "enchanting, you wouldn't believe -` `LIKE CARS, FOR INSTANCE?` Mrs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Weasley had appeared, holding a long poker like a sword. Mr. Weasley's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "eyes jerked open. He stared guiltily at his wife. `C-cars, Molly, dear?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `Yes, Arthur, cars,` said Mrs. Weasley, her eyes flashing. `Imagine a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "wizard buying a rusty old car and telling his wife all he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "wanted to do with it was take it apart to see how","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "it worked, while really he was enchanting it to make it fly.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " Mr. Weasley blinked. `Well, dear, I think you'll find that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "he would be quite within the law to do that, even if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "- er - he maybe would have done better to, um, tell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "his wife the truth .... There's a loophole in the law, you'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "find .... As long as he wasn't intending to fly the car,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the fact that the car could fly wouldn't -` `Arthur Weasley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "you made sure there was a loophole when you wrote that law!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "shouted Mrs. Weasley. `Just so you could carry on tinkering with all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "that Muggle rubbish in your shed! And for your information, Harry arrived","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "this morning in the car you weren't intending to fly!` `Harry?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "said Mr. Weasley blankly. `Harry who?` He looked around, saw Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "and jumped. `Good lord, is it Harry Potter? Very pleased to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "meet you, Ron's told us so much about -` `Your sons","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "flew that car to Harry's house and back last night.` shouted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Mrs. Weasley. `What have you got to say about that, eh?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "`Did you really?` said Mr. Weasley eagerly. `Did it go all right?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "I - I mean,` he faltered as sparks flew from Mrs. Weasley's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "eyes, `that - that was very wrong, boys - very wrong indeed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "...... `Let's leave them to it,` Ron muttered to Harry as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Mrs. Weasley swelled like a bullfrog. `Come on, I'll show you my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "bedroom.` They slipped out of the kitchen and down a narrow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "passageway to an uneven staircase, which wound its way, zigzagging up ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "through the house. On the third landing, a door stood ajar. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "just caught sight of a pair of bright brown eyes staring at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "him before it closed with a snap. `Ginny,` said Ron. `You","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "don't know how weird it is for her to be this shy.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "She never shuts up normally -` They climbed two more flights","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "until they reached a door with peeling paint and a small plaque","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "on it, saying RONALD'S ROOM. Harry stepped in, his head almost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "touching the sloping ceiling, and blinked. It was like walking into a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "furnace: Nearly everything in Ron's room seemed to be a violent shade","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "of orange: the bedspread, the walls, even the ceiling. Then Harry realized","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "that Ron had covered nearly every inch of the shabby wallpaper with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "posters of the same seven witches and wizards, all wearing bright orange","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "robes, carrying broomsticks, and waving energetically. `Your Quidditch team?` said Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" " `The Chudley Cannons,` said Ron, pointing at the orange bedspread, which","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "was emblazoned with two giant black C's and a speeding cannonball. `Ninth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in the league.` Ron's school spellbooks were stacked untidily in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "corner, next to a pile of comics that all seemed to feature","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle. Ron's magic wand was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "lying on top of a fish tank full of frog spawn on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "the windowsill, next to his fat gray rat, Scabbers, who was snoozing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "in a patch of sun. Harry stepped over a pack of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "Self-Shuffling playing cards on the floor and looked out of the tiny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "window. In the field far below he could see a gang of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "gnomes sneaking one by one back through the Weasleys' hedge. Then he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "turned to look at Ron, who was watching him almost nervously, as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "though waiting for his opinion. `It's a bit small,` said Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "quickly. `Not like that room you had with the Muggles. And I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "right underneath the ghoul in the attic; he's always banging on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "pipes and groaning ...... But Harry, grinning widely, said, `This is the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "best house I've ever been in.` Ron's ears went pink. . ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-3" "AT FL0VRR 11 $ HAND BLOTTS ife at the Burrow was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "as different as possible from life on Privet Drive. The Dursleys liked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "everything neat and ordered; the Weasleys' house burst with the strange and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "unexpected. Harry got a shock the first time he looked in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "mirror over the kitchen mantelpiece and it shouted, `Tuck your shirt in,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "scruffy!` The ghoul in the attic howled and dropped pipes whenever he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "felt things were getting too quiet, and small explosions from Fred and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "George's bedroom were considered perfectly normal. What Harry found most unusual about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "life at Ron's, however, wasn't the talking mirror or the clanking ghoul:","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "It was the fact that everybody there seemed to like him. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Mrs. Weasley fussed over the state of his socks and tried to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "force him to eat fourth helpings at every meal. Mr. Weasley liked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Harry to sit next to him at the dinner table so that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he could bombard him with questions about life with Muggles, asking him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to explain how things like plugs and the postal service worked. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "42 `Fascinating.` he would say as Harry talked him through using","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a telephone. `Ingenious, really, how many ways Muggles have found of getting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "along without magic.` Harry heard from Hogwarts one sunny morning about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a week after he had arrived at the Burrow. He and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "went down to breakfast to find Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "already sitting at the kitchen table. The moment she saw Harry, Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the floor with a loud clatter.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Ginny seemed very prone to knocking things over whenever Harry entered a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "room. She dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and emerged","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "with her face glowing like the setting sun. Pretending he hadn't noticed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "this, Harry sat down and took the toast Mrs. Weasley offered him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `Letters from school,` said Mr. Weasley, passing Harry and Ron identical","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "envelopes of yellowish parchment, addressed in green ink. `Dumbledore already knows you're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "here, Harry - doesn't miss a trick, that man. You two've got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "them, too,` he added, as Fred and George ambled in, still in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "their pajamas. For a few minutes there was silence as they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "all read their letters. Harry's told him to catch the Hogwarts Express","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "as usual from King's Cross station on September first. There was also","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a list of the new books he'd need for the coming year.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE: The Standard Book of Spells, Grade","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "2 by Miranda Goshawk Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Lockhart Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Lockhart 4 `,3 Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart Voyages","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart Year","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart Fred, who had finished his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "own list, peered over at Harry's. `You've been told to get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "all Lockhart's books, too!` he said. `The new Defense Against the Dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Arts teacher must be a fan - bet it's a witch.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "At this point, Fred caught his mother's eye and quickly busied himself","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "with the marmalade. `That lot won't come cheap,` said George, with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a quick look at his parents. `Lockhart's books are really expensive ......","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `Well, we'll manage,` said Mrs. Weasley, but she looked worried. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "secondhand.` `Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?` Harry asked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Ginny. She nodded, blushing to the roots of her flaming hair,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "and put her elbow in the butter dish. Fortunately no one saw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "this except Harry, because just then Ron's elder brother Percy walked in.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "He was already dressed, his Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his sweater","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "vest. `Morning, all,` said Percy briskly. `Lovely day.` He sat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "down in the only remaining chair but leapt up again almost immediately,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "pulling from underneath him a moulting, gray feather duster - at least,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "that was what Harry thought it was, until he saw that it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "was breathing. * 44 `Errol!` said Ron, taking the limp","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "owl from Percy and extracting a letter from under its wing. `Finally","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "- he's got Hermione's answer. I wrote to her saying we were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "going to try and rescue you from the Dursleys.` He carried","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Errol to a perch just inside the back door and tried to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "stand him on it, but Errol flopped straight off again so Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "lay him on the draining board instead, muttering, `Pathetic.` Then he ripped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "open Hermione's letter and read it out loud: ``Dear Ron, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Harry if you're there, ``I hope everything went all right and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "that Harry is okay and that you didn't do anything illegal to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble, too.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "please let me know at once, but perhaps it would be bet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "ter if you used a different owl because I think another delivery","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "might finish your one off. `'I'm very busy with schoolwork, of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "course'- How can she be?` said Ron in horror. `We're on vacation!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "- 'and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "books. Why don't we meet in Diago n Alley? ``Let me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "know what's happening as soon as you can. Love from Hermione. `'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "your things then, too,` said Mrs. Weasley, starting to clear the table.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`What're you all up to today?` Harry, Ron, Fred, and George","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "were planning to go up the hill to a small paddock the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Weasleys owned. It was surrounded by trees that blocked it from view","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "of the village below, meaning that they could practice Quidditch there, as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "long as they didn't fly too high. * 4$ They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "couldn't use real Quidditch balls, which would have been hard to explain","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "if they had escaped and flown away over the village; instead they threw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "apples for one another to catch. They took turns riding Harry's Nimbus","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Two Thousand, which was easily the best broom; Ron's old Shooting Star","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "was often outstripped by passing butterflies. Five minutes later they were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "marching up the hill, broomsticks over their shoulders. They had asked Percy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "if he wanted to join them, but he had said he was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "busy. Harry had only seen Percy at mealtimes so far; he stayed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "shut in his room the rest of the time. `Wish I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "knew what he was up to,` said Fred, frowning. `He's not himself.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "His exam results came the day before you did; twelve O.WL.s and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he hardly gloated at all.` `Ordinary Wizarding Levels,` George explained, seeing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Harry's puzzled look. `Bill got twelve, too. If we're not careful, we'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "have another Head Boy in the family. I don't think I could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "stand the shame.` Bill was the oldest Weasley brother. He and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the next brother, Charlie, had already left Hogwarts. Harry had never met","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "either of them, but knew that Charlie was in Romania studying dragons","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "and Bill in Egypt working for the wizard's bank, Gringotts. `Dunno","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "how Mum and Dad are going to afford all our school stuff","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "this year,` said George after a while. `Five sets of Lockhart books!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "And Ginny needs robes and a wand and everything ...... Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said nothing. He felt a bit awkward. Stored in an underground vault","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "at Gringotts in London was a small fortune that his parents had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "left him. Of course, it was only in the wizarding world that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he had money; you couldn't use Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts 46","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " in Muggle shops. He had never mentioned his Gringotts bank account","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to the Dursleys; he didn't think their horror of anything connected with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "magic would stretch to a large pile of gold. Mrs. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "woke them all early the following Wednesday. After a quick half a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "dozen bacon sandwiches each, they pulled on their coats and Mrs. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "took a flowerpot off the kitchen mantelpiece and peered inside. `We're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "running low, Arthur,` she sighed. `We'll have to buy some more today...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Ah well, guests first! After you, Harry dear!` And she offered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "him the flowerpot. Harry stared at them all watching him. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`W-what am I supposed to do?` he stammered. `He's never traveled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "by Floo powder,` said Ron suddenly. `Sorry, Harry, I forgot.` `Never?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said Mr. Weasley. `But how did you get to Diagon Alley to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "buy your school things last year?` `I went on the Underground","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "-` `Really?` said Mr. Weasley eagerly. `Were there escapators? How exactly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "-` `Not now, Arthur,` said Mrs. Weasley. `Floo powder's a lot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "quicker, dear, but goodness me, if you've never used it before -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `He'll be all right, Mum,` said Fred. `Harry, watch us first.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "than Fred, who stepped right into it, shouted, `Diagon Alley!` and vanished.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " * 41 `You must speak clearly, dear,` Mrs. Weasley told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Harry as George dipped his hand into the flowerpot. `And be sure","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to get out at the right grate ...... `The right what?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said Harry nervously as the fire roared and whipped George out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "sight, too. `Well, there are an awful lot of wizard fires","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to choose from, you know, but as long as you've spoken clearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "-` `He'll be fine, Molly, don't fuss,` said Mr. Weasley, helping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "himself to Floo powder, too. `But, dear, if he got lost,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "how would we ever explain to his aunt and uncle?` `They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "wouldn't mind,` Harry reassured her. `Dudley would think it was a brilliant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "joke if I got lost up a chimney, don't worry about that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "-` `Well ... all right ... you go after Arthur,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Mrs. Weasley. `Now, when you get into the fire, say where you're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "going `And keep your elbows tucked in,` Ron advised. `And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "your eyes shut,` said Mrs. Weasley. `The soot -` `Don't fidget,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said Ron. `Or you might well fall out of the wrong fireplace","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "-` `But don't panic and get out too early; wait until","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "you see Fred and George.` Trying hard to bear all this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "in mind, Harry took a pinch of Floo powder and walked to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the edge of the fire. He took a deep breath, scattered the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "powder into the flames, and stepped forward; the fire felt like a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "warm breeze; he opened his mouth and immediately swallowed a lot of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hot ash. `D-Dia-gon Alley,` he coughed. 48 It felt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "as though he was being sucked down a giant drain. He seemed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to be spinning very fast - the roaring in his ears was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "deafening -he tried to keep his eyes open but the whirl of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "green flames made him feel sick - something hard knocked his elbow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "and he tucked it in tightly, still spinning and spinning - now","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "it felt as though cold hands were slapping his face - squinting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "through his glasses he saw a blurred stream of fireplaces and snatched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "glimpses of the rooms beyond - his bacon sandwiches were churning inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "him - he closed his eyes again wishing it would stop, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "then He fell, face forward, onto cold stone and felt the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "bridge of his glasses snap. Dizzy and bruised, covered in soot,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he got gingerly to his feet, holding his broken glasses up to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "his eyes. He was -,cite alone, but where he was, he had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "no idea. All he could tell was that he was standing in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the stone fireplace of what looked like a large, dimly lit wizard's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "shop - but nothing in here was ever likely to be on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a Hogwarts school list. A glass case nearby held a withered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hand on a cushion, a bloodstained pack of cards, and a staring glass","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "eye. Evil-looking masks stared down from the walls, an assortment of human","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "bones lay upon the counter, and rusty, spiked instruments hung from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "ceiling. Even worse, the dark, narrow street Harry could see through the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "dusty shop window was definitely not Diagon Alley. The sooner he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "got out of here, the better. Nose still stinging where it had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hit the hearth, Harry made his way swiftly and silently toward the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "door, but before he'd got halfway toward it, two people appeared on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the other side of the glass - and one of them was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the 49 very last person Harry wanted to meet when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he was lost, covered in soot, and wearing broken glasses: Draco Malfoy.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " Harry looked quickly around and spotted a large black cabinet to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "his left; he shot inside it and pulled the doors closed, leaving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a small crack to peer through. Seconds later, a bell clanged, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Malfoy stepped into the shop. The man who followed could only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "be Draco's father. He had the same pale, pointed face and identical","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "cold, gray eyes. Mr. Malfoy crossed the shop, looking lazily at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "items on display, and rang a bell on the counter before turning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to his son and saying, `Touch nothing, Draco.` Malfoy, who had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "reached for the glass eye, said, `I thought you were going to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "buy me a present.` `I said I would buy you a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "racing broom,` said his father, drumming his fingers on the counter. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`What's the good of that if I'm not on the House team?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said Malfoy, looking sulky and bad-tempered. `Harry Potter got a Nimbus Two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Thousand last year. Special permission from Dumbledore so he could play for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Gryffindor. He's not even that good, it's just because he's famous ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "famous for having a stupid scar on his forehead . . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" ".` Malfoy bent down to examine a shelf full of skulls.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `. . . everyone thinks he's so smart, wonderful Potter with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "his scar and his broomstick -` `You have told me this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "at least a dozen times already,` said Mr. Malfoy, with a quelling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "look at his son. `And I would remind you that it is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "not - prudent - to appear less than fond of Harry Potter,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "not when most of our kind regard him as the hero who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "made the Dark Lord disappear - ah, Mr. Borgin.` 50 ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "A stooping man had appeared behind the counter, smoothing his greasy hair","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "back from his face. `Mr. Malfoy, what a pleasure to see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "you again,` said Mr. Borgin in a voice as oily as his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hair. `Delighted - and young Master Malfoy, too - charmed. How may","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I be of assistance? I must show you, just in today, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "very reasonably priced -` `I'm not buying today, Mr. Borgin, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "selling,` said Mr. Malfoy. `Selling?` The smile faded slightly from Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Borgin's face. `You have heard, of course, that the Ministry is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "conducting more raids,` said Mr. Malfoy, taking a roll of parchment from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "his inside pocket and unraveling it for Mr. Borgin to read. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "have a few - ah - items at home that might embarrass","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "me, if the Ministry were to call ......` Mr. Borgin fixed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a pair of pince-nez to his nose and looked down the list.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `The Ministry wouldn't presume to trouble you, sir, surely?` Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Malfoy's lip curled. `I have not been visited yet. The name","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Malfoy still commands a certain respect, yet the Ministry grows ever more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "meddlesome. There are rumors about a new Muggle Protection Act - no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "doubt that flea- bitten, Muggle-loving fool Arthur Weasley is behind it ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Harry felt a hot surge of anger. `- and as you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "see, certain of these poisons might make it appear -` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "understand, sir, of course,` said Mr. Borgin. `Let me see. . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `Can I have that?` interrupted Draco, pointing at the withered hand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "on its cushion. 51 `Ah, the Hand of Glory!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Mr. Borgin, abandoning Mr. Malfoy's list and scurrying over to Draco. `Insert","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a candle and it gives light only to the holder! Best friend","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "of thieves and plunderers! Your son has fine taste, sir.` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hope my son will amount to more than a thief or a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "plunderer, Borgin,` said Mr. Malfoy coldly, and Mr. Borgin said quickly, `No","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "offense, sir, no offense meant -` `Though if his grades don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "pick up,` said Mr. Malfoy, more coldly still, `that may indeed be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "all he is fit for -` `It's not my fault,` retorted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Draco. `The teachers all have favorites, that Hermione Granger -` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "would have thought you'd be ashamed that a girl of no wizard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "family beat you in every exam,` snapped Mr. Malfoy. `Ha!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Harry under his breath, pleased to see Draco looking both abashed and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "angry. `It's the same all over,` said Mr. Borgin, in his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "oily voice. `Wizard blood is counting for less everywhere -` `Not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "with me,` said Mr. Malfoy, his long nostrils flaring. `No, sir,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "nor with me, sir,` said Mr. Borgin, with a deep bow. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`In that case, perhaps we can return to my list,` said Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Malfoy shortly. `I am in something of a hurry, Borgin, I have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "important business elsewhere today -` They started to haggle. Harry watched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "nervously as Draco drew nearer and nearer to his hiding place, examining","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the objects for sale. Draco paused to examine a long coil of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hangman's rope and to read, smirking, the card propped on a magnificent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "necklace of opals, Caution: Do Not Touch. Cursed - Has Claimed the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Lives of Nineteen Muggle Owners to Date. * 52 Draco","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "turned away and saw the cabinet right in front of him. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "walked forward - he stretched out his hand for the handle ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`Done,` said Mr. Malfoy at the counter. `Come, Draco -` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "wiped his forehead on his sleeve as Draco turned away. `Good day","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to you, Mr. Borgin. I'll expect you at the manor tomorrow to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "pick up the goods.` The moment the door had closed, Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Borgin dropped his oily manner. `Good day yourself, Mister Malfoy, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "if the stories are true, you haven't sold me half of what's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hidden in your manor ...... Muttering darkly, Mr. Borgin disappeared into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a back room. Harry waited for a minute in case he came","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "back, then, quietly as he could, slipped out of the cabinet, past","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the glass cases, and out of the shop door. Clutching his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "broken glasses to his face, Harry stared around. He had emerged into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a dingy alleyway that seemed to be made up entirely of shops","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "devoted to the Dark Arts. The one he'd just left, Borgin and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Burkes, looked like the largest, but opposite was a nasty window display","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "of shrunken heads and, two doors down, a large cage was alive","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "with gigantic black spiders. Two shabby-looking wizards were watching him from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "shadow of a doorway, muttering to each other. Feeling jumpy, Harry set","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "off, trying to hold his glasses on straight and hoping against hope","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he'd be able to find a way out of here. An","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "old wooden street sign hanging over a shop selling poisonous candles told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "him he was in Knockturn Alley. This didn't help, as Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "never heard of such a place. He supposed he hadn't spoken clearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "enough through his mouthful of ashes back in the Weasleys' fire.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Trying to stay calm, he wondered what to do. `Not lost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "are you, my dear?` said a voice in his ear, making him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "jump. An aged witch stood in front of him, holding a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "tray of what looked horribly like whole human fingernails. She leered at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "him, showing mossy teeth. Harry backed away. `I'm fine, thanks,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said. `I'm just -` `HARRY! What d'yeh think yer doin' down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "there?` Harry's heart leapt. So did the witch; a load of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "fingernails cascaded down over her feet and she cursed as the massive","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "form of Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, came striding toward them, beetle-black eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "flashing over his great bristling beard. `Hagrid!` Harry croaked in relief.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`I was lost - Floo powder -` Hagrid seized Harry by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the scruff of the neck and pulled him away from the witch,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "knocking the tray right out of her hands. Her shrieks followed them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "all the way along the twisting alleyway out into bright sunlight. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "saw a familiar, snow-white marble building in the distance - Gringotts Bank.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Hagrid had steered him right into Diagon Alley. `Yer a mess!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said Hagrid gruffly, brushing soot off Harry so forcefully he nearly knocked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "him into a barrel of dragon dung outside an apothecary. `Skulkin' around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Knockturn Alley, I dunno dodgy place, Harry - don' want no one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "ter see yeh down there -` `I realized that,` said Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "ducking as Hagrid made to brush him off again. `I told you,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I was lost - what were you doing down there, anyway?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "* 54 `I was lookin' fer a Flesh-Eatin' Slug Repellent,` growled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Hagrid. `They're ruinin' the school cabbages. Yer not on yer own?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`I'm staying with the Weasleys but we got separated,` Harry explained. `I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "got to go and find them . . . .` They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "set off together down the street. `How come yeh never wrote","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "back ter me?` said Hagrid as Harry jogged alongside him (he had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to take three steps to every stride of Hagrid's enormous boots). Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "explained all about Dobby and the Dursleys. `Lousy Muggles,` growled Hagrid.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`If I'd've known -` `Harry! Harry! Over here!` Harry looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "up and saw Hermione Granger standing at the top of the white","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "flight of steps to Gringotts. She ran down to meet them, her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "bushy brown hair flying behind her. `What happened to your glasses?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Hello, Hagrid - Oh, it's wonderful to see you two again -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Are you coming into Gringotts, Harry?` `As soon as I've found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the Weasleys,` said Harry. `Yeh won't have long ter wait,` Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said with a grin. Harry and Hermione looked around: Sprinting up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the crowded street were Ron, Fred, George, Percy, and Mr. Weasley. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`Harry,` Mr. Weasley panted. `We hoped you'd only gone one grate","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "too far . He mopped his glistening bald patch. `Molly's frantic","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "- she's coming now -` `Where did you come out?` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "asked. `Knockturn Alley,` said Hagrid grimly. `Excellent.` said Fred and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "George together. `We've never been allowed in,` said Ron enviously. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "*55* `I should ruddy well think not,` growled Hagrid. Mrs. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "now came galloping into view, her handbag swing ing wildly in one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other. `Oh, Harry - oh, my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "dear - you could have been any where -` Gasping for breath","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "she pulled a large clothes brush out of her bag and began","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "sweeping off the soot Hagrid hadn't managed to beat away. Mr. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "took Harry's glasses, gave them a tap of his wand, and returned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "them, good as new. `Well, gotta be off,` said Hagrid, who was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "having his hand wrung by Mrs. Weasley (`Knockturn Alley! If you hadn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "found him, Hagrid!`). `See yer at Hogwarts!` And he strode away, head","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "and shoulders taller than anyone else in the packed street. `Guess who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I saw in Borgin and Burkes?` Harry asked Ron and Hermione as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "they climbed the Gringotts steps. `Malfoy and his fa ther.` `Did Lucius","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Malfoy buy anything?` said Mr. Weasley sharply behind them. `No, he was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "selling =' `So he's worried,` said Mr. Weasley with grim satisfaction. `Oh,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something ...... `You be careful,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Arthur,` said Mrs. Weasley sharply as they were bowed into the bank","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "by a goblin at the door. `That family's trou ble. Don't go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "biting off more than you can chew -` `So you don't think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?` said Mr. Weasley indignantly, but he was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "distracted almost at once by the sight of Hermione's parents, who were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "standing nervously at the counter that ran all along the great marble","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hall, waiting for Hermione to introduce them. ,5 s `But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "you're Muggles!` said Mr. Weasley delightedly. `We must have a drink! What's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money. Molly, look!` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "pointed excitedly at the tenpound notes in Mr. Granger's hand. `Meet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "you back here,` Ron said to Hermione as the Weasleys and Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "were led off to their underground vaults by another Gringotts goblin. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "The vaults were reached by means of small, goblin-driven carts that sped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "along miniature train tracks through the bank's underground tunnels. Harry enjoyed the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "breakneck journey down to the Weasleys' vault, but felt dreadful, far worse","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "than he had in Knockturn Alley, when it was opened. There was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a very small pile of silver Sickles inside, and just one gold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Galleon. Mrs. Weasley felt right into the corners before sweeping the whole","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "lot into her bag. Harry felt even worse when they reached his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "vault. He tried to block the contents from view as he hastily","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "shoved handfuls of coins into a leather bag. Back outside on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the marble steps, they all separated. Percy muttered vaguely about needing a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "new quill. Fred and George had spotted their friend from Hogwarts, Lee","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Jordan. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were going to a secondhand robe shop.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Mr. Weasley was insisting on taking the Grangers off to the Leaky","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Cauldron for a drink. `We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "in an hour to buy your schoolbooks,` said Mrs. Weasley, setting off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "with Ginny. `And not one step down Knockturn Alley!` she shouted at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the twins' retreating backs. Harry, Ron, and Hermione strolled off along","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the winding, cobbled street. The bag of gold, silver, and bronze jangling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "cheerfully *57* in Harry's pocket was clamoring to be spent,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "so he bought three large strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice creams, which they slurped happily","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "as they wandered up the alley, examining the fascinating shop windows. Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "gazed longingly at a full set of Chudley Can non robes in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the windows of Quality Quidditch Supplies until Hermione dragged them off to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "buy ink and parchment next door. In Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Shop, they met Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, who were stocking up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "on Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks, and in a tiny junk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "shop full of bro ken wands, lopsided brass scales, and old cloaks","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "covered in potion stains they found Percy, deeply immersed in a small","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "and deeply boring book called Prefects Who Gained Power. `A study of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Hogwarts prefects and their later careers, ` Ron read aloud off the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "back cover. `That sounds fascinating . . . .` `Go away,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Percy snapped. `'Course, he's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all planned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "out .... He wants to be Minister of Magic. . . `","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Ron told Harry and Hermione in an undertone as they left Percy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "to it. An hour later, they headed for Flourish and Blotts. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "were by no means the only ones making their way to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "bookshop. As they approached it, they saw to their surprise a large","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "crowd jostling out side the doors, trying to get in. The reason","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "for this was proclaimed by a large banner stretched across the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "upper windows: GILDEROY LOCKHART will be signing copies of his autobiography","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "MAGICAL ME today 12:30 P.m. to 4:30 P.m. `We can actually","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "meet him!` Hermione squealed. `I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " The crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Mrs. Weasley's age. A harrassed-looking wizard stood at the door, saying, `Calmly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "please, ladies .... Don't push, there ... mind the books, now .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" ". . . ` Harry, Ron, and Hermione squeezed inside. A","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Lockhart was signing his books. They each grabbed a copy of The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and sneaked up the line to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "where the rest of the Weasleys were standing with Mr. and Mrs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Granger. `Oh, there you are, good,` said Mrs. Weasley. She sounded","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "breathless and kept patting her hair. `We'll be able to see him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "in a minute ...... Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "was wearing robes of forget-me-not blue that exactly matched his eyes; his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hair. A short, irritable-looking man was dancing around taking photographs with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke with every","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "blinding flash. `Out of the way, there,` he snarled at Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "moving back to get a better shot. `This is for the Daily","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Prophet -` `Big deal,` said Ron, rubbing his foot where the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "photographer had stepped on it. Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "up. He saw Ron *59* and then he saw Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "He stared. Then he leapt to his feet and positively shouted, `It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "can't be Harry Potter?` The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "forward, seized Harry's arm, and pulled him to the front. The crowd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "burst into applause. Harry's face burned as Lockhart shook his hand for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Weasleys. `Nice big smile, Harry,` said Lockhart, through his own gleaming","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "teeth. `Together, you and I are worth the front page.` When","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he finally let go of Harry's hand, Harry could hardly feel his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "fingers. He tried to sidle back over to the Weasleys, but Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "threw an arm around his shoulders and clamped him tightly to his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "side. `Ladies and gentlemen,` he said loudly, waving for quiet. `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time! `When young","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "buy my autobiography -which I shall be happy to present him now,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "free of charge-` The crowd applauded again. `He had no idea,` Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "continued, giving Harry a little shake that made his glasses slip to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the end of his nose, `that he would shortly be getting much,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "much more than my book, Magical Me. He and his schoolmates will,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!` The crowd cheered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "and clapped and Harry found himself being 60 presented with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Staggering slightly under their weight, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "managed to make his way out of the limelight to the edge","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "of the room, where Ginny was standing next to her new cauldron.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `You have these,` Harry mumbled to her, tipping the books into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the cauldron. `I'll buy my own -` `Bet you loved that,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "didn't you, Potter?` said a voice Harry had no trouble recognizing. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "straightened up and found himself face-to-face with Draco Malfoy, who was wearing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "his usual sneer. `Famous Harry Potter,` said Malfoy. `Can't even go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "into a bookshop without making the front page.` `Leave him alone,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "he didn't want all that!` said Ginny. It was the first time","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "she had spoken in front of Harry. She was glaring at Malfoy.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!` drawled Malfoy. Ginny went scarlet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "as Ron and Hermione fought their way over, both clutching stacks of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Lockhart's books. `Oh, it's you,` said Ron, looking at Malfoy as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "if he were something unpleasant on the sole of his shoe. `Bet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?` `Not as surprised as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "I am to see you in a shop, Weasley,` retorted Malfoy. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "all those.` Ron went as red as Ginny. He dropped his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "books into the cauldron, too, and started toward Malfoy, but Harry and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Hermione grabbed the back of his jacket. `Ron!` said Mr. Weasley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "struggling over with Fred and George. `What are you doing? It's too","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "crowded in here, let's go outside.` 61 `Well, well, well","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "- Arthur Weasley.` It was Mr. Malfoy. He stood with his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hand on Draco's shoulder, sneering in just the same way. `Lucius,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "said Mr. Weasley, nodding coldly. `Busy time at the Ministry, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hear,` said Mr. Malfoy. `All those raids ... I hope they're paying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "you overtime?` He reached into Ginny's cauldron and extracted, from amid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the glossy Lockhart books, a very old, very battered copy of A","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. `Obviously not,` Mr. Malfoy said. `Dear me,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "if they don't even pay you well for it?` Mr. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "flushed darker than either Ron or Ginny. `We have a very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy,` he said.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " `Clearly,` said Mr. Malfoy, his pale eyes straying to Mr. and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Mrs. Granger, who were watching apprehensively. `The company you keep, Weasley ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "and I thought your family could sink no lower =' There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "was a thud of metal as Ginny's cauldron went flying; Mr. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "had thrown himself at Mr. Malfoy, knocking him backward into a bookshelf.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Dozens of heavy spellbooks came thundering down on all their heads; there","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "was a yell of, `Get him, Dad!` from Fred or George; Mrs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Weasley was shrieking, `No, Arthur, no!`; the crowd stampeded backward, knocking more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "shelves over; `Gentlemen, please - please!` cried the assistant, and then, louder","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "than all `Break it up, there, gents, break it up -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" " 62 Hagrid was wading toward them through the sea of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "books. In an instant he had pulled Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "apart. Mr. Weasley had a cut lip and Mr. Malfoy had been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "hit in the eye by an Encyclopedia of Toadstools. He was still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "holding Ginny's old Transfiguration book. He thrust it at her, his eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "glittering with malice. `Here, girl - take your book - it's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the best your father can give you -` Pulling himself out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Hagrid's grip he beckoned to Draco and swept from the shop. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur,` said Hagrid, almost lifting Mr. Weasley off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "his feet as he straightened his robes. `Rotten ter the core, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "whole family, everyone knows that - no Malfoy's worth listenin' ter -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "bad blood, that's what it is - come on now - let's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "get outta here.` The assistant looked as though he wanted to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "stop them leaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "seemed to think better of it. They hurried up the street, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Grangers shaking with fright and Mrs. Weasley beside herself with fury. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`A fine example to set for your children . . . brawling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "in public . . . what Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "`He was pleased,` said Fred. `Didn't you hear him as we were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "leaving? He was asking that bloke from the Daily Prophet if he'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "be able to work the fight into his report - said it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "was all publicity -` But it was a subdued group that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "headed back to the fireside in the Leaky Cauldron, where Harry, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "Weasleys, and all their shopping would be traveling back to the Burrow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "using Floo powder. They said good-bye to the Grangers, who were leaving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "the pub for the Muggle street on the other side; Mr. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "started to ask 63 them how bus stops worked, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "stopped quickly at the look on Mrs. Weasley's face. Harry took","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "off his glasses and put them safely in his pocket before helping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "himself to Floo powder. It definitely wasn't his favorite way to travel. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-4" "THE WHOMPING WILLOW he end of the summer vacation came","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "too quickly for Harry's liking. He was looking forward to getting back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to Hogwarts, but his month at the Burrow had been the happiest","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of his life. It was difficult not to feel jealous of Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "when he thought of the Dursleys and the sort of welcome he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "could expect next time he turned up on Privet Drive. On","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "their last evening, Mrs. Weasley conjured up a sumptuous dinner that included","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "all of Harry's favorite things, ending with a mouthwatering treacle pudding. Fred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "and George rounded off the evening with a display of Filibuster fireworks;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "they fiIled the kitchen with red and blue stars that bounced from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "ceiling to wall for at least half an hour. Then it was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "time for a last mug of hot chocolate and bed. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "took a long while to get started next morning. They were up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "at dawn, but somehow they still seemed to have a great deal","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to do. 65 Mrs. Weasley dashed about in a bad","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "mood looking for spare socks and quills; people kept colliding on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "stairs, half-dressed with bits of toast in their hands; and Mr. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "nearly broke his neck, tripping over a stray chicken as he crossed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the yard carrying Ginny's trunk to the car. Harry couldn't see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "how eight people, six large trunks, two owls, and a rat were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "going to fit into one small Ford Anglia. He had reckoned, of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "course, without the special features that Mr. Weasley had added. `Not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a word to Molly,` he whispered to Harry as he opened the.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "trunk and showed him how it had been magically expanded so that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the luggage fitted easily. When at last they were all in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the car, Mrs. Weasley glanced into the back seat, where Harry, Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Fred, George, and Percy were all sitting comfortably side by side, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said, `Muggles do know more than we give them credit for, don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "they?` She and Ginny got into the front seat, which had been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "stretched so that it resembled a park bench. `I mean, you'd never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "know it was this roomy from the outside, would you?` Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Weasley started up the engine and they trundled out of the yard,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry turning back for a last look at the house. He barely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "had time to wonder when he'd see it again when they were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "back George had forgotten his box of Filibuster fireworks. Five minutes after","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "that, they skidded to a halt in the yard so that Fred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "could run in for his broomstick. They had almost reached the highway","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "when Ginny shrieked that she'd left her diary. By the time she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "had clambered back into the car, they were running very late, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "tempers were running high. * 66 Mr. Weasley glanced at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "his watch and then at his wife. `Molly, dear -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`No, Arthur -` `No one would see - this little button","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "here is an Invisibility Booster I installed - that'd get us up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "in the air - then we fly above the clouds. We'd be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "there in ten minutes and no one would be any the wiser","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "-` `I said no, Arthur, not in broad daylight -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "They reached King's Cross at a quarter to eleven. Mr. Weasley dashed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "across the road to get trolleys for their trunks and they all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "hurried into the station. Harry had caught the Hogwarts Express the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "previous year. The tricky part was getting onto platform nine and three-quarters,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "which wasn't visible to the Muggle eye. What you had to do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was walk through the solid barrier dividing platforms nine and ten. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "didn't hurt, but it had to be done carefully so that none","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of the Muggles noticed you vanishing. `Percy first,` said Mrs. Weasley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "looking nervously at the clock overhead, which showed they had only five","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "minutes to disappear casually through the barrier. Percy strode briskly forward","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "and vanished. Mr. Weasley went next; Fred and George followed. `I'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "take Ginny and you two come right after us,` Mrs. Weasley told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry and Ron, grabbing Ginny's hand and setting off. In the blink","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of an eye they were gone. `Let's go together, we've only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "got a minute,` Ron said to Harry. Harry made sure that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Hedwig's cage was safely wedged on top of his trunk and wheeled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "his trolley around to face the barrier. He felt 61 ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "perfectly confident; this wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as using Floo powder. Both","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of them bent low over the handles of their trolleys and walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "purposefully toward the barrier, gathering speed. A few feet away from it,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "they broke into a run and CRASH. Both trolleys hit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the barrier and bounced backward; Ron's trunk fell off with a loud","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "thump, Harry was knocked off his feet, and Hedwig's cage bounced onto","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the shiny floor, and she rolled away, shrieking indignantly; people all around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "them stared and a guard nearby yelled, `What in blazes d'you think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "you're doing?` `Lost control of the trolley,` Harry gasped, clutching his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "ribs as he got up. Ron ran to pick up Hedwig, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was causing such a scene that there was a lot of muttering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "about cruelty to animals from the surrounding crowd. `Why can't we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "get through?` Harry hissed to Ron. `I dunno -` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "looked wildly around. A dozen curious people were still watching them. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`We're going to miss the train,` Ron whispered. `I don't understand why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the gateway's sealed itself -` Harry looked up at the giant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "clock with a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. Ten","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "seconds ... nine seconds ... He wheeled his trolley forward cautiously","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "until it was right against the barrier and pushed with all his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "might. The metal remained solid. Three seconds . . . two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "seconds ... one second ... `It's gone,` said Ron, sounding stunned.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`The train's left. What if Mum and Dad can't get back through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to us? Have you got any Muggle money?` 68 And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "they marched off through the crowd of curious Muggles, out of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "station and back onto the side road where the old Ford Anglia","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was parked. Ron unlocked the cavernous trunk with a series of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "taps from his wand. They heaved their luggage back in, put Hedwig","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "on the back seat, and got into the front. `Check that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "no one's watching,` said Ron, starting the ignition with another tap of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "his wand. Harry stuck his head out of the window: Traffic was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "rumbling along the main road ahead, but their street was empty. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`Okay,` he said. Ron pressed a tiny silver button on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "dashboard. The car around them vanished - and so did they. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "could feel the seat vibrating beneath him, hear the engine, feel his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "hands on his knees and his glasses on his nose, but for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "all he could see, he had become a pair of eyeballs, floating","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a few feet above the ground in a dingy street full of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "parked cars. `Let's go,` said Ron's voice from his right. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "And the ground and the dirty buildings on either side fell away,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "dropping out of sight as the car rose; in seconds, the whole","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of London lay, smoky and glittering, below them. Then there was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a popping noise and the car, Harry, and Ron reappeared. `Uh-oh,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Ron, jabbing at the Invisibility Booster. `It's faulty -` Both","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of them pummeled it. The car vanished. Then it flickered back again.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `Hold on!` Ron yelled, and he slammed his foot on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "acceler * 7 0 ator; they shot straight into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "low, woolly clouds and everything turned dull and foggy. `Now what?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Harry, blinking at the solid mass of cloud pressing in on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "them from all sides. `We need to see the train to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "know what direction to go in,` said Ron. `Dip back down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "again - quickly -` They dropped back beneath the clouds and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "twisted around in their seats, squinting at the ground. `I can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "see it!` Harry yelled. `Right ahead - there!` The Hogwarts Express","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was streaking along below them like a scarlet snake. `Due north,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Ron, checking the compass on the dashboard. `Okay, we'll just have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to check on it every half hour or so - hold on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " And they shot up through the clouds. A minute later, they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "burst out into a blaze of sunlight. It was a different","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "world. The wheels of the car skimmed the sea of fluffy cloud,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the sky a bright, endless blue under the blinding white sun. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`All we've got to worry about now are airplanes,` said Ron. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "They looked at each other and started to laugh; for a long","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "time, they couldn't stop. It was as though they had been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "plunged into a fabulous dream. This, thought Harry, was surely the only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "way to travel - past swirls and turrets of snowy cloud, in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a car full of hot, bright sunlight, with a fat pack of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "toffees in the glove compartment, and the prospect of seeing Fred's and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "George's jealous faces when they * 71 landed smoothly and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "spectacularly on the sweeping lawn in front of Hogwarts castle. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "made regular checks on the train as they flew farther and farther","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "north, each dip beneath the clouds showing them a different view. London","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was soon far behind them, replaced by neat green fields that gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "way in turn to wide, purplish moors, a great city alive with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "cars like multicolored ants, villages with tiny toy churches. Several uneventful","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "hours later, however, Harry had to admit that some of the fun","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was wearing off. The toffees had made them extremely thirsty and they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "had nothing to drink. He and Ron had pulled off their sweaters,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "but Harry's T-shirt was sticking to the back of his seat and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "his glasses kept sliding down to the end of his sweaty nose.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "He had stopped noticing the fantastic cloud shapes now and was thinking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "longingly of the train miles below, where you could buy ice-cold pumpkin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "juice from a trolley pushed by a plump witch. Why hadn't they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "been able to get onto platform nine and three-quarters? `Can't be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "much further, can it?` croaked Ron, hours later still, as the sun","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "started to sink into their floor of cloud, staining it a deep","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "pink. `Ready for another check on the train?` It was still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "right below them, winding its way past a snowcapped mountain. It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "much darker beneath the canopy of clouds. Ron put his foot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "on the accelerator and drove them upward again, but as he did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "so, the engine began to whine. Harry and Ron exchanged nervous","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "glances. `It's probably just tired,` said Ron. `It's never been this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "far before ...... 12 And they both pretended not to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "notice the whining growing louder and louder as the sky became steadily","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "darker. Stars were blossoming in the blackness. Harry pulled his sweater back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "on, try ing to ignore the way the windshield wipers were now","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "waving fee bly, as though in protest. `Not far,` said Ron, more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to the car than to Harry, `not far now,` and he patted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the dashboard nervously. When they flew back beneath the clouds a little","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "while later, they had to squint through the darkness for a landmark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "they knew. `There!` Harry shouted, making Ron and Hedwig jump. `Straight ahead!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Silhouetted on the dark horizon, high on the cliff over the lake,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "stood the many turrets and towers of Hogwarts castle. But the car","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "had begun to shudder and was losing speed. `Come on,` Ron said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "cajolingly, giving the steering wheel a lit tle shake, `nearly there, come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "on -` The engine groaned. Narrow jets of steam were issuing from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "un der the hood. Harry found himself gripping the edges of his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "seat very hard as they flew toward the lake. The car gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a nasty wobble. Glancing out of his window, Harry saw the smooth,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "black, glassy surface of the water, a mile below. Ron's knuckles were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "white on the steering wheel. The car wobbled again. `Come on,` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "muttered. They were over the lake - the castle was right ahead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "- Ron put his foot down. There was a loud clunk, a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "splutter, and the engine died com pletely. `Uh-oh,` said Ron, into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the silence. The nose of the car dropped. They were falling,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "gathering speed, heading straight for the solid castle wall. `Noooooo!` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "yelled, swinging the steering wheel around; they missed the dark stone wall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "by inches as the car turned in a great arc, soaring over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the dark greenhouses, then the vegetable patch, and then out over the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "black lawns, losing altitude all the time. Ron let go of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the steering wheel completely and pulled his wand out of his back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "pocket `STOP! STOP!` he yelled, whacking the dashboard and the windshield,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "but they were still plummeting, the ground flying up toward them ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`WATCH OUT FOR THAT TREE!` Harry bellowed, lunging for the steering wheel,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "but too late. CRUNCH. With an earsplitting bang of metal","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "on wood, they hit the thick tree trunk and dropped to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "ground with a heavy jolt. Steam was billowing from under the crumpled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "hood; Hedwig was shrieking in terror; a golfball-size lump was throbbing on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry's head where he had hit the windshield; and to his right,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Ron let out a low, despairing groan. `Are you okay?` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said urgently. `My wand,` said Ron, in a shaky voice. `Look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "at my wand -` It had snapped, almost in two; the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "tip was dangling limply, held on by a few splinters. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "opened his mouth to say he was sure they'd be able to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "mend it up at the school, but he never even got started.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "At that very moment, something hit his side of the car with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the force of a * Y4 * charging bull, sending","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "him lurching sideways into Ron, just as an equally heavy blow hit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the roof. `What's happen -?` Ron gasped, staring through the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "windshield, and Harry looked around just in time to see a branch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "as thick as a python smash into it. The tree they had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "hit was attacking them. Its trunk was bent almost double, and its","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "gnarled boughs were pummeling every inch of the car it could reach.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `Aaargh!` said Ron as another twisted limb punched a large dent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "into his door; the windshield was now trembling under a hail of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "blows from knuckle-like twigs and a branch as thick as a battering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "ram was pounding furiously on the roof, which seemed to be caving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `Run for it!` Ron shouted, throwing his full weight against his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "door, but next second he had been knocked backward into Harry's lap","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "by a vicious uppercut from another branch. `We're done for!` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "moaned as the ceiling sagged, but suddenly the floor of the car","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was vibrating - the engine had restarted. `Reverse!` Harry yelled, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the car shot backward; the tree was still trying to hit them;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "they could hear its roots creaking as it almost ripped itself up,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "lashing out at them as they sped out of reach. `That,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "panted Ron, `was close. Well done, car -` The car,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "however, had reached the end of its tether. With two sharp clunks,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the doors flew open and Harry felt his seat tip sideways: Next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "thing he knew he was sprawled on the damp ground. Loud thuds","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "told him that the car was ejecting their luggage from the trunk;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Hedwig's cage flew through the air and burst open; she rose out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of it with an angry screech and sped off toward the castle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " Y5 without a backward look. Then, dented, scratched, and steaming,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the car rumbled off into the darkness, its rear lights blazing angrily.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `Come back!` Ron yelled after it, brandishing his broken wand. `Dad'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "kill me!` But the car disappeared from view with one last","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "snort from its exhaust. `Can you believe our luck?` said Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "miserably, bending down to pick up Scabbers. `Of all the trees we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "could've hit, we had to get one that hits back.` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "glanced over his shoulder at the ancient tree, which was still flailing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "its branches threateningly. `Come on,` said Harry wearily, `we'd better get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "up to the school ...... It wasn't at all the triumphant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "arrival they had pictured. Stiff, cold, and bruised, they seized the ends","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of their trunks and began dragging them up the grassy slope, toward","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the great oak front doors. `I think the feast's already started,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Ron, dropping his trunk at the foot of the front steps","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "and crossing quietly to look through a brightly lit window. `Hey -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry - come and look - it's the Sorting!` Harry hurried","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "over and, together, he and Ron peered in at the Great Hall.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " Innumerable candles were hovering in midair over four long, crowded tables,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "making the golden plates and goblets sparkle. Overhead, the bewitched ceiling, which","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "always mirrored the sky outside, sparkled with stars. Through the forest","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of pointed black Hogwarts hats, Harry saw a long line of scared-looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "first years fiIing into the Hall. Ginny * 76 was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "among them, easily visible because of her vivid Weasley ha-ir. Meanwhile, Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "McGonagall, a bespectacled witch with her hair in a tight bun, was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "placing the famous Hogwarts Sorting Hat on a stool before the newcomers.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " Every year, this aged old hat, patched, frayed, and dirty, sorted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "new students into the four Hogwarts houses (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin).","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry well remembered putting it on, exactly one year ago, and waiting,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "petrified, for its decision as it muttered aloud in his ear. For","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a few horrible seconds he had feared that the hat was going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to put him in Slytherin, the house that had turned out more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Dark witches and wizards than any other -but he had ended up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "in Gryffindor, along with Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the Weasleys.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Last term, Harry and Ron had helped Gryffindor win the House Championship,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "beating Slytherin for the first time in seven years. A very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "small, mousy-haired boy had been called forward to place the hat on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "his head. Harry's eyes wandered past him to where Professor Dumbledore, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "headmaster, sat watching the Sorting from the staff table, his long silver","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "beard and half-moon glasses shining brightly in the candlelight. Several seats along,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry saw Gilderoy Lockhart, dressed in robes of aquamarine. And there at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the end was Hagrid, huge and hairy, drinking deeply from his goblet.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `Hang on. . . ` Harry muttered to Ron. `There's an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "empty chair at the staff table .... Where's Snape?` Professor Severus","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Snape was Harry's least favorite teacher. Harry also happened to be Snape's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "least favorite student. Cruel, sarcastic, and disliked by everybody except the students","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "from his own house (Slytherin), Snape taught Potions. `Maybe he's ill!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Ron hopefully. `Maybe he's left,` said Ha-rry, `because he missed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "out on the Defense Against Dark Arts job again!` `Or he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "might have been sacked!` said Ron enthusiastically. `I mean, everyone hates him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "-` `Or maybe,` said a very cold voice right behind them,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`he's waiting to hear why you two didn't arrive on the school","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "train.` Harry spun around. There, his black robes rippling in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "cold breeze, stood Severus Snape. He was a thin man with sallow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "skin, a hooked nose, and greasy, shoulder-length black hair, and at this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "moment, he was smiling in a way that told Harry he and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Ron were in very deep trouble. `Follow me,` said Snape. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Not daring even to look at each other, Harry and Ron followed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Snape up the steps into the vast, echoing entrance hall, which was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "lit with flaming torches. A delicious smell of food was wafting from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the Great Hall, but Snape led them away from the warmth and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "light, down a narrow stone staircase that led into the dungeons. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`In!` he said, opening a door halfway down the cold passageway and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "pointing. They entered Snape's office, shivering. The shadowy walls were lined","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "with shelves of large glass) ars, in which floated all manner of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "revolting things Harry didn't really want to know the name of at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the moment. The fireplace was dark and empty. Snape closed the door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "and turned to look at them. `So,` he said softly, `the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "train isn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter and his faithful","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "sidekick Weasley. Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we, boys?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`No, sir, it was the barrier at King's Cross, it -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "78 `Silence!` said Snape coldly. `What have you done with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "car?` Ron gulped. This wasn't the first time Snape had given Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the impression of being able to read minds. But a moment later,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "he un derstood, as Snape unrolled today's issue of the Evening Prophet.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "`You were seen,` he hissed, showing them the headline: FLY ING FORD","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES. He began to read aloud: `Two Muggles in London,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "convinced they saw an old car flying over the Post Office tower","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "... at noon in Norfolk, Mrs. Hetty Bayliss, while hanging out her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "washing ... Mr. Angus Fleet, of Peebles, reported to police ... Six","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "or seven Muggles in all. I be lieve your father works in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office?` he said, looking up at Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "and smiling still more nastily. `Dear, dear ... his own son. .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" ". ` Harry felt as though he'd just been walloped in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "stomach by one of the mad tree's larger branches. If anyone found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "out Mr. Weasley had bewitched the car ... he hadn't thought of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "that .... `I noticed, in my search of the park, that considerable","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "damage seems to have been done to a very valuable Whomping Willow,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Snape went on. `That tree did more damage to us than we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "-` Ron blurted out. `Silence!` snapped Snape again. `Most unfortunately, you are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "not in my House and the decision to expel you does not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "rest with me. I shall go and fetch the people who do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "have that happy power. You will wait here.` Harry and Ron stared","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "at each other, white-faced. Harry didn't feel hungry any more. He now","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "felt extremely sick. He tried not to look at a large, slimy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "something suspended in green liquid on a shelf behind Snape's desk.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "If Snape had gone to fetch Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor House,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "they were hardly any better off. She might be fairer than Snape,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "but she was still extremely strict. Ten minutes later, Snape returned,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "and sure enough it was Professor McGonagall who accompanied him. Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "seen Professor McGonagall angry on several occasions, but either he had forgotten","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "just how thin her mouth could go, or he had never seen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "her this angry before. She raised her wand the moment she entered;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry and Ron both flinched, but she merely pointed it at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "empty fireplace, where flames suddenly erupted. `Sit,` she said, and they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "both backed into chairs by the fire. `Explain,` she said, her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "glasses glinting ominously. Ron launched into the story, starting with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "barrier at the station refusing to let them through. ` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "-so we had no choice, Professor, we couldn't get on the train.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `Why didn't you send us a letter by owl? I believe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "you have an owl?` Professor McGonagall said coldly to Harry. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "gaped at her. Now she said it, that seemed the obvious thing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to have done. `I - I didn't think -` `That,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Professor McGonagall, `is obvious.` There was a knock on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "office door and Snape, now looking happier than ever, opened it. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "stood the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. Harry's whole body went numb. Dumbledore","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was looking unusually grave. He stared down his very crooked nose at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "them, and *80* Harry suddenly found himself wishing he and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Ron were still being beaten up by the Whomping Willow. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was a long silence. Then Dumbledore said, `Please explain why you did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "this.` It would have been better if he had shouted. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "hated the disappointment in his voice. For some reason, he was unable","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to look Dumbledore in the eyes, and spoke instead to his knees.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "He told Dumbledore everything except that Mr. Weasley owned the bewitched car,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "making it sound as though he and Ron had happened to find","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a flying car parked outside the station. He knew Dumbledore would see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "through this at once, but Dumbledore asked no questions about the car.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "When Harry had finished, he merely continued to peer at them through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "his spectacles. `We'll go and get our stuff,` said Ron in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a hopeless sort of voice. `What are you talking about, Weasley?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "barked Professor McGonagall. `Well, you're expelling us, aren't you?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Ron. Harry looked quickly at Dumbledore. `Not today, Mr. Weasley,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Dumbledore. `But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of what you have done. I will be writing to both your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "families tonight. I must also warn you that if you do anything","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " Snape looked as though Christmas had been canceled. He cleared his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "throat and said, `Professor Dumbledore, these boys have flouted the Decree for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the Restriction of Underage Wizardry, caused serious damage to an old and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "valuable tree - surely acts of this nature -` * 8i","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `It will be for Professor McGonagall to decide on these boys'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "punishments, Severus,` said Dumbledore calmly. `They are in her House and are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "therefore her responsibility.` He turned to Professor McGonagall. `I must go back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to the feast, Minerva, I've got to give out a few notices.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Come, Severus, there's a delicious-looking cus tard tart I want to sample","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "-` Snape shot a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "as he allowed himself to be swept out of his office, leaving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "them alone with Pro fessor McGonagall, who was still eyeing them like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a wrathful eagle. `You'd better get along to the hospital wing, Weasley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "you're bleeding.` `Not much,` said Ron, hastily wiping the cut over his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "eye with his sleeve. `Professor, I wanted to watch my sister being","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Sorted -` `The Sorting Ceremony is over,` said Professor McGonagall. `Your sister","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "is also in Gryffindor.` `Oh, good,` said Ron. `And speaking of Gryffindor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "-` Professor McGonagall said sharply, but Harry cut in: `Professor, when we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "took the car, term hadn't started, so - so Gryffindor shouldn't really","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "have points taken from it - should it?` he finished, watching her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "anxiously. Professor McGonagall gave him a piercing look, but he was sure","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "she had almost smiled. Her mouth looked less thin, anyway. `I will","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "not take any points from Gryffindor,` she said, and Harry's heart lightened","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "considerably. `But you will both get a de tention.` It was better","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "than Harry had expected. As for Dumbledore's writing to the Dursleys, that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was nothing. Harry knew perfectly well they'd just be disappointed that the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Whomping Willow hadn't squashed him flat. 82 Professor McGonagall raised","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "her wand again and pointed it at Snape's desk. A large plate","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of sandwiches, two silver goblets, and a jug of-iced pumpkin juice appeared","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "with a pop. `You will eat in here and then go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "straight up to your dormitory,` she said. `I must also return to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the feast.` When the door had closed behind her, Ron let","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "out a long, low whistle. `I thought we'd had it,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said, grabbing a sandwich. `So did I,` said Harry, taking one,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "too. `Can you believe our luck, though?` said Ron thickly through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "a mouthful of chicken and ham. `Fred and George must've flown that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "car five or six times and no Muggle ever saw them.` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "swallowed and took another huge bite. `Why couldn't we get through the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "barrier?` Harry shrugged. `We'll have to watch our step from now","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "on, though,` he said, taking a grateful swig of pumpkin juice. `Wish","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "we could've gone up to the feast ...... `She didn't want","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "us showing off,` said Ron sagely. `Doesn't want people to think it's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "clever, arriving by flying car.` When they had eaten as many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "sandwiches as they could (the plate kept refilling itself) they rose and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "left the office, treading the familiar path to Gryffindor Tower. The castle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "was quiet; it seemed that the feast was over. They walked past","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "muttering portraits and creaking suits of armor, and climbed narrow flights of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "stone stairs, until at last they reached the passage where the secret","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "entrance to Gryffindor Tower was hidden, behind an oil painting of a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "very fat woman in a pink silk dress. `Password?` she said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "as they approached. `Er -` said Harry. They didn't know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the new year's password, not having met a Gryffindor prefect yet, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "help came almost immediately; they heard hurrying feet behind them and turned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to see Hermione dashing toward them. `There you are! Where have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "you been? The most ridiculous rumors - someone said you'd been expelled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "for crashing a flying car `Well, we haven't been expelled,` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "assured her. `You're not telling me you did fly here?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Hermione, sounding almost as severe as Professor McGonagall. `Skip the lecture,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Ron impatiently, `and tell us the new password.` `It's `wattlebird,`'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "said Hermione impatiently, `but that's not the point - ` Her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "words were cut short, however, as the portrait of the fat lady","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "swung open and there was a sudden storm of clapping. It looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "as though the whole of Gryffindor House was still awake, packed into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the circular common room, standing on the lopsided tables and squashy armchairs,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "waiting for them to arrive. Arms reached through the portrait hole to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "pull Harry and Ron inside, leaving Hermione to scramble in after then-t.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `Brilliant!` yelled Lee Jordan. `Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "right into the Whomping Willow, people'll be talking about that one for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "years -` `Good for you,` said a fifth year Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "never spoken to; someone was patting him on the back as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "he'd just won a marathon; Fred and George pushed their way to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "the front of the crowd and said together, `Why couldn't we've come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "in the car, eh?` 84 Ron was scarlet in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "face, grinning embarrassedly, but Harry could see one person who didn't look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "happy at all. Percy was visible over the heads of some excited","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "first years, and he seemed to be trying to get near enough","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to start telling them off. Harry nudged Ron in the ribs and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "nodded in Percy's direction. Ron got the point at once. `Got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "to get upstairs - bit tired,` he said, and the two of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "them started pushing their way toward the door on the other side","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of the room, which led to a spiral staircase and the dormitories.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " `'Night,` Harry called back to Hermione, who was wearing a scowl","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "just like Percy's. They managed to get to the other side","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "of the common room, still having their backs slapped, and gained the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "peace of the staircase. They hurried up it, right to the top,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "and at last reached the door of their old dormitory, which now","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "had a sign on it saying SECOND YEARS. They entered the familiar,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "circular room, with its five four-posters hung with red velvet and its","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "high, narrow windows. Their trunks had been brought up for them and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "stood at the ends of their beds. Ron grinned guiltily at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry. `I know I shouldn't've enjoyed that or anything, but ='","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" " The dormitory door flew open and in came the other second","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "year Gryffindor boys, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom. `Unbelievable!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "beamed Seamus. `Cool,` said Dean. `Amazing,` said Neville, awestruck. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "Harry couldn't help it. He grinned, too. * 85 * ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-5" "GILDEROY LOCKHART he next day, however, Harry barely grinned once. Things","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "started to go downhill from breakfast in the Great Hall. The four","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "long house tables were laden with tureens of porridge, plates of kippers,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "mountains of toast, and dishes of eggs and bacon, beneath the enchanted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "ceiling (today, a dull, cloudy gray). Harry and Ron sat down at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the Gryffindor table next to Hermione, who had her copy of Voyages","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "with Vampires propped open against a milk jug. There was a slight","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "stiffness in the way she said `Morning,` which told Harry that she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "was still disapproving of the way they had arrived. Neville Longbottom, on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the other hand, greeted them cheerfully. Neville was a round-faced and accident-prone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "boy with the worst memory of anyone Harry had ever met. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`Mail's due any minute - I think Gran's sending a few things","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "I forgot.` Harry had only just started his porridge when, sure","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "enough, there was a rushing sound overhead and a hundred or so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "owls 86 streamed in, circling the hall and dropping letters","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and packages into the chattering crowd. A big, lumpy package bounced off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Neville's head and, a second later, something large and gray fell into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Hermione's jug, spraying them all with milk and feathers. `Enrol!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Ron, pulling the bedraggled owl out by the feet. Errol slumped, unconscious,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "onto the table, his legs in the air and a damp red","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "envelope in his beak. `Oh, no -` Ron gasped. `It's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "all right, he's still alive,` said Hermione, prodding Errol gently with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "tip of her finger. `It's not that - it's that.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Ron was pointing at the red envelope. It looked quite ordinary to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry, but Ron and Neville were both looking at it as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "they expected it to explode. `What's the matter?` said Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`She's - she's sent me a Howler,` said Ron faintly. `You'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "better open it, Ron,` said Neville in a timid whisper. `It'll be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "worse if you don't My gran sent me one once, and I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "ignored it and` - he gulped - `it was horrible.` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "looked from their petrified faces to the red envelope. `What's a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Howler?` he said. But Ron's whole attention was fixed on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "letter, which had begun to smoke at the corners. `Open it,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Neville urged. `It'll all be over in a few minutes -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Ron stretched out a shaking hand, eased the envelope from Errol's beak,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and slit it open. Neville stuffed his fingers in his ears. A","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "split second later, Harry knew why. He thought for a moment it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "had exploded; a roar of sound fiIled the huge hall, shaking dust","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "from the ceiling. `STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHERAND I WENT","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE -` Mrs. Weasleys yells,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "a hundred times louder than usual, made the plates and spoons rattle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "on the table, and echoed deafeningly off the stone walls. People throughout","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the hall were swiveling around to see who had received the Howler,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and Ron sank so low in his chair that only his crimson","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "forehead could be seen. `- LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " Harry had been wondering when his name was going to crop","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "up. He tried very hard to look as though he couldn't hear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the voice that was making his eardrums throb. `-ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "BACK HOME.` A ringing silence fell. The red envelope, which had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "dropped from Ron's hand, burst into flames and curled into ashes. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and Ron sat stunned, as though a tidal wave had just passed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "over them. A few people laughed and, gradually, a babble of talk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "broke out again. Hermione closed Voyages with Vampires and looked down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "at the top of Ron's head. * 88 `Well, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "don't know what you expected, Ron, but you -` `Don't tell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "me I deserved it,` snapped Ron. Harry pushed his porridge away.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "His insides were burning with guilt. Mr. Weasley was facing an inquiry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "at work. After all Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had done for him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "over the summer ... But he had no time to dwell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "on this; Professor McGonagall was moving along the Gryffindor table, handing out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "course schedules. Harry took his and saw that they had double Herbology","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "with the Hufepuffs first. Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the castle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "together, crossed the vegetable patch, and made for the greenhouses, where the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "magical plants were kept. At least the Howler had done one good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "thing: Hermione seemed to think they had now been punished enough and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "was being perfectly friendly again. As they neared the greenhouses they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "saw the rest of the class standing outside, waiting for Professor Sprout. Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Ron, and Hermione had only just joined them when she came striding","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "into view across the lawn, accompanied by Gilderoy Lockhart. Professor Sprout's arms","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "were full of bandages, and with another twinge of guilt, Harry spotted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the Whomping Willow in the distance, several of its branches now in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "slings. Professor Sprout was a squat little witch who wore a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "patched hat over her flyaway hair; there was usually a large amount","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of earth on her clothes and her fingernails would have made Aunt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Petunia faint. Gilderoy Lockhart, however, was immaculate in sweeping robes of turquoise,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his golden hair shining under a perfectly positioned turquoise hat with gold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "trimming. `Oh, hello there!` he called, beaming around at the assembled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " 89 students. `Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "to doctor a Whomping Willow! But I don't want you running away","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "with the idea that I'm better at Herbology than she is! I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "travels . . .` `Greenhouse three today, chaps!` said Professor Sprout,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "who was looking distinctly disgruntled, not at all her usual cheerful self.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " There was a murmur of interest. They had only ever worked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "in greenhouse one before - greenhouse three housed far more interesting and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "dangerous plants. Professor Sprout took a large key from her belt and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "unlocked the door. Harry caught a whiff of damp earth and fertilizer","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "mingling with the heavy perfume of some giant, umbrella- sized flowers dangling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "from the ceiling. He was about to follow Ron and Hermione inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "when Lockhart's hand shot out. `Harry! I've been wanting a word","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "- you don't mind if he's a couple of minutes late, do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "you, Professor Sprout?` Judging by Professor Sprout's scowl, she did mind,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "but Lockhart said, `That's the ticket,` and closed the greenhouse door in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "her face. `Harry,` said Lockhart, his large white teeth gleaming in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the sunlight as he shook his head. `Harry, Harry, Harry.` Completely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "nonplussed, Harry said nothing. `When I heard -well, of course, it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "was all my fault. Could have kicked myself.` Harry had no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "idea what he was talking about. He was about to say so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "when Lockhart went on, `Don't know when I've been more shocked. Flying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "a car to Hogwarts! Well, of course, I knew at once why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "you'd done it. Stood out a mile. Harry, Harry, Harry.` It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "was remarkable how he could show every one of those brilliant teeth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "even when he wasn't talking. 90 `Gave you a taste","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "for publicity, didn't I?` said Lockhart. `Gave you the bug. You got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "onto the front page of the paper with me and you couldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "wait to do it again.` `Oh, no, Professor, see -` `Harry, Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry,` said Lockhart, reaching out and grasping his shoulder. `I understand. Natural","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "to want a bit more once you've had that first taste -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and I blame myself for giving you that, be cause it was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "bound to go to your head - but see here, young man,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "you can't start flying cars to try and get yourself noticed. Just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "calm down, all right? Plenty of time for all that when you're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "older. Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking! 'It's all right for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "him, he's an in ternationally famous wizard already!' But when I was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "twelve, I was just as much of a nobody as you are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "now. In fact, Id say I was even more of a nobody!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "I mean, a few people have heard of you, haven't they? All","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "that business with He-\`o-Must-Not-Be-Named!` He glanced at the lightning scar on Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "forehead. `I know, I know - it's not quite as good as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "winning Witch Weekly's Most Charming-Smile Award five times in a row, as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "I have - but it's a start, Harry, it's a start.` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "gave Harry a hearty wink and strode off. Harry stood stunned for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "a few seconds, then, remembering he was supposed to be in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "greenhouse, he opened the door and slid inside. Professor Sprout was standing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "behind a trestle bench in the cen ter of the greenhouse. About","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "twenty pairs of different-colored ear muffs were lying on the bench. When","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry had taken his place between Ron and Hermione, she said, `We'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "be repotting Man drakes today. Now, who can tell me the properties","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of the Man drake?` To nobody's surprise, Hermione's hand was first into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the air. s1 `Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "said Hermione, sounding as usual as though she had swallowed the textbook.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "to their original state.` `Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor,` said Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Sprout. `The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "also, however, dangerous. Who can tell me why?` Hermione's hand narrowly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "missed Harry's glasses as it shot up again. `The cry of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it,` she said promptly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " `Precisely. Take another ten points,` said Professor Sprout. `Now, the Mandrakes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "we have here are still very young.` She pointed to a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "row of deep trays as she spoke, and everyone shuffled forward for a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "better look. A hundred or so tufty little plants, purplish green in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "color, were growing there in rows. They looked quite unremarkable to Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "who didn't have the slightest idea what Hermione meant by the `cry`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of the Mandrake. `Everyone take a pair of earmuffs,` said Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Sprout. There was a scramble as everyone tried to seize a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "pair that wasn't pink and fluffy. `When I tell you to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "put them on, make sure your ears are completely covered,` said Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Sprout. `When it is safe to remove them, I will give you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the thumbs-up. Right - earmuffs on.` Harry snapped the earmuffs over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his ears. They shut out sound completely. Professor Sprout put the pink,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "fluffy pair over her own ears, rolled up the sleeves of her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "robes, grasped one of the tufty plants firmly, and pulled hard. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "*92* Harry let out a gasp of surprise that no one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "could hear. Instead of roots, a small, muddy, and extremely ugly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "baby popped out of the earth. The leaves were growing right out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of his head. He had pale green, mottled skin, and was clearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "bawling at the top of his lungs. Professor Sprout took a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "large plant pot from under the table and plunged the Mandrake into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "it, burying him in dark, damp compost until only the tufted leaves","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "were visible. Professor Sprout dusted off her hands, gave them all the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "thumbs-up, and removed her own earmuffs. `As our Mandrakes are only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "seedlings, their cries won't kill yet,` she said calmly as though she'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "just done nothing more exciting than water a begonia. `However, they will","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "knock you out for several hours, and as I'm sure none of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "you want to miss your first day back, make sure your earmuffs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "are securely in place while you work. I will attract your attention","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "when it is time to pack up. `Four to a tray","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "- there is a large supply of pots here - compost in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the sacks over there - and be careful of the Venemous Tentacula,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "it's teething.` She gave a sharp slap to a spiky, dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "red plant as she spoke, making it draw in the long feelers","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "that had been inching sneakily over her shoulder. Harry, Ron, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Hermione were joined at their tray by a curly-haired Hufflepuff boy Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "knew by sight but had never spoken to. `Justin Finch-Fletchley,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "said brightly, shaking Harry by the hand. `Know who you are, of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "course, the famous Harry Potter... And you're Hermione Granger - always top","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "in everything` * 9% (Hermione beamed as she had her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "hand shaken too) `- and Ron Weasley. Wasn't that your flying car?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " Ron didn't smile. The Howler was obviously still on his mind.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " `That Lockhart's something, isn't he?` said Justin happily as they began","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "fiIling their plant pots with dragon dung compost. `Awfully brave chap. Have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "you read his books? Id have died of fear if Id been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "cornered in a telephone booth by a werewolf, but he stayed cool","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and - zap - just fantastic. `My name was down for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Eton, you know. I can't tell you how glad I am I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "came here instead. Of course, Mother was slightly disappointed, but since I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "made her read Lockhart's books I think she's begun to see how","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "useful it'll be to have a fully trained wizard in the family","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" ". . . .` After that they didn't have much chance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "to talk. Their earmuffs were back on and they needed to concentrate","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "on the Mandrakes. Professor Sprout had made it look extremely easy, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "it wasn't. The Mandrakes didn't like coming out of the earth, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "didn't seem to want to go back into it either. They squirmed,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "kicked, flailed their sharp little fists, and gnashed their teeth; Harry spent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "ten whole minutes trying to squash a particularly fat one into a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "pot. By the end of the class, Harry, like everyone else,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "was sweaty, aching, and covered in earth. Everyone traipsed back to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "castle for a quick wash and then the Gryffindors hurried off to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall's classes were always hard work, but today was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "especially difficult. Everything Harry had learned last year seemed to have leaked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "out of his head during the summer. He was supposed to be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "turning a beetle into a button, but all he managed *","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "94 to do was give his beetle a lot of exercise","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "as it scuttled over the desktop avoiding his wand. Ron was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "having far worse problems. He had patched up his wand with some","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "borrowed Spellotape, but it seemed to be damaged beyond repair. It kept","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "crackling and sparking at odd moments, and every time Ron tried to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "transfigure his beetle it engulfed him in thick gray smoke that smelled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of rotten eggs. Unable to see what he was doing, Ron accidentally","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "squashed his beetle with his elbow and had to ask for a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "new one. Professor McGonagall wasn't pleased. Harry was relieved to hear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the lunch bell. His brain felt like a wrung sponge. Everyone fiIed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "out of the classroom except him and Ron, who was whacking his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "furiously on the desk. `Stupid - useless - thing -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`Write home for another one,` Harry suggested as the wand let off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "a volley of bangs like a firecracker. `Oh, yeah, and get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "another Howler back,` said Ron, stuffing the now hissing wand into his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "bag. ` `It's your own fault your wand got snapped - '`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " They went down to lunch, where Ron's mood was not improved","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "by Hermione's showing them the handful of perfect coat buttons she had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "produced in Transfiguration. `What've we got this afternoon?` said Harry, hastily","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "changing the subject. `Defense Against the Dark Arts,` said Hermione at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "once. `Why, `demanded Ron, seizing her schedule, `have you outlined all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?` Hermione snatched the schedule back, blushing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "furiously. * 95 * They finished lunch and went outside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "into the overcast courtyard. Hermione sat down on a stone step and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "buried her nose in Voyages with Vampires again. Harry and Ron stood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "talking about Quidditch for several minutes before Harry became aware that he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "was being closely watched. Looking up, he saw the very small, mousy-haired","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "boy he'd seen trying on the Sorting Hat last night staring at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry as though transfixed. He was clutching what looked like an ordinary","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Muggle camera, and the moment Harry looked at him, he went bright","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "red. `All right, Harry? I'm -I'm Colin Creevey,` he said breathlessly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "taking a tentative step forward. `I'm in Gryffindor, too. D'you think -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "would it be all right if - can I have a picture?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "he said, raising the camera hopefully. `A picture?` Harry repeated blankly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " `So I can prove I've met you,` said Colin Creevey eagerly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "edging further forward. `I know all about you. Everyone's told me. About","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "how you survived when You-Know-Who tried to kill you and how he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "disappeared and everything and how you've still got a lightning scar on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "your forehead` (his eyes raked Harry's hairline) `and a boy in my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "dormitory said if I develop the film in the right potion, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "pictures'll move.` Colin drew a great shuddering breath of excitement and said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`It's amazing here, isn't it? I never knew all the odd stuff","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "I could do was magic till I got the letter from Hogwarts.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "My dad's a milkman, he couldn't believe it either. So I'm taking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "loads of pictures to send home to him. And it'd be really","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "good if I had one of you` - he looked imploringly at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry - `maybe your friend could take it and I could stand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "next to you? And then, could you sign it?` 96 ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`Signed photos? You're giving out signed photos, Potter?` Loud and scathing,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Draco Malfoy's voice echoed around the courtyard. He had stopped right behind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Colin, flanked, as he always was at Hogwarts, by his large and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "thuggish cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. `Everyone line up!` Malfoy roared to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the crowd. `Harry Potter's giving out signed photos!` `No, I'm not,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "said Harry angrily, his fists clenching. `Shut up, Malfoy.` `You're just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "jealous,` piped up Colin, whose entire body was about as thick as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Crabbe's neck. `jealous?`said Malfoy, who didn't need to shout anymore: half","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the courtyard was listening in. `Of what? I don't want a foul","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "scar right across my head, thanks. I don't think getting your head","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "cut open makes you that special, myself.` Crabbe and Goyle were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "sniggering stupidly. `Eat slugs, Malfoy,` said Ron angrily. Crabbe stopped laughing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and started rubbing his knuckles in a menacing way. `Be careful,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Weasley,` sneered Malfoy. `You don't want to start any trouble or your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Mommy'll have to come and take you away from school.` He put","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "on a shrill, piercing voice. `Ifyou put another toe out of line'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "- ` A knot of Slytherin fifth-years nearby laughed loudly at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "this. `Weasley would like a signed photo, Potter,` smirked Malfoy. `It'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "be worth more than his family's whole house -` Ron whipped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "out his Spellotaped wand, but Hermione shut Voyages with Vampires with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "snap and whispered, `Look out!` `What's all this, what's all this?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Gilderoy Lockhart was striding * 97 toward them, his turquoise","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "robes swirling behind him. `Who's giv ing out signed photos?` Harry started","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "to speak but he was cut short as Lockhart flung an arm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "around his shoulders and thundered jovially, `Shouldn't have asked! We meet again,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry!` Pinned to Lockhart's side and burning with humiliation, Harry saw Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "slide smirking back into the crowd. `Come on then, Mr. Creevey,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Lockhart, beaming at Colin. `A double portrait, can't do better than that,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and we'll both sign it for you.` Colin fumbled for his camera","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and took the picture as the bell rang behind them, signaling the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "start of afternoon classes. `Off you go, move along there,` Lockhart called","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "to the crowd, and he set off back to the castle with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry, who was wishing he knew a good Vanishing Spell, still clasped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "to his side. `A word to the wise, Harry,` said Lockhart paternally","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "as they entered the building through a side door. `I covered up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "for you back there with young Creevey - if he was photographing me,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "too, your schoolmates won't think you're setting yourself up so much .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" ". . .` Deaf to Harry's stammers, Lockhart swept him down a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "corridor lined with staring students and up a staircase. `Let me just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "say that handing out signed pictures at this stage of your career","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "isn't sensible - looks a tad bigheaded, Harry, to be frank. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "may well come a time when, like me, you'll need to keep","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "a stack handy wherever you go, but` - he gave a little","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "chor tle - `I don't think you're quite there yet.` They had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "reached Lockhart's classroom and he let Harry go at 98 ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "last. Harry yanked his robes straight and headed for a seat at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the very back of the class, where he busied himself with piling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "all seven of Lockhart's books in front of him, so that he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "could avoid looking at the real thing. The rest of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "class came clattering in, and Ron and Hermione sat down on either","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "side of Harry. `You could've fried an egg on your face`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "said Ron. `You'd better hope Creevey doesn't meet Ginny, or they'll be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "starting a Harry Potter fan club.` `Shut up,` snapped Harry. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "last thing he needed was for Lockhart to hear the phrase `Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Potter fan club.` When the whole class was seated, Lockhart cleared","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his throat loudly and silence fell. He reached forward, picked up Neville","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Longbottom's copy of Travels with Trolls, and held it up to show","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his own, winking portrait on the front. `Me,` he said, pointing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "at it and winking as well. `Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of Witch Weekly's Most- Charming-Smile Award - but I don't talk about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "her!` He waited for them to laugh; a few people smiled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "weakly. `I see you've all bought a complete set of my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "books -well done. I thought we'd start today with a little quiz.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Nothing to worry about just to check how well you've read","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "them, how much you've taken in -` When he had handed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "out the test papers he returned to the front of the class","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and said, `You have thirty minutes - start - now!` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "looked down at his paper and read: 1. What is Gilderoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Lockhart 's favorite color? 2. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" " 3. What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "date? On and on it went, over three sides of paper,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "right down to: 4. When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "would his ideal gift be? Half an hour later, Lockhart collected","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the papers and rifled through them in front of the class. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`Tut, tut - hardly any of you remembered that my favorite color","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "is lilac. I say so in Year with the Yeti. And a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "few of you need to read Wanderings with Werewolves more carefully -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples - though I wouldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "say no to a large bottle of Ogdeds Old Firewhisky!` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "gave them another roguish wink. Ron was now staring at Lockhart with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "an expression of disbelief on his face; Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "who were sitting in front, were shaking with silent laughter. Hermione, on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the other hand, was listening to Lockhart with rapt attention and gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "a start when he mentioned her name. `. . . but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Miss Hermione Granger knew my secret ambition is to rid the world","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of evil and market my own range of hair-care potions - good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "girl! In fact` - he flipped her paper over - `full marks!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Where is Miss Hermione Granger?` *100* Hermione raised a trembling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "hand. `Excellent!` beamed Lockhart. `Quite excellent! Take ten points for Gryffindor!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "And so - to business -` He bent down behind his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "desk and lifted a large, covered cage onto it. `Now -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "In spite of himself, Harry leaned around his pile of books for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "a better look at the cage. Lockhart placed a hand on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "cover. Dean and Seamus had stopped laughing now. Neville was cowering in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his front row seat. `I must ask you not to scream,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "said Lockhart in a low voice. `It might provoke them.` As","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the whole class held its breath, Lockhart whipped off the cover. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`Yes,` he said dramatically. `Freshly caught Cornish pixies. ` Seamus Finnigan","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "couldn't control himself. He let out a snort of laughter that even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Lockhart couldn't mistake for a scream of terror. `Yes?` He smiled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "at Seamus. `Well, they're not - they're not very - dangerous,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "are they?` Seamus choked. `Don't be so sure!` said Lockhart, waggling a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "finger annoyingly at Seamus. `Devilish tricky little blighters they can be!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "The pixies were electric blue and about eight inches high, with pointed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "faces and voices so shrill it was like listening to a lot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of budgies arguing. The moment the cover had been removed, they ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "*101* had started jabbering and rocketing around, rattling the bars and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "making bizarre faces at the people nearest them. `Right, then,` Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "said loudly. `Let's see what you make of them!` And he opened","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the cage. It was pandemonium. The pixies shot in every direction","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "like rockets. Two of them seized Neville by the ears and lifted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "him into the air. Several shot straight through the window, showering the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "back row with broken glass. The rest proceeded to wreck the classroom","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "more effectively than a rampaging rhino. They grabbed ink bottles and sprayed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the class with them, shredded books and papers, tore pictures from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "walls, up-ended the waste basket, grabbed bags and books and threw them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "out of the smashed window; within minutes, half the class was sheltering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "under desks and Neville was swinging from the iron chandelier in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "ceiling. `Come on now - round them up, round them up,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "they're only pixies,` Lockhart shouted. He rolled up his sleeves, brandished","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his wand, and bellowed, `Peskipiksi Pesternomi!` It had absolutely no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "effect; one of the pixies seized his wand and threw it out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of the window, too. Lockhart gulped and dived under his own desk,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "narrowly avoiding being squashed by Neville, who fell a second later as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the chandelier gave way. The bell rang and there was a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "mad rush toward the exit. In the relative calm that followed, Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "straightened up, caught sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were almost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "at the door, and said, `Well, I'll ask you three to just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "nip the rest of them back into their cage.` He swept past","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "them and shut the door quickly behind him. *102* `Can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "you believe him?` roared Ron as one of the remaining pixies bit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "him painfully on the ear. `He just wants to give us","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "some hands-on experience,` said Hermione, immobilizing two pixies at once with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "clever Freezing Charm and stuffing them back into their cage. `Hands","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "on? `said Harry, who was trying to grab a pixie dancing out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "of reach with its tongue out. `Hermione, he didn't have a clue","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "what he was doing -` `Rubbish,` said Hermione. `You've read his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "books - look at all those amazing things he's done -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`He says he's done,` Ron muttered. arry spent a lot of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "time over the next few days dodging out of sight whenever he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "saw Gilderoy Lockhart coming down a corridor. Harder to avoid was Colin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Creevey, who seemed to have memorized Harry's schedule. Nothing seemed to give","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Colin a bigger thrill than to say, `All right, Harry?` six or","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "seven times a day and hear, `Hello, Colin,` back, however exasperated Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "sounded when he said it. Hedwig was still angry with Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "about the disasterous car journey and Ron's wand was still malfunctioning, surpassing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "itself on Friday morning by shooting out of Ron's hand in Charms","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and hitting tiny old Professor Flitwick squarely between the eyes, creating a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "large, throbbing green boil where it had struck. So with one thing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and another, Harry was quite glad to reach the weekend. He, Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and Hermione were planning to visit Hagrid on Saturday morning. Harry, however,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "was shaken awake several hours earlier *104* than he would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "have liked by Oliver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`Whassamatter?` said Harry groggily. `Quidditch practice!` said Wood. `Come on!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry squinted at the window. There was a thin mist hanging across","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the pink-and-gold sky. Now that he was awake, he couldn't understand how","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "he could have slept through the racket the birds were making. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "`Oliver,` Harry croaked. `It's the crack of dawn.` `Exactly,` said Wood.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "He was a tall and burly sixth year and, at the moment,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his eyes were gleaming with a crazed enthusiasm. `It's part of our","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "new training program. Come on, grab your broom, and let's go,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Wood heartily. `None of the other teams have started training yet; we're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "going to be first off the mark this year -` Yawning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and shivering slightly, Harry climbed out of bed and tried to find","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "his Quidditch robes. `Good man,` said Wood. `Meet you on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "field in fifteen minutes. When he'd found his scarlet team robes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and pulled on his cloak for warmth, Harry scribbled a note to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Ron explaining where he'd gone and went down the spiral staircase to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "the common room, his Nimbus Two Thousand on his shoulder. He had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "just reached the portrait hole when there was a clatter behind him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "and Colin Creevey came dashing down the spiral staircase, his camera swinging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "madly around his neck and something clutched in his hand. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "heard someone saying your name on the stairs, Harry! Look what I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "got here! I've had it developed, I wanted to show you -` *105*","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-6" "Harry looked bemusedly at the photograph Colin was brandishing under his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "nose. A moving, black-and-white Lockhart was tugging hard on an arm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Harry recognized as his own. He was pleased to see that his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "photographic self was putting up a good fight and refusing to be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "dragged into view. As Harry watched, Lockhart gave up and slumped, panting,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "against the white edge of the picture. `Will you sign it?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "said Colin eagerly. `No,` said Harry flatly, glancing around to check","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "that the room was really deserted. `Sorry, Colin, I'm in a hurry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "- Quidditch practice -` He climbed through the portrait hole. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Oh, wow! Wait for me! I've never watched a Quidditch game before!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " Colin scrambled through the hole after him. `It'll be really","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "boring,` Harry said quickly, but Colin ignored him, his face shining with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "excitement. `You were the youngest House player in a hundred years,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "weren't you, Harry? Weren't you?` said Colin, trotting alongside him. `You must","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "be brilliant. I've never flown. Is it easy? Is that your own","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "broom? Is that the best one there is?` Harry didn't know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "how to get rid of him. It was like having an extremely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "talkative shadow. `I don't really understand Quidditch,` said Colin breathlessly. `Is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "it true there are four balls? And two of them fly around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "trying to knock people off their brooms?` `Yes,` said Harry heavily,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "resigned to explaining the complicated rules of Quidditch. `They're called Bludgers. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "are two Beaters *106* on each team who carry clubs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "to beat the Bludgers away from their side. Fred and George Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "are the Gryffindor Beaters.` `And what are the other balls for?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Colin asked, tripping down a couple of steps because he was gazing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "open-mouthed at Harry. `Well, the Quafe - that's the biggish red","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "one - is the one that scores goals. Three Chasers on each","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "team throw the Quaffle to each other and try and get it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "through the goal posts at the end of the pitch - they're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "three long poles with hoops on the end.` `And the fourth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "ball -` `- is the Golden Snitch,` said Harry, `and it's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "very small, very fast, and difficult to catch. But that's what the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Seeker's got to do, because a game of Quidditch doesn't end until","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the Snitch has been caught. And whichever team's Seeker gets the Snitch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "earns his team an extra hundred and fifty points.` `And you're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the Gryffindor Seeker, aren't you?` said Colin in awe. `Yes,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Harry as they left the castle and started across the dew- drenched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "grass. `And there's the Keeper, too. He guards the goal posts. That's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "it, really.` But Colin didn't stop questioning Harry all the way","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "down the sloping lawns to the Quidditch field, and Harry only shook","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "him off when he reached the changing rooms; Colin called after him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "in a piping voice, `I'll go and get a good seat, Harry!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "and hurried off to the stands. The rest of the Gryffindor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "team were already in the changing room. Wood was the only person","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "who looked truly awake. Fred and George Weasley were sitting, puffy-eyed and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "touslehaired, next to fourth year Alicia Spinnet, who seemed to be nodding","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "off against the wall behind her. Her fellow Chasers, Katie *107*","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " Bell and Angelina Johnson, were yawning side by side opposite them.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `There you are, Harry, what kept you?` said Wood briskly. `Now,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "I wanted a quick talk with you all before we actually get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "onto the field, because I spent the summer devising a whole new","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "training program, which I really think will make all the difference ....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " Wood was holding up a large diagram of a Quidditch field,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "on which were drawn many lines, arrows, and crosses in differentcolored inks.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "He took out his wand, tapped the board, and the arrows began","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "to wiggle over the diagram like caterpillars. As Wood launched into a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "speech about his new tactics, Fred Weasley's head drooped right onto Alicia","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Spinnet's shoulder and he began to snore. The first board took","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "nearly twenty minutes to explain, but there was another board under that,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "and a third under that one. Harry sank into a stupor as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Wood droned on and on. `So,` said Wood, at long last,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "jerking Harry from a wistful fantasy about what he could be eating","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "for breakfast at this very moment up at the castle. `Is that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "clear? Any questions?` `I've got a question, Oliver,` said George, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "had woken with a start. `Why couldn't you have told us all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "this yesterday when we were awake?` Wood wasn't pleased. `Now,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "listen here, you lot,` he said, glowering at them all. `We should","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "have won the Quidditch cup last year. We're easily the best team.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "But unfortunately -owing to circumstances beyond our control - ` *108*","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " Harry shifted guiltily in his seat. He had been unconscious in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the hospital wing for the final match of the previous year, meaning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "that Gryffindor had been a player short and had suffered their worst","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "defeat in three hundred years. Wood took a moment to regain","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "control of himself. Their last defeat was clearly still torturing him. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`So this year, we train harder than ever before .... Okay, let's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "go and put our new theories into practice!` Wood shouted, seizing his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "broomstick and leading the way out of the locker rooms. Stifflegged and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "still yawning, his team followed. They had been in the locker","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "room so long that the sun was up completely now, although remnants","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "of mist hung over the grass in the stadium. As Harry walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "onto the field, he saw Ron and Hermione sitting in the stands.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `Aren't you finished yet?` called Ron incredulously. `Haven't even started,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "said Harry, looking jealously at the toast and marmalade Ron and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "had brought out of the Great Hall. `Wood's been teaching us new","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "moves.` He mounted his broomstick and kicked at the ground, soaring","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "up into the air. The cool morning air whipped his face, waking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "him far more effectively than Wood's long talk. It felt wonderful to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "be back on the Quidditch field. He soared right around the stadium","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "at full speed, racing Fred and George. `What's that funny clicking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "noise?` called Fred as they hurtled around the corner. Harry looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "into the stands. Colin was sitting in one of the highest seats,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "his camera raised, taking picture after picture, the sound strangely magnified in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the deserted stadium. *io9* `Look this way, Harry! This way!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "he cried shrilly. `Who's that?` said Fred. `No idea,` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "lied, putting on a spurt of speed that took him as far","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "away as possible from Colin. `What's going on?` said Wood, frowning,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "as he skimmed through the air toward them. `Why's that first year","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "taking pictures? I don't like it. He could be a Slytherin spy,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "trying to find out about our new training program.` `He's in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Gryffindor,` said Harry quickly. `And the Slytherins don't need a spy,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Oliver,` said George. `What makes you say that?` said Wood testily.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `Because they're here in person,` said George, pointing. Several people","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "in green robes were walking onto the field, broomsticks in their hands.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `I don't believe it!` Wood hissed in outrage. `I booked the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "field for today! We'll see about this!` Wood shot toward the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "slightly as he dismounted. Harry, Fred, and George followed. `Flint!` Wood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. `This is our practice time! We got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "up specially! You can clear off now!` Marcus Flint was even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "face as he replied, `Plenty of room for all of us, Wood.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " Angelina, Alicia, and Katie had come over, too. There were no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "girls on the Slytherin team, who stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Gryffindors, leering to a man. `But I booked the field!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Wood, positively spitting with rage. `I booked it!` *110* `Ah,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "said Flint. `But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Snape. `I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "new Seeker.`' `You've got a new Seeker?` said Wood, distracted. `Where?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " And from behind the six large figures before them came a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over his pale, pointed face. It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Draco Malfoy. `Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?` said Fred, looking at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Malfoy with dislike. `Funny you should mention Draco's father,` said Flint","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "as the whole Slytherin team smiled still more broadly. `Let me show","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team.` All","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "seven of them held out their broomsticks. Seven highly polished, brand-new handles","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "and seven sets of fine gold lettering spelling the words Nimbus Two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Thousand and One gleamed under the Gryffindors' noses in the early morning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "sun. `Very latest model. Only came out last month,` said Flint","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "carelessly, flicking a speck of dust from the end of his own.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "amount. As for the old Cleansweeps` - he smiled nastily at Fred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "and George, who were both clutching Cleansweep Fives - `sweeps the board","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "with them.` None of the Gryffindor team could think of anything","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "to say for a moment. Malfoy was smirking so broadly his cold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "eyes were reduced to slits. `Oh, look,` said Flint. `A field","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "invasion.` Ron and Hermione were crossing the grass to see what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "was going on. *111* `What's happening?` Ron asked Harry. `Why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?` He was looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "at Malfoy, taking in his Slytherin Quidditch robes. `I'm the new","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Slytherin Seeker, Weasley,` said Malfoy, smugly. `Everyone's just been admiring the brooms","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "my father's bought our team. Ron gaped, open-mouthed, at the seven","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "superb broomsticks in front of him. `Good, aren't they?` said Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "smoothly. `But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them.` The Slytherin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "team howled with laughter. `At least no one on the Gryffindor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "team had to buy their way in,` said Hermione sharply. `They got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "in on pure talent.` The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `No one asked your opinion, you fiIthy little Mudblood,` he spat.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " Harry knew at once that Malfoy had said something really bad","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "because there was an instant uproar at his words. Flint had to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "dive in front of Malfoy to stop Fred and George jumping on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "him, Alicia shrieked, `How dare you!` ; and Ron plunged his hand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, `You'll pay for that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "one, Malfoy!` and pointed it furiously under Flint's arm at Malfoys face.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "him in the stomach and sending him reeling backward onto the grass.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " 12 `Ron! Ron! Are you all right?` squealed Hermione. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Ron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "he gave an almighty belch and several slugs dribbled out of his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "mouth onto his lap. The Slytherin team were paralyzed with laughter.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Flint was doubled up, hanging onto his new broomstick for support. Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "was on all fours, banging the ground with his fist. The Gryffindors","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "were gathered around Ron, who kept belching large, glistening slugs. Nobody seemed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "to want to touch him. `We'd better get him to Hagrid's,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "it's nearest,` said Harry to Hermione, who nodded bravely, and the pair","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "of them pulled Ron up by the arms. `What happened, Harry?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "What happened? Is he ill? But you can cure him, can't you?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Colin had run down from his seat and was now dancing alongside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "them as they left the field. Ron gave a huge heave and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "more slugs dribbled down his front. `Oooh,` said Colin, fascinated and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "raising his camera. `Can you hold him still, Harry?` `Get out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "of the way, Colin!` said Harry angrily. He and Hermione supported Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "out of the stadium and across the grounds toward the edge of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the forest. `Nearly there, Ron,` said Hermione as the gamekeeper's cabin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "came into view. `You'll be all right in a minute - almost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "there -` They were within twenty feet of Hagrid's house when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the front door opened, but it wasn't Hagrid who emerged. Gilderoy Lockhart,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "wearing robes of palest mauve today, came striding out. `Quick, behind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "here,` Harry hissed, dragging Ron behind a nearby bush. Hermione followed, somewhat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "reluctantly. *113* * `It's a simple matter if you know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "what you're doing!` Lockhart was saying loudly to Hagrid. `If you need","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "of my book. I'm surprised you haven't already got one - I'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "sign one tonight and send it over. Well, good-bye!` And he strode","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "away toward the castle. Harry waited until Lockhart was out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "sight, then pulled Ron out of the bush and up to Hagrid's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "front door. They knocked urgently. Hagrid appeared at once, looking very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "grumpy, but his expression brightened when he saw who it was. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me - come in, come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "in - thought you mighta bin Professor Lockhart back again -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Harry and Hermione supported Ron over the threshold into the one- roomed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "cabin, which had an enormous bed in one corner, a fire crackling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "merrily in the other. Hagrid didn't seem perturbed by Ron's slug problem,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "which Harry hastily explained as he lowered Ron into a chair. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Better out than in,` he said cheerfully, plunking a large copper basin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "in front of him. `Get 'em all up, Ron.` `I don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "think there's anything to do except wait for it to stop,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Hermione anxiously, watching Ron bend over the basin. `That's a difficult curse","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "to work at the best of times, but with a broken wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "-` Hagrid was bustling around making them tea. His boarhound, Fang,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "was slobbering over Harry. `What did Lockhart want with you, Hagrid?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Harry asked, scratching Fang's ears. `Givin' me advice on gettin' kelpies","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "out of a well,` growled *114* Hagrid, moving a half-plucked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "rooster off his scrubbed table and setting down the teapot. `Like I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "don' know. An' bangin' on about some banshee he banished. If one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "word of it was true, I'll eat my kettle.` It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "most unlike Hagrid to criticize a Hogwarts' teacher, and Harry looked at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "him in surprise. Hermione, however, said in a voice somewhat higher than","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "usual, `I think you're being a bit unfair. Professor Dumbledore obviously thought","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "he was the best man for the job -` `He was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the on' man for the job,` said Hagrid, offering them a Y","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " plate of treacle fudge, while Ron coughed squelchily into his basin.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`An' I mean the on' one. Gettin' very difficult ter find anyone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "fer Y the Dark Arts job. People aren't too keen ter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "take it on, see. They're startin' ter think it's jinxed. No one's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "lasted long fer a while now. So tell me,` said Hagrid, jerking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "his head at Ron. `Who was he tryin' ter curse?` `Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "called Hermione something - it must've been really bad, because everyone went","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "wild.` `It was bad,` said Ron hoarsely, emerging over the tabletop","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "looking pale and sweaty. `Malfoy called her `Mudblood,' Hagrid -` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "dived out of sight again as a fresh wave of slugs made","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "their appearance. Hagrid looked outraged. `He didn'!` he growled at Hermione.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `He did,` she said. `But I don't know what it means.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "I could tell it was really rude, of course -` `It's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "about the most insulting thing he could think of,` gasped Ron, coming","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "back up. `Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "- you know, non-magic parents. There are *115* some wizards","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "- like Malfoy's family - who think they're better than everyone else","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "because they're what people call pure-blood.` He gave a small burp, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "a single slug fell into his outstretched hand. He threw it into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the basin and continued, `I mean, the rest of us know it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "doesn't make any difference at all. Look at Neville Longbottom - he's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "pure-blood and he can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `An' they haven't invented a spell our Hermione can' do,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Hagrid proudly, making Hermione go a brilliant shade of magenta. `It's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "a disgusting thing to call someone,` said Ron, wiping his sweaty brow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "with a shaking hand. `Dirty blood, see. Common blood. It's ridiculous. Most","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married Muggles we'd've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "died out.` He retched and ducked out of sight again. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Well, I don' blame yeh fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Hagrid loudly over the thuds of more slugs hitting the basin. `Bu'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "maybe it was a good thing yer wand backfired. 'Spect Lucius Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "would've come marchin' up ter school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "yer not in trouble.` Harry would have pointed out that trouble","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "didn't come much worse than having slugs pouring out of your mouth,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "but he couldn't; Hagrid's treacle fudge had cemented his jaws together. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Harry,` said Hagrid abruptly as though struck by a sudden thought. `Gotta","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "bone ter pick with yeh. I've heard you've bin givin' out signed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "photos. How come I haven't got one?` Furious, Harry wrenched his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "teeth apart. `I have not been giving out signed photos,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "said hotly. `If Lockhart's still spreading that around -` *116* ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "But then he saw that Hagrid was laughing. `I'm on'y jokin',`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "he said, patting Harry genially on the back and sending him face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "first into the table. `I knew yeh hadn't really. I told Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "yeh didn' need teh. Yer more famous than him without tryin'.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Bet he didn't like that,` said Harry, sitting up and rubbing his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "chin. `Don' think he did,` said Hagrid, his eyes twinkling. `An'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "then I told him Id never read one o' his books an'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "he decided ter go. Treacle fudge, Ron?` he added as Ron reappeared.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `No thanks,` said Ron weakly. `Better not risk it.` `Come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "an' see what I've bin growin',` said Hagrid as Harry and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "finished the last of their tea. In the small vegetable patch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "behind Hagrid's house were a dozen of the largest pumpkins Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "ever seen. Each was the size of a large boulder. `Gettin'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "on well, aren't they?` said Hagrid happily. `Fer the Halloween feast ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "should be big enough by then.` `What've you been feeding them?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "said Harry. Hagrid looked over his shoulder to check that they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "were alone. `Well, I've bin givin' them - you know -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "a bit o' help -` Harry noticed Hagrid's flowery pink umbrella","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "leaning against the back wall of the cabin. Harry had had reason","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "to believe before now that this umbrella was not all it looked;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "in fact, he had the strong impression that Hagrid's old school wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "was concealed inside it. Hagrid wasn't supposed to use magic. He had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, but Harry had never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "found out why -any mention of the matter and Hagrid would clear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "his *117* throat loudly and become mysteriously deaf until the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "subject was changed. `An Engorgement Charm, I suppose?` said Hermione, halfway","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "between disapproval and amusement. `Well, you've done a good job on them.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `That's what yer little sister said,` said Hagrid, nodding at Ron.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Met her jus' yesterday.` Hagrid looked sideways at Harry, his beard twitching.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Said she was jus' lookin' round the grounds, but I reckon she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "was hopin' she might run inter someone else at my house.` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "winked at Harry. `If yeh ask me, she wouldn' say no ter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "a signed -` `Oh, shut up,` said Harry. Ron snorted with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "laughter and the ground was sprayed with slugs. `Watch it!` Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "roared, pulling Ron away from his precious pumpkins. It was nearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "lunchtime and as Harry had only had one bit of treacle fudge","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "since dawn, he was keen to go back to school to eat.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "They said good-bye to Hagrid and walked back up to the castle,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Ron hiccoughing occasionally, but only bringing up two very small slugs. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "They had barely set foot in the cool entrance hall when a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "voice rang out, `There you are, Potter - Weasley.` Professor McGonagall was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "walking toward them, looking stern. `You will both do your detentions this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "evening.` `What're we doing, Professor?` said Ron, nervously suppressing a burp.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `You will be polishing the silver in the trophy room with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Mr. Filch,` said Professor McGonagall. `And no magic, Weasley - elbow grease.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " *118* Ron gulped. Argus Filch, the caretaker, was loathed by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "every student in the school. `And you, Potter, will be helping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Professor Lockhart answer his fan mail,` said Professor McGonagall. `Oh n","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "- Professor, can't I go and do the trophy room, too?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Harry desperately. `Certainly not,` said Professor McGonagall, raising her eyebrows. `Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Lockhart requested you particularly. Eight o'clock sharp, both of you.` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "and Ron slouched into the Great Hall in states of deepest gloom,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "Hermione behind them, wearing a well-you-did-break-school- rules sort of expression. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "didn't enjoy his shepherd's pie as much as he'd thought. Both he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "and Ron felt they'd got the worse deal. `Filch'll have me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "there all night,` said Ron heavily. `No magic! There must be about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "a hundred cups in that room. I'm no good at Muggle cleaning.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `I'd swap anytime,` said Harry hollowly. `I've had loads of practice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "with the Dursleys. Answering Lockhart's fan mail ... he'll be a nightmare","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "...... Saturday afternoon seemed to melt away, and in what seemed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "like no time, it was five minutes to eight, and Harry was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "dragging his feet along the second-floor corridor to Lockhart's office. He gritted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "his teeth and knocked. The door flew open at once. Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "beamed down at him. `Ah, here's the scalawag!` he said. `Come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "in, Harry, come in -` Shining brightly on the walls by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the light of many candles were countless framed photographs of Lockhart. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "had even signed a few of them. Another large pile lay on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "his desk. `You can address the envelopes!` Lockhart told Harry, as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "though this was a huge treat. `This first one's to Gladys Gudgeon,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "bless her - huge fan of mine -` The minutes snailed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "by. Harry let Lockhart's voice wash over him, occasionally saying, `Mmm` and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "`Right` and `Yeah.` Now and then he caught a phrase like, `Fame's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "a fickle friend, Harry,` or `Celebrity is as celebrity does, remember that.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " The candles burned lower and lower, making the light dance over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "the many moving faces of Lockhart watching him. Harry moved his aching","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "hand over what felt like the thousandth envelope, writing out Veronica Smethley's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "address. It must be nearly time to leave, Harry thought miserably, please","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "let it be nearly time... And then he heard something -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "something quite apart from the spitting of the dying candles and Lockhart's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "prattle about his fans. It was a voice, a voice to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "chill the bone marrow, a voice of breathtaking, ice-cold venom. `Come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "... come to me.... Let me rip you.... Let me tear you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" ".... Let me kill you . . . .` Harry gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "a huge jump and a large lilac blot appeared on Veronica Smethley's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "street. `What?` he said loudly. `I know!` said Lockhart. `Six","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "solid months at the top of the best- seller list! Broke all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "records!` `No,` said Harry frantically. `That voice!` `Sorry?` said Lockhart,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "looking puzzled. `What voice?` `That - that voice that said -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" "didn't you hear it?` Lockhart was looking at Harry in high astonishment.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-7" " `What are you talking about, Harry? Perhaps you're getting a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "litde drowsy? Great Scott - look at the time! We've been here","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "nearly four hours! Id never have believed it - the time's flown,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "hasn't it?` Harry didn't answer. He was straining his ears to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "hear the voice again, but there was no sound now except for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Lockhart telling him he mustn't expect a treat like this every time","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "he got detention. Feeling dazed, Harry left. It was so late","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "that the Gryffindor common room was almost empty. Harry went straight up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to the dormitory. Ron wasn't back yet. Harry pulled on his pajamas,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "got into bed, and waited. Half an hour later, Ron arrived, nursing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "his right arm and bringing a strong smell of polish into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "darkened room. `My muscles have all seized up,` he groaned, sinking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "on his bed. `Fourteen times he made me buff up that Quidditch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "cup before he was satisfied. And then I had another slug attack","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "all over a Special Award for Services to the School. Took ages","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to get the slime off... How was it with Lockhart?` Keeping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "his voice low so as not to wake Neville, Dean, and Seamus,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry told Ron exactly what he had heard. `And Lockhart said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "he couldn't hear it?` said Ron. Harry could see him frowning in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the moonlight. `D'you think he was lying? But I don't get it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "- even someone invisible would've had to open the door.` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "know,` said Harry, lying back in his four-poster and staring at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "canopy above him. `I don't get it either.` October arrived,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "spreading a damp chill over the grounds and into the castle. Madam","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Pomfrey, the nurse, was kept busy by a sudden spate of colds","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "among the staff and students. Her Pepperup potion worked instantly, though it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "left the drinker smoking at the ears for several hours afterward. Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Weasley, who had been looking pale, was bullied into taking some by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Percy. The steam pouring from under her vivid hair gave the impression","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "that her whole head was on fire. Raindrops the size of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid's pumpkins swelled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to the size of garden sheds. Oliver Wood's enthusiasm for regular training","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "sessions, however, was not dampened, which was why Harry was to be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "found, late one stormy Saturday afternoon a few days before Halloween, returning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to Gryffindor Tower, drenched to the skin and splattered with mud.. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " Even aside from the rain and wind it hadn't been a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "happy practice session. Fred and George, who had been spying on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the Slytherin team, had seen for themselves the speed of those new","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones. They reported that the Slytherin team was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "no more than seven greenish blurs, shooting through the air like missiles.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " As Harry squelched along the deserted corridor he came across somebody","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "who looked just as preoccupied as he was. Nearly Headless Nick, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely out of a window, muttering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "under his breath, `. . . don't fulfill their requirements . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ". half an inch, if that . . .` `Hello, Nick,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "said Harry. `Hello, hello,` said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "round. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long curly hair,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "neck was almost completely severed. He was pale as smoke, and Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "could see right through him to the dark sky and torrential rain","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "outside. `You look troubled, young Potter,` said Nick, folding a transparent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "letter as he spoke and tucking it inside his doublet. `So","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "do you,` said Harry. `Ah,` Nearly Headless Nick waved an elegant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "hand, `a matter of no importance. . . . It's not as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "though I really wanted to join. . . . Thought I'd apply,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "but apparently I 'don't fulfill requirements' -` In spite of his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "airy tone, there was a look of great bitterness on his face.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " `But you would think, wouldn't you,` he erupted suddenly, pulling the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "letter back out of his pocket, `that getting hit forty-five times in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the neck with a blunt axe would qualify you to join the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Headless Hunt?` `Oh - yes,` said Harry, who was obviously","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "supposed to agree. `I mean, nobody wishes more than I do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "that it had all been quick and clean, and my head had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "come off properly, I mean, it would have saved me a great","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "deal of pain and ridicule. However -` Nearly Headless Nick shook his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "letter open and read furiously: `'We can only accept huntsmen whose heads","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "have parted company with their bodies. You will appreciate that it would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "be impossible otherwise for members to participate in hunt activities such as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Horseback Head-Juggling and Head Polo. It is with the greatest regret, therefore,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "that I must inform you that you do not fulfill our requirements.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " With very best wishes, Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore.'` Fuming, Nearly Headless","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Nick stuffed the letter away. `Half an inch of skin and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "sinew holding my neck on, Harry! Most people would think that's good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and beheaded, but oh, no, it's not enough for Sir Properly Decapitated-Podmore.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " Nearly Headless Nick took several deep breaths and then said, in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "a far calmer tone, `So - what's bothering you? Anything I can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "do?` `No,` said Harry. `Not unless you know where we can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "get seven free Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones for our match against","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Sly -` The rest of Harry's sentence was drowned out by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "a high-pitched mewling from somewhere near his ankles. He looked down and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "found himself gazing into a pair of lamp-like yellow eyes. It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Mrs. Norris, the skeletal gray cat who was used by the caretaker,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Argus Filch, as a sort of deputy in his endless battle against","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "students. `You'd better get out of here, Harry,` said Nick quickly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Filch isn't in a good mood - he's got the flu and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "some third years accidentally plastered frog brains all over the ceiling in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "dungeon five. He's been cleaning all morning, and if he sees you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "dripping mud all over the place -` `Right,` said Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "backing away from the accusing stare of Mrs. Norris, but not quickly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "enough. Drawn to the spot by the mysterious power that seemed to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "connect him with his foul cat, Argus Filch burst suddenly through a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "tapestry to Harry's right, wheezing and looking wildly about for the rule-breaker.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " There was a thick tartan scarf bound around his head, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "his nose was unusually purple. `Filth!` he shouted, his jowls aquiver,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "his eyes popping alarmingly as he pointed at the muddy puddle that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "had dripped from Harry's Quidditch robes. `Mess and muck everywhere! I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "had enough of it, I tell you! Follow me, Potter!` So","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry waved a gloomy good-bye to Nearly Headless Nick and followed Filch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "back downstairs, doubling the number of muddy footprints on the floor. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry had never been inside Filch's office before; it was a place","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "most students avoided. The room was dingy and windowless, lit by a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "single oil lamp dangling from the low ceiling. A faint smell of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "fried fish lingered about the place. Wooden filing cabinets stood around the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "walls; from their labels, Harry could see that they contained details of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "every pupil Filch had ever punished. Fred and George Weasley had an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "entire drawer to themselves. A highly polished collection of chains and manacles","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "hung on the wall behind Filch's desk. It was common knowledge that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "he was always begging Dumbledore to let him suspend students by their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "ankles from the ceiling. Filch grabbed a quill from a pot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "on his desk and began shuffling around looking for parchment. `Dung,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "he muttered furiously, `great sizzling dragon bogies . . . frog brains","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ". . . rat intestines . . . I've had enough of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "it . . . make an example . . . where's the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "form . . . yes . . .` He retrieved","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "a large roll of parchment from his desk drawer and stretched it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "out in front of him, dipping his long black quill into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "ink pot. `Name . . . Harry Potter. Crime . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ".` `It was only a bit of mud!` said Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`It's only a bit of mud to you, boy, but to me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "it's an extra hour scrubbing!` shouted Filch, a drip shivering unpleasantly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "at the end of his bulbous nose. `Crime . . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "befouling the castle . . . suggested sentence . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Dabbing at his streaming nose, Filch squinted unpleasantly at Harry who waited","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "with bated breath for his sentence to fall. But as Filch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "lowered his quill, there was a great BANG! on the ceiling of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the office, which made the oil lamp rattle. `PEEVES!` Filch roared,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "flinging down his quill in a transport of rage. `I'll have you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "this time, I'll have you!` And without a backward glance at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry, Filch ran flat-footed from the office, Mrs. Norris streaking alongside him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " Peeves was the school poltergeist, a grinning, airborne menace who lived","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to cause havoc and distress. Harry didn't much like Peeves, but couldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "help feeling grateful for his timing. Hopefully, whatever Peeves had done (and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "it sounded as though he'd wrecked something very big this time) would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "distract Filch from Harry. Thinking that he should probably wait for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Filch to come back, Harry sank into a moth-eaten chair next to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the desk. There was only one thing on it apart from his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "half-completed form: a large, glossy, purple envelope with silver lettering on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "front. With a quick glance at the door to check that Filch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "wasn't on his way back, Harry picked up the envelope and read:","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "kwikspell A Correspondence Course in Beginners' Magic. Intrigued, Harry flicked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the envelope open and pulled out the sheaf of parchment inside. More","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "curly silver writing on the front page said: Feel out of step","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "in the world of modern magic? Find yourself making excuses not to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "perform simple spells? Ever been taunted for your woeful wandwork? There is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "an answer! Kwikspell is an all-new, fail-safe, quick-result, easy-learn course. Hundreds of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "witches and wizards have benefited from the Kwikspell method! Madam Z. Nettles","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "of Topsham writes: `I had no memory for incantations and my potions","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "were a family joke! Now, after a Kwikspell course, I am the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "center of attention at parties and friends beg for the recipe of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "my Scintillation Solution!` Warlock D. J. Prod of Didsbury says: `My wife","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "used to sneer at my feeble charms, but one month into your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "fabulous Kwikspell course and I succeeded in turning her into a yak!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Thank you, Kwikspell!` Fascinated, Harry thumbed through the rest of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the envelope's contents. Why on earth did Filch want a Kwikspell course?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Did this mean he wasn't a proper wizard? Harry was just reading","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Lesson One: Holding Your Wand (Some Useful Tips)` when shuffling footsteps outside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "told him Filch was coming back. Stuffing the parchment back into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "envelope, Harry threw it back onto the desk just as the door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "opened. Filch was looking triumphant. `That vanishing cabinet was extremely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "valuable!` he was saying gleefully to Mrs. Norris. `We'll have Peeves out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "this time, my sweet -` His eyes fell on Harry and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "then darted to the Kwikspell envelope, which, Harry realized too late, was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "lying two feet away from where it had started. Filch's pasty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "face went brick red. Harry braced himself for a tidal wave of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "fury. Filch hobbled across to his desk, snatched up the envelope, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "threw it into a drawer. `Have you - did you read","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "-?` he sputtered. `No,` Harry lied quickly. Filch's knobbly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "hands were twisting together. `If I thought you'd read my private","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "- not that it's mine - for a friend - be that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "as it may - however -` Harry was staring at him,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "alarmed; Filch had never looked madder. His eyes were popping, a tic","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "was going in one of his pouchy cheeks, and the tartan scarf","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "didn't help. `Very well - go - and don't breathe a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "word - not that - however, if you didn't read - go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "now, I have to write up Peeves' report - go -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Amazed at his luck, Harry sped out of the office, up the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "corridor, and back upstairs. To escape from Filch's office without punishment was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "probably some kind of school record. `Harry! Harry! Did it work?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " Nearly Headless Nick came gliding out of a classroom. Behind him,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry could see the wreckage of a large black-and-gold cabinet that appeared","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to have been dropped from a great height. `I persuaded Peeves","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to crash it right over Filch's office,` said Nick eagerly. `Thought","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "it might distract him -` `Was that you?` said Harry gratefully.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Yeah, it worked, I didn't even get detention. Thanks, Nick!` They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "set off up the corridor together. Nearly Headless Nick, Harry noticed, was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "still holding Sir Patrick's rejection letter.. `I wish there was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "something I could do for you about the Headless Hunt,` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "said. Nearly Headless Nick stopped in his tracks and Harry walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "right through him. He wished he hadn't; it was like stepping through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "an icy shower. `But there is something you could do for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "me,` said Nick excitedly. `Harry - would I be asking too much","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "- but no, you wouldn't want -` `What is it?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry. `Well, this Halloween will be my five hundredth deathday,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Nearly Headless Nick, drawing himself up and looking dignified. `Oh,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry, not sure whether he should look sorry or happy about this.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " `Right.` `I'm holding a party down in one of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "roomier dungeons. Friends will be coming from all over the country. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "would be such an honor if you would attend. Mr. Weasley and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Miss Granger would be most welcome, too, of course - but I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "daresay you'd rather go to the school feast?` He watched Harry on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "tenterhooks. `No,` said Harry quickly, `I'll come -` `My dear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "boy! Harry Potter, at my deathday party! And` - he hesitated, looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "excited - `do you think you could possibly mention to Sir Patrick","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "how very frightening and impressive you find me?` `Of - of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "course,` said Harry. Nearly Headless Nick beamed at him. `A deathday","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "party?` said Hermione keenly when Harry had changed at last and joined","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "her and Ron in the common room. `I bet there aren't many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "living people who can say they've been to one of those -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "it'll be fascinating!`. `Why would anyone want to celebrate the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "day they died?` said Ron, who was halfway through his Potions homework","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and grumpy. `Sounds dead depressing to me. . . .` Rain","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "was still lashing the windows, which were now inky black, but inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "all looked bright and cheerful. The firelight glowed over the countless squashy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "armchairs where people sat reading, talking, doing homework or, in the case","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "of Fred and George Weasley, trying to find out what would happen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "if you fed a Filibuster firework to a salamander. Fred had `rescued`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the brilliant orange, fire-dwelling lizard from a Care of Magical Creatures class","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and it was now smouldering gently on a table surrounded by a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "knot of curious people. Harry was at the point of telling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Ron and Hermione about Filch and the Kwikspell course when the salamander","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "suddenly whizzed into the air, emitting loud sparks and bangs as it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "whirled wildly round the room. The sight of Percy bellowing himself hoarse","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "at Fred and George, the spectacular display of tangerine stars showering from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the salamander's mouth, and its escape into the fire, with accompanying explosions,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "drove both Filch and the Kwikspell envelope from Harry's mind. By the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "time Halloween arrived, Harry was regretting his rash promise to go to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the deathday party. The rest of the school was happily anticipating their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Halloween feast; the Great Hall had been decorated with the usual live","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "bats, Hagrid's vast pumpkins had been carved into lanterns large enough for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "three men to sit in, and there were rumors that Dumbledore had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "booked a troupe of dancing skeletons for the entertainment. `A promise","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "is a promise,` Hermione reminded Harry bossily. `You said you'd go to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the deathday party.` So at seven o'clock, Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "walked straight past the doorway to the packed Great Hall, which was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "glittering invitingly with gold plates and candles, and directed their steps instead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "toward the dungeons. The passageway leading to Nearly Headless Nick's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "party had been lined with candles, too, though the effect was far","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "from cheerful: These were long, thin, jet-black tapers, all burning bright blue,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "casting a dim, ghostly light even over their own living faces. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "temperature dropped with every step they took. As Harry shivered and drew","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "his robes tightly around him, he heard what sounded like a thousand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "fingernails scraping an enormous blackboard. `Is that supposed to be music?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Ron whispered. They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nick standing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "at a doorway hung with black velvet drapes. `My dear friends,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "he said mournfully. `Welcome, welcome . . . so pleased you could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "come. . . .` He swept off his plumed hat and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "bowed them inside. It was an incredible sight. The dungeon was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "full of hundreds of pearly-white, translucent people, mostly drifting around a crowded","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "dance floor, waltzing to the dreadful, quavering sound of thirty musical saws,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "played by an orchestra on a raised, black-draped platform. A chandelier overhead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "blazed midnight-blue with a thousand more black candles. Their breath rose in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "a mist before them; it was like stepping into a freezer. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Shall we have a look around?` Harry suggested, wanting to warm up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "his feet. `Careful not to walk through anyone,` said Ron nervously,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and they set off around the edge of the dance floor. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "passed a group of gloomy nuns, a ragged man wearing chains, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the Fat Friar, a cheerful Hufflepuff ghost, who was talking to a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "knight with an arrow sticking out of his forehead. Harry wasn't surprised","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to see that the Bloody Baron, a gaunt, staring Slytherin ghost covered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "in silver bloodstains, was being given a wide berth by the other","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "ghosts. `Oh, no,` said Hermione, stopping abruptly. `Turn back, turn","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "back, I don't want to talk to Moaning Myrtle -` `Who?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "said Harry as they backtracked quickly. `She haunts one of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "toilets in the girls' bathroom on the first floor,` said Hermione. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`She haunts a toilet?` `Yes. It's been out-of-order all year because","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "she keeps having tantrums and flooding the place. I never went in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "there anyway if I could avoid it; it's awful trying to have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "a pee with her wailing at you -` `Look, food!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Ron. On the other side of the dungeon was a long","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "table, also covered in black velvet. They approached it eagerly but next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "moment had stopped in their tracks, horrified. The smell was quite disgusting.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Large, rotten fish were laid on handsome silver platters; cakes, burned charcoal-black,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "were heaped on salvers; there was a great maggoty haggis, a slab","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "of cheese covered in furry green mold and, in pride of place,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "an enormous gray cake in the shape of a tombstone, with tar-like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "icing forming the words, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington died 31st October, 1492","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry watched, amazed, as a portly ghost approached the table, crouched low,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and walked through it, his mouth held wide so that it passed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "through one of the stinking salmon. `Can you taste it if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "you walk though it?` Harry asked him. `Almost,` said the ghost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "sadly, and he drifted away. `I expect they've let it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "rot to give it a stronger flavor,` said Hermione knowledgeably, pinching her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "nose and leaning closer to look at the putrid haggis. `Can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "we move? I feel sick,` said Ron. They had barely turned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "around, however, when a little man swooped suddenly from under the table","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and came to a halt in midair before them. `Hello, Peeves,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "said Harry cautiously. Unlike the ghosts around them, Peeves the Poltergeist","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "was the very reverse of pale and transparent. He was wearing a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "bright orange party hat, a revolving bow tie, and a broad grin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "on his wide, wicked face. `Nibbles?` he said sweetly, offering them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "a bowl of peanuts covered in fungus. `No thanks,` said Hermione.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " `Heard you talking about poor Myrtle,` said Peeves, his eyes dancing.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " `Rude you was about poor Myrtle.` He took a deep breath","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and bellowed, `OY! MYRTLE!` `Oh, no, Peeves, don't tell her what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "I said, she'll be really upset,` Hermione whispered frantically. `I didn't mean","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "it, I don't mind her - er, hello, Myrtle.` The squat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "ghost of a girl had glided over. She had the glummest face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry had ever seen, half-hidden behind lank hair and thick, pearly spectacles.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " `What?` she said sulkily. `How are you, Myrtle?` said Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "in a falsely bright voice. `It's nice to see you out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the toilet.` Myrtle sniffed. `Miss Granger was just talking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "about you -` said Peeves slyly in Myrtle's ear. `Just saying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "- saying - how nice you look tonight,` said Hermione, glaring at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Peeves. Myrtle eyed Hermione suspiciously. `You're making fun of me,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "she said, silver tears welling rapidly in her small, see-through eyes. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`No - honestly - didn't I just say how nice Myrtle's looking?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "said Hermione, nudging Harry and Ron painfully in the ribs. `Oh,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "yeah -` `She did -` `Don't lie to me,` Myrtle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "gasped, tears now flooding down her face, while Peeves chuckled happily over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "her shoulder. `D'you think I don't know what people call me behind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "my back? Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle!` `You've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "forgotten pimply,` Peeves hissed in her ear. Moaning Myrtle burst into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "anguished sobs and fled from the dungeon. Peeves shot after her,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "pelting her with moldy peanuts, yelling, `Pimply! Pimply!` `Oh, dear,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "said Hermione sadly. Nearly Headless Nick now drifted toward them through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the crowd. `Enjoying yourselves?` `Oh, yes,` they lied. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Not a bad turnout,` said Nearly Headless Nick proudly. `The Wailing Widow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "came all the way up from Kent. . . . It's nearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "time for my speech, I'd better go and warn the orchestra. .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ". .` The orchestra, however, stopped playing at that very moment.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "They, and everyone else in the dungeon, fell silent, looking around in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "excitement, as a hunting horn sounded. `Oh, here we go,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Nearly Headless Nick bitterly. Through the dungeon wall burst a dozen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "ghost horses, each ridden by a headless horseman. The assembly clapped wildly;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry started to clap, too, but stopped quickly at the sight of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Nick's face. The horses galloped into the middle of the dance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "floor and halted, rearing and plunging. At the front of the pack","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "was a large ghost who held his bearded head under his arm,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "from which position he was blowing the horn. The ghost leapt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "down, lifted his head high in the air so he could see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "over the crowd (everyone laughed), and strode over to Nearly Headless Nick,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "squashing his head back onto his neck. `Nick!` he roared. `How","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "are you? Head still hanging in there?` He gave a hearty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "guffaw and clapped Nearly Headless Nick on the shoulder. `Welcome, Patrick,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "said Nick stiffly. `Live 'uns!` said Sir Patrick, spotting Harry, Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and Hermione and giving a huge, fake jump of astonishment, so that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "his head fell off again (the crowd howled with laughter). ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Very amusing,` said Nearly Headless Nick darkly. `Don't mind Nick!` shouted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Sir Patrick's head from the floor. `Still upset we won't let him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "join the Hunt! But I mean to say - look at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "fellow -` `I think,` said Harry hurriedly, at a meaningful look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "from Nick, `Nick's very - frightening and - er -` `Ha!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "yelled Sir Patrick's head. `Bet he asked you to say that!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`If I could have everyone's attention, it's time for my speech!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Nearly Headless Nick loudly, striding toward the podium and climbing into an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "icy blue spotlight. `My late lamented lords, ladies, and gentlemen, it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "is my great sorrow . . .` But nobody heard much","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "more. Sir Patrick and the rest of the Headless Hunt had just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "started a game of Head Hockey and the crowd were turning to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "watch. Nearly Headless Nick tried vainly to recapture his audience, but gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "up as Sir Patrick's head went sailing past him to loud cheers.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " Harry was very cold by now, not to mention hungry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`I can't stand much more of this,` Ron muttered, his teeth chattering,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "as the orchestra ground back into action and the ghosts swept back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "onto the dance floor. `Let's go,` Harry agreed. They backed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "toward the door, nodding and beaming at anyone who looked at them,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "and a minute later were hurrying back up the passageway full of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "black candles. `Pudding might not be finished yet,` said Ron hopefully,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "leading the way toward the steps to the entrance hall. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "And then Harry heard it. `. . . rip . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ". tear . . . kill . . .` It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the same voice, the same cold, murderous voice he had heard in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Lockhart's office. He stumbled to a halt, clutching at the stone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "wall, listening with all his might, looking around, squinting up and down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the dimly lit passageway. `Harry, what're you -?` `It's that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "voice again - shut up a minute -` `. . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "soo hungry . . . for so long . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Listen!` said Harry urgently, and Ron and Hermione froze, watching him. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`. . . kill . . . time to kill . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ".` The voice was growing fainter. Harry was sure it was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "moving away - moving upward. A mixture of fear and excitement gripped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "him as he stared at the dark ceiling; how could it be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "moving upward? Was it a phantom, to whom stone ceilings didn't matter?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" " `This way,` he shouted, and he began to run, up the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "stairs, into the entrance hall. It was no good hoping to hear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "anything here, the babble of talk from the Halloween feast was echoing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "out of the Great Hall. Harry sprinted up the marble staircase to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the first floor, Ron and Hermione clattering behind him. `Harry, what're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "we -` `SHH!` Harry strained his ears. Distantly, from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the floor above, and growing fainter still, he heard the voice: `.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ". . I smell blood. . . . I SMELL BLOOD!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "His stomach lurched - `It's going to kill someone!` he shouted, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "ignoring Ron's and Hermione's bewildered faces, he ran up the next flight","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "of steps three at a time, trying to listen over his own","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "pounding footsteps - Harry hurtled around the whole of the second floor,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Ron and Hermione panting behind him, not stopping until they turned a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "corner into the last, deserted passage. `Harry, what was that all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "about?` said Ron, wiping sweat off his face. `I couldn't hear anything.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" ". . .` But Hermione gave a sudden gasp, pointing down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the corridor. `Look!` Something was shining on the wall ahead.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "They approached slowly, squinting through the darkness. Foot-high words had been daubed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "on the wall between two windows, shimmering in the light cast by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the flaming torches. the chamber of secrets has been opened. enemies of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the heir, beware. `What's that thing - hanging underneath?` said Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "a slight quiver in his voice. As they edged nearer, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "almost slipped - there was a large puddle of water on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "floor; Ron and Hermione grabbed him, and they inched toward the message,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "eyes fixed on a dark shadow beneath it. All three of them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "realized what it was at once, and leapt backward with a splash..Mrs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Norris, the caretaker's cat, was hanging by her tail from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "staring. For a few seconds, they didn't move. Then Ron said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "`Let's get out of here.` `Shouldn't we try and help -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Harry began awkwardly. `Trust me,` said Ron. `We don't want to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "be found here.` But it was too late. A rumble, as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "though of distant thunder, told them that the feast had just ended.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "From either end of the corridor where they stood came the sound","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "of hundreds of feet climbing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "of well-fed people; next moment, students were crashing into the passage from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "both ends. The chatter, the bustle, the noise died suddenly as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the people in front spotted the hanging cat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "stood alone, in the middle of the corridor, as silence fell among","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "the mass of students pressing forward to see the grisly sight. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "Then someone shouted through the quiet. `Enemies of the Heir, beware!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "You'll be next, Mudbloods!` It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-8" "THE WRTITING ON THE WALL What's going on here? What's going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "on?` Attracted no doubt by Malfoy's shout, Argus Filch came shouldering his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "way through the crowd. Then he saw Mrs. Norris and fell back,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "clutching his face in horror. `My cat! My cat! What's happened","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to Mrs. Norris?` he shrieked. And his popping eyes fell on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Harry. `You!`he screeched. `You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "I'll kill you! I'll -` `Argus!` Dumbledore had arrived on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the scene, followed by a number of other teachers. In seconds, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "had swept past Harry, Ron, and Hermione and detached Mrs. Norris from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the torch bracket. `Come with me, Argus,` he said to Filch.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`You, too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger.` Lockhart stepped forward","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "eagerly. *140* `My office is nearest, Headmaster - just upstairs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "- please feel free -` `Thank you, Gilderoy,` said Dumbledore. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "The silent crowd parted to let them pass. Lockhart, looking excited and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "important, hurried after Dumbledore; so did Professors McGonagall and Snape. As","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "they entered Lockhart's darkened office there was a flurry of movement across","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the walls; Harry saw several of the Lockharts in the pictures dodging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "out of sight, their hair in rollers. The real Lockhart lit the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "candles on his desk and stood back. Dumbledore lay Mrs. Norris on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the polished surface and began to examine her. Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "exchanged tense looks and sank into chairs outside the pool of candlelight,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "watching. The tip of Dumbledore's long, crooked nose was barely an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "inch from Mrs. Norris's fur. He was looking at her closely through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "his half-moon spectacles, his long fingers gently prodding and poking. Professor McGonagall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "was bent almost as close, her eyes narrowed. Snape loomed behind them,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression: It was as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "he was trying hard not to smile. And Lockhart was hovering around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "all of them, making suggestions. `It was definitely a curse that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "killed her - probably the Transmogrifian Torture - I've seen it used","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "many times, so unlucky I wasn't there, I know the very countercurse","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "that would have saved her . ..... Lockhart's comments were punctuated","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "by Filch's dry, racking sobs. He was slumped in a chair by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the desk, unable to look at Mrs. Norris, his face in his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "hands. Much as he detested Filch, Harry *141* couldn't help","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "feeling a bit sorry for him, though not nearly as sorry as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "he felt for himself If Dumbledore believed Filch, he would be expelled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "for sure. Dumbledore was now muttering strange words under his breath","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "and tapping Mrs. Norris with his wand but nothing happened: She continued","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to look as though she had been recently stuffed. `. .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" ". I remember something very similar happening in Ouagadogou,` said Lockhart, `a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "series of attacks, the full story's in my autobiography, I was able","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to provide the townsfolk with various amulets, which cleared the matter up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "at once ...... The photographs of Lockhart on the walls were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "all nodding in agreement as he talked. One of them had forgotten","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to remove his hair net. At last Dumbledore straightened up. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`She's not dead, Argus,` he said softly. Lockhart stopped abruptly in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "middle of counting the number of murders he had prevented. `Not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "dead?` choked Filch, looking through his fingers at Mrs. Norris. `But why's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "she all - all stiff and frozen?` `She has been Petrified,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "said Dumbledore (`Ah! I thought so!` said Lockhart). `But how, I cannot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "say . . . .` `Ask him!` shrieked Filch, turning his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "blotched and tearstained face to Harry. `No second year could have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "done this,` said Dumbledore firmly. `it would take Dark Magic of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "most advanced -` `He did it, he did it!` Filch spat,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "his pouchy face purpling. `You saw what he wrote on the wall!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "He found - in my office - he knows I'm a -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "I'm a -` Filch's face worked horribly. `He knows I'm a Squib!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "he finished. 142 `I never touched Mrs. Norris!` Harry said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "loudly, uncomfortably aware of everyone looking at him, including all the Lockharts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "on the walls. `And I don't even know what a Squib is.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `Rubbish!` snarled Filch. `He saw my Kwikspell letter!` `If I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "might speak, Headmaster,` said Snape from the shadows, and Harry's sense of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "forboding increased; he was sure nothing Snape had to say was going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to do him any good. `Potter and his friends may have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time,` he said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a slight sneer curling his mouth as though he doubted it. `But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why was he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "in the upstairs corridor at all? Why wasn't he at the Halloween","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "feast?` Harry, Ron and Hermione all launched into an explanation about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the deathday party. `. . . there were hundreds of ghosts, theyll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "tell you we were there -` `But why not join the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "feast afterward?` said Snape, his black eyes glittering in the candlelight. `Why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "go up to that corridor?` Ron and Hermione looked at Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `Because - because -` Harry said, his heart thumping very fast;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "something told him it would sound very far-fetched if he told them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "he had been led there by a bodiless voice no one but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "he could hear, `because we were tired and wanted to go to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "bed,` he said. `Without any supper?` said Snape, a triumphant smile","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "flickering across his gaunt face. `I didn't think ghosts provided food fit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "for living people at their parties.` `We weren't hungry,` said Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "loudly as his stomach gave a huge rumble. Snape's nasty smile","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "widened. *143* `I suggest, Headmaster, that Potter is not being","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "entirely truthful,` he said. `It might be a good idea if he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "were deprived of certain privileges until he is ready to tell us","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the whole story. I personally feel he should be taken off the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest.` `Really,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Severus,` said Professor McGonagall sharply, `I see no reason to stop the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "boy playing Quidditch. This cat wasn't hit over the head with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter has done anything","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "wrong.` Dumbledore was giving Harry a searching look. His twinkling light-","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "blue gaze made Harry feel as though he were being X-rayed. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Innocent until proven guilty, Severus,` he said firmly. Snape looked furious. So","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "did Filch. `My cat has been Petrified!` he shrieked, his eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "popping. `I want to see some punishment!` `We will be able","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to cure her, Argus,` said Dumbledore patiently. `Professer Sprout recently managed to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "I will have a potion made that will revive Mrs. Norris.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`I'll make it,` Lockhart butted in. `I must have done it a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "sleep -` `Excuse me,` said Snape icily. `But I believe I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "am the Potions master at this school.` There was a very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "awkward pause. `You may go,` Dumbledore said to Harry, Ron, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Hermione. They went, as quickly as they could without actually running.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "When they were a floor up from Lockhart's office, they turned into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " *144* an empty classroom and closed the door quietly behind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "them. Harry squinted at his friends' darkened faces. `D'you think I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "should have told them about that voice I heard?` `No,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Ron, without hesitation. `Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "good sign, even in the wizarding world.` Something in Ron's voice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "made Harry ask, `You do believe me, don't you?` `'Course I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "do,` said Ron quickly. `But -you must admit it's weird ...... ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`I know it's weird,` said Harry. `The whole thing's weird. What was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "that writing on the wall about? The Cbamber Has Been Opened... What's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "that supposed to mean?` `You know, it rings a sort of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "bell,` said Ron slowly. `I think someone told me a story about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a secret chamber at Hogwarts once ... might've been Bill . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" ". .` `And what on earth's a Squib?` said Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "To his surprise, Ron stifled a snigger. `Well - it's not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "funny really - but as it's Filch, he said. `A Squib is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn't got any","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards, but Squibs are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "quite unusual. If Filch's trying to learn magic from a Kwikspell course,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "I reckon he must be a Squib. It would explain a lot.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Like why he hates students so much.` Ron gave a satisfied smile.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`He's bitter.` A clock chimed somewhere. `Midnight,` said Harry. `We'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "better get to bed before Snape comes along and tries to frame","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "us for something else.` *145* For a few days, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "school could talk of little else but the attack on Mrs. Norris.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Filch kept it fresh in everyone's minds by pacing the spot where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "she had been attacked, as though he thought the attacker might come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "back. Harry had seen him scrubbing the message on the wall with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover, but to no effect; the words","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "still gleamed as brightly as ever on the stone. When Filch wasn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "guarding the scene of the crime, he was skulking red- eyed through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the corridors, lunging out at unsuspecting students and trying to put them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "in detention for things like `breathing loudly' and `looking happy.` Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Weasley seemed very disturbed by Mrs. Norris's fate. According to Ron, she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "was a great cat lover. `But you haven't really got to know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Mrs. Norris,` Ron told her bracingly. `Honestly, we're much better off without","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "her.` Ginny's lip trembled. `Stuff like this doesn't often happen at Hogwarts,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Ron assured her. `They'll catch the maniac who did it and have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "him out of here in no time. I just hope he's got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "time to Petrify Filch before he's expelled. I'm only joking -` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "added hastily as Ginny blanched. The attack had also had an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "effect on Hermione. It was quite usual for Hermione to spend a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "lot of time reading, but she was now doing almost nothing else.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Nor could Harry and Ron get much response from her when they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "asked what she was up to, and not until the following Wednesday","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "did they find out. Harry had been held back in Potions,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "where Snape had made him stay behind to scrape tubeworms off the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "desks. After a hurried lunch, he went upstairs to meet Ron in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the library, and saw Justin Finch- Fletchley, the Hufflepuff boy from Herbology,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "coming *146* toward him. Harry had just opened his mouth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to say hello when Justin caught sight of him, turned abruptly, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "sped off in the opposite direction. Harry found Ron at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "back of the library, measuring his History of Magic homework. Professor Binns","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "had asked for a threefoot-long composition on `The Medieval Assembly of European","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " Wizards.` `I don't believe it, I'm still eight inches short","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "said Ron fu riously, letting go of his parchment, which sprang","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "back into a roll. `And Hermione's done four feet seven inches and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "her writing's tiny. ` `Where is she?` asked Harry, grabbing the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "tape measure and unrolling his own homework. `Somewhere over there,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Ron, pointing along the shelves. `Looking for another book. I think she's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "trying to read the whole library before Christmas.` Harry told Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "about Justin Finch-Fletchley running away from him. `Dunno why you care.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "I thought he was a bit of an idiot,` said Ron, scribbling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "away, making his writing as large as possible. `All that junk about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Lockhart being so great -` Hermione emerged from between the bookshelves.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "She looked irritable and at last seemed ready to talk to them.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `All the copies of Hogwarts, A History have been taken out,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "she said, sitting down next to Harry and Ron. `And there's a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "two-week waiting list. I wish I hadn't left my copy at home,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "but I couldn't fit it in my trunk with all the Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "books.` `Why do you want it?` said Harry. *141* ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`The same reason everyone else wants it,` said Hermione, `to read up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "on the legend of the Chamber of Secrets.` `What's that?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Harry quickly. `That's just it. I can't remember,` said Hermione, biting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "her lip. `And I can't find the story anywhere else -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Hermione, let me read your composition,` said Ron desperately, checking his watch.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `No, I won't,` said Hermione, suddenly severe. `You've had ten days","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to finish it -` `I only need another two inches, come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "on -` The bell rang. Ron and Hermione led the way","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to History of Magic, bickering. History of Magic was the dullest","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "subject on their schedule. Professor Binns, who taught it, was their only ghost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "teacher, and the most exciting thing that ever happened in his classes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "was his entering the room through the blackboard. Ancient and shriveled, many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "people said he hadn't noticed he was dead. He had simply got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "up to teach one day and left his body behind him in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "an armchair in front of the staff room fire; his routine had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "not varied in the slightest since. Today was as boring as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "ever. Professor Binns opened his notes and began to read in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "flat drone like an old vacuum cleaner until nearly everyone in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "class was in a deep stupor, occasionally coming to long enough to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "copy down a name or date, then falling asleep again. He had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "been speaking for half an hour when something happened that had never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "happened before. Hermione put up her hand. Professor Binns, glancing up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "in the middle of a deadly dull lec *148* ture","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "on the International Warlock Convention of 1289, looked amazed. `Miss -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "er -?` `Granger, Professor. I was wondering if you could tell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "us anything about the Chamber of Secrets,` said Hermione in a clear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "voice. Dean Thomas, who had been sitting with his mouth hanging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "open, gazing out of the window, jerked out of his trance; Lavender","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Brown's head came up off her arms and Neville Longbottom's elbow slipped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "off his desk. Professor Binns blinked. `My subject is History","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "of Magic,` he said in his dry, wheezy voice. `I deal with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "facts, Miss Granger, not myths and legends.` He cleared his throat with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a small noise like chalk s!-ping and continued, `In September of that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "year, a subcommittee of Sardinian sorcerers ` He stuttered to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a halt. Hermione's hand was waving in the air again. `Miss","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Grant?` `Please, sir, don't legends always have a basis in fact?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " Professor Binns was looking at her in such amazement, Harry was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "sure no student had ever interrupted him before, alive or dead. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Well,` said Professor Binns slowly, `yes, one could argue that, I suppose.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "He peered at Hermione as though he had never seen a student","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "properly before. `However, the legend of which you speak is such a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "very sensational, even ludicrous tale -` But the whole class was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "now hanging on Professor Binns's every word. He looked dimly at them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "all, every face turned to his. Harry *149* could tell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "he was completely thrown by such an unusual show of interest. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Oh, very well,` he said slowly. `Let me see ... the Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "of Secrets ... `You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "founded over a thousand years ago - the precise date is uncertain","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "- by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "four school Houses are named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. They built this castle together, far from prying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Muggle eyes, for it was an age when magic was feared by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "common people, and witches and wizards suffered much persecution.` He paused,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "gazed blearily around the room, and continued. `For a few years,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the founders worked in harmony together, seeking out youngsters who showed signs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "of magic and bringing them to the castle to be educated. But then","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "disagreements sprang up between them. A rift began to grow between Slytherin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "and the others. Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "all-magic families. He disliked taking students of Muggle parentage, believing them to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school.` Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Binns paused again, pursing his lips, looking like a wrinkled old tortoise.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `Reliable historical sources tell us this much,` he said. `But these","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "honest facts have been obscured by the fanciful legend of the Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "of Secrets. The story goes that Slytherin had built a *150*","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " hidden chamber in the castle, of which the other founders knew","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "nothing. `Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "so that none would be able to open it until his own","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "true heir arrived at the school. The heir alone would be able","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to unseal the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "magic.` There was silence as he finished telling the story, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "it wasn't the usual, sleepy silence that filled Professor Binns's classes. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "was unease in the air as everyone continued to watch him, hoping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "for more. Professor Binns looked faintly annoyed. `The whole thing is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "arrant nonsense, of course,` he said. `Naturally, the school has been searched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "for evidence of such a chamber, many times, by the most learned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "witches and wizards. It does not exist. A tale told to frighten","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the gullible.` Hermione's hand was back in the air. `Sir","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "- what exactly do you mean by the `horror within' the Chamber?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `That is believed to be some sort of monster, which the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Heir of Slytherin alone can control,` said Professor Binns in his dry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "reedy voice. The class exchanged nervous looks. `I tell you,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the thing does not exist,` said Professor Binns, shuffling his notes. `There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "is no Chamber and no monster.` `But, sir,` said Seamus Finnigan,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`if the Chamber can only be opened by Slytherin's true heir, no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "one else would be able to find it, would they?` `Nonsense,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "O'Flaherty,` said Professor Binns in an aggravated *151* tone. `If","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a long succession of Hogwarts headmasters and headmistresses haven't found the thing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "-` `But, Professor,` piped up Parvati Patil, `you'd probably have to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "use Dark Magic to open it -` `Just because a wizard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "doesn't use Dark Magic doesn't mean he can't, Miss Pennyfeather,` snapped Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Binns. `I repeat, if the likes of Dumbledore -` `But maybe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "you've got to be related to Slytherin, so Dumbledore couldn't -` began","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Dean Thomas, but Professor Binns had had enough. `That will do,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "he said sharply. `It is a myth! It does not exist! There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "is not a shred of evidence that Slytherin ever built so much","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "as a secret broom cupboard! I regret telling you such a foolish","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "story! We will return, if you please, to history, to solid, believable,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "verifiable fact!` And within five minutes, the class had sunk back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "into its usual torpor. `I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "old loony,` Ron told Harry and Hermione as they fought their way","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "through the teeming corridors at the end of the lesson to drop","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "off their bags before dinner. `But I never knew he started all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his house if you paid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to put me in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home ...... Hermione nodded","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "fervently, but Harry didn't say anything. His stomach had just dropped unpleasantly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " Harry had never told Ron and Hermione that the Sorting Hat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " *152* had seriously considered putting him in Slytherin. He could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "remember, as though it were yesterday, the small voice that had spoken","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "in his ear when he'd placed the hat on his head a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "year before: You could be great, you know, it's all here in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "your head, and Slytherin would help you on the way to greatness,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "no doubt about that... But Harry, who had already heard of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Slytherin House's reputa tion for turning out Dark wizards, had thought","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "desperately, Not Slytherin! and the hat had said, Oh, well, if you're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "sure ... better be Gryffindor... As they were shunted along in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the throng, Colin Creevy went past. `Hiya, Harry!` `Hullo, Colin,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "said Harry automatically. `Harry - Harry - a boy in my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "class has been saying you're But Colin was so small he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "couldn~t fight against the tide of people bearing him toward the Great","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Hall; they heard him squeak, `See you, Harry!` and he was gone.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `What's a boy in his class saying about you?` Hermione wondered.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `That I'm Slytherin's heir, I expect,` said Harry, his stomach dropping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "another inch or so as he suddenly remembered the way Justin Finch-","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Fletchley had run away from him at lunchtime. `People here'll believe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "anything,` said Ron in disgust. The crowd thinned and they were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "able to climb the next staircase without difficulty. `D'you really think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "there's a Chamber of Secrets?` Ron asked Hermione. `I don't know,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "she said, frowning. `Dumbledore couldn't cure * 1,5 % * ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Mrs. Norris, and that makes me think that whatever attacked her might","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "not be - well - human.` As she spoke, they turned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a corner and found themselves at the end of the very corridor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "where the attack had happened. They stopped and looked. The scene was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "just as it had been that night, except that there was no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "stiff cat hanging from the torch bracket, and an empty chair stood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "against the wall bearing the message `The Chamber of Secrets has been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Opened.` `That's where Filch has been keeping guard,` Ron muttered. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "They looked at each other. The corridor was deserted. `Can't hurt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to have a poke around,` said Harry, dropping his bag and getting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to his hands and knees so that he could crawl along, searching","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "for clues. `Scorch marks!` he said. `Here - and here -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `Come and look at this!` said Hermione. `This is funny .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" ". . .` Harry got up and crossed to the window","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "next to the message on the wall. Hermione was pointing at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "topmost pane, where around twenty spiders were scuttling, apparently fighting to get through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a small crack. A long, silvery thread was dangling like a rope,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "as though they had all climbed it in their hurry to get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "outside. `Have you ever seen spiders act like that?` said Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "wonderingly. `No,` said Harry, `have you, Ron? Ron?` He looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "over his shoulder. Ron was standing well back and seemed to be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "fighting the impulse to run. `What's up?` said Harry. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "- don't - like - spiders,` said Ron tensely. `I never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "knew that,` said Hermione, looking at Ron in surprise. `You've used spiders","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "in Potions loads of times ...... *154* `I don't mind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "them dead,` said Ron, who was carefully looking anywhere but at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "window. `I just don't like the way they move .... Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "giggled. `It's not funny,` said Ron, fiercely. `If you must know,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "when I was three, Fred turned my - my teddy bear into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a great big fiIthy spider because I broke his toy broomstick ....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "You wouldn't like them either if you'd been holding your bear and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "suddenly it had too many legs and. . . ` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "broke off, shuddering. Hermione was obviously still trying not to laugh. Feeling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "they had better get off the subject, Harry said, `Remember all that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "water on the floor? Where did that come from? Someone's mopped it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "up.` `It was about here,` said Ron, recovering himself to walk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a few paces past Filch's chair and pointing. `Level with this door.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " He reached for the brass doorknob but suddenly withdrew his hand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "as though he'd been burned. `What's the matter?` said Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Can't go in there,` said Ron gruffly. `That's a girls' toilet.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Oh, Ron, there won't be anyone in there,` said Hermione, standing up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "and coming over. `That's Moaning Myrtle's place. Come on, let's have a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "look.` And ignoring the large OUT of ORDER sign, she opened","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the door. It was the gloomiest, most depressing bathroom Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "ever set foot in. Under a large, cracked, and spotted mirror were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a row of chipped sinks. The floor was damp and reflected the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "dull light given off by the stubs of a few candles, burning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "low in their holders; the wooden doors to the stalls were flaking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "and scratched and one of them was dangling off its hinges. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "* -L 5,5 Hermione put her fingers to her lips and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "set off toward the end stall. When she reached it she said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Hello, Myrtle, how are you?` Harry and Ron went to look.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Moaning Myrtle was floating above the tank of the toilet, picking a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "spot on her chin. `This is a girls' bathroom,` she said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "eyeing Ron and Harry suspiciously. `They're not girls.` `No,` Hermione agreed.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`I just wanted to show them how er - nice it is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "in here.` She waved vaguely at the dirty old mirror and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the damp floor. `Ask her if she saw anything,` Harry mouthed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "at Hermione. `What are you whispering?` said Myrtle, staring at him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `Nothing,` said Harry quickly. `We wanted to ask -` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "wish people would stop talking behind my back!` said Myrtle, in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "voice choked with tears. `I do have feelings, you know, even if I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "am dead -` `Myrtle, no one wants to upset you,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Hermione. `Harry only -` `No one wants to upset me! That's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a good one!` howled Myrtle. `My life was nothing but misery at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "this place and now people come along ruining my death!` `We","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "wanted to ask you if you've seen anything funny lately,` said Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "quickly. `Because a cat was attacked right outside your front door on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Halloween.` `Did you see anyone near here that night?` said Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `I wasn't paying attention,` said Myrtle dramatically. `Peeves upset me so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "much I came in here and tried to kill myself Then, of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "course, I remembered that I'm - that I'm ` `Already dead,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "said Ron helpfully. * IL 56* Myrtle gave a tragic","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "sob, rose up in the air, turned over, and dived headfirst into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the toilet, splashing water all over them and vanishing from sight, although","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "from the direction of her muffled sobs, she had come to rest","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "somewhere in the U-bend. Harry and Ron stood with their mouths","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "open, but Hermione shrugged wearily and said, `Honestly, that was almost cheerful","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "for Myrtle .... Come on, let's go.` Harry had barely closed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the door on Myrtle's gurgling sobs when a loud voice made all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "three of them jump. `RON!` Percy Weasley had stopped dead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "at the head of the stairs, prefect badge agleam, an expression of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "complete shock on his face. `That's a girls' bathroom!` he gasped.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`What were you -?` `Just having a look around,` Ron shrugged.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Clues, you know -` Percy swelled in a manner that reminded","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Harry forcefully of Mrs. Weasley. `Get - away - from -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "there -` Perry said, striding toward them and starting to bustle them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "along, flapping his arms. `Don't you care what this looks like? Coming","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "back here while everyone's at dinner -` `Why shouldn't we be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "here?` said Ron hotly, stopping short and glaring at Percy. `Listen, we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "never laid a finger on that cat!` `That's what I told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Ginny,` said Percy fiercely, `but she still seems to think you're going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to be expelled, I've never seen her so upset, crying her eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "out, you might think of her, all the first years are thoroughly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "overexcited by this business -` `You don't care about Ginny,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Ron, whose ears were now *157* reddening. `You're just worried","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "I'm going to mess up your chances of being Head Boy -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `Five points from Gryffindor!` Percy said tersely, fingering his prefect badge.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`And I hope it teaches you a lesson! No more detective work,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "or I'll write to Mum!` And he strode off, the back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "of his neck as red as Ron's ears. Harry, Ron, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Hermione chose seats as far as possible from Percy in the common","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "room that night. Ron was still in a very bad temper and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "kept blotting his Charms homework. When he reached absently for his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "to remove the smudges, it ignited the parchment. Fuming almost as much","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "as his homework, Ron slammed The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "shut. To Harry's surprise, Hermione followed suit. `Who can it be,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "though?` she said in a quiet voice, as though continuing a conversation they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "had just been having. `Who'd want to frighten all the Squibs and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Muggle-borns out of Hogwarts?` `Let's think,` said Ron in mock puzzlement.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`Who do we know who thinks Muggle-borns are scum?` He looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "at Hermione. Hermione looked back, unconvinced. `If you're talking about Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "-` `Of course I am!` said Ron. `You heard him -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`You'll be next, Mudbloods!'- come on, you've only got to look at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "his foul rat face to know it's him -` `Malfoy, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Heir of Slytherin?` said Hermione skeptically. `Look at his family,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Harry, closing his books, too. `The whole lot of them have been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "in Slytherin; he's always boasting about it. They could easily be Slytherin's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "descendants. His father's definitely evil enough.` *158* `They couldve had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the key to the Chamber of Secrets for centuries!` said Ron. `Handing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "it down, father to son ...... `Well,` said Hermione cautiously, `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "suppose it's possible ...... `But how do we prove it?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Harry darkly. `There might be a way,` said Hermione slowly, dropping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "her voice still further with a quick glance across the room at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Percy. `Of course, it would be difficult. And dangerous, very dangerous. We'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "be breaking about fifty school rules, I expect -` `If, in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a month or so, you feel like explaining, you will let us","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "know, won't you?` said Ron irritably. `All right,` said Hermione coldly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`What we'd need to do is to get inside the Slytherin common","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "room and ask Malfoy a few questions without him realizing it's us.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `But that's impossible,` Harry said as Ron laughed. `No, it's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "not,` said Hermione. `All we'd need would be some Polyjuice Potion.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`What's that?` said Ron and Harry together. `Snape mentioned it in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "class a few weeks ago -` `D'you think we've got nothing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "better to do in Potions than listen to Snape?` muttered Ron. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "`It transforms you into somebody else. Think about it! We could change","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "into three of the Slytherins. No one would know it was us.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Malfoy would probably tell us anything. He's probably boasting about it in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the Slytherin common room right now, if only we could hear him.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " `This Polyjuice stuff sounds a bit dodgy to me,` said Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "frowning. `What if we were stuck looking like three of the Slytherins","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "forever?` `It wears off after a while,` said Hermione, waving her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "hand *159* impatiently. `But getting hold of the recipe will","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "be very difficult. Snape said it was in a book called Moste","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Potente Potions and it's bound to be in the Restricted Section of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "the library.` There was only one way to get out a book","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "from the Restricted Section: You needed a signed note of permission from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "a teacher. `Hard to see why we'd want the book, really,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "Ron, `if we weren't going to try and make one of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "potions.` `I think,` said Hermione, `that if we made it sound as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "though we were just interested in the theory, we might stand a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "chance ...... `Oh, come on, no teacher's going to fall for that,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" "said Ron. `They'd have to be really thick . . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-9" " THE ROGUE BLUDGER ince the disastrous episode of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pixies, Professor Lockhart had not brought live creatures to class. Instead, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "read passages from his books to them, and sometimes reenacted some of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the more dramatic bits. He usually picked Harry to help him with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "these reconstructions; so far, Harry had been forced to play a simple","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Transylvanian villager whom Lockhart had cured of a Babbling Curse, a yeti","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "with a head cold, and a vampire who had been unable to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "eat anything except lettuce since Lockhart had dealt with him. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "was hauled to the front of the class during their very next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, this time acting a werewolf If","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "he hadn't had a very good reason for keeping Lockhart in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "good mood, he would have refused to do it. `Nice loud","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "howl, Harry - exactly - and then, if you'll believe it, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pounced - like this - slammed him to the floor - thus","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "with one hand, I managed to hold him down - with my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "other, I put my wand to his throat -I then screwed up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "my remaining strength and performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm - he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "let out a piteous moan - go on, Harry - higher than","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "that - good - the fur vanished - the fangs shrank -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and he turned back into a man. Simple, yet effective - and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "another village will remember me forever as the hero who delivered them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "from the monthly terror of werewolf attacks.` The bell rang and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Lockhart got to his feet. `Homework - compose a poem about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! Signed copies of Magical Me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to the author of the best one!` The class began to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "leave. Harry returned to the back of the room, where Ron and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Hermione were waiting. `Ready?` Harry muttered. `Wait till everyone's gone,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said Hermione nervously. `All right . . . ` She approached","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and Ron right behind her. `Er - Professor Lockhart?` Hermione stammered.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`I wanted to - to get this book out of the library.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Just for background reading.` She held out the piece of paper, her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "hand shaking slightly. `But the thing is, it's in the Restricted Section","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of the library, so I need a teacher to sign for it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "- I'm sure it would help me understand what you say in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Gadding with Ghouls about slow-acting venoms `Ah, Gadding with Ghouls!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Lockhart, taking the note from Hermione and smiling widely at her. `Possibly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "my very favorite book. You enjoyed it?` `Oh, yes,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Hermione eagerly. `So clever, the way you trapped that last one with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the tea-strainer -` `Well, I'm sure no one will mind me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "giving the best student of the year a little extra help,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Lockhart warmly, and he pulled out an enormous peacock quill. `Yes, nice,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "isn't it?` he said, misreading the revolted look on Ron's face. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "usually save it for book-signings.` He scrawled an enormous loopy signature","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "on the note and handed it back to Hermione. `So, Harry,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said Lockhart, while Hermione folded the note with fumbling fingers and slipped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "it into her bag. `Tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "I believe? Gryffindor against Slytherin, is it not? I hear you're a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "useful player. I was a Seeker, too. I was asked to try","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "for the National Squad, but preferred to dedicate my life to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "eradication of the Dark Forces. Still, if ever you feel the need","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "for a little private training, don't hesitate to ask. Always happy to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pass on my expertise to less able players ...... Harry made","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "an indistinct noise in his throat and then hurried off after Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and Hermione. `I don't believe it,` he said as the three","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of them examined the signature on the note. `He didn't even look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "at the book we wanted.` `That's because he's a brainless git,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said Ron. `But who cares, we've got what we needed -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`He is not a brainless git,` said Hermione shrilly as they half","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "ran toward the library. `Just because he said you were the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "best student of the year -` They dropped their voices as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "they entered the muffled stillness of the library. Madam Pince, the librarian,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "was a thin, irritable woman who looked like an underfed vulture. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `Moste Potente Potions?` she repeated suspiciously, trying to take the note","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "from Hermione; but Hermione wouldn't let go. `I was wondering if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "I could keep it,` she said breathlessly. `Oh, come on,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Ron, wrenching it from her grasp and thrusting it at Madam Pince.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`We'll get you another autograph. Lockhart'll sign anything if it stands still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "long enough.` Madam Pince held the note up to the light,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "as though determined to detect a forgery, but it passed the test.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "She stalked away between the lofty shelves and returned several minutes later","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "carrying a large and moldy-looking book. Hermione put it carefully into her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "bag and they left, trying not to walk too quickly or look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "too guilty. Five minutes later, they were barricaded in Moaning Myrtle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "out-of- order bathroom once again. Hermione had overridden Ron's objections by pointing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "out that it was the last place anyone in their right minds","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "would go, so they were guaranteed some privacy. Moaning Myrtle was crying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "noisily in her stall, but they were ignoring her, and she them.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " Hermione opened Moste Potente Potions carefully, and the three of them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "bent over the damp-spotted pages. It was clear from a glance why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "it belonged in the Restricted Section. Some of the potions had effects","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "almost too gruesome to think about, and there were some very unpleasant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "illustrations, which included a man who seemed to have been turned inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "out and a witch sprouting several extra pairs of arms out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "her head. `Here it is,` said Hermione excitedly as she found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the page headed The Polyjuice Potion. It was decorated with drawings of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "people halfway through transforming into other people. Harry sin cerely hoped the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "artist had imagined the looks of intense pain on their faces. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`This is the most complicated potion I've ever seen,` said Hermione as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "they scanned the recipe. `Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed, and knotgrass,` she murmured,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "running her finger down the list of ingredients. `Well, they're easy enough,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "they're in the student store- cupboard, we can help ourselves .... Oooh,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "look, powdered horn of a bicorn - don't know where we're going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to get that - shredded skin of a boomslang -. that'll be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "tricky, too and of course a bit of whoever we want to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "change into.` `Excuse me?` said Ron sharply. `What d'you mean, a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "bit of whoever we're changing into? I'm drinking nothing with Crabbe's toenails","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "in it -` Hermione continued as though she hadn't heard him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `We don't have to worry about that yet, though, because we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "add those bits last ...... Ron turned, speechless, to Harry, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "had another worry. `D'you realize how much we're going to have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to steal, Hermione? Shredded skin of a boomslang, that's definitely not in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the students' cupboard. What're we going to do, break into Snape's private","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "stores? I don't know if this is a good idea ...... ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Hermione shut the book with a snap. `Well, if you two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "are going to chicken out, fine,` she said. There were bright pink","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "patches on her cheeks and her eyes were brighter than usual. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "don't want to break rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "far worse than brewing up a difficult potion. But if you don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "want to find out if it's Malfoy, I'll go straight to Madam","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Pince now and hand the book back in =' `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "never thought Id see the day when you'd be persuading us to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "break rules,` said Ron. `All right, we'll do it. But not toenails,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "okay?` `How long will it take to make, anyway?` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "as Hermione, looking happier, opened the book again. `Well, since the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "fluxweed has got to be picked at the full moon and the lacewings","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "have got to be stewed for twenty-one days ... I'd say it'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "be ready in about a month, if we can get all the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "ingredients.` `A month?` said Ron. `Malfoy could have attacked half the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Muggle- borns in the school by then!` But Hermione's eyes narrowed dangerously","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "again, and he added swiftly, `But it's the best plan we've got,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "so full steam ahead, I say.` However, while Hermione was checking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "that the coast was clear for them to leave the bathroom, Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "muttered to Harry, `It'll be a lot less hassle if you can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "just knock Malfoy off his broom tomorrow. Harry woke early on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Saturday morning and lay for a while thinking about the coming Quidditch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "match. He was nervous, mainly at the thought of what Wood would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "say if Gryffindor lost, but also at the idea of facing a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "team mounted on the fastest racing brooms gold could buy. He had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "never wanted to beat Slytherin so badly. After half an hour of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "lying there with his insides churning, he got up, dressed, and went","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "down to breakfast early, where he found the rest of the Gryffindor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "team huddled at the long, empty table, all looking uptight and not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "speaking much. As eleven o'clock approached, the whole school started to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "make its way down to the Quidditch stadium. It was a muggy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sort of day with a hint of thunder in the air. Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and Hermione came hurrying over to wish Harry good luck as he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "entered the locker rooms. The team pulled on their scarlet Gryffindor robes,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "then sat down to listen to Wood's usual pre-match pep talk. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`Slytherin has better brooms than us,` he began. `No point denying it.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "But we've got better people on our brooms. We've trained harder than","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "they have, we've been flying in all weathers -` (`Too true,` muttered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "George Weasley. `I haven't been properly dry since August`) `- and we're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "going to make them rue the day they let that little bit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of slime, Malfoy, buy his way onto their team.` Chest heaving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "with emotion, Wood turned to Harry. `It'll be down to you,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry, to show them that a Seeker has to have something more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "than a rich father. Get to that Snitch before Malfoy or die","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "trying, Harry, because we've got to win today, we've got to.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`So no pressure, Harry` said Fred, winking at him. As they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "walked out onto the pitch, a roar of noise greeted them; mainly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "cheers, because Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were anxious to see Slytherin beaten, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the Slytherins in the crowd made their boos and hisses heard, too.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Madam Hooch, the Quidditch teacher, asked Flint and Wood to shake hands,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "which they did, giving each other threatening stares and gripping rather harder","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "than was necessary. `On my whistle,` said Madam Hooch. `Three ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "two ... one. . . With a roar from the crowd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to speed them upward, the fourteen players rose toward the leaden sky.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry flew higher than any of them, squinting around for the Snitch.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `All right there, Scarhead?` yelled Malfoy, shooting underneath him as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "though to show off the speed of his broom. Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "no time to reply. At that very moment, a heavy black Bludger","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "came pelting toward him; he avoided it so narrowly that he felt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "it ruffle his hair as it passed. `Close one, Harry!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "George, streaking past him with his club in his hand, ready to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "knock the Bludger back toward a Slytherin. Harry saw George give the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Bludger a powerful whack in the direction of Adrian Pucey, but the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Bludger changed direction in midair and shot straight for Harry again. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry dropped quickly to avoid it, and George managed to hit it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "hard toward Malfoy. Once again, the Bludger swerved like a boomerang and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "shot at Harry's head. Harry put on a burst of speed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and zoomed toward the other end of the pitch. He could hear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the Bludger whistling along behind him. What was going on? Bludgers never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "concentrated on one player like this; it was their job to try","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and unseat as many people as possible .... Fred Weasley was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "waiting for the Bludger at the other end. Harry ducked as Fred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "swung at the Bludger with all his might; the Bludger was knocked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "off course. `Gotcha!` Fred yelled happily, but he was wrong; as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "though it was magnetically attracted to Harry, the Bludger pelted after him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "once more and Harry was forced to fly off at full speed.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " It had started to rain; Harry felt heavy drops fall onto","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his face, splattering onto his glasses. He didn't have a clue what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "was going on in the rest of the game until he heard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Lee Jordan, who was commentating, say, `Slytherin lead, sixty points to zero","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "=' The Slytherins' superior brooms were clearly doing their jobs,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and meanwhile the mad Bludger was doing all it could to knock","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry out of the air. Fred and George were now flying so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "close to him on either side that Harry could see nothing at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "all except their flailing arms and had no chance to look for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the Snitch, let alone catch it. `Someone's - tampered - with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "- this - Bludger -` Fred grunted, swinging his bat with all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his might at it as it launched a new attack on Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `We need time out,` said George, trying to signal to Wood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and stop the Bludger breaking Harry's nose at the same time. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Wood had obviously got the message. Madam Hooch's whistle rang out and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry, Fred, and George dived for the ground, still trying to avoid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the mad Bludger. `What's going on?` said Wood as the Gryffindor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "team huddled together, while Slytherins in the crowd jeered. `We're being flattened.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Fred, George, where were you when that Bludger stopped Angelina scoring?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`We were twenty feet above her, stopping the other Bludger from murdering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry, Oliver,` said George angrily. `Someone's fixed it - it won't leave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry alone. It hasn't gone for anyone else all game. The Slytherins","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "must have done something to it.` `But the Bludgers have been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "locked in Madam Hooch's office since our last practice, and there was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "nothing wrong with them then . . . . ` said Wood,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "anxiously. Madam Hooch was walking toward them. Over her shoulder, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "could see the Slytherin team jeering and pointing in his direction. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `Listen,` said Harry as she came nearer and nearer, `with you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "two flying around me all the time the only way I'm going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to catch the Snitch is if it flies up my sleeve. Go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "back to the rest of the team and let me deal with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the rogue one.` `Don't be thick,` said Fred. `It'll take your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "head off.` Wood was looking from Harry to the Weasleys. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "(I Oliver, this is insane,` said Alicia Spinner angrily. `You can't let","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry deal with that thing on his own. Let's ask for an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "inquiry -)) `If we stop now, we'll have to forfeit the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "match!` said Harry. `And we're not losing to Slytherin just because of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "a crazy Bludger! Come on, Oliver, tell them to leave me alone!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `This is all your fault,` George said angrily to Wood. `","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`Get the Snitch or die trying,' what a stupid thing to tell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "him -` Madam Hooch had joined them. `Ready to resume","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "play?` she asked Wood. Wood looked at the determined look on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry's face. `All right,` he said. `Fred, George, you heard Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "-leave him alone and let him deal with the Bludger on his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "own.` The rain was falling more heavily now. On Madam Hooch's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "whistle, Harry kicked hard into the air and heard the telltale whoosh","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of the Bludger behind him. Higher and higher Harry climbed; he looped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and swooped, spiraled, zigzagged, and rolled. Slightly dizzy, he nevertheless kept his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "eyes wide open, rain was speckling his glasses and ran up his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "nostrils as he hung upside down, avoiding another fierce dive from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Bludger. He could hear laughter from the crowd; he knew he must","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "look very stupid, but the rogue Bludger was heavy and couldn't change direction","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "as quickly as Harry could; he began a kind of roller-coaster ride","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "around the edges of the stadium, squinting through the silver sheets of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "rain to the Gryffindor goal posts, where Adrian Pucey was trying to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "get past Wood A whistling in Harry's ear told him the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Bludger had just missed him again; he turned right over and sped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "in the opposite direction. `Training for the ballet, Potter?` yelled Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "as Harry was forced to do a stupid kind of twirl in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "midair to dodge the Bludger, and he fled, the Bludger trailing a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "few feet behind him; and then, glaring back at Malfoy in hatred,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "he saw it - the Golden Snitch. It was hovering inches above","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Malfoy's left ear - and Malfoy, busy laughing at Harry, hadn't seen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "it. For an agonizing moment, Harry hung in midair, not daring","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to speed toward Malfoy in case he looked up and saw the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Snitch. WHAM. He had stayed still a second too long.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "The Bludger had hit him at last, smashed into his elbow, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry felt his arm break. Dimly, dazed by the searing pain in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his arm, he slid sideways on his rain-drenched broom, one knee still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "crooked over it, his right arm dangling useless at his side -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the Bludger came pelting back for a second attack, this time W-ming","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "at his face - Harry swerved out of the way, one idea","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "firmly lodged in his numb brain: get to Malfoy. Through a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "haze of rain and pain he dived for the shimmering, sneering face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "below him and saw its eyes widen with fear: Malfoy thought Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "was attacking him. `What the -` he gasped, careening out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry's way. Harry took his remaining hand off his broom and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "made a wild snatch; he felt his fingers close on the cold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Snitch but was now only gripping the broom with his legs, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "there was a yell from the crowd below as he headed straight","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "for the ground, trying hard not to pass out. With a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "splattering thud he hit the mud and rolled off his broom. His","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "arm was hanging at a very strange angle; riddled with pain, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "heard, as though from a distance, a good deal of whistling and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "shouting. He focused on the Snitch clutched in his good hand. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`Aha,` he said vaguely. `We've won.` And he fainted. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "came around, rain falling on his face, still lying on the field,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "with someone leaning over him. He saw a glitter of teeth. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`Oh, no, not you,` he moaned. `Doesn't know what he's saying,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said Lockhart loudly to the anxious crowd of Gryffindors pressing around them.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`Not to worry, Harry. I'm about to fix your arm.` `No!`said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry. `I'll keep it like this, thanks ...... He tried to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sit up, but the pain was terrible. He heard a familiar clicking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "noise nearby. `I don't want a photo of this, Colin,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said loudly. `Lie back, Harry,` said Lockhart soothingly. `It's a simple","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "charm I've used countless times -` `Why can't I just go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to the hospital wing?` said Harry through clenched teeth. `He should","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "really, Professor,` said a muddy Wood, who couldn't help grinning even though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his Seeker was injured. `Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, your best yet,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Id say -` Through the thicket of legs around him, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "spotted Fred and George Weasley, wrestling the rogue Bludger into a box.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "It was still putting up a terrific fight. `Stand back,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Lockhart, who was rolling up his jade-green sleeves. `No - don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "-` said Harry weakly, but Lockhart was twirling his wand and a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "second later had directed it straight at Harry's arm. A strange","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and unpleasant sensation started at Harry's shoulder and spread all the way","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "down to his fingertips. It felt as though his arm was being","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "deflated. He didn't dare look at what was happening. He had shut","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his eyes, his face turned away from his arm, but his worst","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "fears were realized as the people above him gasped and Colin Creevey","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "began clicking away madly. His arm didn't hurt anymore - nor did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "it feel remotely like an arm. `Ah,` said Lockhart. `Yes. Well,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "longer broken. That's the thing to bear in mind. So, Harry, just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "toddle up to the hospital wing - ah, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "would you escort him? - and Madam Pomfrey will be able to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "- er - tidy you up a bit.` As Harry got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to his feet, he felt strangely lopsided. Taking a deep breath he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "looked down at his right side. What he saw nearly made him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pass out again. Poking out of the end of his robes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "was what looked like a thick, flesh- colored rubber glove. He tried","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to move his fingers. Nothing happened. Lockhart hadn't mended Harry's bones.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "He had removed them. Madam Pomfrey wasn't at all pleased. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`You should have come straight to me!` she raged, holding up the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sad, limp remainder of what, half an hour before, had been a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "working arm. `I can mend bones in a second - but growing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "them back - ` `You will be able to, won't you?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said Harry desperately. `I'll be able to, certainly, but it will","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "be painful,` said Madam Pomfrey grimly, throwing Harry a pair of pajamas.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`You'll have to stay the night ...... Hermione waited outside the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "curtain drawn around Harry's bed while Ron helped him into his pajamas.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "It took a while to stuff the rubbery, boneless arm into a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sleeve. `How can you stick up for Lockhart now, Hermione, eh?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Ron called through the curtain as he pulled Harry's limp fingers through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the cuff. `If Harry had wanted deboning he would have asked.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`Anyone can make a mistake,` said Hermione. `And it doesn't hurt anymore,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "does it, Harry?` `No,` said Harry, getting into bed. `But it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "doesn't do anything else either.` As he swung himself onto the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "bed, his arm flapped pointlessly. Hermione and Madam Pomfrey came around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the curtain. Madam Pomfrey was holding a large bottle of something labeled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Skele-Gro. `You're in for a rough night,` she said, pouring out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "a steaming beakerful and handing it to him. `Regrowing bones is a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "nasty business. So was taking the Skele-Gro. It burned Harry's mouth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and throat as it went down, making him cough and splutter. Still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "tut-tutting about dangerous sports and inept teachers, Madam Pomfrey re treated, leaving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Ron and Hermione to help Harry gulp down some water. `We won,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "though,` said Ron, a grin breaking across his face. `That was some","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "catch you made. Malfoy's face ... he looked ready to kill ......","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`I want to know how he fixed that Bludger,` said Hermione darkly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`We can add that to the list of questions we'll ask him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "when we've taken the Polyjuice Potion,` said Harry, sinking back onto his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pillows. `I hope it tastes better than this stuff ..... `If","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "it's got bits of Slytherins in it? You've got to be joking,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said Ron. The door of the hospital wing burst open at that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "moment. Filthy and soaking wet, the rest of the Gryffindor team had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "arrived to see Harry. `Unbelievable flying, Harry,` said George. `I've just seen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Mar cus Flint yelling at Malfoy. Something about having the Snitch on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "top of his head and not noticing. Malfoy didn't seem too happy.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "They had brought cakes, sweets, and bottles of pumpkin juice; they gathered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "around Harry's bed and were just getting started on what promised to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "be a good party when Madam Pomfrey came storming over, shouting, `This","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "boy needs rest, he's got thirty-three bones to regrow! Out! OUT!` And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry was left alone, with nothing to distract him from the stabbing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pains in his limp arm. Hours and hours later, Harry woke","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "quite suddenly in the pitch blackness and gave a small yelp of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pain: His arm now felt full of large splinters. For a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "second, he thought that was what had woken him. Then, with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "thrill of horror, he realized that someone was sponging his forehead in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "dark. `Get off!` he said loudly, and then, `Dobby!` The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "house-elf's goggling tennis ball eyes were peering at Harry through the darkness.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "A single tear was running down his long, pointed nose. `Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Potter came back to school,` he whispered miserably. `Dobby warned and warned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry Potter. Ah sir, why didn't you heed Dobby? Why didn't Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Potter go back home when he missed the train?` Harry heaved","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "himself up on his pillows and pushed Dobby's sponge away. `What're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "you doing here?` he said. `And how did you know I missed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the train?` Dobby's lip trembled and Harry was seized by a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sudden suspicion. `It was you!` he said slowly. `You stopped the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "barrier from letting us through!` `Indeed yes, sir,` said Dobby, nodding","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his head vigorously, ears flapping. `Dobby hid and watched for Harry Potter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and sealed the gateway and Dobby had to iron his hands afterward`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "- he showed Harry ten long, bandaged fingers - `but Dobby didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "care, sir, for he thought Harry Potter was safe, and never did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Dobby dream that Harry Potter would get to school another way!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "He was rocking backward and forward, shaking his ugly head. `Dobby","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "was 'so shocked when he heard Harry Potter was back at Hogwarts,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "he let his master's dinner burn! Such a flogging Dobby never had,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sir . ..... Harry slumped back onto his pillows. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`You nearly got Ron and me expelled,` he said fiercely. `You'd better","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "get lost before my bones come back, Dobby, or I might strangle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "you.` Dobby smiled weakly. `Dobby is used to death threats,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sir. Dobby gets them five times a day at home.` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "blew his nose on a corner of the filthy pillowcase he wore,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "looking so pathetic that Harry felt his anger ebb away in spite","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of himself. `Why d'you wear that thing, Dobby?` he asked curiously.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `This, sir?` said Dobby, plucking at the pillowcase. `'Tis a mark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of the house-elf's enslavement, sir. Dobby can only be freed if his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "masters present him with clothes, sir. The family is careful not to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "pass Dobby even a sock, sir, for then he would be free","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to leave their house forever.` Dobby mopped his bulging eyes and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said suddenly, `Harry Potter must go home! Dobby thought his Bludger would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "be enough to make -` `Your Bludger?` said Harry, anger rising","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "once more. `What d'you mean, your Bludger? You made that Bludger try","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and kill me?` `Not kill you, sir, never kill you!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Dobby, shocked. `Dobby wants to save Harry Potter's life! Better sent home,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "grievously injured, than remain here sir! Dobby only wanted Harry Potter hurt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "enough to be sent home!` `Oh, is that all?` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "angrily. `I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you wanted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "me sent home in pieces?` `Ah, if Harry Potter only knew!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Dobby groaned, more tears dripping onto his ragged pillowcase. `If he knew","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "what he means to us, to the lowly, the enslaved, we dregs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of the magical world! Dobby remembers how it was when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "at the height of his powers, sir! We house-elfs were treated like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "vermin, sir! Of course, Dobby is still treated like that, sir,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "admitted, drying his face on the pillowcase. `But mostly, sir, life has","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "improved for my kind since you triumphed over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Harry Potter survived,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "and the Dark Lord's power was broken, and it was a new","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "dawn, sir, and Harry Potter shone like a beacon of hope for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "those of us who thought the Dark days would never end, sit...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "And now, at Hogwarts, terrible things are to happen, are perhaps happening","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "already, and Dobby cannot let Harry Potter stay here now that history","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "is to repeat itself, now that the Chamber of Secrets is open","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "once more Dobby froze, horrorstruck, then grabbed Harry's water jug from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his bedside table and cracked it over his own head, toppling out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of sight. A second later, he crawled back onto the bed, cross-eyed,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "muttering, `Bad Dobby, very bad Dobby. . .` `So there is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "a Chamber of Secrets?` Harry whispered. `And did you say it's been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "opened before? Tell me, Dobby!` He seized the elf's bony wrist","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "as Dobby's hand inched toward the water jug. `But I'm not Muggle-born","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "- how can I be in danger from the Chamber?` `Ah,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "sir, ask no more, ask no more of poor Dobby,` stammered the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "elf, his eyes huge in the dark. `Dark deeds are planned in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "this place, but Harry Potter must not be here when they happen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "- go home, Harry Potter, go home. Harry Potter must not meddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "in this, sir, 'tis too dangerous -` `Who is it, Dobby?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Harry said, keeping a firm hold on Dobby's wrist to stop him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "from hitting himself with the water jug again. `Who's opened it? Who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "opened it last time?` `Dobby can't, sir, Dobby can't, Dobby mustn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "tell!` squealed the elf. `Go home, Harry Potter, go home!` `I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "not going anywhere!` said Harry fiercely. `One of my best friends is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Muggle-born; she'll be first in line if the Chamber really has been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "opened -` `Harry Potter risks his own life for his friends!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "moaned Dobby in a kind of miserable ecstasy. `So noble! So valiant!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "But he must save himself, he must, Harry Potter must not -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " Dobby suddenly froze, his bat ears quivering. Harry heard it, too.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "There were footsteps coming down the passageway outside. `Dobby must go!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "breathed the elf, terrified. There was a loud crack, and Harry's fist","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "was suddenly clenched on thin air. He slumped back into bed, his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "eyes on the dark doorway to the hospital wing as the footsteps","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "drew nearer. Next moment, Dumbledore was backing into the dormitory, wearing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "a long woolly dressing gown and a nightcap. He was carrying one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "end of what looked like a statue. Professor McGonagall appeared a second","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "later, carrying its feet. Together, they heaved it onto a bed. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`Get Madam Pomfrey,` whispered Dumbledore, and Professor McGonagall hurried past the end","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "of Harry's bed out of sight. Harry lay quite still, pretending to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "be asleep. He heard urgent voices, and then Professor McGonagall swept back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "into view, closely followed by Madam Pomfrey, who was pulling a cardigan","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "on over her nightdress. He heard a sharp intake of breath. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "`What happened?` Madam Pomfrey whispered to Dumbledore, bending over the statue on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the bed. `Another attack,` said Dumbledore. `Minerva found him on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the stairs. `There was a bunch of grapes next to him,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "said Professor McGonagall. `We think he was trying to sneak up here","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "to visit Potter.` Harry's stomach gave a horrible lurch. Slowly and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "carefully, he raised himself a few inches so he could look at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "the statue on the bed. A ray of moonlight lay across its","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "staring face. It was Colin Creevey. His eyes were wide and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "his hands were stuck up in front of him, holding his camera.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `Petrified?` whispered Madam Pomfrey. `Yes,` said Professor McGonagall. `But I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "shudder to think ... If Albus hadn't been on the way downstairs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "for hot chocolate - who knows what might have -` The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "three of them stared down at Colin. Then Dumbledore leaned forward and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "wrenched the camera out of Colin's rigid grip. `You don't think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "he managed to get a picture of his attacker?` said Professor McGonagall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "eagerly. Dumbledore didn't answer. He opened the back of the camera.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `Good gracious!` said Madam Pomfrey. A jet of steam had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "hissed out of the camera. Harry, three beds away, caught the acrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "smell of burnt plastic. `Melted,` said Madam Pomfrey wonderingly. `All melted...`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " `What does this mean, Albus?` Professor McGonagall asked urgently. `It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "means,` said Dumbledore, `that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " Madam Pomfrey clapped a hand to her mouth. Professor McGonagall stared","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "at Dumbledore. `But, Albus ... surely ... who?` `The question","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "is not who,` said Dumbledore, his eyes on Colin. `The question is,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "how . . . .` And from what Harry could see of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" "Professor McGonagall's shad owy face, she didn't understand this any better than he did.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-10" " THE D-KJEL]ING C-L-IJIB Harry woke up on Sunday morning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to find the dormitory blazing with winter sunlight and his arm reboned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "but very stiff. He sat up quickly and looked over at Colin's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "bed, but it had been blocked from view by the high curtains","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry had changed behind yesterday. Seeing that he was awake, Madam Pomfrey","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "came bustling over with a breakfast tray and then began bending and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "stretching his arm and fingers. `All in order,` she said as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "he clumsily fed himself porridge lefthanded. `When you've finished eating, you may","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "leave.` Harry dressed as quickly as he could and hurried off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to Gryffindor Tower, desperate to tell Ron and Hermione about Colin and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Dobby, but they weren't there. Harry left to look for them, wondering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "where they could have got to and feeling slightly hurt that they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "weren't interested in whether he had his bones back or not. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " As Harry passed the library, Percy Weasley strolled out of it,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "looking in far better spirits than last time they'd met. `Oh,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hello, Harry,` he said. `Excellent flying yesterday, really excellent. Gryffindor has just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "taken the lead for the House Cup you earned fifty points!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`You haven't seen Ron or Hermione, have you?` said Harry. `No,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "I haven't,` said Percy, his smile fading. `I hope Ron's not in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "another girls' toilet ..... Harry forced a laugh, watched Percy walk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "out of sight, and then headed straight for Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "couldn't see why Ron and Hermione would be in there again, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "after making sure that neither Filch nor any prefects were around, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "opened the door and heard their voices coming from a locked stall.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `It's me,` he said, closing the door behind him. There was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a clunk, a splash, and a gasp from within the stall and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "he saw Hermione's eye peering through the keyhole. `Harry!` she said.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`You gave us such a fright - come in how's your arm?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `Fine,` said Harry, squeezing into the stall. An old cauldron was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "perched on the toilet, and a crackling from under the rim told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry they had lit a fire beneath it. Conjuring up portable, waterproof","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "fires was a speciality of Hermione's. `We'd've come to meet you,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "but we decided to get started on the Polyjuice Potion,` Ron explained","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "as Harry, with difficulty, locked the stall again. `We've decided this is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the safest place to hide it.` Harry started to tell them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "about Colin, but Hermione interrupted. `We already know - we heard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Professor McGonagall telling Professor Flitwick this morning. That's why we decided","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "we'd better get going -` `The sooner we get a confession","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "out of Malfoy, the better,` snarled Ron. `D'you know what I think?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "He was in such a foul temper after the Quidditch match, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "took it out on Colin.` `There's something else,` said Harry, watching","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Hermione tearing bundles of knotgrass and throwing them into the potion. `Dobby","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "came to visit me in the middle of the night.` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and Hermione looked up, amazed. Harry told them everything Dobby had told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "him - or hadn't told him. Hermione and Ron listened with their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "mouths open. `The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?` Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said. `This settles it,` said Ron in a triumphant voice. `Lucius","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Malfoy must've opened the Chamber when he was at school here and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "now he's told dear old Draco how to do it. It's obvious.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Wish Dobby'd told you what kind of monster's in there, though. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "want to know how come nobody's noticed it sneaking around the school.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `Maybe it can make itself invisible,` said Hermione, prodding leeches to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the bottom of the cauldron. `Or maybe it can disguise itself - pretend","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to be a suit of armor or something - I've read about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Chameleon Ghouls -` `You read too much, Hermione,` said Ron, pouring","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "dead lacewings on top of the leeches. He crumpled up the empty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "lacewing bag and looked at Harry. `So Dobby stopped us from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "getting on the train and broke your arm ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " He shook his head. `You know what,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry? If he doesn't stop trying to save your life he's going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to kill you.` The news that Colin Creevey had been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "attacked and was now lying as though dead in the hospital wing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "had spread through the entire school by Monday morning. The air was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "suddenly thick with rumor and suspicion. The first years were now moving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "around the castle in tight-knit groups, as though scared they would be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "attacked if they ventured forth alone. Ginny Weasley, who sat next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to Colin Creevey in Charms, was distraught, but Harry felt that Fred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and George were going the wrong way about cheering her up. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "were taking turns covering themselves with fur or boils and jumping out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "at her from behind statues. They only stopped when Percy, apoplectic with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "rage, told them he was going to write to Mrs. Weasley and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "tell her Ginny was having nightmares. Meanwhile, hidden from the teachers,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a roaring trade in talismans, amulets, and other protective devices was sweeping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the school. Neville Longbottom bought a large, evil-smelling green onion, a pointed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail before the other Gryffindor boys","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "pointed out that he was in no danger; he was a pure-","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "blood, and therefore unlikely to be attacked. `They went for Filch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "first,` Neville said, his round face fearful. `And everyone knows I'm almost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a Squib.` In the second week of December Professor McGonagall came","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "school for Christmas. Harry, Ron, and Hermione signed her list; they had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck them as very suspicious. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "holidays would be the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "try to worm a confession out of him. Unfortunately, the potion","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "was only half finished. They still needed the bicorn horn and the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "boomslang skin, and the only place they were going to get them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "was from Snape's private stores. Harry privately felt he'd rather face Slytherin's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "legendary monster than let Snape catch him robbing his office. `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "we need,` said Hermione briskly as Thursday afternoon's double Potions lesson loomed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "nearer, `is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "office and take what we need.` Harry and Ron looked at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "her nervously. `I think Id better do the actual stealing,` Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "continued in a matter-of-fact tone. `You two will be expelled if you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "get into any more trouble, and I've got a clean record. So","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "busy for five minutes or so. Harry smiled feebly. Deliberately causing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "mayhem in Snape's Potions class was about as safe as poking a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "sleeping dragon in the eye. Potions lessons took place in one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "of the large dungeons. Thursday afternoon's lesson proceeded in the usual way.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Twenty cauldrons stood steaming between the wooden desks, on which stood brass","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "scales and jars of ingredients. Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "remarks about the Gryffindors' work while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively. Draco Malfoy,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "who was Snape's favorite student, kept flicking puffer-fish eyes at Ron and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry, who knew that if they retaliated they would get detention faster","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "than you could say `Unfair.` Harry's Swelling Solution was far too runny,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "but he had his mind on more important things. He was waiting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "for Hermione's signal, and he hardly listened as Snape paused to sneer","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "at his watery potion. When Snape turned and walked off to bully","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Neville, Hermione caught Harry's eye and nodded. Harry ducked swiftly down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "behind his cauldron, pulled one of Fred's Filibuster fireworks out of his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "pocket, and gave it a quick prod with his wand. The firework","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "began to fizz and sputter. Knowing he had only seconds, Harry straightened","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "up, took aim, and lobbed it into the air; it landed right","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "on target in Goyle's cauldron. Goyle's potion exploded, showering the whole","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "class. People shrieked as splashes of the Swelling Solution hit them. Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "got a faceful and his nose began to swell like a balloon;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Goyle blundered around, his hands over his eyes, which had expanded to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the size of a dinner plate - Snape was trying to restore","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "calm and find out what had happened. Through the confusion, Harry saw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Hermione slip quietly into Snape's office. `Silence! SILENCE!` Snape roared. `Anyone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draft - when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "I find out who did this -` Harry tried not to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "laugh as he watched Malfoy hurry forward, his head drooping with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "weight of a nose like a small melon. As half the class","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "lumbered up to Snape's desk, some weighted down with arms like clubs,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "others unable to talk through gigantic puffedup lips, Harry saw Hermione slide","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "back into the dungeon, the front of her robes bulging. When","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "everyone had taken a swig of antidote and the various swellings had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "subsided, Snape swept over to Goyle's cauldron and scooped out the twisted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`If I ever find out who threw this,` Snape whispered, `I shall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "make sure that person is expelled.` Harry arranged his face into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "what he hoped was a puzzled expression. Snape was looking right at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "him, and the bell that rang ten minutes later could not have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "been more welcome. `He knew it was me,` Harry told Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and Hermione as they hurried back to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. `I could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "tell.` Hermione threw the new ingredients into the cauldron and began","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to stir feverishly. `It'll be ready in two weeks,` she said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "happily. `Snape can't prove it was you,` said Ron reassuringly to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry. `What can he do?` `Knowing Snape, something foul,` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "as the potion frothed and bubbled. A week later, Harry, Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and Hermione were walking across the entrance hall when they saw a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "small knot of people gathered around the notice board, reading a piece","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "of parchment that had just been pinned up. Seamus Finnigan and Dean","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Thomas beckoned them over, looking excited. `They're starting a Dueling Club!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said Seamus. `First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind dueling lessons; they might","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "come in handy one of these days ...... `What, you reckon","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Slytherin's monster can duel?` said Ron, but he, too, read the sign","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "with interest. `Could be useful,` he said to Harry and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "as they went into dinner. `Shall we go?` Harry and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "were all for it, so at eight o'clock that evening they hurried","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "back to the Great Hall. The long dining tables had vanished and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "wands and looking excited. `I wonder who'll be teaching us?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Hermione as they edged into the chattering crowd. `Someone told me Flitwick was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a dueling champion when he was young - maybe it'll be him.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `As long as it's not -` Harry began, but he ended","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "on a groan: Gilderoy Lockhart was walking onto the stage, resplendent in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "robes of deep plum and accompanied by none other than Snape, wearing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "his usual black. Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "' `Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hear me? Excellent! `Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "occasions - for full details, see my published works. `Let me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "introduce my assistant, Professor Snape,` said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. `He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "fear!` `Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Ron muttered in Harry's ear. Snape's upper lip was curling. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "wondered why Lockhart was still smiling; if Snape had been looking at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "him like that he'd have been running as fast as he could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in the opposite direction. Lockhart and Snape turned to face each","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hands, whereas Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "like swords in front of them. `As you see, we are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "holding our wands in the accepted combative position,` Lockhart told the silent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "crowd. `On the count of three, we will cast our first spells.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course.` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "wouldn't bet on that,` Harry murmured, watching Snape baring his teeth. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`One - two - three -` Both of them swung their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Snape cried:","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`Expelliarmus!` There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "blasted off his feet: He flew backward off the stage, smashed into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins cheered. Hermione was dancing on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "tiptoes. `Do you think he's all right?` she squealed through her fingers.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `Who cares?` said Harry and Ron together. Lockhart was getting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "unsteadily to his feet. His hat had fallen off and his wavy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hair was standing on end. `Well, there you have it!` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said, tottering back onto the platform. `That was a Disarming Charm -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "as you see, I've lost my wand - ah, thank you, Miss","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Brown - yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "you it would have been only too easy - however, I felt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "it would be instructive to let them see . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Snape was looking murderous. Possibly Lockhart had noticed, because he said, `Enough","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "They moved through the crowd, matching up partners. Lockhart teamed Neville with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Justin Finch-Fletchley, but Snape reached Harry and Ron first. `Time to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "split up the dream team, I think,` he sneered. `Weasley, you can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "partner Finnigan. Potter -` Harry moved automatically toward Hermione. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "don't think so,` said Snape, smiling coldly. `Mr. Malfoy, come over here. Let's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "see what you make of the famous Potter. And you, Miss Granger","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "- you can partner Miss Bulstrode.` Malfoy strutted over, smirking. Behind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "him walked a Slytherin girl who reminded Harry of a picture he'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "seen in Holidays with Hags. She was large and square and her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "heavy jaw jutted aggressively. Hermione gave her a weak smile that she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "did not return. `Face your partners!` called Lockhart, back on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "platform. `And bow!` Harry and Malfoy barely inclined their heads, not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "taking their eyes off each other. `Wands at the ready!` shouted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Lockhart. `When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "opponents - only to disarm them - we don't want any accidents","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "- one ... two ... three -` Harry swung his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "high, but Malfoy had already started on `two`: His spell hit Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "so hard he felt as though he'd been hit over the head","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "with a saucepan. He stumbled, but everything still seemed to be working,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and wasting no more time, Harry pointed his wand straight at Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and shouted, `Rictusempra!` A jet of silver light hit Malfoy in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the stomach and he doubled up, wheezing. `I said disarm only!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Lockhart shouted in alarm over the heads of the battling crowd, as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Malfoy sank to his knees; Harry had hit him with a Tickling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Charm, and he could barely move for laughing. Harry hung back, with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a vague feeling it would be unsporting to bewitch Malfoy while he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "was on the floor, but this was a mistake; gasping for breath,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry's knees, choked, `Tarantallegra!` and the next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "second Harry's legs began to jerk around out of his control in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a kind of quickstep. `Stop! Stop!` screamed Lockhart, but Snape took","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "charge. `Finite Incantatem!` he shouted; Harry's feet stopped dancing, Malfoy stopped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "laughing, and they were able to look up. A haze of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "greenish smoke was hovering over the scene. Both Neville and Justin were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "lying on the floor, panting; Ron was holding up an ashen-faced Seamus,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "apologizing for whatever his broken wand had done; but Hermione and Millicent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Bulstrode were still moving; Millicent had Hermione in a headlock and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "was whimpering in pain; both their wands lay forgotten on the floor.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry leapt forward and pulled Millicent off. It was difficult: She was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a lot bigger than he was. `Dear, dear,` said Lockhart, skittering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "through the crowd, looking at the aftermath of the duels. `Up you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "go, Macmillan .... Careful there, Miss Fawcett .... Pinch it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hard, it'll stop bleeding in a second, Boot `I think Id","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "better teach you how to block unfriendly spells,` said Lockhart, standing flustered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in the midst of the hall. He glanced at Snape, whose black","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "eyes glinted, and looked quickly away. `Let's have a volunteer pair -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you -` `A bad idea, Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Lockhart,` said Snape, gliding over like a large and malevolent bat. `Longbottom","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox.` Neville's round, pink","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "face went pinker. `How about Malfoy and Potter?` said Snape with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "twisted smile. `Excellent idea!` said Lockhart, gesturing Harry and Malfoy into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away to give","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "them room. `Now, Harry,` said Lockhart. `When Draco points his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "at you, you do this.` He raised his own wand, attempted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a complicated sort of wiggling action, and dropped it. Snape smirked as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Lockhart quickly picked it up, saying, `Whoops -my wand is a little","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "overexcited -` Snape moved closer to Malfoy, bent down, and whispered something","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in his ear. Malfoy smirked, too. Harry looked up nervously at Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and said, `Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`Scared?` muttered Malfoy, so that Lockhart couldn't hear him. `You wish,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said Harry out of the corner of his mouth. Lockhart cuffed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry merrily on the shoulder. `Just do what I did, Harry!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`What, drop my wand?` But Lockhart wasn't listening. `Three -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "two - one - go!` he shouted. Malfoy raised his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "quickly and bellowed, `Serpensortia!` The end of his wand exploded. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "watched, aghast, as a long black snake shot out of it, fell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "heavily onto the floor between them, and raised itself, ready to strike.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "There were screams as the crowd backed swiftly away, clearing the floor.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `Don't move, Potter,` said Snape lazily, clearly enjoying the sight of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry standing motionless, eye to eye with the angry snake. `I'll get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "rid of it ...... `Allow me!` shouted Lockhart. He brandished his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "wand at the snake and there was a loud bang; the snake,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "instead of vanishing, flew ten feet into the air and fell back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to the floor with a loud smack. Enraged, hissing furiously, it slithered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "strike. Harry wasn't sure what made him do it. He wasn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "even aware of deciding to do it. All he knew was that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "his legs were carrying him forward as though he was on casters","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and that he had shouted stupidly at the snake, `Leave him alone!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "And miraculously - inexplicably - the snake slumped to the floor, docile","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "as a thick, black garden hose, its eyes now on Harry. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "felt the fear drain out of him. He knew the snake wouldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "attack anyone now, though how he knew it, he couldn't have explained.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " He looked up at Justin, grinning, expecting to see Justin looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "relieved, or puzzled, or even grateful - but certainly not angry and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "scared. `What do you think you're playing at?` he shouted, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "before Harry could say anything, Justin had turned and stormed out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the hall. Snape stepped forward, waved his wand, and the snake","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "vanished in a small puff of black smoke. Snape, too, was looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "at Harry in an unexpected way: It was a shrewd and calculating","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "look, and Harry didn't like it. He was also dimly aware of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "an ominous muttering all around the walls. Then he felt a tugging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "on the back of his robes. `Come on,` said Rods voice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in his ear. `Move - come on -` Ron steered him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "out of the hall, Hermione hurrying alongside them. As they went through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the doors, the people on either side drew away as though they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "were frightened of catching something. Harry didn't have a clue what was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "going on, and neither Ron nor Hermione explained anything until they had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "dragged him all the way up to the empty Gryffindor common room.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Then Ron pushed Harry into an armchair and said, `You're a Parselmouth.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Why didn't you tell us?` `I'm a what?` said Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`A Parselmouth!` said Ron. `You can talk to snakes!` `I know,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said Harry. `I mean, that's only the second time I've ever done","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "it. I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the zoo once - long story - but it was telling me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "it had never seen Brazil and I sort of set it free","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "without meaning to that was before I knew I was a wizard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "-` `A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Ron repeated faintly. `So?` said Harry. `I bet loads of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "people here can do it.` `Oh, no they can't,` said Ron. `It's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "not a very common gift. Harry, this is bad.` `What's bad?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said Harry, starting to feel quite angry. `What's wrong with everyone? Listen,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "if I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`Oh, that's what you said to it?` `What d'you mean? You","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "were there - you heard me -` `I heard you speaking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Parseltongue,` said Ron. `Snake language. You could have been saying anything -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "no wonder Justin panicked, you sounded like you were egging the snake","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "on or something - it was creepy, you know -` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "gaped at him. `I spoke a different language? But - I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "didn't realize - how can I speak a language without knowing I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "can speak it?` Ron shook his head. Both he and Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "were looking as though someone had died. Harry couldn't see what was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "so terrible. `D'you want to tell me what's wrong with stopping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a massive snake biting off Justin's head?` he said. `What does it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "matter how I did it as long as Justin doesn't have to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "join the Headless Hunt?` `It matters,` said Hermione, speaking at last","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in a hushed voice, `because being able to talk to snakes was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "House is a serpent.` Harry's mouth fell open. `Exactly,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Ron. `And now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great-great-grandson","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "or something -` `But I'm not,` said Harry, with a panic","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "he couldn't quite explain. `You'll find that hard to prove,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Hermione. `He lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "you could be.` Harry lay awake for hours that night.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Through a gap in the curtains around his four-poster he watched snow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "starting to drift past the tower window and wondered . . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " Could he be a descendant of Salazar Slithering? He didn't know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "anything about his father's family, after all. The Dursleys had always forbidden","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "questions about his wizarding relatives. Quietly, Harry tried to say something","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in Parseltongue. The words wouldn't come. It seemed he had to be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "face-to-face with a snake to do it. But I'm in Gryffindor,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry thought. The Sorting Hat wouldn't have put me in here if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "I had Slytherin blood... Ah, said a nasty little voice in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "his brain, but the Sorting Hat wanted to put you in Slytherin,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "don't you remember? Harry turned over. He'd see Justin the next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "day in Herbology and he'd explain that he'd been calling the snake","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "off, not egging it on, which (he thought angrily, pummeling his pillow)","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "any fool should have realized. By next morning, however, the snow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "that had begun in the night had turned into a blizzard so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "thick that the last Herbology lesson of the term was canceled: Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Sprout wanted to fit socks and scarves on the Mandrakes, a tricky","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "operation she would entrust to no one else, now that it was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "so important for the Mandrakes to grow quickly and revive Mrs. Norris","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and Colin Creevey. Harry fretted about this next to the fire","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in the Gryffindor common room, while Ron and Hermione used their time","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "off to play a game of wizard chess. `For heaven's sake,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Harry,` said Hermione, exasperated, as one of Ron's bishops wrestled her knight","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "off his horse and dragged him off the board. `Go and find","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Justin if it's so important to you.` So Harry got up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and left through the portrait hole, wondering where Justin might be. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "The castle was darker than it usually was in daytime because of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the thick, swirling gray snow at every window. Shivering, Harry walked past classrooms","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "where lessons were taking place, catching snatches of what was happening within.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Professor McGonagall was shouting at someone who, by the sound of it,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "had turned his friend into a badger. Resisting the urge to take","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a look, Harry walked on by, thinking that Justin might be using","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "his free time to catch up on some work, and deciding to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "check the library first. A group of the Hufliepuffs who should","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "have been in Herbology were indeed sitting at the back of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "library, but they didn't seem to be working. Between the long lines","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "of high bookshelves, Harry could see that their heads were close together","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and they were having what looked like an absorbing conversation. He couldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "see whether Justin was among them. He was walking toward them when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "something of what they were saying met his ears, and he paused","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "to listen, hidden in the Invisibility section. `So anyway,` a stout","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "boy was saying, `I told Justin to hide up in our dormitory.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "I mean to say, if Potter's marked him down as his next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "victim, it's best if he keeps a low profile for a while.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Of course, Justin's been waiting for something like this to happen ever","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "since he let slip to Potter he was Muggle-born. Justin actually told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "him he'd been down for Eton. That's not the kind of thing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "you bandy about with Slytherin's heir on the loose, is it?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`You definitely think it is Potter, then, Ernie?` said a girl with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "blonde pigtails anxiously. `Hannah,` said the stout boy solemnly, `he's a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a Dark wizard. Have you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue.` There was some heavy murmuring at this,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and Ernie went on, `Remember what was written on the wall? Enemies","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "of the Heir, Beware. Potter had some sort of run-in with Filch.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Next thing we know, Flich's cat's attacked. That first year, Creevey, was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "annoying Potter at the Quidditch match, taking pictures of him while he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "was lying in the mud. Next thing we know - Creevey's been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "attacked.` `He always seems so nice, though,` said Hannah uncertainly, `and,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "well, he's the one who made You-Know-Who disappear. He can't be all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "bad, can he?` Ernie lowered his voice mysteriously, the Hufflepuffs bent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "closer, and Harry edged nearer so that he could catch Ernie's words.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `No one knows how he survived that attack by You-Know-Who. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "mean to say, he was only a baby when it happened. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "should have been blasted into smithereens. Only a really powerful Dark wizard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "could have survived a curse like that.` He dropped his voice until","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "it was barely more than a whisper, and said, `That's probably why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "You- Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place. Didn't want","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "another Dark Lord competing with him. I wonder what other powers Potter's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "been hiding?` Harry couldn't take anymore. Clearing his throat loudly, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "stepped out from behind the bookshelves. If he hadn't been feeling so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "angry, he would have found the sight that greeted him funny: Every","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "one of the Hufflepuffs looked as though they had been Petrified by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the sight of him, and the color was draining out of Ernie's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "face. `Hello,` said Harry. `I'm looking for Justin Finch-Fletchley.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "The Hufepuffs' worst fears had clearly been confirmed. They all looked fearfully","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "at Ernie. `What do you want with him?` said Ernie in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a quavering voice. `I wanted to tell him what really happened","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "with that snake at the Dueling Club,` said Harry. Ernie bit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "his white lips and then, taking a deep breath, said, `We were all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "there. We saw what happened.` `Then you noticed that after I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "spoke to it, the snake backed off?` said Harry. `All I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "saw,` said Ernie stubbornly, though he was trembling as he spoke, `was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "you speaking Parseltongue and chasing the snake toward Justin. ` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "didn't chase it at him!` Harry said, his voice shaking with anger.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "`It didn't even touch him!` `It was a very near miss,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said Ernie. `And in case you're getting ideas,` he added hastily, `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "might tell you that you can trace my family back through nine","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "generations of witches and warlocks and my blood's as pure as anyone's,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "so -` - cc I don't care what sort of blood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "you've got!` said Harry fiercely. `Why would I want to attack Muggle-borns?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `I've heard you hate those Muggles you live with,` said Ernie","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "swiftly. `It's not possible to live with the Dursleys and not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hate them,` said Harry. `Id like to see you try it.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "He turned on his heel and stormed out of the library, earning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "himself a reproving glare from Madam Pince, who was polishing the gilded","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "cover of a large spellbook. Harry blundered up the corridor,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "barely noticing where he was going, he was in such a fury.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "The result was that he walked into something very large and solid,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "which knocked him backward onto the floor. `Oh, hello, Hagrid,` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said, looking up. Hagrid's face was entirely hidden by a woolly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "snow-covered balaclava, but it couldn't possibly be anyone else, as he filled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "most of the corridor in his moleskin overcoat. A dead rooster was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hanging from one of his massive, gloved hands. `All righ', Harry?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "he said, pulling up the balaclava so he could speak. `Why aren't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "yeh in class?` `Canceled,` said Harry, getting up. `What're you doing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in here?` Hagrid held up the limp rooster. `Second one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "killed this term,` he explained. `It's either foxes or a Blood-Suckin Bugbear,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "an' I need the Headmaster's permission ter put a charm around the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hen coop.` He peered more closely at Harry from under his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "thick, snowflecked eyebrows. `Yeh sure yeh're all righ'? Yeh look all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hot an' bothered -` Harry couldn't bring himself to repeat what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Ernie and the rest of the Hufflepuffs had been saying about him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `It's nothing,` he said. `Id better get going, Hagrid, it's Transfiguration","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "next and I've got to pick up my books.` He walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "off, his mind still full of what Ernie had said about him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " `Justin's been waiting for something like this to happen ever since","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "he let slip to Potter he was Muggle-born ..... Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "stamped up the stairs and turned along another corridor, which was particularly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "dark; the torches had been extinguished by a strong, icy draft that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "was blowing through a loose windowpane. He was halfway down the passage","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "when he tripped headlong over something lying on the floor. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "turned to squint at what he'd fallen over and felt as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "his stomach had dissolved. Justin Finch-Fletchley was lying on the floor,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "rigid and cold, a look of shock frozen on his face, his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. And that wasn't all. Next to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "him was another figure, the strangest sight Harry had ever seen. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "It was Nearly Headless Nick, no longer pearly-white and transparent, but black","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and smoky, floating immobile and horizontal, six inches off the floor. His","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "head was half off and his face wore an expression of shock","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "identical to Justin's. Harry got to his feet, his breathing fast","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "and shallow, his heart doing a kind of drumroll against his ribs. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "looked wildly up and down the deserted corridor and saw a line","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "of spiders scuttling as fast as they could away from the bodies.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "The only sounds were the muffled voices of teachers from the classes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "on either side. He could run, and no one would ever","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "know he had been there. But he couldn't just leave them lying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "here .... He had to get help .... Would anyone believe he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "hadn't had anything to do with this? As he stood there,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "panicking, a door right next to him opened with a bang. Peeves","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the Poltergeist came shooting out. `Why, it's potty wee Potter!` cackled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Peeves, knocking Harry's glasses askew as he bounced past him. `What's Potter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "up to? Why's Potter lurking -` Peeves stopped, halfway through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a midair somersault. Upside down, he spotted Justin and Nearly Headless Nick.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "He flipped the right way up, filled his lungs and, before Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "could stop him, screamed, `ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!` Crash - crash -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "crash - door after door flew open along the corridor and people","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "flooded out. For several long minutes, there was a scene of such","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "confusion that Justin was in danger of being squashed and people kept","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "standing in Nearly Headless Nick. Harry found himself pinned against the wall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "as the teachers shouted for quiet. Professor McGonagall came running, followed by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "her own class, one of whom still had black-and-white-striped hair. She used","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "her wand to set off aloud bang, which restored silence, and ordered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "everyone back into their classes. No sooner had the scene cleared somewhat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "than Ernie the Hufflepuff arrived, panting, on the scene. `Caught in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "the act!` Ernie yelled, his face stark white, pointing his finger dramatically","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "at Harry. `That will do, Macmillan!` said Professor McGonagall sharply. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Peeves was bobbing overhead, now grinning wickedly, surveying the scene; Peeves always","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "loved chaos. As the teachers bent over Justin and Nearly Headless Nick,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "examining them, Peeves broke into song: `Oh, Potter, you rotter, oh,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "what have you done, You're killing off' students, you think it's good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "fun -` `That's enough Peeves!` barked Professor McGonagall, and Peeves zoomed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "away backward, with his tongue out at Harry. *203* Justin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Sinistra of the Astronomy department, but nobody seemed to know what to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "do for Nearly Headless Nick. In the end, Professor McGonagall conjured a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "large fan out of thin air, which she gave to Ernie with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "instructions to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs. This Ernie did,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "fanning Nick along like a silent black hovercraft. This left Harry and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "Professor McGonagall alone together. `This way, Potter,` she said. `Professor,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "said Harry at once, `I swear I didn't -` `This is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "out of my hands, Potter,` said Professor McGonagall curtly. They marched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "in silence around a corner and she stopped before a large and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "extremely ugly stone gargoyle. `Lemon drop!` she said. This was evidently","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "a password, because the gargoyle sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "as the wall behind him split in two. Even full of dread","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "for what was coming, Harry couldn't fail to be amazed. Behind the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "wall was a spiral staircase that was moving smoothly upward, like an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "escalator. As he and Professor McGonagall stepped onto it, Harry heard the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "wall thud closed behind them. They rose upward in circles, higher and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "higher, until at last, slightly dizzy, Harry saw a gleaming oak door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "ahead, with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" "He knew now where he was being taken. This must be where Dumbledore lived.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-11" " THE POLYJUICE POTION hey stepped off the stone staircase","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "silently and they entered. Professor McGonagall told Harry to wait and left","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "him there, alone. Harry looked around. One thing was certain: of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "all the teachers' offices Harry had visited so far this year, Dumbledore's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "was by far the most interesting. If he hadn't been scared out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of his wits that he was about to be thrown out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "school, he would have been very pleased to have a chance to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "look around it. It was a large and beautiful circular room,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "on spindlelegged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tattered wizard's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hat - the Sorting Hat. Harry hesitated. He cast a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "wary eye around the sleeping witches and wizards on the walls. Surely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "it couldn't hurt if he took the hat down and tried it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "on again? Just to see ... just to make sure it had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "put him in the right House He walked quietly around the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "desk, lifted the hat from its shelf, and lowered it slowly onto","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "his head. It was much too large and slipped down over his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "eyes, just as it had done the last time he'd put it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "on. Harry stared at the black inside of the hat, waiting. Then","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "a small voice said in his ear, `Bee in your bonnet, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Potter?` `Er, yes,` Harry muttered. `Er - sorry to bother you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "- I wanted to ask - ` `You've been wondering whether","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "I put you in the right House,` said the hat smartly. `Yes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "... you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "I said before` - Harry's heart leapt - `you would have done","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "well in Slytherin -` Harry's stomach plummeted. He grabbed the point","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of the hat and pulled it off. It hung limply in his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hand, grubby and faded. Harry pushed it back onto its shelf, feeling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "sick. `You're wrong,` he said aloud to the still and silent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hat. It didn't move. Harry backed away, watching it. Then a strange,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "gagging noise behind him made him wheel around. He wasn't alone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "after all. Standing on a golden perch behind the door was a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "decrepit-looking bird that resembled a half-plucked turkey. Harry stared at it and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the bird looked balefully back, making its gagging noise again. Harry thought","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "bird to die while he was alone in the office with it,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "when the bird burst into flames. Harry yelled in shock and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "backed away into the desk. He looked feverishly around in case there","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "was a glass of water somewhere but couldn't see one; the bird,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek and next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "second there was nothing but a smouldering pile of ash on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "floor. The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very somber.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `Professor,` Harry gasped. `Your bird - I couldn't do anything -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "he just caught fire -` To Harry's astonishment, Dumbledore smiled. `About","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "time, too,` he said. `He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "telling him to get a move on.` He chuckled at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "stunned look on Harry's face. `Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "burst into flame when it is time for them to die and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "are reborn from the ashes. Watch him . . .` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, newborn bird poke","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "its head out of the ashes. It was quite as ugly as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the old one. `It's a shame you had to see him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "on a Burning Day,` said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. `He's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets.` In the shock","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of Fawkes catching fire, Harry had forgotten what he was there for,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "but it all came back to him as Dumbledore settled himself","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "in the high chair behind the desk and fixed Harry with his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "penetrating, light-blue stare. Before Dumbledore could speak another word, however, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "door of the office flew open with an almighty bang and Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "burst in, a wild look in his eyes, his balaclava perched on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "top of his shaggy black head and the dead rooster still swinging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "from his hand. `It wasn' Harry, Professor Dumbledore!` said Hagrid urgently.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`I was talkin' ter him seconds before that kid was found, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "never had time, sir - ` Dumbledore tried to say something,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "but Hagrid went ranting on, waving the rooster around in his agitation,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "sending feathers everywhere. `- it can't've bin him, I'll swear it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "in front o' the Ministry o' Magic if I have to -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `Hagrid, I -` `- yeh've got the wrong boy, sir,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "I know Harry never =' `Hagrid!` said Dumbledore loudly. `I do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "not think that Harry attacked those people.` `Oh,` said Hagrid, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "rooster falling limply at his side. `Right. I'll wait outside then, Headmaster.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " And he stomped out looking embarrassed. `You don't think it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "was me, Professor?` Harry repeated hopefully as Dumbledore brushed rooster feathers off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "his desk. `No, Harry, I don't,` said Dumbledore, though his face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "was somber again. `But I still want to talk to you.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry waited nervously while Dumbledore considered him, the tips of his long","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "fingers together. `I must ask you, Harry, whether there is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "anything you'd like to tell me,` he said gently. `Anything at all.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " Harry didn't know what to say. He thought of Malfoy shouting,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`You'll be next, Mudbloods!` and of the Polyjuice Potion simmering away in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Then he thought of the disembodied voice he had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "heard twice and remembered what Ron had said: `Hearing voices no one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "He thought, too, about what everyone was saying about him, and his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "growing dread that he was somehow connected with Salazar Slytherin .... ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`No,` said Harry. `There isn't anything, Professor . . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "The double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hitherto been nervousness into real panic. Curiously, it was Nearly Headless Nick's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "fate that seemed to worry people most. What could possibly do that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "to a ghost? people asked each other; what terrible power could harm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "someone who was already dead? There was almost a stampede to book seats","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "on the Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `At this rate, we'll be the only ones left,` Ron told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry and Hermione. `Us, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. What a jolly holiday","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "it's going to be.` Crabbe and Goyle, who always did whatever","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Malfoy did, had signed up to stay over the holidays, too. But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry was glad that most people were leaving. He was tired of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "people skirting around him in the corridors, as though he was about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "to sprout fangs or spit poison; tired of all the muttering, pointing,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and hissing as he passed. Fred and George, however, found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "all this very funny. They went out of their way to march","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "ahead of Harry down the corridors, shouting, `Make way for the Heir","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through ...... Percy was deeply","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "disapproving of this behavior. `It is not a laughing matter,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "said coldly. `Oh, get out of the way, Percy,` said Fred.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Harry's in a hurry.` `Yeah, he's off to the Chamber of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant,` said George,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "chortling. Ginny didn't find it amusing either. `Oh, don't,` she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "wailed every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he was planning to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "attack next, or when George pretended to ward Harry off with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "large clove of garlic when they met. Harry didn't mind; it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "made him feel better that Fred and George, at least, thought the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "idea of his being Slytherin's heir was quite ludicrous. But their antics","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "seemed to be aggravating Draco Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "he saw them at it. `It's because he's bursting to say","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "it's really him,` said Ron knowingly. `You know how he hates anyone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "beating him at anything, and you're getting all the credit for his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "dirty work.` `Not for long,` said Hermione in a satisfied tone.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`The Polyjuice Potion's nearly ready. We'll be getting the truth out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "him any day now.` At last the term ended, and a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "silence deep as the snow on the grounds descended on the castle.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry found it peaceful, rather than gloomy, and enjoyed the fact that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "he, Hermione, and the Weasleys had the run of Gryffindor Tower, which","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "meant they could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone, and practice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "dueling in private. Fred, George, and Ginny had chosen to stay at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "school rather than visit Bill in Egypt with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Percy, who disapproved of what he termed their childish behavior, didn't spend","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "much time in the Gryffindor common room. He had already told them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "pompously that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "duty as a prefect to support the teachers during this troubled time.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " Christmas morning dawned, cold and white. Harry and Ron, the only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "ones left in their dormitory, were woken very early by Hermione, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "burst in, fully dressed and carrying presents for them both. `Wake","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "up,` she said loudly, pulling back the curtains at the window. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Hermione - you're not supposed to be in here -` said Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "shielding his eyes against the light. `Merry Christmas to you, too,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "said Hermione, throwing him his present. `I've been up for nearly an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hour, adding more lacewings to the potion. It's ready.` Harry sat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "up, suddenly wide awake. `Are you sure?` `Positive,` said Hermione,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "shifting Scabbers the rat so that she could sit down on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "end of Ron's four-poster. `If we're going to do it, I say it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "should be tonight.` At that moment, Hedwig swooped into the room,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "carrying a very small package in her beak. `Hello,` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "happily as she landed on his bed. `Are you speaking to me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "again?` She nibbled his ear in an affectionate sort of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "way, which was a far better present than the one that she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "had brought him, which turned out to be from the Dursleys. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "had sent Harry a toothpick and a note telling him to find","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "out whether he'd be able to stay at Hogwarts for the summer","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "vacation, too. The rest of Harry's Christmas presents were far more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "satisfactory. Hagrid had sent him a large tin of treacle fudge, which","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry decided to soften by the fire before eating; Ron had given","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "him a book called Flying with the Cannons, a book of interesting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "facts about his favorite Quidditch team, and Hermione had bought him a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "luxury eagle-feather quill. Harry opened the last present to find a new,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hand-knitted sweater from Mrs. Weasley and a large plum cake. He read","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "her card with a fresh surge of guilt, thinking about Mr. Weasley's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "car (which hadn't been seen since its crash with the Whomping Willow),","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and the bout of rule-breaking he and Ron were planning next. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "No one, not even someone dreading taking Polyjuice Potion later, could fail","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "to enjoy Christmas dinner at Hogwarts. The Great Hall looked magnificent.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Not only were there a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees and thick streamers","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of holly and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling, but enchanted snow was falling,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "warm and dry, from the ceiling. Dumbledore led them in a few","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of his favorite carols, Hagrid booming more and more loudly with every","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "goblet of eggnog he consumed. Percy, who hadn't noticed that Fred had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "bewitched his prefect badge so that it now read `Pinhead,` kept asking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "them all what they were sniggering at. Harry didn't even care that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Draco Malfoy was making loud, snide remarks about his new sweater","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "from the Slytherin table. With a bit of luck, Malfoy would be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "getting his comeuppance in a few hours' time. Harry and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "had barely finished their third helpings of Christmas pudding when Hermione ushered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "them out of the hall to finalize their plans for the evening.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `We still need a bit of the people you're changing into,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "said Hermione matter-of-facdy, as though she were sending them to the supermarket","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "for laundry detergent. `And obviously, it'll be best if you can get","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "something of Crabbe's and Goyle's; they're Malfoys best friends, he'll tell them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "anything. And we also need to make sure the real Crabbe and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating him. `I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "got it all worked out,` she went on smoothly, ignoring Harry's and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Ron's stupefied faces. She held up two plump chocolate cakes. `I've filled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "these with a simple Sleeping Draught. All you have to do is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "make sure Crabbe and Goyle find them. You know how greedy they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "are, they're bound to eat them. Once they're asleep, pull out a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "few of their hairs and hide them in a broom closet.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry and Ron looked incredulously at each other. `Hermione, I don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "think -` `That could go seriously wrong -` But Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "had a steely glint in her eye not unlike the one Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "McGonagall sometimes had. `The potion will be useless without Crabbe's and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Goyle's hair,` she said sternly. `You do want to investigate Malfoy, don't you?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `Oh, all right, all right,` said Harry. `But what about you?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Whose hair are you ripping out?` `I've already got mine!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "said Hermione brightly, pulling a tiny bottle out of her pocket and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "showing them the single hair inside it. `Remember Millicent Bulstrode wrestling with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "me at the Dueling Club? She left this on my robes when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "she was trying to strangle me! And she's gone home for Christmas","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "- so I'll just have to tell the Slytherins I've decided to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "come back.` When Hermione had bustled off to check on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Polyjuice Potion again, Ron turned to Harry with a doom-laden expression. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "go wrong?` But to Harry's and Ron's utter amazement, stage one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of the operation went just as smoothly as Hermione had said. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "lurked in the deserted entrance hall after Christmas tea, waiting for Crabbe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and Goyle who had remained alone at the Slytherin table, shoveling down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "fourth helpings of trifle. Harry had perched the chocolate cakes on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "end of the banisters. When they spotted Crabbe and Goyle coming out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of the Great Hall, Harry and Ron hid quickly behind a suit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of armor next to the front door. `How thick can you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "get?` Ron whispered ecstatically as Crabbe gleefully pointed out the cakes to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Goyle and grabbed them. Grinning stupidly, they stuffed the cakes whole into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "their large mouths. For a moment, both of them chewed greedily, looks","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of triumph on their faces. Then, without the smallest change of expression,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "they both keeled over backward onto the floor. By far the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hardest part was hiding them in the closet across the hall. Once","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "they were safely stowed among the buckets and mops, Harry yanked out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "a couple of the bristles that covered Goyle's fore head and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "pulled out several of Crabbe's hairs. They also stole their shoes, because","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "their own were far too small for Crabbe- and Goyle-size feet. Then,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "still stunned at what they had just done, they sprinted up to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They could hardly see for the thick black","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "smoke issuing from the stall in which Hermione was stirring the cauldron.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Pulling their robes up over their faces, Harry and Ron knocked softly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "on the door. `Hermione?` They heard the scrape of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "lock and Hermione emerged, shiny- faced and looking anxious. Behind her they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "heard the gloop gloop of the bubbling, glutinous potion. Three glass tumblers","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "stood ready on the toilet seat. `Did you get them?` Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "asked breathlessly. Harry showed her Goyle's hair. `Good. And I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "sneaked these spare robes out of the laundry,` Hermione said, holding up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "a small sack. `You'll need bigger sizes once you're Crabbe and Goyle.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " The three of them stared into the cauldron. Close up, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "potion looked like thick, dark mud, bubbling sluggishly. `I'm sure I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "done everything right,` said Hermione, nervously rereading the splotched page of Moste","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Potente Potions. `It looks like the book says it should ... once","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "we've drunk it, we'll have exactly an hour before we change back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "into ourselves.` `Now what?` Ron whispered. `We separate it into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "three glasses and add the hairs.` Hermione ladled large dollops of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the potion into each of the glasses. Then, her hand trembling, she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "shook Millicent Bulstrode's hair out of its bottle into the first glass.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " The potion hissed loudly like a boiling kettle and frothed madly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "A second later, it had turned a sick sort of yellow. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Urgh - essence of Millicent Bulstrode,` said Ron, eyeing it with loathing.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Bet it tastes disgusting.` `Add yours, then,` said Hermione. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "dropped Goyle's hair into the middle glass and Ron put Crabbe's into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the last one. Both glasses hissed and frothed: Goyle's turned the khaki","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "color of a booger, Crabbe's a dark, murky brown. `Hang on,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "said Harry as Ron and Hermione reached for their glasses. `We'd better","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "not all drink them in here .... Once we turn into Crabbe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and Goyle we won't fit. And Millicent Bulstrode's no pixie. `Good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "thinking,` said Ron, unlocking the door. `We'll take separate stalls.` Careful","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "not to spill a drop of his Polyjuice Potion, Harry slipped into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the middle stall. `Ready?` he called. `Ready,` came Ron's and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Hermione's voices. `One - two - three -` Pinching his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "nose, Harry drank the potion down in two large gulps. It tasted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "like overcooked cabbage. Immediately, his insides started writhing as though he'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "just swallowed live snakes - doubled up, he wondered whether he was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "going to be sick - then a burning sensation spread rapidly from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "his stomach to the very ends of his fingers and toes -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "next, bringing him gasping to all fours, came a horrible melting feeling,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "as the skin all over his body bubbled like hot wax -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and before his eyes, his hands began to grow, the fingers thickened,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the nails broadened, the knuckles were bulging like bolts -his shoulders stretched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "painfully and a prickling on his forehead told him that hair was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "creeping down toward his eyebrows - his robes ripped as his chest","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "expanded like a barrel bursting its hoops - his feet were agony","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "in shoes four sizes too small As suddenly as it had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "started, everything stopped. Harry lay facedown on the stone-cold floor, listening to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Myrtle gurgling morosely in the end toilet. With difficulty, he kicked off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "his shoes and stood up. So this was what it felt like,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "being Goyle. His large hand trembling, he pulled off his old robes,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "which were hanging a foot above his ankles, pulled on the spare","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "ones, and laced up Goyle's boatlike shoes. He reached up to brush","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "his hair out of his eyes and met only the short growth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "of wiry bristles, low on his forehead. Then he realized that his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "glasses were clouding his eyes because Goyle obviously didn't need them -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "he took them off and called, `Are you two okay?` Goyle's low","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "rasp of a voice issued from his mouth. `Yeah,` came the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "deep grunt of Crabbe from his right. Harry unlocked his door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and stepped in front of the cracked mirror. Goyle stared back at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "him out of dull, deepset eyes. Harry scratched his ear. So did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Goyle. Ron's door opened. They stared at each other. Except that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "he looked pale and shocked, Ron was indistinguishable from Crabbe, from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "pudding-bowl haircut to the long, gorilla arms. `This is unbelievable,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Ron, approaching the mirror and prodding Crabbe's flat nose. `Unbelievable. ` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`We'd better get going,` said Harry, loosening the watch that was cutting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "into Goyle's thick wrist. `We've still got to find out where the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Slytherin common room is. I only hope we can find someone to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "follow. . .` Ron, who had been gazing at Harry, said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`You don't know how bizarre it is to see Goyle thinking.` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "banged on Hermione's door. `C'mon, we need to go -` A high-pitched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "voice answered him. `I - I don't think I'm going to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "come after all. You go on without me. `Hermione, we know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Millicent Bulstrode's ugly, no one's going to know it's you -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`No - really - I don't think I'll come. You two hurry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "up, you re wasting time Harry looked at Ron, bewildered. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`That looks more like Goyle,` said Ron. `That's how he looks every","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "time a teacher asks him a question.` `Hermione, are you okay?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "said Harry through the door. `Fine - I'm fine - go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "on -` Harry looked at his watch. Five of their precious","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "sixty minutes had already passed. `We'll meet you back here, all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "right?` he said. Harry and Ron opened the door of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "bathroom carefully, checked that the coast was clear, and set off. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Don't swing your arms like that,` Harry muttered to Ron. `Eh?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `Crabbe holds them sort of stiff . . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`How's this?` `Yeah, that's better . . . .` They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "went down the marble staircase. All they needed now was a Slytherin","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "that they could follow to the Slytherin common room, but there was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "nobody around. `Any ideas?` muttered Harry. `The Slytherins always come","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "up to breakfast from over there,` said Ron, nodding at the entrance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "to the dungeons. The words had barely left his mouth when a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "girl with long, curly hair emerged from the entrance. `Excuse me,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "said Ron, hurrying up to her. `We've forgotten the way to our","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "common room.` `I beg your pardon?` said the girl stiffly. `Our","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "common room? I'm a Ravenclaw.` She walked away, looking suspiciously back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "at them. Harry and Ron hurried down the stone steps into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the darkness, their footsteps echoing particularly loudly as Crabbe's and Goyle's huge","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "feet hit the floor, feeling that this wasn't going to be as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "easy as they had hoped. The labyrinthine passages were deserted. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "walked deeper and deeper under the school, constantly checking their watches to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "see how much time they had left. After a quarter of an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "hour, just when they were getting desperate, they heard a sudden movement","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "ahead. `Ha!` said Ron excitedly. `There's one of them now!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "The figure was emerging from a side room. As they hurried nearer,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "however, their hearts sank. It wasn't a Slytherin, it was Percy. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`What're you doing down here?` said Ron in surprise. Percy looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "affronted. `That,` he said stiffly, `is none of your business. It's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Crabbe, isn't it?` `Wh - oh, yeah,` said Ron. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Well, get off to your dormitories,` said Percy sternly. `It's not safe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "to go wandering around dark corridors these days.` `You are,` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "pointed out. `I,` said Percy, drawing himself up, `am a prefect.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Nothing's about to attack me.` A voice suddenly echoed behind Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and Ron. Draco Malfoy was strolling toward them, and for the first","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "time in his life, Harry was pleased to see him. `There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "you are,` he drawled, looking at them. `Have you two been pigging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "out in the Great Hall all this time? I've been looking for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "you; I want to show you something really funny.` Malfoy glanced","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "witheringly at Percy. `And what're you doing down here, Weasley?` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "sneered. Percy looked outraged. `You want to show a bit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "more respect to a school prefect!` he said. `I don't like your attitude!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " Malfoy sneered and motioned for Harry and Ron to follow him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry almost said something apologetic to Percy but caught himself just in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "time. He and Ron hurried after Malfoy, who said as they turned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "into the next passage, `That Peter Weasley -` `Percy,` Ron corrected","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "him automatically. `Whatever,` said Malfoy. `I've noticed him sneaking around a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "lot lately. And I bet I know what he's up to. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "thinks he's going to catch Slytherin's heir single-handed.` He gave a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "short, derisive laugh. Harry and Ron exchanged excited looks. Malfoy paused","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "by a stretch of bare, damp stone wall. `What's the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "new password again?` he said to Harry. `Er -` said Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `Oh, yeah -pure-blood!` said Malfoy, not listening, and a stone door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "concealed in the wall slid open. Malfoy marched through it, and Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "and Ron followed him. The Slytherin common room was a long,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling from which round,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "it in high-backed chairs. `Wait here,` said Malfoy to Harry and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Ron, motioning them to a pair of empty chairs set back from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "the fire. `I'll go and get it my father's just sent it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "to me -` Wondering what Malfoy was going to show them,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry and Ron sat down, doing their best to look at home.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " Malfoy came back a minute later, holding what looked like a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "newspaper clipping. He thrust it under Ron's nose. `That'll give you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "a laugh,` he said. Harry saw Ron's eyes widen in shock.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "He read the clipping quickly, gave a very forced laugh, and handed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "it to Harry. It had been clipped out of the Daily","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Prophet, and it said: INQUIRY AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, was today","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car. Mr. Lucius Malfoy,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "a governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the enchanted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "car crashed earlier this year, called today for Mr. Weasley's resignation. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Weasley has brought the Ministry into disrepute,` Mr. Malfoy told our reporter.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`He is clearly unfit to draw up our laws and his ridiculous","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Muggle Protection Act should be scrapped immediately.` Mr. Weasley was unavailable","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "for comment, although his wife told reporters to clear off or she'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "set the family ghoul on them. `Well?` said Malfoy impatiently as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "Harry handed the clipping back to him. `Don't you think it's funny?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " `Ha, ha,` said Harry bleakly. `Arthur Weasley loves Muggles so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "much he should snap his wand in half and go and join","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "them,` said Malfoy scornfully. `You'd never know the Weasleys were pure-bloods, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "way they behave.` Ron's - or rather, Crabbe's - face was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "contorted with fury. `What's up with you, Crabbe?` snapped Malfoy. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "`Stomachache,` Ron grunted. `Well, go up to the hospital wing and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "give all those Mudbloods a kick from me,` said Malfoy, snickering. `You","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "he went on thoughtfully. `I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "old Dumbledore's the worst thing that's ever happened to this place. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" "loves Muggle-borns. A decent headmaster would never've let slime like that Creevey in.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-12" " Malfoy started taking pictures with an imaginary camera and did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "a cruel but accurate impression of Colin: ``Potter, can I have your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "picture, Potter? Can I have your autograph? Can I lick your shoes,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "please, Potter?`' He dropped his hands and looked at Harry and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Ron. `What's the matter with you two?` Far too late,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry and Ron forced themselves to laugh, but Malfoy seemed satisfied; perhaps","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Crabbe and Goyle were always slow on the uptake. `Saint Potter,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "the Mudbloods' friend,` said Malfoy slowly. `He's another one with no proper","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go around with that jumped up Granger","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Mudblood. And people think he's Slytherin's heir!` Harry and Ron waited","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "with bated breath: Malfoy was surely seconds away from telling them it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was him - but then `I wish I knew who it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "is,` said Malfoy petulantly. `I could help them.` Ron's jaw dropped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "so that Crabbe looked even more clueless than usual. Fortunately, Malfoy didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "notice, and Harry, thinking fast, said, `You must have some idea who's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "behind it all ...... `You know I haven't, Goyle, how many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "times do I have to tell you?` snapped Malfoy. `And Father won't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened either.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "much about it. But I know one thing - last time the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "a matter of time before one of them's killed this time ....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "I hope it's Granger,` he said with relish. Ron was clenching","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Crabbe's gigantic fists. Feeling that it would be a bit of a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "giveaway if Ron punched Malfoy, Harry shot him a warning look and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "said, `D'you know if the person who opened the Chamber last time","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was caught?` `Oh, yeah ... whoever it was was expelled,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Malfoy. `They're probably still in Azkaban.` `Azkaban?` said Harry, puzzled. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Azkaban - the wizard prison, Goyle,` said Malfoy, looking at him in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "disbelief `Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backward.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "He shifted restlessly in his chair and said, `Father says to keep","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "my head down and let the Heir of Slytherin get on with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it. He says the school needs ridding of all the Mudblood filth,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "a lot on his plate at the moment. You know the Ministry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "of Magic raided our manor last week?` Harry tried to force","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Goyle's dull face into a look of concern. `Yeah. . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "said Malfoy. `Luckily, they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Dark Arts stuff. But luckily, we've got our own secret chamber under","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "the drawing-room floor -` `Ho!` said Ron. Malfoy looked at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "him. So did Harry. Ron blushed. Even his hair was turning red.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "His nose was also slowly lengthening - their hour was up, Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was turning back into himself, and from the look of horror he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was suddenly giving Harry, he must be, too. They both jumped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "to their feet. `Medicine for my stomach,` Ron grunted, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "without further ado they sprinted the length of the Slytherin common room,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "hurled themselves at the stone wall, and dashed up the passage, hoping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "against hope that Malfoy hadn't noticed anything. Harry could feel his feet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "slipping around in Goyle's huge shoes and had to hoist up his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "robes as he shrank; they crashed up the steps into the dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "entrance hall, which was full of a muffled pounding coming from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "closet where they'd locked Crabbe and Goyle. Leaving their shoes outside the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "closet door, they sprinted in their socks up the marble staircase toward","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. `Well, it wasn't a complete waste of time,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Ron panted, closing the bathroom door behind them. `I know we still haven't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "found out who's doing the attacks, but I'm going to write to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Dad tomorrow and tell him to check under the Malfoys' drawing room.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " Harry checked his face in the cracked mirror. He was back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "to normal. He put his glasses on as Ron hammered on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "door of Hermione's stall. `Hermione, come out, we've got loads to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "tell you -` `Go away!` Hermione squeaked. Harry and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "looked at each other. `What's the matter?` said Ron. `You must","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "be back to normal by now, we are But Moaning Myrtle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "glided suddenly through the stall door. Harry had never seen her looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "so happy. `Ooooooh, wait till you see,` she said. `It's awful-`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " They heard the lock slide back and Hermione emerged, sobbing, her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "robes pulled up over her head. `What's up?` said Ron uncertainly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Have you still got Millicent's nose or something?` Hermione let her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "robes fall and Ron backed into the sink. Her face was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "covered in black fur. Her eyes had turned yellow and there were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "long, pointed ears poking through her hair. `It was a c-cat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "hair!` she howled. `M-Millicent Bulstrode m-must have a cat! And the p-potion","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "isn't supposed to be used for animal transformations!` `Uh-oh,` said Ron.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " `You'll be teased something dreadful,` said Myrtle happily. `It's okay,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Hermione,` said Harry quickly. `We'll take you up to the hospital wing.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Madam Pomfrey never asks too many questions ...... It took a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "long time to persuade Hermione to leave the bathroom. Moaning Myrtle sped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "them on their way with a hearty guffaw. `Wait till everyone finds","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "out you've got a tail!` ermione remained in the hospital wing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "for several weeks. There was a flurry of rumor about her disappearance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "when the rest of the school arrived back from their Christmas holidays,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "because of course everyone thought that she had been attacked. So many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "students filed past the hospital wing trying to catch a glimpse of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "her that Madam Pomfrey took out her curtains again and placed them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "around Hermione's bed, to spare her the shame of being seen with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "a furry face. Harry and Ron went to visit her every","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "evening. When the new term started, they brought her each day's homework.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " `If Id sprouted whiskers, Id take a break from work,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Ron, tipping a stack of books onto Hermione's bedside table one evening.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " `Don't be silly, Ron, I've got to keep up,` said Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "briskly. Her spirits were greatly improved by the fact that all the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "hair had gone from her face and her eyes were turning slowly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "back to brown. `I don't suppose you've got any new leads?` she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "added in a whisper, so that Madam Pomfrey couldn't hear her. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Nothing,` said Harry gloomily. `I was so sure it was Malfoy,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "said Ron, for about the hundredth time. `What's that?` asked Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "pointing to something gold sticking out from under Hermione's pillow. `Just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "a get well card,` said Hermione hastily, trying to poke it out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "of sight, but Ron was too quick for her. He pulled it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "out, flicked it open, and read aloud: `To Miss Granger, wishing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "you a speedy recovery, from your concerned teacher, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, Order","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most- Charming-Smile Award. ` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "looked up at Hermione, disgusted. `You sleep with this under your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "pillow?` But Hermione was spared answering by Madam Pomfrey sweeping over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "with her evening dose of medicine. `Is Lockhart the smarmiest bloke","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "you've ever met, or what?` Ron said to Harry as they left","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "the infirmary and started up the stairs toward Gryffindor Tower. Snape had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "given them so much homework, Harry thought he was likely to be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "in the sixth year before he finished it. Ron was just saying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "he wished he had asked Hermione how many rat tails you were supposed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "to add to a HairRaising Potion when an angry outburst from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "floor above reached their ears. `That's Filch,` Harry muttered as they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "hurried up the stairs and paused, out of sight, listening hard. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " `You don't think someone else's been attacked?` said Ron tensely. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "They stood still, their heads inclined toward Flich's voice, which sounded quite","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "hysterical. `= even more work for me! Mopping all night, like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "I haven't got enough to do! No, this is the final straw,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "I'm going to Dumbledore -` His footsteps receded along the out-of-sight","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "corridor and they heard a distant door slam. They poked their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "heads around the corner. Filch had clearly been manning his usual lookout","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "post: They were once again on the spot where Mrs. Norris had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "been attacked. They saw at a glance what Filch had been shouting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "about. A great flood of water stretched over half the corridor, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it looked as though it was still seeping from under the door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Now that Filch had stopped shouting, they could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "hear Myrtle's wails echoing off the bathroom walls. `Now what's up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "with her?` said Ron. `Let's go and see,` said Harry, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "holding their robes over their ankles they stepped through the great wash","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "of water to the door bearing its OUT OF ORDER sign, ignored","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it as always, and entered. Moaning Myrtle was crying, if possible,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "louder and harder than ever before. She seemed to be hiding down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "her usual toilet. It was dark in the bathroom because the candles","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "had been extinguished in the great rush of water that had left","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "both walls and floor soaking wet. `What's up, Myrtle?` said Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " `Who's that?` glugged Myrtle miserably. `Come to throw something else at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "me?` Harry waded across to her stall and said, `Why would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "I throw something at you?` `Don't ask me,` Myrtle shouted,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "emerging with a wave of yet more water, which splashed onto the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "already sopping floor. `Here I am, minding my own business, and someone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "thinks it's funny to throw a book at me ...... `But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it can't hurt you if someone throws something at you,` said Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "reasonably. `I mean, it'd just go right through you, wouldn't it?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "He had said the wrong thing. Myrtle puffed herself up and shrieked,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Let's all throw books at Myrtle, because she can't feel it! Ten","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "points if you can get it through her stomach! Fifty points if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it goes through her head! Well, ha, ha, ha! What a lovely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "game, I don't think!` `Who threw it at you, anyway?` asked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry. `I don't know... I was just sitting in the U-bend,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "thinking about death, and it fell right through the top of my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "head,` said Myrtle, glaring at them. `It's over there, it got washed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "out ...... Harry and Ron looked under the sink where Myrtle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was pointing. A small, thin book lay there. It had a shabby","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "black cover and was as wet as everything else in the bathroom.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry stepped forward to pick it up, but Ron suddenly flung out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "an arm to hold him back. `What?` said Harry. `Are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "you crazy?` said Ron. `It could be dangerous.` `Dangerous?`said Harry, laughing.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Come off it, how could it be dangerous?` `You'd be surprised,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "said Ron, who was looking apprehensively at the book. `Some of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "books the Ministry's confiscated Dad's told me - there was one that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "burned your eyes out. And everyone who read Sonnets of a Sorcerer","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "spoke in limericks for the rest of their lives. And some old","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "witch in Bath had a book that you could never stop reading!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "You just had to wander around with your nose in it, trying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "to do everything one-handed. And -` `All right, I've got the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "point,` said Harry. The little book lay on the floor, nondescript","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "and soggy. `Well, we won't find out unless we look at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it,` he said, and he ducked around Ron and picked it up off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "the floor. Harry saw at once that it was a diary,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "and the faded year on the cover told him it was fifty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "years old. He opened it eagerly. On the first page he could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "just make out the name `T M. Riddle` in smudged ink. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Hang on,` said Ron, who had approached cautiously and was looking over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry's shoulder. `I know that name .... T. M. Riddle got an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "award for special services to the school fifty years ago.` `How","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "on earth d'you know that?` said Harry in amazement. `Because Filch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "made me polish his shield about fifty times in detention,` said Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "resentfully. `That was the one I burped slugs all over. If you'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "wiped slime off a name for an hour, you'd remember it, too.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " Harry peeled the wet pages apart. They were completely blank. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "wasn't the faintest trace of writing on any of them, not even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Auntie Mabel's birthday, or dentist, half-past three. `He never wrote in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it,` said Harry, disappointed. `I wonder why someone wanted to flush","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it away?` said Ron curiously. Harry turned to the back cover","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "of the book and saw the printed name of a variety store","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "on Vauxhall Road, London. `He must've been Muggle-born,` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "thoughtfufly. `To have bought a diary from Vauxhall Road ...... `Well,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it's not much use to you,` said Ron. He dropped his voice.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Fifty points if you can get it through Myrtle's nose.` Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "however, pocketed it. Hermione left the hospital wing, de-whiskered, tail-less, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "furfree, at the beginning of February. On her first evening back in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Gryffindor Tower, Harry showed her T. M. Riddle's diary and told her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "the story of how they had found it. `Oooh, it might","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "have hidden powers,` said Hermione enthusiastically, taking the diary and looking at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it closely. `If it has, it's hiding them very well,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Ron. `Maybe it's shy. I don't know why you don't chuck it,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry.` `I wish I knew why someone did try to chuck","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it,` said Harry. `I wouldn't mind knowing how Riddle got an award","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "for special services to Hogwarts either.` `Could've been anything,` said Ron.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`Maybe he got thirty O.WL.s or saved a teacher from the giant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "squid. Maybe he murdered Myrtle; that would've done everyone a favor .....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " But Harry could tell from the arrested look on Hermione's face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "that she was thinking what he was thinking. `What?` said Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "looking from one to the other. `Well, the Chamber of Secrets","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was opened fifty years ago, wasn't it?` he said. `That's what Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "said.` `Yeah. . .` said Ron slowly. `And this diary","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "is fifty years old,` said Hermione, tapping it excitedly. a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "so? . `Oh, Ron, wake up,` snapped Hermione. `We know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "the person who opened the Chamber last time was expelled fifty years","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "ago. We know T. M. Riddle got an award for special services","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "to the school fifty years ago. Well, what if Riddle got his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "special award for catching the Heir of Slytherin? His diary would probably","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "tell us everything - where the Chamber is, and how to open","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it, and what sort of creature lives in it - the person","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "who's behind the attacks this time wouldn't want that lying around, would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "they?` `That's a brilliant theory, Hermione,` said Ron, `with just one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "tiny little flaw. There's nothing written in his diary.` But Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was pulling her wand out of her bag. `It might be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "invisible ink!` she whispered. She tapped the diary three times and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "said, `Aparecium!` Nothing happened. Undaunted, Hermione shoved her hand back into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "her bag and pulled out what appeared to be a bright red","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "eraser. `It's a Revealer, I got it in Diagon Alley,` she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "said. She rubbed hard on January first. Nothing happened. `I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "telling you, there's nothing to find in there,` said Ron. `Riddle just got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "a diary for Christmas and couldn't be bothered filling it in.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry couldn't explain, even to himself, why he didn't just throw Riddle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "diary away. The fact was that even though he knew the diary","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was blank, he kept absentmindedly picking it up and turning the pages,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "as though it were a story he wanted to finish. And while","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry was sure he had never heard the name T. M. Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "before, it still seemed to mean something to him, almost as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " Riddle was a friend he'd had when he was very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "small, and had halfforgotten. But this was absurd. He'd never had friends","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "before Hogwarts, Dudley had made sure of that. Nevertheless, Harry was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "determined to find out more about Riddle, so next day at break,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "he headed for the trophy room to examine Riddle's special award, accompanied","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "by an interested Hermione and a thoroughly unconvinced Ron, who told them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "he'd seen enough of the trophy room to last him a lifetime.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " Riddle's burnished gold shield was tucked away in a corner cabinet.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "It didn't carry details of why it had been given to him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "(`Good thing, too, or it'd be even bigger and Id still be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "polishing it,` said Ron). However, they did find Riddle's name on an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "old Medal for Magical Merit, and on a list of old Head","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Boys. `He sounds like Percy,` said Ron, wrinkling his nose in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "disgust. `Prefect, Head Boy ... probably top of every class -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "`You say that like it's a bad thing,` said Hermione in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "slightly hurt voice. The sun had now begun to shine weakly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "on Hogwarts again. Inside the castle, the mood had grown more hopeful.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "There had been no more attacks since those on Justin and Nearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Headless Nick, and Madam Pomfrey was pleased to report that the Mandrakes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "were becoming moody and secretive, meaning that they were fast leaving childhood.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " `The moment their acne clears up, they'll be ready for repotting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "again,` Harry heard her telling Filch kindly one afternoon. `And after that,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "it won't be long until we're cutting them up and stewing them.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "You'll have Mrs. Norris back in no time.` Perhaps the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Heir of Slytherin had lost his or her nerve, thought Harry. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "must be getting riskier and riskier to open the Chamber of Secrets,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "with the school so alert and suspicious. Perhaps the monster, whatever it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "was, was even now settling itself down to hibernate for another fifty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "years .... Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff didn't take this cheerful view.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "He was still convinced that Harry was the guilty one, that he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "had `given himself away` at the Dueling Club. Peeves wasn't helping matters;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "he kept popping up in the crowded corridors singing `Oh, Potter, you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "rotter . . .` now with a dance routine to match. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Gilderoy Lockhart seemed to think he himself had made the attacks stop.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry overheard him telling Professor McGonagall so while the Gryffindors were lining","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "up for Transfiguration. `I don't think there'll be any more trouble,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Minerva,` he said, tapping his nose knowingly and winking. `I think the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Chamber has been locked for good this time. The culprit must have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "known it was only a matter of time before I caught him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Rather sensible to stop now, before I came down hard on him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" " `You know, what the school needs now is a morale-booster. Wash","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "away the memories of last term! I won't say any more just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "now, but I think I know just the thing . . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" ".` He tapped his nose again and strode off. Lockhart's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "idea of a morale-booster became clear at breakfast time on February fourteenth.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "Harry hadn't had much sleep because of a late- running Quidditch practice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "the night before, and he hurried down to the Great Hall, slightly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "late. He thought, for a moment, that he'd walked through the wrong","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "doors. The walls were all covered with large, lurid pink flowers. Worse ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-13" "still, heart-shaped confetti was falling from the pale blue ceiling. Harry went","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "over to the Gryffindor table, where Ron was sitting looking sickened, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Hermione seemed to have been overcome with giggles. `What's going on?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Harry asked them, sitting down and wiping confetti off his bacon. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Ron pointed to the teachers' table, apparently too disgusted to speak. Lockhart,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "wearing lurid pink robes to match the decorations, was waving for silence.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "The teachers on either side of him were looking stony-faced. From where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "he sat, Harry could see a muscle going in Professor McGonagall's cheek.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Snape looked as though someone had just fed him a large beaker","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "of Skele-Gro. `Happy Valentine's Day!` Lockhart shouted. `And may I thank","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "- and it doesn't end here!` Lockhart clapped his hands and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "through the doors to the entrance hall marched a dozen surly-looking dwarfs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Not just any dwarfs, however. Lockhart had them all wearing golden wings","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "and carrying harps. `My friendly, card-carrying cupids!` beamed Lockhart. `They will","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "be roving around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fun","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "ever met, the sly old dog!` Professor Flitwick buried his face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "in his hands. Snape was look * 236 ing as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "though the first person to ask him for a Love Potion would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "be force-fed poison. `Please, Hermione, tell me you weren't one of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the forty-six, 51 said Ron as they left the Great Hall for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "their first lesson. Hermione suddenly became very interested in searching her bag","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "for her schedule and didn't answer. All day long, the dwarfs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "kept barging into their classes to deliver valentines, to the annoyance of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the teachers, and late that afternoon as the Gryffindors were walking upstairs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "for Charms, one of the dwarfs caught up with Harry. `Oy,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "you! 'Arty Potter!` shouted a particularly grim-looking dwarf, elbowing people out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the way to get to Harry. Hot all over at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "thought of being given a valentine in front of a line of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "first years, which happened to include Ginny Weasley, Harry tried to escape.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "The dwarf, however, cut his way through the crowd by kicking people's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "shins, and reached him before he'd gone two paces. `I've got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person,` he said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "twanging his harp in a threatening sort of way. `Not here,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Harry hissed, trying to escape. `Stay still!` grunted the dwarf, grabbing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "hold of Harry's bag and pulling him back. `Let me go!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Harry snarled, tugging. With a loud ripping noise, his bag split","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "in two. His books, wand, parchment, and quill spilled onto the floor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "and his ink bottle smashed over everything. Harry scrambled around, trying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "to pick it all up before the dwarf started singing, causing something","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "of a holdup in the corridor. *237* `What's going on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "here?` came the cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. Harry started stuffing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "everything feverishly into his ripped bag, desperate to get away before Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "could hear his musical valentine. `What's all this commotion?` said another","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "familiar voice as Percy Weasley arrived. Losing his head, Harry tried","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "to make a run for it, but the dwarf seized him around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the knees and brought him crashing to the floor. `Right,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "said, sitting on Harry's ankles. `Here is your singing valentine: His","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, His hair","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "is as dark as a blackboard. I wish he was mine, he's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "really divine, The hero who conquered the Dark Lord Harry would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "have given all the gold in Gringotts to evaporate on the spot.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Trying valiantly to laugh along with everyone else, he got up, his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "feet numb from the weight of the dwarf, as Percy Weasley did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "his best to disperse the crowd, some of whom were crying with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "mirth. `Off you go, off you go, the bell rang five","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "minutes ago, off to class, now,` he said, shooing some of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "younger students away. `And you, Malfoy-` Harry, glancing over, saw Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "stoop and snatch up something. Leering, he showed it to Crabbe and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Goyle, and Harry realized that he'd got Riddle's diary. `Give that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "back,` said Harry quietly. `Wonder what Potter's written in this?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Malfoy, who obvi * 238 ously hadn't noticed the year","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "on the cover and thought he had Harry's own diary. A hush","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "fell over the onlookers. Ginny was staring from the diary to Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "looking terrified. `Hand it over, Malfoy,` said Percy sternly. `When I've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "had a look,` said Malfoy, waving the diary tauntingly at Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Percy said, `As a school prefect -` but Harry had lost his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "temper. He pulled out his wand and shouted, `Expelliarmus!` and just as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Snape had disarmed Lockhart, so Malfoy found the diary shooting out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "his hand into the air. Ron, grinning broadly, caught it. `Harry!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "said Percy loudly. `No magic in the corridors. I'll have to report","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "this, you know!` But Harry didn't care, he was one-up on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Malfoy, and that was worth five points from Gryffindor any day. Malfoy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "was looking furious, and as Ginny passed him to enter her classroom,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "he yelled spitefully after her, `I don't think Potter liked your valentine","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "much!` Ginny covered her face with her hands and ran into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "class. Snarling, Ron pulled out his wand, too, but Harry pulled him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "away. Ron didn't need to spend the whole of Charms belching slugs.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " It wasn't until they had reached Professor Flitwick's class that Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "noticed something rather odd about Riddle's diary. All his other books were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "drenched in scarlet ink. The diary, however, was as clean as it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "had been before the ink bottle had smashed all over it. He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "tried to point this out to Ron, but Ron was having trouble","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "with his wand again; large purple bubbles were blossoming out of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "end, and he wasn't much interested in anything else. Harry went","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "to bed before anyone else in his dormitory that night. This was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "partly because he didn't think he could stand Fred and George singing,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "`His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad` one more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "time, and partly because he wanted to examine Riddle's diary again, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "knew that Ron thought he was wasting his time. Harry sat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "on his four-poster and flicked through the blank pages, not one of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "which had a trace of scarlet ink on it. Then he pulled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "a new bottle out of his bedside cabinet, dipped his quill into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "it, and dropped a blot onto the first page of the diary.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " The ink shone brightly on the paper for a second and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "then, as though it was being sucked into the page, vanished. Excited,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Harry loaded up his quill a second time and wrote, `My name","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "is Harry Potter.` The words shone momentarily on the page and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "they, too, sank without trace. Then, at last, something happened. Oozing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "back out of the page, in his very own ink, came words","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Harry had never written. `Hello, Harry Potter. My name is Tom","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Riddle. How did you come by my diary?` These words, too,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "faded away, but not before Harry had started to scribble back. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "`Someone tried to flush it down a toilet.` He waited eagerly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "for Riddle's reply. `Lucky that I recorded my memories in some","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "more lasting way than ink. But I always knew that there would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "be those who would not want this diary read. ` `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "do you mean?` Harry scrawled, blotting the page in his excitement. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "*240* `I mean that this diary holds memories of terrible things.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Things that were covered up. Things that happened at Hogwarts School of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Witchcraft and Wizardry. ` `That's where I am now,` Harry wrote","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "quickly. `I'm at Hogwarts, and horrible stuff's been happening. Do you know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "anything about the Chamber of Secrets?` His heart was hammering. Riddle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "reply came quickly, his writing becoming untidier, as though he was hurrying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "to tell all he knew. `Of course I know about the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Chamber of Secrets. In my day, they told us it was a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "legend, that it did not exist. But this was a lie. In","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "my fifth year, the Chamber was opened and the monster attacked several","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "students, finally killing one. I caught the person whod opened the Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "and he was expelled. But the Headmaster, Professor Dippet, ashamed that such","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "a thing had happened at Hogwarts, forbade me to tell the truth.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "A story was given out that thegirl had died in a freak","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "accident. They gave me a nice, shiny, engraved trophy for my trouble","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "and warned me to keep my mouth shut. But I knew it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "could happen again. The monster lived on, and the one who had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the power to release it was not imprisoned. ` Harry nearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "upset his ink bottle in his hurry to write back. `It's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "happening again now. There have been three attacks and no one seems","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "to know who's behind them. Who was it last time?` `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "can show you, if you like, `came Riddle's reply. `You don't have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " to take my word for it. I can take you inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "my memory of the night when I caught him. ` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "hesitated, his quill suspended over the diary. What did Riddle mean? How","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "could he be taken inside somebody else's memory? He glanced nervously at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the door to the dormitory, which was *241* growing dark.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "When he looked back at the diary, he saw fresh words forming.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " `Let me show you. ` Harry paused for a fraction","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "of a second and then wrote two letters. (40K.55 The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "pages of the diary began to blow as though caught in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "high wind, stopping halfway through the month of June. Mouth hanging open,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Harry saw that the little square for June thirteenth seemed to have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "turned into a miniscule television screen. His hands trembling slightly, he raised","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the book to press his eye against the little window, and before","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "he knew what was happening, he was tilting forward; the window was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "widening, he felt his body leave his bed, and he was pitched","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "headfirst through the opening in the page, into a whirl of color","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "and shadow. He felt his feet hit solid ground, and stood,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "shaking, as the blurred shapes around him came suddenly into focus. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "He knew immediately where he was. This circular room with the sleeping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "portraits was Dumbledore's office - but it wasn't Dumbledore who was sitting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "behind the desk. A wizened, fraillooking wizard, bald except for a few","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "wisps of white hair, was reading a letter by candlelight. Harry had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "never seen this man before. `I'm sorry,` he said shakily. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "didn't mean to butt in -` But the wizard didn't look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "up. He continued to read, frowning slightly. Harry drew nearer to his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "desk and stammered, `Er - I'll just go, shall I?` Still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the wizard ignored him. He didn't seem even to have heard him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Thinking that the wizard might be deaf, Harry raised his voice. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "*242* `Sorry I disturbed you. I'll go now,` he half-shouted. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "The wizard folded up the letter with a sigh, stood up, walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "past Harry without glancing at him, and went to draw the curtains","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "at his window. The sky outside the window was ruby-red; it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "seemed to be sunset. The wizard went back to the desk, sat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "down, and twiddled his thumbs, watching the door. Harry looked around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the office. No Fawkes the phoenix - no whirring silver contraptions. This","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "was Hogwarts as Riddle had known it, meaning that this unknown wizard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "was Headmaster, not Dumbledore, and he, Harry, was little more than a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "phantom, completely invisible to the people of fifty years ago. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "was a knock on the office door. `Enter,` said the old","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "wizard in a feeble voice. A boy of about sixteen entered,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "taking off his pointed hat. A silver prefect's badge was glinting on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "his chest. He was much taller than Harry, but he, too, had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "jet-black hair. `Ah, Riddle,` said the Headmaster. `You wanted to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "see me, Professor Dippet?` said Riddle. He looked nervous. `Sit down,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "said Dippet. `I've just been reading the letter you sent me. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "`Oh,` said Riddle. He sat down, gripping his hands together very tightly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " `My dear boy,` said Dipper kindly, `I cannot possibly let you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "stay at school over the summer. Surely you want to go home","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "for the holidays?` `No,` said Riddle at once. `Id much rather","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "stay at Hogwarts than go back to that - to that -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " * 243* `You live in a Muggle orphanage during the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "holidays, I believe?` said Dippet curiously. `Yes, sir,` said Riddle, reddening","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "slightly. `You are Muggle-born?` `Half-blood, sir,` said Riddle. `Muggle father,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "witch mother.` `And are both your parents -?` `My mother","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "died just after I was born, sir. They told me at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "orphanage she lived just long enough to name me - Tom after","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "my father, Marvolo after my grandfather.` Dipper clucked his tongue sympathetically.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " `The thing is, Tom,` he sighed, `Special arrangements might have been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "made for you, but in the current circumstances . . . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " `You mean all these attacks, sir?` said Riddle, and Harry's heart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "leapt, and he moved closer, scared of missing anything. `Precisely,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "the headmaster. `My dear boy, you must see how foolish it would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "be of me to allow you to remain at the castle when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "term ends. Particularly in light of the recent tragedy ... the death","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "of that poor little girl .... You will be safer by far","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "at your orphanage. As a matter of fact, the Ministry of Magic","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "is even now talking about closing the school. We are no nearer","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "locating the er - source of all this unpleasantness . . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" ".` Riddle's eyes had widened. `Sir - if the person","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "was caught - if it all stopped -` `What do you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "mean?` said Dippet with a squeak in his voice, sitting up in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "his chair. `Riddle, do you mean you know something about these attacks?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" " `No, sir,` said Riddle quickly. But Harry was sure it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "was the same sort of `no` that he himself had given Dumbledore. *244*","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-14" "Dippet sank back, looking faintly disappointed. `You may go, Tom ......","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " Riddle slid off his chair and slouched out of the room.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry followed him. Down the moving spiral staircase they went, emerging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "next to the gargoyle in the darkening corridor. Riddle stopped, and so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "did Harry, watching him. Harry could tell that Riddle was doing some","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "serious thinking. He was biting his lip, his forehead furrowed. Then,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "as though he had suddenly reached a decision, he hurried off, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "gliding noiselessly behind him. They didn't see another person until they reached","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the entrance hall, when a tall wizard with long, sweeping auburn hair","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and a beard called to Riddle from the marble staircase. `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "are you doing, wandering around this late, Tom?` Harry gaped at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the wizard. He was none other than a fifty-year- younger Dumbledore. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`I had to see the headmaster, sir,` said Riddle. `Well, hurry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "off to bed,` said Dumbledore, giving Riddle exactly the kind of penetrating","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "stare Harry knew so well. `Best not to roam the corridors these","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "days. Not since . . .` He sighed heavily, bade Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "good night, and strode off. Riddle watched him walk out of sight","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and then, moving quickly, headed straight down the stone steps to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "dungeons, with Harry in hot pursuit. But to Harry's disappointment, Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "led him not into a hidden passageway or a secret tunnel but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to the very dungeon in which Harry had Potions with Snape. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "torches hadn't been lit, and when Riddle pushed the door almost closed,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry could only just *2 45 * see him, standing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "stock-still by the door, watching the passage outside. It felt to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry that they were there for at least an hour. All he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "could see was the figure of Riddle at the door, staring through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the crack, waiting like a statue. And just when Harry had stopped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "feeling expectant and tense and started wishing he could return to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "present, he heard something move beyond the door. Someone was creeping","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "along the passage. He heard whoever it was pass the dungeon where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "he and Riddle were hidden. Riddle, quiet as a shadow, edged through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the door and followed, Harry tiptoeing behind him, forgetting that he couldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "be heard. For perhaps five minutes they followed the footsteps, until","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Riddle stopped suddenly, his head inclined in the direction of new noises.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry heard a door creak open, and then someone speaking in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "hoarse whisper. `C'mon ... gotta get yeh outta here .... C'mon","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "now ... in the box. . .` There was something familiar","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "about that voice .... Riddle suddenly jumped around the corner. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "stepped out behind him. He could see the dark outline of a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "huge boy who was crouching in front of an open door, a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "very large box next to it. `Evening, Rubeus,` said Riddle sharply.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " The boy slammed the door shut and stood up. `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "yer doin' down here, Tom?` Riddle stepped closer. `It's all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "over,` he said. `I'm going to have to turn you in, Rubeus.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "They're talking about closing Hogwarts if the attacks don't stop.` `N`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "at d'yeh -` `I don't think you meant to kill anyone.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "But monsters don't make good pets. I suppose you just let it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "out for exercise and -` `It never killed no one!` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the large boy, backing against the closed door. From behind him, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "could hear a funny rustling and clicking. `Come on, Rubeus,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Riddle, moving yet closer. `The dead girl's parents will be here tomorrow.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "The least Hogwarts can do is make sure that the thing that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "killed their daughter is slaughtered ...... `It wasn't him!` roared the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "boy, his voice echoing in the dark passage. `He wouldn'! He never!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `Stand aside,` said Riddle, drawing out his wand. His spell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "lit the corridor with a sudden flaming light. The door behind the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "large boy flew open with such force it knocked him into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "wall opposite. And out of it came something that made Harry let","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "out a long, piercing scream unheard by anyone A vast, low-slung,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "hairy body and a tangle of black legs; a gleam of many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "eyes and a pair of razor-sharp pincers - Riddle raised his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "again, but he was too late. The thing bowled him over as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "it scuttled away, tearing up the corridor and out of sight. Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "scrambled to his feet, looking after it; he raised his wand, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the huge boy leapt on him, seized his wand, and threw him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "back down, yelling, `NO000000!` The scene whirled, the darkness became complete;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry felt himself falling and, with a crash, he landed spread-eagled on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "his four-poster in the Gryffindor dormitory, Riddle's diary lying open on his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "stomach. Before he had had time to regain his breath,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the dormitory door opened and Ron came in. `There you are,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "he said. Harry sat up. He was sweating and shaking. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`What's up?` said Ron, looking at him with concern. `It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Hagrid, Ron. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione had always known that Hagrid had an unfortunate","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "liking for large and monstrous creatures. During their first year at Hogwarts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "he had tried to raise a dragon in his little wooden house,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and it would be a long time before they forgot the giant,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "three- headed dog he'd christened `Fluffy.` And if, as a boy, Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "had heard that a monster was hidden somewhere in the castle, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "was sure he'd have gone to any lengths for a glimpse of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "it. He'd probably thought it was a shame that the monster had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "been cooped up so long, and thought it deserved the chance to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "stretch its many legs; Harry could just imagine the thirteen-year-old Hagrid trying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to fit a leash and collar on it. But he was equally","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "certain that Hagrid would never have meant to kill anybody. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "half wished he hadn't found out how to work Riddle's diary. Again","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and again Ron and Hermione made him recount what he'd seen,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "until he was heartily sick of telling them and sick of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "long, circular conversations that followed. `Riddle might have got the wrong","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "person,` said Hermione. `Maybe it was some other monster that was attacking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "people . . . .` `How many monsters d'you think this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "place can hold?` Ron asked dully. `We always knew Hagrid had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "been expelled,` said Harry miserably. `And the attacks must've stopped after Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "was kicked out. Otherwise, Riddle wouldn't have got his award.` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "tried a different tack. `Riddle does sound like Percy - who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "asked him to squeal on Hagrid, anyway?` `But the monster had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "killed someone, Ron,` said Hermione. `And Riddle was going to go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "back to some Muggle orphanage if they closed Hogwarts,` said Harry. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "don't blame him for wanting to stay here ...... `You met","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Hagrid down Knockturn Alley, didn't you, Harry?` `He was buying a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent,` said Harry quickly. The three of them fell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "silent. After a long pause, Hermione voiced the knottiest question of all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "in a hesitant voice. `Do you think we should go and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "ask Hagrid about it all?` `That'd be a cheerful visit,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Ron. `'Hello, Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "hairy loose in the castle lately?`' In the end, they decided","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "that they would not say anything to Hagrid unless there was another","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "attack, and as more and more days went by with no whisper","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "from the disembodied voice, they became hopeful that they would never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "need to talk to him about why he had been expelled. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "was now nearly four months since Justin and Nearly Headless Nick had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "been Petrified, and nearly everybody seemed to think that the attacker, whoever","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "it was, had retired for good. Peeves had finally got bored of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "his `Oh, Potter, you rotter` song, Ernie Macmillan asked Harry quite politely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to pass a bucket of leaping toadstools in Herbology one day, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "in March several of the Mandrakes threw a loud and raucous party","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "in greenhouse three. This made Professor Sprout very happy. `The moment","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "they start trying to move into each other's pots, we'll know they're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "fully mature,` she told Harry. `Then we'll be able to revive those","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "poor people in the hospital wing.` The second years were given","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "something new to think about during their Easter holidays. The time had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "come to choose their subjects for the third year, a matter that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Hermione, at least, took very seriously. `it could affect our whole","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "future,` she told Harry and Ron as they pored over lists of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "new subjects, marking them with checks. `I just want to give","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "up Potions,` said Harry. `We can't,` said Ron gloomily. `We keep all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "our old subjects, or I'd've ditched Defense Against the Dark Arts.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`But that's very important!` said Hermione, shocked. `Not the way Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "teaches it,` said Ron. `I haven't learned anything from him except not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to set pixies loose.` Neville Longbottom had been sent letters from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "all the witches and wizards in his family, all giving him different","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "advice on what to choose. Confused and worried, he sat reading the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "subject lists with his tongue poking out, asking people whether they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "thought Arithmancy sounded more difficult than the study of Ancient Runes. Dean","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Thomas, who, like Harry, had grown up with Muggles, ended up closing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "his eyes and jabbing his wand at the list, then picking the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "subjects it landed on. Hermione took nobody's advice but signed up for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "everything. Harry smiled grimly to himself at the thought of what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would say if he tried to discuss","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "his career in wizardry with them. Not that he didn't get any","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "guidance: Percy Weasley was eager to share his experience. `Depends where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "you want to go, Harry,` he said. `It's never too early to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "think about the future, so Id recommend Divination. People say Muggle Studies","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "is a soft option, but I personally think wizards should have a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "thorough understanding of the non-magical community, particularly if they're thinking of working","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "in close contact with them - look at my father, he has","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to deal with Muggle business all the time. My brother Charlie was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "always more of an outdoor type, so he went for Care of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Magical Creatures. Play to your strengths, Harry.` But the only thing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry felt he was really good at was Quidditch. In the end,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "he chose the same new subjects as Ron, feeling that if he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "was lousy at them, at least he'd have someone friendly to help","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "him. Gryffindor's next Quidditch match would be against Hufflepuff. Wood was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "insisting on team practices every night after dinner, so that Harry barely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "had time for anything but Quidditch and homework. However, the training sessions","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "were getting better, or at least drier, and the evening before","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Saturday's match he went up to his dormitory to drop off his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "broomstick feeling Gryffindor's chances for the Quidditch cup had never been better.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " But his cheerful mood didn't last long. At the top of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the stairs to the dormitory, he met Neville Longbottom, who was looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "frantic. `Harry - I don't know who did it - I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "just found -` Watching Harry fearfully, Neville pushed open the door.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " The contents of Harry's trunk had been thrown everywhere. His cloak","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "lay ripped on the floor. The bedclothes had been pulled off his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "four-poster and the drawer had been pulled out of his bedside cabinet,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the contents strewn over the mattress. Harry walked over to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "bed, open-mouthed, treading on a few loose pages of Travels with Trolls.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "As he and Neville pulled the blankets back onto his bed, Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Dean, and Seamus came in. Dean swore loudly. `What happened, Harry?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `No idea,` said Harry. But Ron was examining Harry's robes. All","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the pockets were hanging out. `Someone's been looking for something,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Ron. `Is there anything missing?` Harry started to pick up all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "his things and throw them into his trunk. It was only as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "he threw the last of the Lockhart books back into it that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "he realized what wasn't there. `Riddle's diary's gone,` he said in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "an undertone to Ron. `What?` Harry jerked his head toward","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the dormitory door and Ron followed him out. They hurried down to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the Gryffindor common room, which was half-empty, and joined Hermione, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "was sitting alone, reading a book called Ancient Runes Made Easy. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Hermione looked aghast at the news. `But - only a Gryffindor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "could have stolen - nobody else knows our password -` `Exactly,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "said Harry. They woke the next day to brilliant sunshine and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "a light, refreshing breeze. `Perfect Quidditch conditions!` said Wood enthusiastically at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the Gryffindor table, loading the team's plates with scrambled eggs. `Harry, buck","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "up there, you need a decent breakfast.` Harry had been staring","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "down the packed Gryffindor table, wondering if the new owner of Riddle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "diary was right in front of his eyes. Hermione had been urging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "him to report the robbery, but Harry didn't like the idea. He'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "have to tell a teacher all about the diary, and how many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "people knew why Hagrid had been expelled fifty years ago? He didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "want to be the one who brought it all up again. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "As he left the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione to go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and collect his Quidditch things, another very serious worry was added to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry's growing list. He had just set foot on the marble staircase","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "when he heard it yet again `Kill this time ... let","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "me rip ... tear. . .` He shouted aloud and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and Hermione both jumped away from him in alarm. `The voice!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "said Harry, -looking over his shoulder. `I just heard it again -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "didn't you?` Ron shook his head, wide-eyed. Hermione, however, clapped a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "hand to her forehead. `Harry - I think I've just understood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "something! I've got to go to the library!` And she sprinted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "away, up the stairs. `What does she understand?` said Harry distractedly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "still looking around, trying to tell where the voice had come from.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `Loads more than I do,` said Ron, shaking his head. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`But why's she got to go to the library?` `Because that's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "what Hermione does,` said Ron, shrugging. `When in doubt, go to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "library.` Harry stood, irresolute, trying to catch the voice again, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "people were now emerging from the Great Hall behind him, talking loudly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "exiting through the front doors on their way to the Quidditch pitch.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `You'd better get moving,` said Ron. `It's nearly eleven - the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "match - ` Harry raced up to Gryffindor Tower, collected his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Nimbus Two Thousand, and joined the large crowd swarming across the grounds,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "but his mind was still in the castle along with the bodiless","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "voice, and as he pulled on his scarlet robes in the locker.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "room, his only comfort was that everyone was now outside to watch","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the game. The teams walked onto the field to tumultuous applause.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Oliver Wood took off for a warm-up flight around the goal posts;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Madam Hooch released the balls. The Hufflepuffs, who played in canary yellow,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "were standing in a huddle, having a last-minute discussion of tactics. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry was just mounting his broom when Professor McGonagall came half marching,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "half running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone. Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "heart dropped like a stone. `This match has been cancelled,` Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "McGonagall called through the megaphone, addressing the packed stadium. There were boos","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and shouts. Oliver Wood, looking devastated, landed and ran toward Professor McGonagall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "without getting off his broomstick. `But, Professor!` he shouted. `We've got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to play - the cup Gryffindor -` Professor McGonagall ignored","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "him and continued to shout through her megaphone: `All students are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "can, please!` Then she lowered the megaphone and beckoned Harry over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to her. `Potter, I think you'd better come with me ......","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " Wondering how she could possibly suspect him this time, Harry saw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Ron detach himself from the complaining crowd; he came running up to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "them as they set off toward the castle. To Harry's surprise, Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "McGonagall didn't object. `Yes, perhaps you'd better come, too, Weasley .....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " Some of the students swarming around them were grumbling about the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "match being canceled; others looked worried. Harry and Ron followed Professor McGonagall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "back into the school and up the marble staircase. But they weren't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "taken to anybody's office this time. `This will be a bit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "of a shock,` said Professor McGonagall in a surprisingly gentle voice as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "they approached the infirmary. `There has been another attack ... another double","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "attack.` Harry's insides did a horrible somersault. Professor McGonagall pushed the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "door open and he and Ron entered. . Madam Pomfrey was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "bending over a fifth-year girl with long, curly hair. Harry recognized her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "as the Ravenclaw they'd accidentally asked for directions to the Slytherin common","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "room. And on the bed next to her was `Hermione!` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "groaned. Hermione lay utterly still, her eyes open and glassy. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`They were found near the library,` said Professor McGonagall. `I don't suppose","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "either of you can explain this? It was on the floor next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to them ...... She was holding up a small, circular mirror.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " Harry and Ron shook their heads, both staring at Hermione. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower,` said Professor McGonagall heavily. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "need to address the students in any case. `All students will","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "return to their House common rooms by six o'clock in the evening.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " The Gryffindors packed inside the common room listened to Professor McGonagall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "in silence. She rolled up the parchment from which she had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "been reading and said in a somewhat choked voice, `I need hardly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "them to come forward.` She climbed somewhat awkwardly out of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "portrait hole, and the Gryffindors began talking immediately. `That's two Gryffindors","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "down, not counting a Gryffindor ghost, one Ravenclaw, and one Hufflepuff, `","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "said the Weasley twins' friend Lee Jordan, counting on his fingers. `Haven't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are all safe? Isn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "it obvious all this stuff's coming from Slytherin? The Heir of Slytherin,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the monster of Slytherin - why don't they just chuck all the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Slytherins out?` he roared, to nods and scattered applause. Percy Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "was sitting in a chair behind Lee, but for once he didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "seem keen to make his views heard. He was looking pale and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "stunned. `Percy's in shock,` George told Harry quietly. `That Ravenclaw girl","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "- Penelope Clearwater - she's a prefect. I don't think he thought","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the monster would dare attack a prefect.` But Harry was only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "half-listening. He didn't seem to be able to get rid of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "picture of Hermione, lying on the hospital bed as though carved out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "of stone. And if the culprit wasn't caught soon, he was looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "at a lifetime back with the Dursleys. Tom Riddle had turned Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "in because he was faced with the prospect of a Muggle orphanage","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "if the school closed. Harry now knew exactly how he had felt.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `What're we going to do?` said Ron quietly in Harry's ear.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`D'you think they suspect Hagrid?` `We've got to go and talk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to him,` said Harry, making up his mind. `I can't believe it's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "him this time, but if he set the monster loose last time","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "he'll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets, and that's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "a start.` `But McGonagall said we've got to stay in our tower","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "unless we're in class -` `I think,` said Harry, more quietly still,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`it's time to get my dad's old cloak out again.` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "had inherited) ust one thing from his father: a long and sil","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "very Invisibility Cloak. It was their only chance of sneaking out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the school to visit Hagrid without anyone knowing about it. They went","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to bed at the usual time, waited until Neville, Dean, and Sea","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "mus had stopped discussing the Chamber of Secrets and finally fallen asleep,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "then got up, dressed again, and threw the cloak over themselves. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "journey through the dark and deserted castle corridors wasn't enjoyable. Harry, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "had wandered the castle at night sev eral times before, had never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "seen it so crowded after sunset. Teach ers, prefects, and ghosts were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "marching the corridors in pairs, staring around for any unusual activity. Their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Invisibility Cloak didn't stop them making any noise, and there was a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "particularly tense moment when Ron stubbed his toe only yards from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "spot where Snape stood standing guard. Thankfully, Snape sneezed at almost exactly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the moment Ron swore. It was with relief that they reached the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "oak front doors and eased them open. It was a clear, starry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "night. They hurried toward the lit windows of Hagrid's house and pulled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "off the cloak only when they were right outside his front door.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " Seconds after they had knocked, Hagrid flung it open. They found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "themselves face-to-face with him aiming a crossbow at them. Fang the boarhound","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "barked loudly behind him. `Oh,` he said, lowering the weapon and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "staring at them. `What're you two doin' here?` `What's that for?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "said Harry, pointing at the crossbow as they stepped inside. `Nothin'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "- nothin' - ` Hagrid muttered. `I've bin expectin' doesn' matter -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Sit down - I'll make tea -` He hardly seemed to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "know what he was doing. He nearly extinguished the fire, spilling water","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "from the kettle on it, and then smashed the teapot with a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "nervous jerk of his massive hand. `Are you okay, Hagrid?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry. `Did you hear about Hermione?` `Oh, I heard, all righ',`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "said Hagrid, a slight break in his voice. He kept glancing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "nervously at the windows. He poured them both large mugs of boiling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "water (he had forgotten to add tea bags) and was just putting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was a loud","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "knock on the door. Hagrid dropped the fruitcake. Harry and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "exchanged panicstricken looks, then threw the Invisibility Cloak back over themselves and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "retreated into a corner. Hagrid checked that they were hidden, seized his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "crossbow, and flung open his door once more. `Good evening, Hagrid.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " It was Dumbledore. He entered, looking deadly serious, and was followed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "by a second, very odd-looking man. The stranger had rumpled gray","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "hair and an anxious expression, and was wearing a strange mixture of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "clothes: a pinstriped suit, a scarlet tie, a long black cloak,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and pointed purple boots. Under his arm he carried a lime-green bowler.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `That's Dad's boss!` Ron breathed. `Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " Harry elbowed Ron hard to make him shut up. Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "had gone pale and sweaty. He dropped into one of his chairs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "and looked from Dumbledore to Cornelius Fudge. `Bad business, Hagrid,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Fudge in rather clipped tones. `Very bad business. Had to come. Four","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`I never,` said Hagrid, looking imploringly at Dumbledore. `You know I never,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Professor Dumbledore, sir -` `I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "has my full confidence,` said Dumbledore, frowning at Fudge. `Look, Albus,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "said Fudge, uncomfortably. `Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "- the school governors have been in touch -` `Yet again,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "the slightest,` said Dumbledore. His blue eyes were full of a fire","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Harry had never seen before. `Look at it from my point","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "of view,` said Fudge, fidgeting with his bowler. `I'm under a lot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "duty -` `Take me?` said Hagrid, who was trembling. `Take me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "where?` `For a short stretch only,` said Fudge, not meeting Hagrid's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "eyes. `Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution. If someone else is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "caught, you'll be let out with a full apology -` `Not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Azkaban?` croaked Hagrid. Before Fudge could answer, there was another loud","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "rap on the door. Dumbledore answered it. It was Harry's turn","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "for an elbow in the ribs; he'd let out an audible gasp.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " Mr. Lucius Malfoy strode into Hagrid's hut, swathed in a long","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "black traveling cloak, smiling a cold and satisfied smile. Fang started to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "growl. `Already here, Fudge,` he said approvingly. `Good, good. . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `What're you doin' here?` said Hagrid furiously. `Get outta my house!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "all in being inside your - er - d'you call this a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "house?` said Lucius Malfoy, sneering as he looked around the small cabin.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "`I simply called at the school and was told that the headmaster","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "was here.` `And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "said Dumbledore. He spoke politely, but the fire was still blazing in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "his blue eyes. `Dreadful thing, Dumbledore,` said Malfoy lazily, taking out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "a long roll of parchment, `but the governors feel it's time for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension - you'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "afternoon, wasn't it? At this rate, there'll be no Muggle-borns left at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "to the school.` `Oh, now, see here, Lucius,` said Fudge, looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" "alarmed, `Dumbledore suspended - no, no - last thing we want just now ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-15" " `The appointment - or suspension - of the headmaster is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "a matter for the governors, Fudge,` said Mr. Malfoy smoothly. `And as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Dumbledore has failed to stop these attacks -` `See here, Malfoy,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "if Dumbledore can't stop them,` said Fudge, whose upper lip was sweating","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "now, `I mean to say, who can?` `That remains to be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "seen,` said Mr. Malfoy with a nasty smile. `But as all twelve","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of us have voted -` Hagrid leapt to his feet, his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "shaggy black head grazing the ceiling. 'An' how many did yeh","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "have ter threaten an' blackmail before they agreed, Malfoy, eh?` he roared.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " `Dear, dear, you know, that temper of yours will lead you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "into trouble one of these days, Hagrid,` said Mr. Malfoy. `I would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "won't like it at all.` `Yeh can' take Dumbledore!` yelled Hagrid,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "making Fang the boarhound cower and whimper in his basket. `Take him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "away, an' the Muggle-borns won' stand a chance! There'll be killin' next!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " `Calm yourself, Hagrid,` said Dumbledore sharply. He looked at Lucius Malfoy.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " `If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "step aside -` `But -` stuttered Fudge. `No!`growled Hagrid. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Dumbledore had not taken his bright blue eyes off Lucius Malfoy's cold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "gray ones. `However,` said Dumbledore, speaking very slowly and clearly so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "that none of them could miss a word, `you will find that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "I will * 26$* ummer was creeping over the grounds","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "around the castle; sky and lake alike turned periwinkle blue and flowers large","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "as cabbages burst into bloom in the greenhouses. But with no Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "visible from the castle windows, striding the grounds with Fang at his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "heels, the scene didn't look right to Harry; no better, in fact,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "than the inside of the castle, where things were so horribly wrong.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " Harry and Ron had tried to visit Hermione, but visitors were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "now barred from the hospital wing. `We're taking no more chances,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Madam Pomfrey told them severely through a crack in the infirmary door.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "`No, I'm sorry, there's every chance the attacker might come back to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "finish these people off . . .` With Dumbledore gone, fear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "had spread as never before, so that the sun warming the castle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "walls outside seemed to stop at the mullioned windows. There was barely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "a face to be seen in the school that didn't look worried","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "and tense, and any laughter that rang through the corridors sounded shrill","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "and unnatural and was quickly stifled. Harry constantly repeated Dumbledore's final","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "words to himself `I will only truly have left this school when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "none here are loyal to me... Help will always be given at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Hogwarts to those who ask for it.` But what good were these","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "words? Who exactly were they supposed to ask for help, when everyone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "was just as confused and scared as they were? Hagrid's hint","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "about the spiders was far easier to understand the trouble was, there","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "didn't seem to be a single spider left in the castle to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "follow. Harry looked everywhere he went, helped (rather reluctantly) by Ron. They were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "hampered, of course, by the fact that they weren't allowed to wander","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "off on their own but had to move around the castle in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "a pack with the other Gryffindors. Most of their fellow students seemed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "glad that they were being shepherded from class to class by teachers,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "but Harry found it very irksome. One person, however, seemed to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "be thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere of terror and suspicion. Draco Malfoy was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "strutting around the school as though he had just been appointed Head","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Boy. Harry didn't realize what he was so pleased about until the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Potions lesson about two weeks after Dumbledore and Hagrid had left, when,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "sitting right behind Malfoy, Harry overheard him gloating to Crabbe and Goyle.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " `I always thought Father might be the one who got rid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of Dumbledore,` he said, not troubling to keep his voice down. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "told you he thinks Dumbledore's the worst headmaster the school's ever had.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Maybe we'll get a decent headmaster now. Someone who won't want the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Chamber of Secrets closed. McGonagall won't last long, she's only filling in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "...... Snape swept past Harry, making no comment about Hermione's empty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "seat and cauldron. `Sir,` said Malfoy loudly. `Sir, why don't you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "apply for the headmaster's job?` `Now, now, Malfoy,` said Snape, though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "he couldn't suppress a thin- lipped smile. `Professor Dumbledore has only been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "suspended by the governors. I daresay he'll be back with us soon","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "enough.` `Yeah, right,` said Malfoy, smirking. `I expect you'd have Father's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "vote, sir, if you wanted to apply for the job - I'll tell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Father you're the best teacher here, sir -` Snape smirked as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "he swept off around the dungeon, fortunately not spotting Seamus Finnigan, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "was pretending to vomit into his cauldron. `I'm quite surprised the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Mudbloods haven't all packed their bags by now,` Malfoy went on. `Bet","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "you five Galleons the next one dies. Pity it wasn't Granger -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " The bell rang at that moment, which was lucky; at Malfoy's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "last words, Ron had leapt off his stool, and in the scramble","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "to collect bags and books, his attempts to reach Malfoy went unnoticed.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " `Let me at him,` Ron growled as Harry and Dean hung","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "onto his arms. `I don't care, I don't need my wand, I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "going to kill him with my bare hands -` `Hurry up,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "I've got to take you all to Herbology,` barked Snape over the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "class's heads, and off they marched, with Harry, Ron, and Dean bringing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "up the rear, Ron still trying to get loose. It was only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "safe to let go of him when Snape had seen them out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of the castle and they were making their way across the vegetable","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "patch toward the greenhouses. The Herbology class was very subdued; there","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "were now two missing from their number, Justin and Hermione. Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Sprout set them all to work pruning the Abyssinian Shrivelfigs. Harry went","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "to tip an armful of withered stalks onto the compost heap and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "found himself face-to-face with Ernie Macmillan. Ernie took a deep breath and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "said, very formally, `I just want to say, Harry, that I'm sorry I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "ever suspected you. I know you'd never attack Hermione Granger, and I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "apologize for all the stuff I said. We're all in the same","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "boat now, and, well -` He held out a pudgy hand,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "and Harry shook it. Ernie and his friend Hannah came to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "work at the same Shrivelfig as Harry and Ron. `That Draco","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Malfoy character,` said Ernie, breaking off dead twigs, `he seems very pleased","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "about all this, doesn't he? D'you know, I think he might be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Slytherin's heir.` `That's clever of you,` said Ron, who didn't seem","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "to have forgiven Ernie as readily as Harry. `Do you think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "it's Malfoy, Harry?` Ernie asked. `No,` said Harry, so firmly that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Ernie and Hannah stared. A second later, Harry spotted something. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Several large spiders were scuttling over the ground on the other side","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of the glass, moving in an unnaturally straight line as though taking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the shortest route to a prearranged meeting. Harry hit Ron over the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "hand with his pruning shears. `Ouch! What're you -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Harry pointed out the spiders, following their progress with his eyes screwed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "up against the sun. `Oh, yeah,` said Ron, trying, and failing,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "to look pleased. `But we can't follow them now -` Ernie","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "and Hannah were listening curiously. Harry's eyes narrowed as he focused","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "on the spiders. If they pursued their fixed course, there could be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "no doubt about where they would end up. `Looks like they're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "heading for the Forbidden Forest . . . .` And Ron looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "even unhappier about that. At the end of the lesson Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Sprout escorted the class to their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Harry and Ron lagged behind the others so they could talk out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of earshot. `We'll have to use the Invisibility Cloak again,` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "told Ron. `We can take Fang with us. He's used to going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "into the forest with Hagrid, he might be some help.` `Right,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "said Ron, who was twirling his wand nervously in his fingers. `Er","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "- aren't there - aren't there supposed to be werewolves in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "forest?` he added as they took their usual places at the back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of Lockhart's classroom. Preferring not to answer that question, Harry said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "`There are good things in there, too. The centaurs are all right,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "and the unicorns ... Ron had never been into the Forbidden","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Forest before. Harry had entered it only once and had hoped never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "to do so again. Lockhart bounded into the room and the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "class stared at him. Every other teacher in the place was looking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "grimmer than usual, but Lockhart appeared nothing short of buoyant. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "`Come now,` he cried, beaming around him. `Why all these long faces?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " People swapped exasperated looks, but nobody answered. `Don't you people","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "realize,` said Lockhart, speaking slowly, as though they were all a bit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "dim, `the danger has passed! The culprit has been taken away -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " `Says who?` said Dean Thomas loudly. `My dear young man,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the Minister of Magic wouldn't have taken Hagrid if he hadn't been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "one hundred percent sure that he was guilty,` said Lockhart, in the tone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of someone explaining that one and one made two. `Oh, yes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "he would,` said Ron, even more loudly than Dean. `I flatter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "myself I know a touch more about Hagrid's arrest than you do,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Mr. Weasley,` said Lockhart in a self-satisfied tone. Ron started to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "say that he didn't think so, somehow, but stopped in midsentence when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Harry kicked him hard under the desk. `We weren't there, remember?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Harry muttered. But Lockhart's disgusting cheeriness, his hints that he had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "always thought Hagrid was no good, his confidence that the whole business","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "was now at an end, irritated Harry so much that he yearned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "to throw Gadding with Ghouls right in Lockhart's stupid face. Instead he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "contented himself with scrawling a note to Ron: Let's do it tonight.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" " Ron read the message, swallowed hard, and looked sideways at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "empty seat usually filled by Hermione. The sight seemed to stiffen his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "resolve, and he nodded. The Gryffindor common room was always very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "crowded these days, because from six o'clock onward the Gryffindors had no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "- where else to go. They also had plenty to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "talk about, with the result that the common room often didn't empty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "until past midnight. Harry went to get the Invisibility Cloak out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of his trunk right after dinner, and spent the evening sitting on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "it, waiting for the room to clear. Fred and George challenged Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "and Ron to a few games of Exploding Snap, and Ginny sat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "watching them, very subdued in Hermione's usual chair. Harry and Ron kept losing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "on purpose, trying to finish the games quickly, but even so, it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "was well past midnight when Fred, George, and Ginny finally went to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "bed. Harry and Ron waited for the distant sounds of two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "dormitory doors closing before seizing the cloak, throwing it over themselves, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "climbing through the portrait hole. It was another difficult journey through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the castle, dodging all the teachers. At last they reached the entrance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "hall, slid back the lock on the oak front doors, squeezed between","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "them, trying to stop any creaking, and stepped out into the moonlit","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "grounds. `'Course,` said Ron abruptly as they strode across the black","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "grass, `we might get to the forest and find there's nothing to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "follow. Those spiders might not've been going there at all. I know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "it looked like they were moving in that sort of general direction,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "but. . .` His voice trailed away hopefully. They reached","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Hagrid's house, sad and sorry-looking with its blank windows. When Harry pushed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the door open, Fang went mad with joy at the sight of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "them. Worried he might wake everyone at the castle with his deep,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "booming barks, they hastily fed him treacle fudge from a tin on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the mantelpiece, which glued his teeth together. Harry left the Invisibility","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Cloak on Hagrid's table. There would be no need for it in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the pitch-dark forest. `Come on, Fang, we're going for a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "walk,` said Harry, patting his leg, and Fang bounded happily out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the house behind them, dashed to the edge of the forest, and lifted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "his leg against a large sycamore tree. Harry took out his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "wand, murmured, `Lumos!` and a tiny light appeared at the end of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "it, just enough to let them watch the path for signs of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "spiders. `Good thinking,` said Ron. `Id light mine, too, but you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "know - it'd probably blow up or something ...... Harry tapped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Ron on the shoulder, pointing at the grass. Two solitary spiders were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "hurrying away from the wandlight into the shade of the trees. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "`Okay,` Ron sighed as though resigned to the worst, `I'm ready. Let's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "go.` So, with Fang scampering around them, sniffing tree roots and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "leaves, they entered the forest. By the glow of Harry's wand, they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "followed the steady trickle of spiders moving along the path. They walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "behind them for about twenty minutes, not speaking, listening hard for noises","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "other than breaking twigs and rustling leaves. Then, when the trees had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "become thicker than ever, so that the stars overhead were no longer","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "visible, and Harry's wand shone alone in the sea of dark, they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "saw their spider guides leaving the path. Harry paused, trying to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "see where the spiders were going, but everything outside his little sphere","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "of *light was pitch-black. He had never been this deep into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "forest before. He could vividly remember Hagrid advising him not to leave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "the forest path last time he'd been in here. But Hagrid was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "miles away now, probably sitting in a cell in Azkaban, and he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "had also said to follow the spiders. Something wet touched Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "hand and he jumped backward, crushing Rods foot, but it was only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Fang's nose. `What d'you reckon?` Harry said to Ron, whose eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "he could just make out, reflecting the light from his wand. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "`We've come this far,` said Ron. So they followed the darting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "shadows of the spiders into the trees. They couldn't move very quickly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "now; there were tree roots and stumps in their way, barely visible","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "in the near blackness. Harry could feel Fang's hot breath on his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "hand. More than once, they had to stop, so that Harry could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "crouch down and find the spiders in the wandlight. They walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "for what seemed like at least half an hour, their robes snagging","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "on low-slung branches and brambles. After a while, they noticed that the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "ground seemed to be sloping downward, though the trees were as thick","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "as ever. Then Fang suddenly let loose a great, echoing bark,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "making both Harry and Ron jump out of their skins. `What?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "said Ron loudly, looking around into the pitch-dark, and gripping Harry's elbow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "very hard. `There's something moving over there,` Harry breathed. `Listen ...","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "sounds like something big ...... They listened. Some distance to their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "right, the something big was snapping branches as it carved a path","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "through the trees. `Oh, no,` said Ron. `Oh, no, oh, no,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "oh -` `Shut up,` said Harry frantically. `It'll hear you.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "`Hear me?` said Ron in an unnaturally high voice. `It's already heard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "Fang!` The darkness seemed to be pressing on their eyeballs as they ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-16" "stood, terrified, waiting. There was a strange rumbling noise and then silence.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `What d'you think it's doing?` said Harry. `Probably getting ready","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "to pounce,` said Ron. They waited, shivering, hardly daring to move.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `D'you think it's gone?` Harry whispered. `Dunno -` Then,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "to their right, came a sudden blaze of light, so bright in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the darkness that both of them flung up their hands to shield","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "their eyes. Fang yelped and tried to run, but got lodged in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "a tangle of thorns and yelped even louder. `Harry!` Ron shouted,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "his voice breaking with relief `Harry, it's our car!` `What?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`Come on!` Harry blundered after Ron toward the light, stumbling and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "tripping, and a moment later they had emerged into a clearing. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Mr. Weasley's car was standing, empty, in the middle of a circle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "of thick trees under a roof of dense branches, its headlights ablaze.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "As Ron walked, open-mouthed, toward it, it moved slowly toward him, exactly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "like a large, turquoise dog greeting its owner. `It's been here","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "all the time!` said Ron delightedly, walking around the car. `Look at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "it. The forest's turned it wild . . . .` The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "sides of the car were scratched and smeared with mud. Apparently it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "had taken to trundling around the forest on its own. Fang didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "seem at all keen on it; he kept close to Harry, who","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "could feel him quivering. His breathing slowing down again, Harry stuffed his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "wand back into his robes. `And we thought it was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "going to attack us!` said Ron, leaning against the car and patting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "it. `I wondered where it had gone!` Harry squinted around on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the floodlit ground for signs of more spiders, but they had all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "scuttled away from the glare of the headlights. `We've lost the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "trail,` he said. `C'mon, let's go and find them.` Ron didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "speak. He didn't move. His eyes were fixed on a point some","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "ten feet above the forest floor, right behind Harry. His face was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "livid with terror. Harry didn't even have time to turn around.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "There was a loud clicking noise and suddenly he felt something long","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and hairy seize him around the middle and lift him off the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "ground, so that he was hanging facedown. Struggling, terrified, he heard more","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "clicking, and saw Ron's legs leave the ground, too, heard Fang whimpering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and howling - next moment, he was being swept away into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "dark trees. Head hanging, Harry saw that what had hold of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "him was marching on six immensely long, hairy legs, the front two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "clutching him tightly below a pair of shining black pincers. Behind him,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he could hear another of the creatures, no doubt carrying Ron. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "were moving into the very heart of the forest. Harry could hear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Fang fighting to free himself from a third monster, whining loudly, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Harry couldn't have yelled even if he had wanted to; he seemed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "to have left his voice back with the car in the clearing.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " He never knew how long he was in the creature's clutches;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he only knew that the darkness suddenly lifted enough for him to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "see that the leaf-strewn ground was now swarming with spiders. Craning his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "neck sideways, he realized that they had reached the ridge of a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "vast hollow, a hollow that had been cleared of trees, so that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the stars shone brightly onto the worst scene he had ever laid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "eyes on. Spiders. Not tiny spiders like those surging over the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "leaves below. Spiders the size of carthorses, eight-eyed, eight-legged, black, hairy, gigantic.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "The massive specimen that was carrying Harry made its way down the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "steep slope toward a misty, domed web in the very center of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the hollow, while its fellows closed in all around it, clicking their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "pincers excitedly at the sight of its load. Harry fell to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the ground on all fours as the spider released him. Ron and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Fang thudded down next to him. Fang wasn't howling anymore, but cowering","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "silently on the spot. Ron looked exactly like Harry felt. His mouth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "was stretched wide in a kind of silent scream and his eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "were popping. Harry suddenly realized that the spider that had dropped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "him was saying something. It had been hard to tell, because he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "clicked his pincers with every word he spoke. `Aragog!` it called.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`Aragog!` And from the middle of the misty, domed web, a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "spider the size of a small elephant emerged, very slowly. There was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "gray in the black of his body and legs, and each of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the eyes on his ugly, pincered head was milky white. He was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "blind. `What is it?` he said, clicking his pincers rapidly. `Men,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "clicked the spider who had caught Harry. `Is it Hagrid?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Aragog, moving closer, his eight milky eyes wandering vaguely. `Strangers,` clicked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the spider who had brought Ron. `Kill them,` clicked Aragog fretfully.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`I was sleeping ...... `We're friends of Hagrid's,` Harry shouted. His","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "heart seemed to have left his chest to pound in his throat.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " Click, click, click went the pincers of the spiders all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "around the hollow. Aragog paused. `Hagrid has never sent men","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "into our hollow before,` he said slowly. `Hagrid's in trouble,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Harry, breathing very fast. `That's why we've come.` `In trouble?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the aged spider, and Harry thought he heard concern beneath the clicking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "pincers. `But why has he sent you?` Harry thought of getting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "to his feet but decided against it; he didn't think his legs","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "would support him. So he spoke from the ground, as calmly as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he could. `They think,, up at the school, that Hagrid's been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "setting a a - something on students. They've taken him to Azkaban.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " Aragog clicked his pincers furiously, and all around the hollow the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "sound was echoed by the crowd of spiders; it was like applause,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "except applause didn't usually make Harry feel sick with fear. `But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that was years ago,` said Aragog fretfully. `Years and years ago. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "remember it well. That's why they made him leave the school. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "believed that I was the monster that dwells in what they call","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Chamber of Secrets. They thought that Hagrid had opened the Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and set me free.` `And you ... you didn't come from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Chamber of Secrets?` said Harry, who could feel cold sweat on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "his forehead. `I!` said Aragog, clicking angrily. `I was not born","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "in the castle. I come from a distant land. A traveler gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "me to Hagrid when I was an egg. Hagrid was only a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "boy, but he cared for me, hidden in a cupboard in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "castle, feeding me on scraps from the table. Hagrid is my good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "friend, and a good man. When I was discovered, and blamed for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the death of a girl, he protected me. I have lived here","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "in the forest ever since, where Hagrid still visits me. He even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "found me a wife, Mosag, and you see how our family has","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "grown, all through Hagrid's goodness ...... Harry summoned what remained of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "his courage. `So you never - never attacked anyone?` `Never,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "croaked the old spider. `It would have been my instinct, but out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "of respect for Hagrid, I never harmed a human. The body of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the girl who was killed was discovered in a bathroom. I never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "saw any part of the castle but the cupboard in which I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "grew up. Our kind like the dark and the quiet ...... ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`But then ... Do you know what did kill that girl?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Harry. `Because whatever it is, it's back and attacking people again -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " His words were drowned by a loud outbreak of clicking and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the rustling of many long legs shifting angrily; large black shapes shifted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "all around him. `The thing that lives in the castle,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Aragog, `is an ancient creature we spiders fear above all others. Well","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "do I remember how I pleaded with Hagrid to let me go,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "when I sensed the beast moving about the school.` `What is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "it?` said Harry urgently. More loud clicking, more rustling; the spiders","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "seemed to be closing in. `We do not speak of it!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said Aragog fiercely. `We do not name it! I never even told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Hagrid the name of that dread creature, though he asked me, many","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "times.` Harry didn't want to press the subject, not with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "spiders pressing closer on all sides. Aragog seemed to be tired of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "tamng. He was backing slowly into his domed web, but his fellow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "spiders continued to inch slowly toward Harry and Ron. `We'll just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "go, then,` Harry called desperately to Aragog, hearing leaves rustling behind him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `Go?` said Aragog slowly. `I think not ...... `But -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "but -` `My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid, on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "my command. But I cannot deny them fresh meat, when it wanders","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "so willingly into our midst. Good-bye, friend of Hagrid.` Harry spun","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "around. Feet away, towering above him, was a solid wall of spiders,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "clicking, their many eyes gleaming in their ugly black heads. Even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "as he reached for his wand, Harry knew it was no good,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "there were too many of them, but as he tried to stand,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "ready to die fighting, a loud, long note sounded, and a blaze of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "light flamed through the hollow. Mr. Weasley's car was thundering down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the slope, headlights glaring, its horn screeching, knocking spiders aside; several were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "thrown onto their backs, their endless legs waving in the air. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "car screeched to a halt in front of Harry and Ron and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the doors flew open. `Get Fang!` Harry yelled, diving into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "front seat; Ron seized the boarhound around the middle and threw him,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "yelping, into the back of the car - the doors slammed shut","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "- Ron didn't touch the accelerator but the car didn't need him;","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the engine roared and they were off, hitting more spiders. They sped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "up the slope, out of the hollow, and they were soon crashing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "through the forest, branches whipping the windows as the car wound","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "its way cleverly through the widest gaps, following a path it obviously","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "knew. Harry looked sideways at Ron. His mouth was still open","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "in the silent scream, but his eyes weren't popping anymore. `Are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "you okay?` Ron stared straight ahead, unable to speak. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "smashed their way through the undergrowth, Fang howling loudly in the back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "seat, and Harry saw the side mirror snap off as they squeezed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "past a large oak. After ten noisy, rocky minutes, the trees thinned,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and Harry could again see patches of sky. The car stopped","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "so suddenly that they were nearly thrown into the windshield. They had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "reached the edge of the forest. Fang flung himself at the window","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "in his anxiety to get out, and when Harry opened the door,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he shot off through the trees to Hagrid's house, tail between his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "legs. Harry got out too, and after a minute or so, Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "seemed to regain the feeling in his limbs and followed, still stiff-necked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and staring. Harry gave the car a grateful pat as it reversed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "back into the forest and disappeared from view. Harry went back","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "into Hagrid's cabin to get the Invisibility Cloak. Fang was trembling under","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "a blanket in his basket. When Harry got outside again, he found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Ron being violently sick in the pumpkin patch. `Follow the spiders,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said Ron weakly, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. `I'll never forgive","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Hagrid. We're lucky to be alive.` `I bet he thought Aragog","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "wouldn't hurt friends of his,` said Harry. `That's exactly Hagrid's problem!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said Ron, thumping the wall of the cabin. `He always thinks monsters","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "aren't as bad as they're made out, and look where it's got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "him! A cell in Azkaban!` He was shivering uncontrollably now. `What was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the point of sending us in there? What have we found out,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Id like to know?` `That Hagrid never opened the Chamber of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Secrets,` said Harry, throwing the cloak over Ron and prodding him in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the arm to make him walk. `He was innocent.` Ron gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "a loud snort. Evidently, hatching Aragog in a cupboard wasn't his idea","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "of being innocent. As the castle loomed nearer Harry twitched the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "cloak to make sure their feet were hidden, then pushed the creaking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "front doors ajar. They walked carefully back across the entrance hall and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "up the marble staircase, holding their breath as they passed corridors where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "watchful sentries were walking. At last they reached the safety of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Gryffindor common room, where the fire had burned itself into glowing ash.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "They took off the cloak and climbed the winding stair to their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "dormitory. Ron fell onto his bed without bothering to get undressed.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Harry, however, didn't feel very sleepy. He sat on the edge of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "his fourposter, thinking hard about everything Aragog had said. The creature","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that was lurking somewhere in the castle, he thought, sounded like a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "sort of monster Voldemort - even other monsters didn't want to name","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "it. But he and Ron were no closer to finding out what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "it was, or how it Petrified its victims. Even Hagrid had never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "known what was in the Chamber of Secrets. Harry swung his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "legs up onto his bed and leaned back against his pillows, watching","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the moon glinting at him through the tower window. He couldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "see what else they could do. They had hit dead ends everywhere.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Riddle had caught the wrong person, the Heir of Slytherin had got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "off, and no one could tell whether it was the same person,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "or a different one, who had opened the Chamber this time. There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "was nobody else to ask. Harry lay down, still thinking about what","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Aragog had said. He was becoming drowsy when what seemed like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "their very last hope occurred to him, and he suddenly sat bolt","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "upright. `Ron,` he hissed through the dark, `Ron -` Ron woke","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "with a yelp like Fang's, stared wildly around, and saw Harry. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`Ron -that girl who died. Aragog said she was found in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "bathroom,` said Harry, ignoring Neville's snufing snores from the corner. `What if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "she never left the bathroom? What if she's still there?` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "rubbed his eyes, frowning through the moonlight. And then he understood, too.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `You don't think - not Moaning Myrtle?` A ll those","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "times we were in that bathroom, and she was just three","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "toilets away,` said Ron bitterly at breakfast next day, `and we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "could've asked her, and now. . .` It had been hard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "enough trying to look for spiders. Escaping their teachers long enough to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "sneak into a girls' bathroom, the girls' bathroom, moreover, right next to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the scene of the first attack, was going to be almost impossible.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " But something happened in their first lesson, Transfiguration, that drove the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Chamber of Secrets out of their minds for the first time in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "weeks. Ten minutes into the class, Professor McGonagall told them that their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "exams would start on the first of June, one week from today.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `Exams?` howled Seamus Finnigan. `We're still getting exams?` There was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "a loud bang behind Harry as Neville Longbottom's wand slipped, vanishing one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "of the legs on his desk. Professorr McGonagall restored it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "with a wave of her own wand, and turned, frowning, to Seamus.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `The whole point of keeping the school open at this time","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "is for you to receive your education,` she said sternly. `The exams","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "will therefore take place as usual, and I trust you are all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "studying hard.` Studying hard! It had never occurred to Harry that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "there would be exams with the castle in this state. There was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "a great deal of mutinous muttering around the room, which made Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "McGonagall scowl even more darkly. `Professor Dumbledore's instructions were to keep","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the school running as normally as possible, she said. `And that, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "need hardly point out, means finding out how much you have learned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "this year. Harry looked down at the pair of white rabbits","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he was supposed to be turning into slippers. What had he learned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "so far this year? He couldn't seem to think of anything that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "would be useful in an exam. Ron looked as though he'd","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "just been told he had to go and live in the Forbidden","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Forest. `Can you imagine me taking exams with this?` he asked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Harry, holding up his wand, which had just started whistling loudly. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Three days before their first exam, Professor McGonagall made another announcement at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "breakfast. `I have good news,` she said, and the Great Hall,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "instead of falling silent, erupted. `Dumbledore's coming back!` several people yelled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "joyfully. `You've caught the Heir of Slytherin!` squealed a girl at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Ravenclaw table. `Quidditch matches are back on!` roared Wood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "excitedly. When the hubbub had subsided, Professor McGonagall said, `Professor Sprout","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "culprit.` There was an explosion of cheering. Harry looked over at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Slytherin table and wasn't at all surprised to see that Draco","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Malfoy hadn't joined in. Ron, however, was looking happier than he'd looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "in days. `It won't matter that we never asked Myrtle, then!`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he said to Harry. `Hermione'll probably have all the answers when they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "wake her up! Mind you, she'll go crazy when she finds out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "we've got exams in three days' time. She hasn't studied. It might","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "be kinder to leave her where she is till they're over.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Just then, Ginny Weasley came over and sat down next to Ron.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "She looked tense and nervous, and Harry noticed that her hands were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "twisting in her lap. `What's up?` said Ron, helping himself to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "more porridge. Ginny didn't say anything, but glanced up and down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Gryffindor table with a scared look on her face that reminded","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Harry of someone, though he couldn't think who. `Spit it out,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said Ron, watching her. Harry suddenly realized who Ginny looked like.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "She was rocking backward and forward slightly in her chair, exactly like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Dobby did when he was teetering on the edge of revealing forbidden","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "information. `I've got to tell you something,` Ginny mumbled, carefully not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "looking at Harry. `What is it?` said Harry. Ginny looked as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "though she couldn't find the right words. `What?`said Ron. Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Harry leaned forward and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "spoke quietly, so that only Ginny and Ron could hear him. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`Is it something about the Chamber of Secrets? Have you seen something?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Someone acting oddly?` Ginny drew a deep breath and, at that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "precise moment, Percy Weasley appeared, looking tired and wan. `If you've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "finished eating, I'll take that seat, Ginny. I'm starving, I've only just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "come off patrol duty.` Ginny jumped up as though her chair","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "had just been electrified, gave Percy a fleeting, frightened look, and scampered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "away. Percy sat down and grabbed a mug from the center of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the table. `Percy!` said Ron angrily. `She was just about to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "tell us some-' thing important!` Halfway through a gulp of tea,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Percy choked. `What sort of thing?` he said, coughing. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "just asked her if she'd seen anything odd, and she started to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "say `Oh - that - that's nothing to do with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Chamber of Secrets,` said Percy at once. `How do you know?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said Ron, his eyebrows raised. `Well, er, if you must know,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Ginny, er, walked in on me the other day when I was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "- well, never mind - the point is, she spot ted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "me doing something and I, um, I asked her not to mention","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "it to anybody. I must say, I did think she'd keep her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "word. It's nothing, really, Id just rather -` Harry had never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "seen Percy look so uncomfortable. `What were you doing, Percy?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Ron, grinning. `Go on, tell us, we won't laugh.` Percy didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "smile back. `Pass me those rolls, Harry, I'm starving.` Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "knew the whole mystery might be solved tomorrow without their help, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he wasn't about to pass up a chance to speak to Myrtle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "if it turned up - and to his delight it did, midmorning,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "when they were being led to History of Magic by Gilderoy Lockhart.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " Lockhart, who had so often assured them that all danger had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "passed, only to be proved wrong right away, was now wholeheartedly convinced","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that it was hardly worth the trouble to see them safely down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the corridors. His hair wasn't as sleek as usual; it seemed he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "had been up most of the night, patrolling the fourth floor. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`Mark my words,` he said, ushering them around a corner. `The first","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "words out of those poor Petrified people's mouths will be It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Hagrid.' Frankly, I'm astounded Professor McGonagall thinks all these security measures are","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "necessary.` (ti agree, sir,` said Harry, making Ron drop his books","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "in surprise. `Thank you, Harry, said Lockhart graciously while they waited","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "for a long line of Hufflepuffs to pass. `I mean, we teachers","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "have quite enough to be getting on with, without walking students to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "classes and standing guard all night ...... `That's right,` said Ron,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "catching on. `Why don't you leave us here, sir, we've only got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "one more corridor to go -` `You know, Weasley, I think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "I will,` said Lockhart. `I really should go and prepare my next","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "class -` And he hurried off. `Prepare his class,` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "sneered after him. `Gone to curl his hair, more like.` They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "let the rest of the Gryffindors draw ahead of them, then darted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "down a side passage and hurried off toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "just as they were congratulating each other on their brilliant scheme ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?` It was Professor McGonagall, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines. `We were -we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "were-` Ron stammered. `We were going to - to go and see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "-` `Hermione,` said Harry. Ron and Professor McGonagall both looked at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "him. `We haven't seen her for ages, Professor,` Harry went on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "hurriedly, treading on Ron's foot, `and we thought we'd sneak into the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "hospital wing, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearly ready","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and, er, not to worry -` Professor McGonagall was still staring","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "at him, and for a moment, Harry thought she was going to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "explode, but when she spoke, it was in a strangely croaky voice.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `Of course,` she said, and Harry, amazed, saw a tear glistening","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "in her beady eye. `Of course, I realize this has all been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "hardest on the friends of those who have been ... I quite","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "understand. Yes, Potter, of course you may visit Miss Granger. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "will inform Professor Binns where you've gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "given my permission.` Harry and Ron walked away, hardly daring to believe","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that they'd avoided detention. As they turned the corner, they distinctly heard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Professor McGonagall blow her nose. `That,` said Ron fervently, `was the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "best story you've ever come up with.` They had no choice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "now but to go to the hospital wing and tell Madam Pomfrey","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that they had Professor McGonagall's permission to visit Hermione. Madam Pomfrey","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "let them in, but reluctantly. `There's just no point talking to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "a Petrified. person,` she said, and they had to admit she had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "a point when they'd taken their seats next to Hermione. It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "plain that Hermione didn't have the faintest inkling that she had visitors,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and that they might just as well tell her bedside cabinet not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "to worry for all the good it would do. `Wonder if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "she did see the attacker, though?` said Ron, looking sadly at Hermione's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "rigid face. `Because if he sneaked up on them all, no one'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "ever know . ..... But Harry wasn't looking at Hermione's face.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "He was more interested in her right hand. It lay clenched on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "top of her blankets, and bending closer, he saw that a piece","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "of paper was scrunched inside her fist. Making sure that Madam","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Pomfrey was nowhere near, he pointed this out to Ron. `TG","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and get it out,` Ron whispered, shifting his chair so that he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "blocked Harry from Madam Pomfrey's view. It was no easy task.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Hermione's hand was clamped so tightly around the paper that Harry was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "sure he was going to tear it. While Ron kept watch he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "tugged and twisted, and at last, after several tense minutes, the paper","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "came free. It was a page torn from a very old","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "library book. Harry smoothed it out eagerly and Ron leaned close to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "read it, too. Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "may reach gigantic size and live many hundreds of years, is born","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " And beneath this, a single word had been written, in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "hand Harry recognized as Hermione's. Pipes. It was as though somebody","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "had just flicked a light on in his brain. `Ron,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "breathed. `This is it. This is the answer. The monster in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Chamber's a basilisk - a giant serpent! That why I've been hearing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that voice all over the place, and nobody else has heard it.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "It's because I understand Parseltongue . . . .` Harry looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "up at the beds around him. `The basilisk kills people by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "looking at them. But no one's died - because no one looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "it straight in the eye. Colin saw it through his camera. The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "basilisk burned up all the film inside it, but Colin just got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Petrified. Justin . . . Justin must've seen the basilisk through Nearly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Headless Nick! Nick got the full blast of it, but he couldn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "die again . . . and Hermione and that Ravenclaw prefect were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "found with a mirror next to them. Hermione had just realized the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "monster was a basilisk. I bet you anything she warned the first","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "person she met to look around corners with a mirror first! And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that girl pulled out her mirror - and -` Rods jaw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "had dropped. `And Mrs. Norris?` he whispered eagerly. Harry thought","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "hard, picturing the scene on the night of Halloween. `The water.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" ". .` he said slowly. `The flood from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "bet you Mrs. Norris only saw the reflection . . . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " He scanned the page in his hand eagerly. The more he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "looked at it, the more it made sense. `: . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "The crowing of the rooster . . . is fatal to it`!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he read aloud. `Hagrid's roosters were killed! The Heir of Slytherin didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "want one anywhere near the castle once the Chamber was opened! Spidersflee","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "before it.! It all fits!` `But how's the basilisk been getting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "around the place?` said Ron. `A giant snake . . . Someone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "would've seen. . .` Harry, however, pointed at the word Hermione","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "had scribbled at the foot of the page. `Pipes,` he said. `Pipes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" ". . . Ron, it's been using the plumbing. I've been hearing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "that voice inside the walls . . . .` Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "suddenly grabbed Harry's arm. `The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets!` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said hoarsely. `What if it's a bathroom? What if it's in -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "`= Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, `said Harry. They sat there, excitement coursing through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "them, hardly able to believe it. `This means,` said Harry, `I can't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "be the only Parselmouth in the school. The Heir of Slytherin's one,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "too. That's how he's been controlling the basilisk.` `What're we going to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "do?` said Ron, whose eyes were flashing. `Should we go straight to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "McGonagall?` `Let's go to the staff room,` said Harry, jumping up. `She'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "be there in ten minutes. It's nearly break.` They ran downstairs. Not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "wanting to be discovered hanging around in another corridor, they went straight","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "into the deserted staff room. It was a large, paneled room full","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "of dark, wooden chairs. Harry and Ron paced around it, too excited","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "to sit down. But the bell to signal break never came. Instead,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "echoing through the corridors came Professor McGon agall's voice, magically magnified. `All","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teach ers","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "return to the staff room. Immediately, please. ` Harry wheeled around","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "to stare at Ron. `Not another attack? Not now?` `What'll we do?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said Ron, aghast. `Go back to the dormitory?` `No,` said Harry, glancing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "around. There was an ugly sort of wardrobe to his left, full","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "of the teachers' cloaks. `In here. Let's hear what it's all about.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Then we can tell them what we've found out.` They hid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "themselves inside it, listening to the rumbling of hundreds of people moving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "overhead, and the staff room door banging open. From between the musty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "folds of the cloaks, they watched the teachers filtering into the room.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Some of them were looking puzzled, others downright scared. Then Professor McGonagall","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "arrived. `It has happened,` she told the silent staff room. `A","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " Professor Flitwick let out a squeal. Professor Sprout clapped her hands","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "over her mouth. Snape gripped the back of a chair very hard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "and said, `How can you be sure?` `The Heir of Slytherin,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "said Professor McGonagall, who was very white, `left another message. Right underneath","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the first one. `Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever. `'","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " Professor Flitwick burst into tears. `Who is it?` said Madam","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Hooch, who had sunk, weak-kneed, into a chair. `Which student?` `Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Weasley,` said Professor McGonagall. Harry felt Ron slide silently down onto","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the wardrobe floor beside him. `We shall have to send all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the students home tomorrow,` said Professor McGonagall. `This is the end of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "Hogwarts. Dumbledore always said. . .` The staffroom door banged open","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "again. For one wild moment, Harry was sure it would be Dumbledore.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "But it was Lockhart, and he was beaming. `So sorry -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "dozed off - what have I missed?` He didn't seem to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "notice that the other teachers were looking at him with something remarkably","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "like hatred. Snape stepped forward. `Just the man,` he said. `The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "very man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " Lockhart blanched. `That's right, Gilderoy,` chipped in Professor Sprout. `Weren't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "you saying just last night that you've known all along where the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?` `I - well, I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "-`sputtered Lockhart. `Yes, didn't you tell me you were sure you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "knew what was inside it?` piped up Professor Flitwick. `D-did I?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "I don't recall -` `I certainly remember you saying you were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "sorry you hadn't had a crack at the monster before Hagrid was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "arrested,` said Snape. `Didn't you say that the whole affair had been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "bungled, and that you should have been given a free rein from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "the first?` Lockhart stared around at his stony-faced colleagues. `I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "- I really never - you may have misunderstood -` `We'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "leave it to you, then, Gilderoy,` said Professor McGonagall. `Tonight will be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by youself.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "A free rein at last.` Lockhart gazed desperately around him, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "nobody came to the rescue. He didn't look remotely handsome anymore. His","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "lip was trembling, and in the absence of his usually toothy grin,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "he looked weak-chinned and feeble. `Very well,` he said. `I'll -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" "I'll be in my office, getting getting ready.` And he left the room.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-17" " `Right,` said Professor McGonagall, whose nostrils were flared, `that's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "got him out from under our feet. The Heads of Houses should","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "go and inform their students what has happened. Tell them the Hogwarts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Express will take them home first thing tomorrow. Will the rest of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "you please make sure no students have been left outside their dormitories.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " The teachers rose and left, one by one. It was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "probably the worst day of Harry's entire life. He, Ron, Fred, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "George sat together in a corner of the Gryffindor common room, unable","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to say anything to each other. Percy wasn't there. He had gone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to send an owl to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, then shut himself","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "up in his dormitory. No afternoon ever lasted as long as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "that one, nor had Gryffindor Tower ever been so crowded, yet so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "quiet. Near sunset, Fred and George went up to bed, unable to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "sit there any longer. `She knew something, Harry,` said Ron, speaking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "for the first time since they had entered the wardrobe in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "staff room. `That's why she was taken. It wasn't some stupid thing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "about Percy at all., She'd found out something about the Chamber of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Secrets. That must be why she was -` Ron rubbed his eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "frantically. `I mean, she was a pure- blood. There can't be any","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "other reason.` Harry could see the sun sinking, blood-red, below the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "skyline. This was the worst he had ever felt. If only there","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was something they could do. Anything. `Harry` said Ron. `D'you think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "there's any chance at all she's not - you know =` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Harry didn't know what to say. He couldn't see how Ginny could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "still be alive. `D'you know what?` said Ron. `I think we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "should go and see Lockhart. Tell him what we know. He's going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to try and get into the Chamber. We can tell him where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "we think it is, and tell him it's a basilisk in there.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " Because Harry couldn't think of anything else to do, and because","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "he wanted to be doing something, he agreed. The Gryffindors around them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "were so miserable, and felt so sorry for the Weasleys, that nobody","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "tried to stop them as they got up, crossed the room, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "left through the portrait hole. Darkness was falling as they walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "down to Lockhart's office. There seemed to be a lot of activity","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "going on inside it. They could hear scraping, thumps, and hurried footsteps.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " Harry knocked and there was a sudden silence from inside. Then","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the door opened the tiniest crack and they saw one of Lockhart's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "eyes peering through it. `Oh - Mr. Potter - Mr. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "-` he said, opening the door a bit wider. `I'm rather busy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "at the moment - if you would be quick -` `Professor,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "we've got some information for you,` said Harry. `We think it'll help","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "you.` `Er - well - it's not terribly -` The side","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "of Lockhart's face that they could see looked very uncomfortable. `I mean","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "- well all right -` He opened the door and they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "entered. His office had been almost completely stripped. Two large trunks","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "stood open on the floor. Robes, jade-green, lilac, midnightblue, had been hastily","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "folded into one of them; books were jumbled untidily into the other.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "The photographs that had covered the walls were now crammed into boxes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "on the desk. `Are you going somewhere?` said Harry. `Er,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "well, yes,` said Lockhart, ripping a life-size poster of himself from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "back of the door as he spoke and starting to roll it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "up. `Urgent call - unavoidable - got to go -` `What","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "about my sister?` said Ron jerkily. `Well, as to that -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "most unfortunate -` said Lockhart, avoiding their eyes as he wrenched open","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "a drawer and started emptying the contents into a bag. `No one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "regrets more than I -` `You're the Defense Against the Dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Arts teacher!` said Harry. `You can't go now! Not with all the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Dark stuff going on here!` `Well - I must say -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "when I took the job -` Lockhart muttered, now piling socks on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "top of his robes. `nothing in the job description - didn't expect","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "-` `You mean you're running away?` said Harry disbelievingly. `After all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "that stuff you did in your books -` `Books can be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "misleading,` said Lockhart delicately. `You wrote them!` Harry shouted. `My","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "dear boy,` said Lockhart, straightening up and frowning at Harry. `Do use","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "your common sense. My books wouldn't have sold half as well if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "people didn't think Id done all those things. No one wants to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "read about some ugly old Armenian warlock, even if he did save","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "a village from werewolves. He'd look dreadful on the front cover. No","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "dress sense at all. And the witch who banished the Bandon Banshee","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "had a harelip. I mean, come on -` `So you've just","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "been taking credit for what a load of other people have done?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "said Harry incredulously. `Harry, Harry,` said Lockhart, shaking his head impatiently,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`it's not nearly as simple as that. There was work involved. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "had to track these people down. Ask them exactly how they managed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to do what they did. Then I had to put a Memory","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Charm on them so they wouldn't remember doing it. If there's one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "thing I pride myself on, it's my Memory Charms. No, it's been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "a lot of work, Harry. It's not all book signings and publicity","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "photos, you know. You want fame, you have to be prepared for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "a long hard slog.` He banged the lids of his trunks","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "shut and locked them. `Let's see,` he said. `I think that's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "everything. Yes. Only one thing left.` He pulled out his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "and turned to them. `Awfully sorry, boys, but I'll have to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "put a Memory Charm on you now. Can't have you blabbing my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "secrets all over the place. Id never sell another book -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Harry reached his wand just in time. Lockhart had barely raised his,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "when Harry bellowed, `Expelliarmus!` Lockhart was blasted backward, falling over his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "trunk; his wand flew high into the air; Ron caught it, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "flung it out of the open window. `Shouldn't have let Professor","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Snape teach us that one,` said Harry furiously, kicking Lockhart's trunk aside.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Lockhart was looking up at him, feeble once more. Harry was still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "pointing his wand at him. `What d'you want me to do?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "said Lockhart weakly. `I don't know where the Chamber of Secrets is.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "There's nothing I can do.` `You're in luck,` said Harry, forcing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Lockhart to his feet at wandpoint. `We think we know where it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "is. And what's inside it. Let's go.` They marched Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "out of his office and down the nearest stairs, along the dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "corridor where the messages shone on the wall, to the door of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They sent Lockhart in first. Harry was pleased","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to see that he was shaking. Moaning Myrtle was sitting on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the tank of the end toilet. `Oh, it's you,` she said when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "she saw Harry. `What do you want this time?` `To ask","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "you how you died,` said Harry. Myrtle's whole aspect changed at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "once. She looked as though she had never been asked such a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "flattering question. `Ooooh, it was dreadful,` she said with relish. `It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "happened right in here. I died in this very stall. I remember","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "it so well. Id hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "my glasses. The door was locked, and I was crying, and then","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "I heard somebody come in. They said something funny. A different language,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "I think it must have been. Anyway, what really got me was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "that it was a boy speaking. So I unlocked the door, to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "tell him to go and use his own toilet, and then -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Myrtle swelled importantly, her face shining. `I died.` `How?` said Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " `No idea,` said Myrtle in hushed tones. `I just remember seeing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "a pair of great, big, yellow eyes. My whole body sort of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "seized up, and then I was floating away . . . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "She looked dreamily at Harry. `And then I came back again. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was determined to haunt Olive Hornby, you see. Oh, she was sorry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "she'd ever laughed at my glasses.` `Where exactly did you see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the eyes?` said Harry. `Somewhere there,` said Myrtle, pointing vaguely","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "toward the sink in front of her toilet. Harry and Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "hurried over to it. Lockhart was standing well back, a look of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "utter terror on his face. It looked like an ordinary sink.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "They examined every inch of it, inside and out, including the pipes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "below. And then Harry saw it: Scratched on the side of one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "of the copper taps was a tiny snake. `That tap's never","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "worked,` said Myrtle brightly as he tried to turn it. `Harry,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "said Ron. `Say something. Something in Parseltongue.` `But -` Harry thought","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "hard. The only times he'd ever managed to speak Parseltongue were when","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "he'd been faced with a real snake. He stared hard at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "tiny- engraving, trying to imagine it was real. `Open up,` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "said. He looked at Ron, who shook his head. `English,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "he said. Harry looked back at the snake, willing himself to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "believe it was alive. If he moved his head, the candlelight made","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "it look as though it were moving. `Open up,` he said.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " Except that the words weren't what he heard; a strange hissing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "had escaped him, and at once the tap glowed with a brilliant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "white light and began to spin. Next second, the sink began to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "move; the sink, in fact, sank, right out of sight, leaving a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "large pipe exposed, a pipe wide enough for a man to slide","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "into. Harry heard Ron gasp and looked up again. He had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "made up his mind what he was going to do. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`I'm going down there,` he said. . He couldn't not go,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "not now they had found the entrance to the Chamber, not if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "there was even the faintest, slimmest, wildest chance that Ginny might be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "alive. `Me too,` said Ron. There was a pause. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`Well, you hardly seem to need me,` said Lockhart, with a shadow","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "of his old smile. `I'll just -` He put his hand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "on the door knob, but Ron and Harry both pointed their wands","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "at him. `You can go first,` Ron snarled. White-faced and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "wandless, Lockhart approached the opening. `Boys,` he said, his voice feeble.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`Boys, what good will it do?` Harry jabbed him in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "back with his wand. Lockhart slid his legs into the pipe. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`I really don't think -` he started to say, but Ron gave","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "him a push, and he slid out of sight. Harry followed quickly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "He lowered himself slowly into the pipe, then let go. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was like rushing down an endless, slimy, dark slide. He could see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "more pipes branching off in all directions, but none as large as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "theirs, which twisted and turned, sloping steeply downward, and he knew that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "he was falling deeper below the school than even the dungeons. Behind","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "him he could hear Ron, thudding slightly at the curves. And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "then, just as he had begun to worry about what would happen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "when he hit the ground, the pipe leveled out, and he shot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "out of the end with a wet thud, landing on the damp","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "floor of a dark stone tunnel large enough to stand in. Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was getting to his feet a little ways away, covered in slime","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "and white as a ghost. Harry stood aside as Ron came whizzing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "out of the pipe, too. `We must be miles under the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "school,` said Harry, his voice echoing in the black tunnel. `Under","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the lake, probably,` said Ron, squinting around at the dark, slimy walls.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " All three of them turned to stare into the darkness ahead.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " `Lumos!` Harry muttered to his wand and it lit again. `C'mon,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "he said to Ron and Lockhart, and off they went, their footsteps","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "slapping loudly on the wet floor. The tunnel was so dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "that they could only see a little distance ahead. Their shadows on","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the wet walls looked monstrous in the wandlight. `Remember,` Harry said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "quietly as they walked cautiously forward, `any sign of movement, close your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "eyes right away . ..... But the tunnel was quiet as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the grave, and the first unexpected sound they heard was a loud","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "crunch as Ron stepped on what turned out to be a rat's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "skull. Harry lowered his wand to look at the floor and saw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "that it was littered with small animal bones. Trying very hard not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to imagine what Ginny might look like if they found her, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "led the way forward, around a dark bend in the tunnel. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`Harry - there's something up there -` said Ron hoarsely, grabbing Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "shoulder. They froze, watching. Harry could just see the outline of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "something huge and curved, lying right across the tunnel. It wasn't moving.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " `Maybe it's asleep,` he breathed, glancing back at the other two.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Lockhart's hands were pressed over his eyes. Harry turned back to look","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "at the thing, his heart beating so fast it hurt. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Very slowly, his eyes as narrow as he could make them and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "still see, Harry edged forward, his wand held high. The light","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "slid over a gigantic snake skin, of a vivid, poisonous green, lying","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "curled and empty across the tunnel floor. The creature that had shed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "it must have been twenty feet long at least. `Blimey,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Ron weakly. There was a sudden movement behind them. Gilderoy Lockhart's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "knees had given way. `Get up,` said Ron sharply, pointing his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "wand at Lockhart. Lockhart got to his feet - then he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "dived at Ron, knocking him to the ground. Harry jumped forward,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "but too late - Lockhart was straightening up, panting, Ron's wand in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "his hand and a gleaming smile back on his face. `The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "adventure ends here, boys!` he said. `I shall take a bit of this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "skin back up to the school, tell them I was too late","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to save the girl, and that you two tragically lost your minds","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "at the sight of her mangled body - say good-bye to your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "memories!` He raised Ron's Spellotaped wand high over his head and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "yelled, `Obliviate!` The wand exploded with the force of a small","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "bomb. Harry flung his arms over his head and ran, slipping over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the coils of snake skin, out of the way of great chunks","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "of tunnel ceiling that were thundering to the floor. Next moment, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was standing alone, gazing at a solid wall of broken rock. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`Ron!` he shouted. `Are you okay? Ron!` `I'm here!` came Ron's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "muffled voice from behind the rockfall. `I'm okay - this git's not,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "though - he got blasted by the wand =' There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was a dull thud and a loud `ow!` It sounded as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Ron had just kicked Lockhart in the shins. `What now?` Ron's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "voice said, sounding desperate. `We can't get through - it'll take ages","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "...... Harry looked up at the tunnel ceiling. Huge cracks had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "appeared in it. He had never tried to break apart anything as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "large as these rocks by magic, and now didn't seem a good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "moment to try - what if the whole tunnel caved in? ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "There was another thud and another `ow!` from behind the rocks. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "were wasting time. Ginny had already been in the Chamber of Secrets","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "for hours .... Harry knew there was only one thing to do.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " `Wait there,` he called to Ron. `Wait with Lockhart. I'll go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "on.... If I'm not back in an hour. . . There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was a very pregnant pause, `I'll try and shift some of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "this rock,` said Ron, who seemed to be trying to keep his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "voice steady. `So you can - can get back through. And, Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "-` `See you in a bit,` said Harry, trying to inject","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "some confidence into his shaking voice. And he set off alone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "past the giant snake skin. Soon the distant noise of Ron","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "straining to shift the rocks was gone. The tunnel turned and turned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "again. Every nerve in Harry's body was tingling unpleasantly. He wanted the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "tunnel to end, yet dreaded what he'd find when it did. And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "then, at last, as he crept around yet another bend, he saw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "a solid wall ahead on which two entwined serpents were carved, their","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "eyes set with great, glinting emeralds. Harry approached, his throat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "very dry. There was no need to pretend these stone snakes were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "real; their eyes looked strangely alive. He could guess what he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "had to do. He cleared his throat, and the emerald eyes seemed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to flicker. `Open, `said Harry, in a low, faint hiss. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "The serpents parted as the wall cracked open, the halves slid smoothly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "out of sight, and Harry, shaking from head to foot, walked inside.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " e was standing at the end of a very long, dimly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "lit chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more carved serpents rose to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "support a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "odd, greenish gloom that filled the place. His heart beating very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "fast, Harry stood listening to the chill silence. Could the basilisk be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "lurking in a shadowy corner, behind a pillar? And where was Ginny?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " He pulled out his wand and moved forward between the serpentine","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "columns. Every careful footstep echoed loudly off the shadowy walls. He kept","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "his eyes narrowed, ready to clamp them shut at the smallest sign","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "of movement. The hollow eye sockets of the stone snakes seemed to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "be following him. More than once, with a jolt of the stomach,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "he thought he saw one stir. Then, as he drew level","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "with the last pair of pillars, a statue high as the Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "itself loomed into view, standing against the back wall. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "had to crane his neck to look up into the giant face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "above: It was ancient and monkeyish, with a long, thin beard that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "fell almost to the bottom of the wizard's sweeping stone robes, where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "two enormous gray feet stood on the smooth Chamber floor. And between","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the feet, facedown, lay a small, black-robed figure with flaming-red hair. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`tinny!` Harry muttered, sprinting to her and dropping to his knees. `tinny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "- don't be dead - please don't be dead -` He flung","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "his wand aside, grabbed Ginny's shoulders, and turned her over. Her face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was white as marble, and as cold, yet her eyes were closed,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "so she wasn't Petrified. But then she must be `Ginny, please","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "wake up,` Harry muttered desperately, shaking her. Ginny's head lolled hopelessly from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "side to side. `She won't wake,` said a soft voice. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Harry jumped and spun around on his knees. A tall, black-haired","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "boy was leaning against the nearest pillar, watching. He was strangely blurred","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "around the edges, as though Harry were looking at him through a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "misted window. But there was no mistaking him `Tom - Tom","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Riddle?` Riddle nodded, not taking his eyes off Harry's face. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "`What d'you mean, she won't wake?` Harry said desperately. `She's not -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "she's not -?` `She's still alive,` said Riddle. `But only just.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " Harry stared at him. Tom Riddle had been at Hogwarts fifty","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "years ago, yet here he stood, a weird, misty light shining about","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "him, not a day older than sixteen. `Are you a ghost?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Harry said uncertainly. `A memory,` said Riddle quietly. `Preserved in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "a diary for fifty years. He pointed toward the floor near","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "the statue's giant toes. Lying open there was the little black diary","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Harry had found in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. For a second, Harry wondered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "how it had got there - but there were more pressing matters","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "to deal with. `You've got to help me, Tom,` Harry said,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "raising Ginny's head again. `We've got to get her out of here.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "There's a basilisk ... I don't know where it is, but it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "could be along any moment .... Please, help me -1) Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "didn't move. Harry, sweating, managed to hoist Ginny half off the floor,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "and bent to pick up his wand again. But his wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "had gone. `Did you see -?` He looked up. Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "was still watching him - twirling Harry's wand between his long fingers.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " `Thanks,` said Harry, stretching out his hand for it. A","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "smile curled the corners of Riddle's mouth. He continued to stare at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "Harry, twirling the wand idly. `Listen,` said Harry urgently, his knees","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "sagging with Ginny's dead weight. `We've got to go! If the basilisk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "comes -` `It won't come until it is called,` said Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "calmly. Harry lowered Ginny back onto the floor, unable to hold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "her up any longer. `What d'you mean?` he said. `Look, give","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" "me my wand, I might need it -` Riddle's smile broadened.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " `You won't be needing it,` he said. Harry stared at him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-18" " `What d'you mean, I won't be -?` `I've waited","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a long time for this, Harry Potter,` said Riddle. `For the chance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to see you. To speak to you.` `Look,` said Harry, losing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "patience, `I don't think you get it. We're in the Chamber of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Secrets. We can talk later -` `We're going to talk now,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Riddle, still smiling broadly, and he pocketed Harry's wand. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "stared at him. There was something very funny going on here ....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `How did Ginny get like this?` he asked slowly. `Well,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that's an interesting question,` said Riddle pleasantly. `And quite a long story.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I suppose the real reason Ginny Weasley's like this is because she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "opened her heart and spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `What are you talking about?` said Harry. `The diary,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Riddle. `My diary. Little Ginny's been writing in it for months and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "months, telling me all her pitiful worries and woes - how her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "brothers tease her, how she had to come to school with secondhand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "robes and books, how` -Riddle's eyes glinted `how she didn't think famous,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "good, great Harry Potter would ever like her . . . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " All the time he spoke, Riddle's eyes never left Harry's face.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "There was an almost hungry look in them. `It's very boring,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "having to listen to the silly little troubles of an eleven- year-old","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "girl,` he went on. `But I was patient. I wrote back. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was sympathetic, I was kind. Ginny simply loved me. No one's ever","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "understood me like you, Tom .... I'm so glad I've got this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diary to *309* confide in .... It's like having a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "friend I can carry around in my pocket . . . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " Riddle laughed, a high, cold laugh that didn't suit him. It","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "made the hairs stand up on the back of Harry's neck. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`If I say it myself, Harry, I've always been able to charm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the people I needed. So Ginny poured out her soul to me,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and her soul happened to be exactly what I wanted .... I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "grew stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears, her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "darkest secrets. I grew powerful, far more powerful than little Miss Weasley.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Powerful enough to start feeding Miss Weasley a few of my secrets,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to start pouring a little of my soul back into her. .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" ".` `What d'you mean?` said Harry, whose mouth had gone very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "dry. ` Haven't you guessed yet, Harry Potter?` said Riddle softly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`Ginny Weasley opened the Chamber of Secrets. She strangled the school roosters","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and daubed threatening messages on the walls. She set the Serpent of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Slytherin on four Mudbloods, and the Squib's cat. `No,` Harry whispered.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Yes,` said Riddle, calmly. `Of course, she didn't know what she","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was doing at first. It was very amusing. I wish you could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "have seen her new diary entries ... far more interesting, they became","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" ".... Dear Tom,` he recited, watching Harry's horrified face, `I think I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "losing my memory. There are rooster feathers all over my robes and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "1 don't know how they got there. Dear Tom, l can't remember","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "what 1 did on the night of Halloween, but a cat was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "attacked and I've got paint all down my front. Dear Tom, Percy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "keeps telling me I'm pale and I'm not myself. I think he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "suspects me... There was another attack today and I don't know where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I was. Tom, what am I going to do? I think I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "going mad... I think I'm the one attacking everyone, Tom!` Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "fists were clenched, the nails digging deep into his Palms. `it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "took a very long time for stupid little Ginny to stop trusting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "her diary,` said Riddle. `But she finally became suspicious and tried to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "dispose of it. And that's where you came in, Harry. You found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it, and I couldn't have been more delighted. Of all the people","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "who could have picked it up, it was you, the very person","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I was most anxious to meet . . . .` `And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "why did you want to meet me?` said Harry. Anger was coursing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "through him, and it was an effort to keep his voice steady.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Well, you see, Ginny told me all about you, Harry,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Riddle. `Your whole fascinating history. ` His eyes roved over the lightning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "scar on Harry's forehead, and their expression grew hungrier. `I knew I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "must find out more about you, talk to you, meet you if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I could. So I decided to show you my famous capture of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that great oaf, Hagrid, to gain your trust -` `Hagrid's my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "friend,` said Harry, his voice now shaking. `And you framed him, didn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "you? I thought you made a mistake, but -` Riddle laughed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "his high laugh again. `It was my word against Hagrid's, Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Well, you can imagine how it looked to old Armando Dippet. On","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the one hand, Tom Riddle, poor but brilliant, parentless but so brave,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "school prefect, model student ... on the other hand, big, blundering Hagrid,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in trouble every other week, trying to raise werewolf cubs under his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "bed, sneaking off to the Forbidden Forest to wrestle trolls ... but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I admit, even I was surprised how well the plan worked. I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "thought someone must realize that Hagrid couldn't possibly be the Heir of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Slytherin. It had taken me five whole years to find out everything","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I could about the Chamber of Secrets and discover the secret entrance","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "... as though Hagrid had the brains, or the power! `Only","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the Transfiguration teacher, Dumbledore, seemed to think Hagrid was innocent. He persuaded","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Dipper to keep Hagrid and train him as gamekeeper. Yes, I think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Dumbledore might have guessed .... Dumbledore never seemed to like me as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "much as the other teachers did ...... `I bet Dumbledore saw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "right through you,` said Harry, his teeth gritted. `Well, he certainly","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "kept an annoyingly close watch on me after Hagrid was expelled,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Riddle carelessly. `I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "again while I was still at school. But I wasn't going to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "waste those long years Id spent searching for it. I decided to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self in its pages, so","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that one day, with luck, I would be able to lead another","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in my footsteps, and finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work.` `Well, you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "haven't finished it,` said Harry triumphantly. `No one's died this time, not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "even the cat. In a few hours the Mandrake Draught will be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "ready and everyone who was Petrified will be all right again -`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Haven't I already told you,` said Riddle quietly, `that killing Mudbloods doesn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "matter to me anymore? For many months now, my new target has","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "been -you.` Harry stared at him. `Imagine how angry I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was when the next time my diary was opened, it was Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "who was writing to me, not you. She saw you with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diary, you see, and panicked. `What if you found out how to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "work it, and I repeated all her secrets to you? What if,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "even worse, I told you who'd been strangling roosters? So the foolish","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "little brat waited until your dormitory was deserted and stole it back.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "But I knew what I must do. It was clear to me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that you were on the trail of Slytherin's heir. From everything Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "had told me about you, I knew you would go to any","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "lengths to solve the mystery -- particularly if one of your","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "best friends was attacked. And Ginny had told me the whole school","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was buzzing because you could speak Parseltongue .... `So I made","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Ginny write her own farewell on the wall and come down here","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to wait. She struggled and cried and became very boring. But there","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "isn't much life left in her .... She put too much into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the diary, into me. Enough to let me leave its pages at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "last .... I have been waiting for you to appear since we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "arrived here. I knew you'd come. I have many questions for you,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry Potter.` `Like what?` Harry spat, fists still clenched. `Well,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Riddle, smiling pleasantly, `how is it that you a skinny boy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "with no extraordinary magical talent - managed to defeat the greatest wizard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?` There was an odd red","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "gleam in his hungry eyes now. `Why do you care how","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I escaped?` said Harry slowly. `Voldemort was after your time ...... ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`Voldemort,` said Riddle softly, `is my past, present, and future, Harry Potter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" ". . . .` He pulled Harry's wand from his pocket","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and began to trace it through the air, writing three shimmering words:","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE Then he waved the wand once, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the letters of his name rearranged themselves: I AM LORD VOLDEMORT","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `You see?` he whispered. `It was a name I was already","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "using at Hogwarts, to my most intimate friends only, of course. You","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "think I was going to use my filthy Muggle father's name forever?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "my mother's side? I, keep the name of a foul, common Muggle,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "who abandoned me even before I was born, just because he found","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "out his wife was a witch? No, Harry - I fashioned myself","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a new name, a name I knew wizards everywhere would one day","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "fear to speak, when I had become the greatest sorcerer in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "world!` Harry's brain seemed to have jammed. He stared numbly at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Riddle, at the orphaned boy who had grown up to murder Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "own parents, and so many others .... At last he forced himself","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to -,peak. `You're not,` he said, his quiet voice full of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hatred. `Not what?` snapped Riddle. `Not the greatest sorcerer in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the world,` said Harry, breathing fast. `Sorry to disappoint you and all","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that, but the greatest wizard in the world is Albus Dumbledore. Everyone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "says so. Even when you were strong, you didn't dare try and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "take over at Hogwarts. Dumbledore saw through you when you were at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "school and he still frightens you now, wherever you're hiding these days","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "-` The smile had gone from Riddle's face, to be replaced","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "by a very ugly look. `Dumbledore's been driven out of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "this castle by the mere memory of me!` he hissed. `He's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "not as gone as you might think!` Harry retorted. He was speaking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "at random, wanting to scare Riddle, wishing rather than believing it to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "be true Riddle opened his mouth, but froze. Music was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "coming from somewhere. Riddle whirled around to stare down the empty Chamber.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "The music was growing louder. It was eerie, spine-tingling, unearthly; it lifted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the hair on Harry's scalp and made his heart feel as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it was swelling to twice its normal size. Then, as the music","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "reached such a pitch that Harry felt it vibrating inside his own","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "ribs, flames erupted at the top of the nearest pillar. A","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "crimson bird the size of a swan had appeared, piping its weird","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "music to the vaulted ceiling. It had a glittering golden tail as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "long as a peacock's and gleaming golden talons, which were gripping a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "ragged bundle. A second later, the bird was flying straight at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry. It dropped the ragged thing it was carrying at his feet,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "then landed heavily on his shoulder. As it folded its great wings,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry looked up and saw it had a long, sharp golden beak","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and a beady black eye. The bird stopped singing. It sat","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "still and warm next to Harry's cheek, gazing steadily at Riddle. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`That's a phoenix said Riddle, staring shrewdly back at it. `Fawkes?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry breathed, and he felt the bird's golden claws squeeze his shoulder","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "gently `And that -` said Riddle, now eyeing the ragged thing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that Fawkes had dropped, `that's the old school Sorting Hat -` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "So it was. Patched, frayed, and dirty, the hat lay motionless at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry's feet. Riddle began to laugh again. He laughed so hard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that the dark chamber rang with it, as though ten Riddles were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "laughing at once `This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? Do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "you feel safe now?` Harry didn't answer. He might not see","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "what use Fawkes or the Sorting Hat were, but he was no","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "longer alone, and he waited for Riddle to stop laughing with his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "courage mounting. `To business, Harry,` said Riddle, still smiling broadly. `Twice","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "- in your past, in my future - we have met. And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "twice I failed to kill you. How did you survive? Tell me","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "everything. The longer you talk,` he added softly, `the longer you stay","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "alive.` Harry was thinking fast, weighing his chances. Riddle had the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "wand. He, Harry, had Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, neither of which","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "would be much good in a duel. It looked bad, all right","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "... but the longer Riddle stood there, the more life was dwindling","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "out of Ginny ... and in the meantime, Harry noticed suddenly, Riddle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "outline was becoming clearer, more solid .... If it had to be a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "fight between him and Riddle, better sooner than later. `No one","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me,` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "abruptly. `I don't know myself But I know why you couldn't kill","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "me. Because my mother died to save me. My common Muggle-born mother,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "he added, shaking with suppressed rage. `She stopped you killing me. And","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I've seen the real you, I saw you last year. You're a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got you. You're","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in hiding. You're ugly, you're foul -` Riddle's face contorted.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Then he forced it into an awful smile. `So. Your mother died","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to save you. Yes, that's a powerful countercharm. I can see now","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "... there is nothing special about you, after all. I wondered, you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "see. There are strange likenesses between us, after all. Even you must","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Parselmouths to come to Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself We even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "look something alike ... but after all, it was merely a lucky","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "chance that saved you from me. That's all I wanted to know.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " Harry stood, tense, waiting for Riddle to raise his wand. But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Riddle's twisted smile was widening again. `Now, Harry, I'm going to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "teach you a little lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Dumbledore can give him . . . .` He cast an","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "amused eye over Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, then walked away. Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "fear spreading up his numb legs, watched Ridthe stop between the high","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "pillars and look up into the stone face of Slytherin, high above","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "him in the half-darkness. Riddle opened his mouth wide and hissed -","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "but Harry understood what he was saying .... `Speak to me,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four. ` Harry wheeled around to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "look up at the statue, Fawkes swaying on his shoulder. Slytherin's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "gigantic stone face was moving. Horrorstruck, Harry saw his mouth opening, wider","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and wider, to make a huge black hole. And something was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "stirring inside the statue's mouth. Something was slithering up from its depths.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "3 1 Harry backed away until he hit the dark Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "wall, and as he shut his eyes tight he felt Fawkes' wing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sweep his cheek as he took flight. Harry wanted to shout, `Don't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "leave me!` but what chance did a phoenix have against the king","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "of serpents? Something huge hit the stone floor of the Chamber.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry felt it shudder - he knew what was happening, he could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sense it, could almost see the giant serpent uncoiling itself from Slytherin's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "mouth. Then he heard Riddle's hissing voice: `Kill him. ` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "The basilisk was moving toward Harry; he could hear its heavy body","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "slithering heavily across the dusty floor. Eyes still tightly shut, Harry began","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to run blindly sideways, his hands outstretched, feeling his way - Voldemort","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was laughing Harry tripped. He fell hard onto the stone and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "tasted blood the serpent was barely feet from him, he could hear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it coming There was a loud, explosive spitting sound right above","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "him, and then something heavy hit Harry so hard that he was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "smashed into the wall. Waiting for fangs to sink through his body","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "he heard more mad hissing, something thrashing wildly off the pillars ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "He couldn't help it - he opened his eyes wide enough to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "squint at what was going on. The enormous serpent, bright, poisonous","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "green, thick as an oak trunk, had raised itself high in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "air and its great blunt head was weaving drunkenly between the pillars.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "As Harry trembled, ready to close his eyes if it turned, he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "saw what had distracted the snake. Fawkes was soaring around its","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "head, and the basilisk was snapping furiously at him with fangs long","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and thin as sabers Fawkes dived. His long golden beak sank","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "out of sight and a sudden shower of dark blood spattered the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "floor. The snake's tail thrashed, narrowly missing Harry, and before Harry could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "shut his eyes, it turned - Harry looked straight into its face","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and saw that its eyes, both its great, bulbous yellow eyes, had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "been punctured by the phoenix; blood was streaming to the floor, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the snake was spitting in agony. `NO!` Harry heard Riddle screaming.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`LEAVE THE BIRD! LEAVE THE BIRD! THE BOY IS BEHIND YOU. YOU","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "CAN STILL SMELL HIM. KILL HIMI` The blinded serpent swayed, confused,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "still deadly. Fawkes was circling its head, piping his eerie song, jabbing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "here and there at its scaly nose as the blood poured from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "its ruined eyes. `Help me, help me,` Harry muttered wildly, `someone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "- anyone The snake's tail whipped across the floor again. Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "ducked. Something soft hit his face. The basilisk had swept the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Sorting Hat into Harry's arms. Harry seized it. It was all he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "had left, his only chance - he rammed it onto his head","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and threw himself flat onto the floor as the basilisk's tail swung","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "over him again. Help me - help me - Harry thought,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "his eyes screwed tight under the hat. Please help me There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was no answering voice. Instead, the hat contracted, as though an invisible","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hand was squeezing it very tightly. Something very hard and heavy","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "thudded onto the top of Harry's head, almost knocking him out. Stars","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "winking in front of his eyes, he grabbed the top of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hat to pull it off and felt something long and hard beneath","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it. A gleaming silver sword had appeared inside the hat, its","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "handle glittering with rubies the size of eggs. `KILL THE BOY!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "LEAVE THE BIRD! THE BOY IS BEHIND YOU. SNIFF -- SMELL HIM.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " Harry was on his feet, ready. The basilisk's head was falling,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "its body coiling around, hitting pillars as it twisted to face him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "He could see the vast, bloody eye sockets, see the mouth stretching","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "wide, wide enough to swallow him whole, lined with fangs long as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "his sword, thin, glittering, venomous - It lunged blindly -- Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "dodged and it hit the Chamber wall. It lunged again, and its","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "forked tongue lashed Harry's side. He raised the sword in both his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hands - The basilisk lunged again, and this time its aim","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was true -- Harry threw his whole weight behind the sword and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "drove it to the hilt into the roof of the serpent's mouth","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "- But as warm blood drenched Harry's arms, he felt a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "searing pain just above his elbow. One long, poisonous fang was sinking deeper","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and deeper into his arm and it splintered as the basilisk keeled","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "over sideways and fell, twitching, to the floor. Harry slid down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the wall. He gripped the fang that was spreading poison through his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "body and wrenched it out of his arm. But he knew it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was too late. White-hot pain was spreading slowly and steadily from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "wound. Even as he dropped the fang and watched his own blood","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "soaking his robes, his vision went foggy. The Chamber was dissolving in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a whirl of dull color. A patch of scarlet swam past,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and Harry heard a soft clatter of claws beside him. `Fawkes,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Harry thickly. `You were fantastic, Fawkes . . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "1,520 He felt the bird lay its beautiful head on the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "spot where the serpent's fang had pierced him. He could hear","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "echoing footsteps and then a dark shadow moved in front of him.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `You're dead, Harry Potter,` said Riddle's voice above him. `Dead. Even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Potter? He's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "crying.` Harry blinked. Fawke's head slid in and out of focus.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Thick, pearly tears were trickling down the glossy feathers. `I'm going","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to sit here and watch you die, Harry Potter. Take your time.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I'm in no hurry.` Harry felt drowsy. Everything around him seemed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to be spinning. `So ends the famous Harry Potter,` said Riddle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "distant voice. `Alone in the Chamber of Secrets, forsaken by his friends,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged. You'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "be back with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry... She bought you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "twelve years of borrowed time ... but Lord Voldemort got you in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the end, as you knew he must . . . .` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "If this is dying, thought Harry, it's not so bad. Even","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the pain was leaving him .... But was this dying? Instead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "of going black, the Chamber seemed to be coming back into focus.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry gave his head a little shake and there was Fawkes, still","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "resting his head on Harry's arm. A pearly patch of tears was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "shining all around the wound -- except that there was no wound","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Get away, bird,` said Riddle's voice suddenly. `Get away from him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "- I said, get away --` Harry raised his head. Riddle","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was pointing Harry's wand at Fawkes; there was a bang like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a gun, and Fawkes took flight again in a whirl of gold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and scarlet. `Phoenix tears. - .` said Riddle quietly, staring at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry's arm. `Of course ... healing powers ... I forgot. . .`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " He looked into Harry's face. `But it makes no difference. In","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "fact, I prefer it this way. Just you and me, Harry Potter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "... you and me.... He raised the wand Then, in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a rush of wings, Fawkes had soared back overhead and something fell","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "into Harry's lap -- the diary. For a split second, both","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry and Riddle, wand still raised, stared at it. Then, without thinking,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "without considering, as though he had meant to do it all along,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry seized the basilisk fang on the floor next to him and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "plunged it straight into the heart of the book. There was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a long, dreadful, piercing scream. Ink spurted out of the diary in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "torrents, streaming over Harry's hands, flooding the floor. Riddle was writhing and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "twisting, screaming and flailing and then He had gone. Harry's wand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "fell to the floor with a clatter and there was silence. Silence","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "except for the steady drip drip of ink still oozing from the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diary. The basilisk venom had burned a sizzling hole right through it.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " Shaking all over, Harry pulled himself up. His head was spinning","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "as though he'd just traveled miles by Floo powder. Slowly, he gathered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "together his wand and the Sorting Hat, and, with a huge tug,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "retrieved the glittering sword from the roof of the basilisk's mouth. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Then came a faint moan from the end of the Chamber. Ginny","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was stirring. As Harry hurried toward her, she sat up. Her bemused","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "eyes traveled from the huge form of the dead basilisk, over Harry,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in his blood-soaked robes, then to the diary in his hand. She","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "drew a great, shuddering gasp and tears began to pour down her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "face. `Harry -- oh, Harry -- I tried to tell you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "at b-breakfast, but I c-couldn't say it in front of Percy --","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it was me, Harry -- but I -- I s-swear I d-","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diddt mean to -- R-Riddle made me, he t-took me over --","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and - how did you kill that -- that thing? W-where's Riddle?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "The last thing I r- remember is him coming out of the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diary --` ` It's all right,` said Harry, holding up the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diary, and showing Ginny the fang hole, `Riddle's finished. Look! Him and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the basilisk. C'mon, Ginny, let's get out of here --` `I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "going to be expelled!` Ginny wept as Harry helped her awkwardly to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "her feet. `I've looked forward to coming to Hogwarts ever since B-Bill","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "came and n-now I'll have to leave and -- w-what'll Mum and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Dad say?` Fawkes was waiting for them, hovering in the Chamber","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "entrance. Harry urged Ginny forward; they stepped over the motionless coils of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the dead basilisk, through the echoing gloom, and back into the tunnel.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry heard the stone doors close behind them with a soft hiss.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " After a few minutes' progress up the dark tunnel, a distant","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sound of slowly shifting rock reached Harry's ears. `Ron!` Harry yelled,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "speeding up. `Ginny's okay! I've got her!` He heard Ron give","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a strangled cheer, and they turned the next bend to see his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "eager face staring through the sizable gap he had managed to make","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in the rock fall. `Ginny!` Ron thrust an arm through the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "gap in the rock to pull her through first. `You're alive! I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "don't believe it! What happened?` How - what -- where did that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "bird come from?` Fawkes had swooped through the gap after Ginny.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `He's Dumbledore's,` said Harry, squeezing through himself `How come you've","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "got a sword?` said Ron, gaping at the glittering weapon in Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hand. `I'll explain when we get out of here,` said Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "with a sideways glance at Ginny, who was crying harder than ever.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `But --` `Later,` Harry said shortly. He didn't think it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was a good idea to tell Ron yet who'd been opening the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Chamber, not in front of Ginny, anyway. `Where's Lockhart?` `Back there,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Ron, still looking puzzled but jerking his head up the tunnel toward","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the pipe. `He's in a bad way. Come and see.` Led","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "by Fawkes, whose wide scarlet wings emitted a soft golden glow in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the darkness, they walked all the way back to the mouth of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the pipe. Gilderoy Lockhart was sitting there, humming placidly to himself. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`His memory's gone,` said Ron. `The Memory Charm backfired. Hit him instead","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "of us. Hasn't got a clue who he is, or where he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "is, or who we are. I told him to come and wait","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "here. He's a danger to himself` Lockhart peered good-naturedly up at","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "them all. `Hello,` he said. `Odd sort of place, this, isn't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it? Do you live here?` `No,` said Ron, raising his eyebrows","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "at Harry. Harry bent down and looked up the long, dark","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "pipe. `Have you thought how we're going to get back up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "this?` he said to Ron. Ron shook his head, but","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Fawkes the phoenix had swooped past Harry and was now fluttering in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "front of him, his beady eyes bright in the dark. He was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "waving his long golden tail feathers. Harry looked uncertainly at him. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`He looks like he wants you to grab hold. . .` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Ron, looking perplexed. `But you're much too heavy for a bird to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "pull up there -` `Fawkes,` said Harry, `isn't an ordinary bird.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "He turned quickly to the others. `We've got to hold on to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "each other. Ginny, grab Ron's hand. Professor Lockhart --` `He means","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "you,` said Ron sharply to Lockhart. `You hold Ginny's other hand","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "--` Harry tucked the sword and the Sorting Hat into his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "belt, Ron took hold of the back of Harry's robes, and Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "reached out and took hold of Fawkes's strangely hot tail feathers. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "An extraordinary lightness seemed to spread through his whole body and the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "next second, in a rush of wings, they were flying upward through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the pipe. Harry could hear Lockhart dangling below him, saying, `Amazing! Amazing!","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "This is just like magic!` The chill air was whipping through Harry's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hair, and before he'd stopped enjoying the ride, it was over --","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "all four of them were hitting the wet floor of Moaning Myrtle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "bathroom, and as Lockhart straightened his hat, the sink that hid the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "pipe was sliding back into place. Myrtle goggled at them. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`You're alive,` she said blankly to Harry. `There's no need to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sound so disappointed,` he said grimly, wiping flecks of blood and slime","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "off his glasses. `Oh, well ... Id just been thinking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "... if you had died, you'd have been welcome to share my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "toilet,` said Myrtle, blushing silver. `Urgh!` said Ron as they left","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the bathroom for the dark, deserted corridor outside. `Harry! I think Myrtle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "grown fond of you! You've got competition, Ginny!` But tears were","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "still flooding silently down Ginny's face. `Where now?` said Ron, with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "an anxious look at Ginny. Harry pointed. Fawkes was leading the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "way, glowing gold along the corridor. They strode after him, and moments","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "later, found themselves outside Professor McGonagall's office. Harry knocked and pushed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the door open. G F-I A P T E IR ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "k' I G 14 T V V N DO Y'$","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "REWARD or a moment there was silence as Harry, Ron, Ginny,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and Lockhart stood in the doorway, covered in muck and slime and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "(in Harry's case) blood. Then there was a scream. `Ginny!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "It was Mrs. Weasley, who had been sitting crying in front of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the fire. She leapt to her feet, closely followed by Mr. Weasley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and both of them flung themselves on their daughter. Harry, however,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was looking past them. Professor Dumbledore was standing by the mantelpiece, beaming,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "next to Professor McGonagall, who was taking great, steadying gasps, clutching her","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "chest. Fawkes went whooshing past Harry's ear and settled on Dumbledore's shoulder,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "just as Harry found himself and Ron being swept into Mrs. Weasleys","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "tight embrace. `You saved her! You saved her! How did you","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "do it?` `I think we'd all like to know that,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Professor McGonagall weakly. Mrs. Weasley let go of Harry, who hesitated","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "for a moment, then walked over to the desk and laid upon","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it the Sorting Hat, the rubyencrusted sword, and what remained of Riddle's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diary. Then he started telling them everything. For nearly a quarter","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "of an hour he spoke into the rapt silence: He told them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "about hearing the disembodied voice, how Hermione had finally realized that he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "was hearing a basilisk in the pipes; how he and Ron had","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "followed the spiders into the forest, that Aragog had told them where","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the last victim of the basilisk had died; how he had guessed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "that Moaning Myrtle had been the victim, and that the entrance to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the Chamber of Secrets might be in her bathroom .... `Very","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "well,` Professor McGonagall prompted him as he paused, `so you found out","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "where the entrance was -- breaking a hundred school rules into pieces","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "along the way, I might add - but how on earth did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "you all get out of there alive, Potter?` So Harry, his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "voice now growing hoarse from all this talking, told them about Fawkes's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "timely arrival and about the Sorting Hat giving him the sword. But","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "then he faltered. He had so far avoided mentioning Riddle's diary --","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "or Ginny. She was standing with her head against Mrs. Weasley's shoulder,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and tears were still coursing silently down her cheeks. What if they","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "expelled her? Harry thought in panic. Riddle's diary didn't work anymore ....","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "How could they prove it had been he who'd made her do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it all? Instinctively, Harry looked at Dumbledore, who smiled faintly, the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "firelight glancing off his half-moon spectacles. `\What interests me most,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Dumbledore gently, `is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny, when my","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Albania.` Relief -- warm, sweeping, glorious relief -- swept over","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry. `W- what's that?` said Mr. Weasley in a stunned voice. `YouKnow-Who?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "En-enchant Ginny? But Ginny's not ... Ginny hasn't been ... has she?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `It was this diary,` said Harry quickly, picking it up and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "showing it to Dumbledore. `Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" ". . .` Dumbledore took the diary from Harry and peered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "keenly down his long, crooked nose at its burnt and soggy pages.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Brilliant,` he said softly. `Of course, he was probably the most","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen.` He turned around to the Weasleys,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "who were looking utterly bewildered. `Very few people know that Lord","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. I taught him myself, fifty years ago,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "at Hogwarts. He disappeared after leaving the school ... traveled far and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "wide ... sank so deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations, that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognizable. Hardly anyone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy who was once Head","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Boy here.` `But, Ginny,` said Mrs. Weasley. `What's our Ginny got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to do with - with -- him?` `His d-diaryl` Ginny sobbed.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`I've b-been writing in it, and he's been w-writing back all year","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "--` `tinny!` said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. `Haven't I taught you anything.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain? Why","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "didn't you show the diary to me, or your mother? A suspicious","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "object like that, it was clearly full of Dark Magic =' ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `I d-didn't know,` sobbed Ginny. `I found it inside one of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the books Mum got me. I th-thought someone had just left it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in there and forgotten about it --` `Miss Weasley should go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "up to the hospital wing right away,` Dumbledore interrupted in a firm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "voice. `This has been a terrible ordeal for her. There will be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she have been hoodwinked by","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Lord Voldemort.` He strode over to the door and opened it. `Bed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "find that cheers me up,` he added, twinkling kindly down at her.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`You will find that Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just giving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "out Mandrake juice -- I daresay the basilisk's victims will be waking","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "up any moment.` `So Hermione's okay!` said Ron brightly. `There","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "has been no lasting harm done, Ginny,` said Dumbledore. Mrs. Weasley","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "led Ginny out, and Mr. Weasley followed, still looking deeply shaken. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`You know, Minerva,` Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully to Professor McGonagall, `I think","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "all this merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and alert the kitchens?` `Right,` said Professor McGonagall crisply, also moving","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to the door. `I'll leave you to deal with Potter and Weasley,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "shall I?` `Certainly,` said Dumbledore. She left, and Harry and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Ron gazed uncertainly at Dumbledore. What exactly had Professor McGonagall meant, deal","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "with them? Surely - surely - they weren't about to be punished?","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `I seem to remember telling you both that I would have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to expel you if you broke any more school rules, said Dumbledore.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " Ron opened his mouth in horror. `Which goes to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words,` Dumbledore","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "went on, smiling. `You will both receive Special Awards for Services to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the School and -- let me see - yes, I think two","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hundred points apiece for Gryffindor.` Ron went as briglitly pink as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Lockhart's valentine flowers and closed his mouth again. `But one of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "us seems to be keeping mightily quiet about his part in this","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "dangerous adventure,` Dumbledore added. `Why so modest, Gilderoy?` Harry gave a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "start. He had completely forgotten about Lockhart. He turned and saw that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Lockhart was standing in a corner of the room, still wearing his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "vague smile. When Dumbledore addressed him, Lockhart looked over his shoulder to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "see who he was talking to. `Professor Dumbledore,` Ron said quickly,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`there was an accident down in the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "--` `Am I a professor?` said Lockhart in mild surprise. `Goodness.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I expect I was hopeless, was I?` `He tried to do","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a Memory Charm and the wand backfired,` Ron explained quietly to Dumbledore.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Dear me,` said Dumbledore, shaking his head, his long silver mustache","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "quivering. `Impaled upon your own sword, Gilderoy!` `Sword?` said Lockhart dimly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`Haven't got a sword. That boy has, though.` He pointed at Harry.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`He'll lend you one.` `Would you mind taking Professor Lockhart up","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to the infirmary, too?` Dumbledore said to Ron. `Id like a few","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "more words with Harry ..... Lockhart ambled out. Ron cast a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "curious look back at Dumbledore and Harry as he closed the door.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " Dumbledore crossed to one of the chairs by the fire. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`Sit down, Harry,` he said, and Harry sat, feeling unaccountably nervous. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`First of all, Harry, I want to thank you,` said Dumbledore, eyes","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "twinkling again. `You must have shown me real loyalty down in the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you.` He","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "stroked the phoenix, which had fluttered down onto his knee. Harry grinned","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "awkwardly as Dumbledore watched him. `And so you met Tom Riddle,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Dumbledore thoughtfully. `I imagine he was most interested in you .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" ". . . ` Suddenly, something that was nagging at Harry","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "came tumbling out of his mouth. `Professor Dumbledore ... Riddle said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I'm like him. Strange likenesses, he said ...... `Did he, now?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Dumbledore, looking thoughtfully at Harry from under his thick silver eyebrows.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`And what do you think, Harry?` `I don't think I'm like","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "him!` said Harry, more loudly than he'd intended. `I mean, I'm --","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I'm in Gryffindor, I'm . . .` But he fell silent,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a lurking doubt resurfacing in his mind. `Professor,` he started again","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "after a moment. `The Sorting Hat told me Id -- Id have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "done well in Slytherin. Everyone thought I was Slytherin's heir for a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "while ... because I can speak Parseltongue .... `You can speak","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Parseltongue, Harry,` said Dumbledore calmly, `because Lord Voldemort -- who is the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin -- can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I'm sure .... `Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry said, thunderstruck. `It certainly seems so.` `So I should","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "be in Slytherin,` Harry said, looking desperately into Dumbledore's face. `The Sorting","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Hat could see Slytherin's power in me, and it --` `Put","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "you in Gryffindor,` said Dumbledore calmly. `Listen to me, Harry. You happen","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand- picked students.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "His own very rare gift, Parseltongue - resourcefulness - determination -- a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "certain disregard for rules,` he added, his mustache quivering again. `Yet the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor. You know why that was. Think.`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `It only put me in Gryffindor,` said Harry in a defeated","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "voice, `because I asked not to go in Slytherin . . .","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" ".` `Exactly, `said Dumbledore, beaming once more. `Which makes you very different","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "truly are, far more than our abilities.` Harry sat motionless in his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "chair, stunned. `If you want proof, Harry, that you belong in Gryffindor,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I suggest you look more closely at this.` Dumbledore reached across","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to Professor McGonagall's desk, picked up the blood-stained silver sword, and handed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it to Harry. Dully, Harry turned it over, the rubies blazing in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the firelight. And then he saw the name engraved just below the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hilt. Godric Gryffindor `Only a true Gryffindor could have","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "pulled that out of the hat, Harry,` said Dumbledore simply. For","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a minute, neither of them spoke. Then Dumbledore pulled open one of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the drawers in Professor McGonagall's desk and took out a quill and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a bottle of ink. What you need, Harry, is some food","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and sleep. I suggest you go down to the feast, while I","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "write to Azkaban -- we need our gamekeeper back. And I must","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "draft an advertisement for the Daily Prophet, too,` he added thoughtfully. `We'll","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "be needing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... Dear me,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "we do seem to run through them, don't we?` Harry got","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "up and crossed to the door. He had just reached for the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "handle, however, when the door burst open so violently that it bounced","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "back off the wall. Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Good evening, Lucius,` said Dumbledore pleasantly. Mr. Malfoy almost knocked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry over as he swept into the room. Dobby went scurrying in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "after him, crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "abject terror on his face. The elf was carrying a stained","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "rag with which he was attempting to finish cleaning Mr. Malfoys shoes.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Apparently Mr. Malfoy had set out in a great hurry, for not","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "only were his shoes half-polished, but his usually sleek hair was disheveled.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Ignoring the elf bobbing apologetically around his ankles, he fixed his cold","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "eyes upon Dumbledore. `So!` he said `You've come back. The governors","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Well, you see, Lucius,` said Dumbledore, smiling serenely, `the other eleven","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They'd heard that Arthur Weasleys","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "daughter had been killed and wanted me back here at once. They","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "seemed to think I was the best man for the job after","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "all. Very strange tales they told me, too .... Several of them","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place.` Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "of fury. `So -- have you stopped the attacks yet?` he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sneered. `Have you caught the culprit?` `We have,` said Dumbledore, with","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a smile. `Well?`said Mr. Malfoy sharply. `Who is it?` `The","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "same person as last time, Lucius,` said Dumbledore. `But this time, Lord","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "He held up the small black book with the large hole through","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the center, watching Mr. Malfoy closely. Harry, however, was watching Dobby. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "The elf was doing something very odd. His great eyes fixed meaningfully","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "on Harry, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr. Malfoy,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and then hitting himself hard on the head with his fist. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`I see. . . ` said Mr. Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`A clever plan,` said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Malfoy straight in the eye. `Because if Harry here` --Mr. Malfoy shot","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry a swift, sharp look -- `and his friend Ron hadn't discovered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "this book, why -- Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "of her own free will ...... Mr. Malfoy said nothing. His","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "face was suddenly masklike. `And imagine,` Dumbledore went on, `what might","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "have happened then .... The Weasleys are one of our most prominent","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "pure-blood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and - killing Muggle-borns","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" ".... Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it. `Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise ...... ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Mr. Malfoy forced himself to speak. `Very fortunate,` he said stiffly.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then punching himself in the head. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "And Harry suddenly understood. He nodded at Dobby, and Dobby backed into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment. `Don't you want","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to know how Ginny got hold of that diary, Mr. Malfoy?` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry. Lucius Malfoy rounded on him. `How should I know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "how the stupid little girl got hold of it?` he said. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`Because you gave it to her,` said Harry. `In Flourish and Blotts.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "You picked up her old Transfiguration book and slipped the diary inside","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it, didn't you?` He saw Mr. Malfoy's white hands clench and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "unclench. `Prove it,` he hissed. `Oh, no one will be","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "able to do that,` said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry. `Not now that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any more of Lord","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Voldemort's old school things. If any more of them find their way","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "they are traced back to you ...... Lucius Malfoy stood for","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a moment, and Harry distinctly saw his right hand twitch as though","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "he was longing to reach for his wand. Instead, he turned to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "his house-elf `We're going, Dobby!` He wrenched open the door","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "right through it. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "way along the corridor. Harry stood for a moment, thinking hard. Then","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it came to him - `Professor Dumbledore,` he said hurriedly. `Can","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I give that diary back to Mr. Malfoy, please?` `Certainly, Harry,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Dumbledore calmly. `But hurry. The feast, remember ...... Harry grabbed","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "the diary and dashed out of the office. He could hear Dobby's","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "squeals of pain receding around the corner. Quickly, wondering if this plan","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "could possibly work, Harry took off one of his shoes, pulled off","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "his slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it. Then he ran","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "down the dark corridor. He caught up with them at the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "top of the stairs. `Mr. Malfoy,` he gasped, skidding to a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "halt, `I've got something for you --` And he forced the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "smelly sock into Lucius Malfoy's hand. `)What the --?` Mr.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "furiously from the ruined book to Harry. You'll meet the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "he said softly. `They were meddlesome fools, too. He turned to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "go. `Come, Dobby. I said, come.` But Dobby didn't move.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "He was holding up Harry's disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "as though it were a priceless treasure. `Master has given a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sock,` said the elf in wonderment. `Master gave it to Dobby.` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`What's that?` spat Mr. Malfoy. `What did you say?` `Got a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sock,` said Dobby in disbelief. `Master threw it, and Dobby caught it,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and Dobby -- Dobby is free. ` Lucius Malfoy stood frozen,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "staring at the elf Then he lunged at Harry. `You've lost","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "me my servant, boy!` But Dobby shouted, `You shall not harm","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry Potter!` There was a loud bang, and Mr. Malfoy was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "thrown backward. He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in a crumpled heap on the landing below. He got up, his","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "face livid, and pulled out his wand, but Dobby raised a long,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "threatening finger. `You shall go now,` he said fiercely, pointing down","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "at Mr. Malfoy. `You shall not touch Harry Potter. You shall go","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "now.` Lucius Malfoy had no choice. With a last, incensed stare","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "at the pair of them, he swung his cloak around him and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "hurried out of sight. `Harry Potter freed Dobby!` said the elf","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "shrilly, gazing up at Harry, moonlight from the nearest window reflected in","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "his orb-like eyes. `Harry Potter set Dobby free!` `Least I could","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "do, Dobby,` said Harry, grinning. `Just promise never to try and save","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "my life again.` The elf's ugly brown face split suddenly into","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a wide, toothy smile. `I've just got one question, Dobby,` said","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Harry as Dobby pulled on Harry's sock with shaking hands. `You told","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "me all this had nothing to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, remember? Well --`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `It was a clue, sir,` said Dobby, his eyes widening, as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "though this was obvious. `Was giving you a clue. The Dark Lord,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "before he changed his name, could be freely named, you see?` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`Right,` said Harry weakly. `Well, Id better go. There's a feast, and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "my friend Hermione should be awake by now ..... Dobby threw","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "his arms around Harry's middle and hugged him. `Harry Potter is","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "greater by far than Dobby knew!` he sobbed. `Farewell, Harry Potter!` ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "And with a final loud crack, Dobby disappeared. Harry had been","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to several Hogwarts feasts, but never one quite like this. Everybody was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in their pajamas, and the celebration lasted all night. Harry didn't know","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "whether the best bit was Hermione running toward him, screaming `You solved","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "it! You solved it!` or Justin hurrying over from the Hufflepuff table","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to wring. his hand and apologize endlessly for suspecting him, or Hagrid","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "turning up at half past three, cuffing Harry and Ron so hard","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "on the shoulders that they were knocked into their plates of trifle,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "or his and Ron's four hundred points for Gryffindor securing the House","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Cup for the second year running, or Professor McGonagall standing up to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "tell them all that the exams had been canceled as a school","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "treat (`Oh, no!` said Hermione), or Dumbledore announcing that, unfortunately, Professor Lockhart","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "would be unable to return next year, owing to the fact that","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "he needed to go away and get his memory back. Quite a","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "few of the teachers joined in the cheering that greeted this news.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " `Shame,` said Ron, helping himself to a jam doughnut. `He was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "starting to grow on me.` The rest of the final term","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "passed in a haze of blazing sunshine. Hogwarts was back to normal","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "with only a few, small differences - Defense Against the Dark Arts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "classes were canceled (`but we've had plenty of practice at that anyway,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Ron told a disgruntled Hermione) and Lucius Malfoy had been sacked as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a school governor. Draco was no longer strutting around the school as","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "though he owned the place. On the contrary, he looked resentful and","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "sulky. On the other hand, Ginny Weasley was perfectly happy again. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Too soon, it was time for the journey home on the Hogwarts","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny got a compartment to","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "themselves. They made the most of the last few hours in which","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "they were allowed to do magic before the holidays. They played Exploding","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Snap, set off the very last of Fred and George's Filibuster fireworks,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and practiced disarming each other by magic. Harry was getting very good","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "at it. They were almost at King's Cross when Harry remembered","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "something. `Ginny - what did you see Percy doing, that he","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "didn't want you to tell anyone?` `Oh, that,` said Ginny,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "giggling. `Well - Percy's got a girlfriend.` Fred dropped a stack of","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "books on George's head. `What?` `It's that Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "Clearwater,` said Ginny. `That's who he was writing to all last summer.","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day. He was","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "so upset when she was -- you know - attacked. You won't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "tease him, will you?` she added anxiously. `Wouldn't dream of it,`","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "said Fred, who was looking like his birthday had come early. ","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "`Definitely not,` said George, sniggering. The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "stopped. Harry pulled out his quill and a bit of parchment","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and turned to Ron and Hermione. `This is called a telephone","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "number,` he told Ron, scribbling it twice, tearing the parchment in two,","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "and handing it to them. `I told your dad how to use","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "a telephone last summer - he'll know. Call me at the Dursleys',","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "okay? I can't stand another two months with only Dudley to talk","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "to ...... `Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "they?` said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "crowd thronging toward the enchanted barrier. `When they hear what you did","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "this year?` `Proud?` said Harry. `Are you crazy? All those times","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" "I could've died, and I didn't manage it? They'll be furious ......","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world. '","Book 2: Chamber of Secrets","chap-19" " OWL POST Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "do his homework but was forced to do it in secret, in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " It was nearly midnight, and he was lying on his stomach","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in bed, the blankets drawn right over his head like a tent,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a flashlight in one hand and a large leather-bound book (A History","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot) propped open against the pillow. Harry moved","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the tip of his eagle-feather quill down the page, frowning as he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "looked for something that would help him write his essay, `Witch Burning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless discuss.` The quill paused","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "at the top of a likely-looking paragraph. Harry Pushed his round glasses","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "up the bridge of his nose, moved his flashlight closer to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "book, and read: Non-magic people (more commonly known as Muggles) were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "particularly afraid of magic in medieval times, but not very good at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "recognizing it. On the rare occasion that they did catch a real","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "witch or wizard, burning had no effect whatsoever. The witch or wizard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "would perform a basic Flame Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "with pain while enjoying a gentle, tickling sensation. Indeed, Wendelin the Weird","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "enjoyed being burned so much that she allowed herself to be caught","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "no less than fortyseven times in various disguises. Harry put his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "quill between his teeth and reached underneath his pillow for his ink","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "bottle and a roll of parchment. Slowly and very carefully he unscrewed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the ink bottle, dipped his quill into it, and began to write,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "pausing every now and then to listen, because if any of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Dursleys heard the scratching of his quill on their way to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "bathroom, he'd probably find himself locked in the cupboard under the stairs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "for the rest of the summer. The Dursley family of number","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "four, Privet Drive, was the reason that Harry never enjoyed his summer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "holidays. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and their son, Dudley, were Harry's only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "living relatives. They were Muggles, and they had a very medieval attitude","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "toward magic. Harry's dead parents, who had been a witch and wizard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "themselves, were never mentioned under the Dursleys' roof For years, Aunt Petunia","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "and Uncle Vernon had hoped that if they kept Harry as downtrodden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "as possible, they would be able to squash the magic out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "him. To their fury, they had been unsuccessful. These days they lived","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in terror of anyone finding out that Harry had spent most of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the last two years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "most they could do, however, was to lock away Harry's spellbooks, wand,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "cauldron, and broomstick at the start of the summer break, and forbid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "him to talk to the neighbors. This separation from his spellbooks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "had been a real problem for Harry, because his teachers at Hogwarts","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "had given him a lot of holiday work. One of the essays,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a particularly nasty one about shrinking potions, was for Harry's least favorite","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "teacher, Professor Snape, who would be delighted to have an excuse to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "give Harry detention for a month. Harry had therefore seized his chance","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in the first week of the holidays. While Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "and Dudley had gone out into the front garden to admire Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Vernon's new company car (in very loud voices, so that the rest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of the street would notice it too), Harry had crept downstairs, picked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the lock on the cupboard under the stairs, grabbed some of his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "books, and hidden them in his bedroom. As long as he didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "leave spots of ink on the sheets, the Dursleys need never know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "that he was studying magic by night. Harry was particularly keen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to avoid trouble with his aunt and uncle at the moment, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "they were already in an especially bad mood with him, all because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "he'd received a telephone call from a fellow wizard one week into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the school vacation. Ron Weasley, who was one of Harry's best","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "friends at Hogwarts, came from a whole family of wizards. This meant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "that he knew a lot of things Harry didn't, but had never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "used a telephone before. Most unluckily, it had been Uncle Vernon who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "had answered the call. `Vernon Dursley speaking.` Harry, who happened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to be in the room at the time, froze as he heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Ron's voice answer. `HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "WANT -- TO -- TALK -- TO -- HARRY -- POTTER!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Ron was yelling so loudly that Uncle Vernon jumped and held the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "receiver a foot away from his ear, staring at it with an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "expression of mingled fury and alarm. `WHO IS THIS?` he roared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in the direction of the mouthpiece. `WHO ARE YOU?` `RON --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "WEASLEY!` Ron bellowed back, as though he and Uncle Vernon were speaking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "from opposite ends of a football field. `I'M -- A -- FRIEND","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "-- OF -- HARRY'S -- FROM -- SCHOOL --` Uncle Vernon's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "small eyes swiveled around to Harry, who was rooted to the spot.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " `THERE IS NO HARRY POTTER HERE!` he roared, now holding the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "receiver at arm's length, as though frightened it might explode. `I DON'T","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOURE TALKING ABOUT! NEVER CONTACT ME AGAIN! DON'T YOU","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "COME NEAR MY FAMILY!` And he threw the receiver back onto","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the telephone as if dropping a poisonous spider. The fight that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "had followed had been one of the worst ever. `HOW DARE","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "YOU GIVE THIS NUMBER TO PEOPLE LIKE -- PEOPLE LIKE YOU!` Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Vernon had roared, spraying Harry with spit. Ron obviously realized that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "he'd gotten Harry into trouble, because he hadn't called again. Harry's other","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "best friend from Hogwarts, Hermione Granger, hadn't been in touch either. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "suspected that Ron had warned Hermione not to call, which was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "pity, because Hermione, the cleverest witch in Harry's year, had Muggle parents,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "knew perfectly well how to use a telephone, and would probably have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "had enough sense not to say that she went to Hogwarts. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "So Harry had had no word from any of his wizarding friends","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "for five long weeks, and this summer was turning out to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "almost as bad as the last one. There was just one very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "small improvement -- after swearing that he wouldn't use her to send","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "letters to any of his friends, Harry had been allowed to let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "his owl, Hedwig, out at night. Uncle Vernon had given in because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of the racket Hedwig made if she was locked in her cage","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "all the time. Harry finished writing about Wendelin the Weird and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "paused to listen again. The silence in the dark house was broken","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "only by the distant, grunting snores of his enormous cousin, Dudley. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "must be very late, Harry thought. His eyes were itching with tiredness.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Perhaps he'd finish this essay tomorrow night.... He replaced the top","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of the ink bottle; pulled an old pillowcase from under his bed;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "put the flashlight, A History of Magic, his essay, quill, and ink","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "inside it; got out of bed; and hid the lot under a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "loose floorboard under his bed. Then he stood up, stretched, and checked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the time on the luminous alarm clock on his bedside table. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "It was one o'clock in the morning. Harry's stomach gave a funny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "jolt. He had been thirteen years old, without realizing it, for a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "whole hour. Yet another unusual thing about Harry was how little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "he looked forward to his birthdays. He had never received a birthday","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "card in his life. The Dursleys had completely ignored his last two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "birthdays, and he had no reason to suppose they would remember this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "one. Harry walked across the dark room, past Hedwig's large, empty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "cage, to the open window. He leaned on the sill, the cool","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "night air pleasant on his face after a long time under the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "blankets. Hedwig had been absent for two nights now. Harry wasn't worried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "about her: she'd been gone this long before. But he hoped she'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "be back soon -- she was the only living creature in this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "house who didn't flinch at the sight of him. Harry, though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "still rather small and skinny for his age, had grown a few","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "inches over the last year. His jet-black hair, however, was just as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "it always had been -- stubbornly untidy, whatever he did to it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "The eyes behind his glasses were bright green, and on his forehead,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "clearly visible through his hair, was a thin scar, shaped like a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "bolt of lightning. Of all the unusual things about Harry, this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "scar was the most extraordinary of all. It was not, as the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Dursleys had pretended for ten years, a souvenir of the car crash","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "that had killed Harry's parents, because Lily and James Potter had not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "died in a car crash. They had been murdered, murdered by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "most feared Dark wizard for a hundred years, Lord Voldemort. Harry had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "escaped from the same attack with nothing more than a scar on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "his forehead, where Voldemort's curse, instead of killing him, had rebounded upon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "its originator. Barely alive, Voldemort had fled.... But Harry had come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "face-to-face with him at Hogwarts. Remembering their last meeting as he stood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "at the dark window, Harry had to admit he was lucky even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to have reached his thirteenth birthday. He scanned the starry sky","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "for a sign of Hedwig, perhaps soaring back to him with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a dead mouse dangling from her beak, expecting praise. Gazing absently over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the rooftops, it was a few seconds before Harry realized what he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "was seeing. Silhouetted against the golden moon, and growing larger every","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "moment, was a large, strangely lopsided creature, and it was flapping in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Harry's direction. He stood quite still, watching it sink lower and lower.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "For a split second he hesitated, his hand on the window latch,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "wondering whether to slam it shut. But then the bizarre creature soared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "over one of the street lamps of Privet Drive, and Harry, realizing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "what it was, leapt aside. Through the window soared three owls,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "two of them holding up the third, which appeared to be unconscious.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "They landed with a soft flump on Harry's bed, and the middle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "owl, which was large and gray, keeled right over and lay motionless.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "There was a large package tied to its legs. Harry recognized","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the unconscious owl at once -- his name was Errol, and he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "belonged to the Weasley family. Harry dashed to the bed, untied the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "cords around Errol's legs, took off the parcel, and then carried Errol","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to Hedwig's cage. Errol opened one bleary eye, gave a feeble hoot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of thanks, and began to gulp some water. Harry turned back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to the remaining owls. One of them, the large snowy female, was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "his own Hedwig. She, too, was carrying a parcel and looked extremely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "pleased with herself. She gave Harry an affectionate nip with her beak","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "as he removed her burden, then flew across the room to join","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Errol. Harry didn't recognize the third owl, a handsome tawny one,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "but he knew at once where it had come from, because in addition","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to a third package, it was carrying a letter bearing the Hogwarts","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "crest. When Harry relieved this owl of its burden, it ruffled its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "feathers importantly, stretched its wings, and took off through the window into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the night. Harry sat down on his bed and grabbed Errol's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "package, ripped off the brown paper, and discovered a present wrapped in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "gold, and his first ever birthday card. Fingers trembling slightly, he opened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the envelope. Two pieces of paper fell out -- a letter and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a newspaper clipping. The clipping had clearly come out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "wizarding newspaper, the Daily Prophet, because the people in the black-and-white picture","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "were moving. Harry picked up the clipping, smoothed it out, and read:","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE Arthur Weasley, Head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, `We will be spending the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank.` The Weasley","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "children currently attend. Harry scanned the moving photograph, and a grin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "spread across his face as he saw all nine of the Weasleys","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "waving furiously at him, standing in front of a large pyramid. Plump","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "little Mrs. Weasley; tail, balding Mr. Weasley; six sons; and one daughter,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "all (though the black-and-white picture didn't show it) with flaming-red hair. Right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in the middle of the picture was Ron, tall and gangling, with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "his pet rat, Scabbers, on his shoulder and his arm around his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "little sister, Ginny. Harry couldn't think of anyone who deserved to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "win a large pile of gold more than the Weasleys, who were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "very nice and extremely poor. He picked up Ron's letter and unfolded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "it. Dear Harry, Happy birthday! Look, I' really sorry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "about that telephone call. I hope the Muggles didn't give you a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "hard time. I asked Dad, and he reckons I shouldn't have shouted.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " It's amazing here in Egypt. Bill's taken us around all the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "and grown extra heads and stuff. I couldn't believe it when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons! Most of it's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "gone on this trip, but they're going to buy me a new","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "wand for next year. Harry remembered only too well the occasion","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "when Ron's old wand had snapped. It had happened when the car","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the two of them had been flying to Hogwarts had crashed into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a tree on the school grounds. We'll be back about a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "week before term starts and we'll be going up to London to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "get my wand and our new books. Any chance of meeting you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "there? Don't let the Muggles get you down! Try and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "come to London, Ron P.S. Percy's Head Boy. He got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the letter last week. Harry glanced back at the photograph. Percy,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "who was in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, was looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "particularly smug. He had pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "perched jauntily on top of his neat hair, his horn-rimmed glasses flashing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in the Egyptian sun. Harry now turned to his present and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "unwrapped it. Inside was what looked like a miniature glass spinning top.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "There was another note from Ron beneath it. Harry -- this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "light up and spin. Bill says it's rubbish sold for wizard tourists","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "and isn't reliable, because it kept lighting up at dinner last night.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "But he didn't realize Fred and George had put beetles in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "soup. Bye -- Ron Harry put the Pocket Sneakoscope","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "on his bedside table, where it stood quite still, balanced on its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "point, reflecting the luminous hands of his clock. He looked at it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "happily for a few seconds, then picked up the parcel Hedwig had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "brought. Inside this, too, there was a wrapped present, a card,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "and a letter, this time from Hermione. Dear Harry, Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "wrote to me and told me about his phone call to your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Uncle Vernon. I do hope you're all right. I'm on holiday","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "in France at the moment and I didn't know how I was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "going to send this to you -- what if they'd opened it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "at customs? -- but then Hedwig turned up! I think she wanted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to make sure you got something for your birthday for a change.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "I bought your present by owl-order; there was an advertisement in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Daily Prophet (I've been getting it delivered; it's so good to keep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "up with what's going on in the wizarding world), Did you see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "that picture of Ron and his family a week ago? I bet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "he's learning loads. I'm really jealous -- the ancient Egyptian wizards were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "fascinating. There's some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. I've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "things I've found out, I hope it's not too long -- it's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for. Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "says he's going to be in London in the last week of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the holidays. Can you make it? Will your aunt and uncle let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "you come? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "on the Hogwarts Express on September first! Love from Hermione ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. I'll bet Percy's really pleased Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "doesn't seem too happy about it Harry laughed as he put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Herrmone's letter aside and picked up her present. It was very heavy.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Knowing Hermione, he was sure it would be a large book full","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of very difficult spells -- but it wasn't. His heart gave a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "huge bound as he ripped back the paper and saw a sleek","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "black leather case, with silver words stamped across it, reading Broomstick Servicing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Kit. `Wow, Hermione!` Harry whispered, unzipping the case to look inside.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " There was a large jar of Fleetwood's High-Finish Handle Polish, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "pair of gleaming silver Tall-Twig Clippers, a tiny brass compass to clip","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "on your broom for long journeys, and a Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broomcare.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " Apart from his friends, the thing that Harry missed most about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Hogwarts was Quidditch, the most popular sport in the magical world --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "highly dangerous, very exciting, and played on broomsticks. Harry happened to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a very good Quidditch player; he had been the youngest person in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a century to be picked for one of the Hogwarts House teams.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "One of Harry's most prized possessions was his Nimbus Two Thousand racing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "broom. Harry put the leather case aside and picked up his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "last parcel. He recognized the untidy scrawl on the brown paper at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "once: this was from Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper. He tore off the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "top layer of paper and glimpsed something green and leathery, but before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "he could unwrap it properly, the parcel gave a strange quiver, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "whatever was inside it snapped loudly -- as though it had jaws.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " Harry froze. He knew that Hagrid would never send him anything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "dangerous on purpose, but then, Hagrid didn't have a normal person's view","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "of what was dangerous. Hagrid had been known to befriend giant spiders,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "buy vicious, three-headed dogs from men in pubs, and sneak illegal dragon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "eggs into his cabin. Harry poked the parcel nervously. It snapped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "loudly again. Harry reached for the lamp on his bedside table, gripped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "it firmly in one hand, and raised it over his head, ready","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to strike. Then he seized the rest of the wrapping paper in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "his other hand and pulled. And out fell -- a book.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Harry just had time to register its handsome green cover, emblazoned with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the golden title The Monster Book of Monsters, before it flipped onto","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "its edge and scuttled sideways along the bed like some weird crab.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " `Uh-oh,` Harry muttered. The book toppled off the bed with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "a loud clunk and shuffled rapidly across the room. Harry followed it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "stealthily. The book was hiding in the dark space under his desk.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Praying that the Dursleys were still fast asleep, Harry got down on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "his hands and knees and reached toward it. `Ouch!` The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "book snapped shut on his hand and then flapped past him, still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "scuttling on its covers. Harry scrambled around, threw himself forward, and managed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to flatten it. Uncle Vernon gave a loud, sleepy grunt in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "room next door. Hedwig and Errol watched interestedly as Harry clamped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the struggling book tightly in his arms, hurried to his chest of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "drawers, and pulled out a belt, which he buckled tightly around it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "The Monster Book shuddered angrily, but could no longer flap and snap,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "so Harry threw it down on the bed and reached for Hagrid's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "card. Dear Harry, Happy Birthday! Think you might find","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "this useful for next year. Won't say no more here. Tell you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "when I see you. Hope the Muggles are treating you right. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "All the best, Hagrid It struck Harry as ominous that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Hagrid thought a biting book would come in useful, but he put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Hagrid's card up next to Ron's and Hermione's, grinning more broadly than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "ever. Now there was only the letter from Hogwarts left. Noticing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "that it was rather thicker than usual, Harry slit open the envelope,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "pulled out the first page of parchment within, and read: Dear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Mr. Potter, Please note that the new school year will begin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave ftom King's Cross","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock. Third years are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends. Please give","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "A list of books for next year is enclosed. Yours sincerely, ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "Professor M. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress Harry pulled out the Hogsmeade","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "permission form and looked at it, no longer grinning. It would be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "wonderful to visit Hogsmeade on weekends; he knew it was an entirely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "wizarding village, and he had never set foot there. But how on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "earth was he going to persuade Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "sign the form? He looked over at the alarm clock. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "was now two o'clock in the morning. Deciding that he'd worry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "about the Hogsmeade form when he woke up, Harry got back into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "bed and reached up to cross off another day on the chart","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "he'd made for himself, counting down the days left until his return","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "to Hogwarts. Then he took off his glasses and lay down, eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "open, facing his three birthday cards. Extremely unusual though he was,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "at that moment Harry Potter felt just like everyone else -- glad,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" "for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-1" " AUNT MARGE'S BIG MISTAKE Harry went down to breakfast","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the next morning to find the three Dursleys already sitting around the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "kitchen table. They were watching a brand-new television, a welcome-home-for-the-summer present for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Dudley, who had been complaining loudly about the long walk between the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "fridge and the television in the living room. Dudley had spent most","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "of the summer in the kitchen, his piggy little eyes fixed on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the screen and his five chins wobbling as he ate continually. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry sat down between Dudley and Uncle Vernon, a large, beefy man","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "with very little neck and a lot of mustache. Far from wishing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry a happy birthday, none of the Dursleys made any sign that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "they had noticed Harry enter the room, but Harry was far too","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "used to this to care. He helped himself to a piece of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "toast and then looked up at the reporter on the television, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "was halfway through a report on an escaped convict: `... The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "hot line has been set up, and any sighting of Black should","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "be reported immediately.` `No need to tell us he's no good,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "snorted Uncle Vernon, staring over the top of his newspaper at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "prisoner. `Look at the state of him, the filthy layabout! Look at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "his hair!` He shot a nasty look sideways at Harry, whose","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "untidy hair had always been a source of great annoyance to Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon. Compared to the man on the television, however, whose gaunt face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "was surrounded by a matted, elbow-length tangle, Harry felt very well groomed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "indeed. The reporter had reappeared. `The Ministry of Agriculture and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Fisheries will announce today --` `Hang on!` barked Uncle Vernon, staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "furiously at the reporter. `You didn't tell us where that maniac's escaped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "from! \What use is that? Lunatic could be coming up the street","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "right now!` Aunt Petunia, who was bony and horse-faced, whipped around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and peered intently out of the kitchen window. Harry knew Aunt Petunia","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "would simply love to be the one to call the hot line","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "number. She was the nosiest woman in the world and spent most","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "of her life spying on the boring, law-abiding neighbors. `When will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "they learn,` said Uncle Vernon, pounding the table with his large purple","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "fist, `that hanging's the only way to deal with these people?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "`Very true,` said Aunt Petunia, who was still squinting into next door's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "runner beans. Uncle Vernon drained his teacup, glanced at his watch,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and added, `I'd better be off in a minute, Petunia. Marge's train","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "gets in at ten.` Harry, whose thoughts had been upstairs with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the Broomstick Servicing Kit, was brought back to earth with an unpleasant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "bump. `Aunt Marge?` he blurted out. `Sh -- she's not coming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "here, is she?` Aunt Marge was Uncle Vernon's sister. Even though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "she was not a blood relative of Harry's (whose mother had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia's sister), he had been forced to call her `Aunt` all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "his life. Aunt Marge lived in the country, in a house with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "a large garden, where she bred bulldogs. She didn't often stay at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Privet Drive, because she couldn't bear to leave her precious dogs, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "each of her visits stood out horribly vividly in Harry's mind. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "At Dudley's fifth birthday party, Aunt Margo had whacked Harry around the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "shins with her walking stick to stop him from beating Dudley at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "musical statues. A few years later, she had turned up at Christmas","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "with a computerized robot for Dudley and a box of dog biscuits","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "for Harry. On her last visit, the year before Harry started at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Hogwarts, Harry had accidentally trodden on the tail of her favorite dog.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Ripper had chased Harry out into the garden and up a tree,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and Aunt Marge had refused to call him off until past midnight.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "The memory of this incident still brought tears of laughter to Dudley's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "eyes. `Marge'll be here for a week,` Uncle Vernon snarled, 11","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and while we're on the subject` -- he pointed a fat finger","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "threateningly at Harry -- `we need to get a few things straight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "before I go and collect her.` Dudley smirked and withdrew his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "gaze from the television. Watching Harry being bullied by Uncle Vernon was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Dudley's favorite form of entertainment. `Firstly,` growled Uncle Vernon, `you'll keep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "a civil tongue in your head when you're talking to Marge.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "`All right,` said Harry bitterly, `if she does when she's talking to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "me. `Secondly,` said Uncle Vernon, acting as though he had not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "heard Harry's reply, `as Marge doesn't know anything about your abnormality, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "don't want any -- any funny stuff while she's here. You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "behave yourself, got me?` `I will if she does,` said Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "through gritted teeth. `And thirdly,` said Uncle Vernon, his mean little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "eyes now slits in his great purple face, `we've told Marge you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "attend St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys.` `What?` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "yelled. `And you'll be sticking to that story, boy, or there'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "be trouble, spat Uncle Vernon. Harry sat there, white-faced and furious,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "staring at Uncle Vernon, hardly able to believe it. Aunt Marge coming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "for a weeklong visit -- it was the worst birthday present the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Dursleys had ever given him, including that pair of Uncle Vernon's old","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "socks. `Well, Petunia,` said Uncle Vernon, getting heavily to his feet,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "`I'll be off to the station, then. Want to come along for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the ride, Dudders?` `No,` said Dudley, whose attention had returned to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the television now that Uncle Vernon had finished threatening Harry. `Duddy's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "got to make himself smart for his auntie,` said Aunt Petunia, smoothing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Dudley's thick blond hair. `Mummy's bought him a lovely new bow tie.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " Uncle Vernon clapped Dudley on his porky shoulder. `See you in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "a bit, then,` he said, and he left the kitchen. Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "who had been sitting in a kind of horrified trance, had a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "sudden idea. Abandoning his toast, he got quickly to his feet and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "followed Uncle Vernon to the front door. Uncle Vernon was pulling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "on his car coat. `I'm not taking you,` he snarled as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "he turned to see Harry watching him. `Like I wanted to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "come,` said Harry coldly. `I want to ask you something.` Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon eyed him suspiciously. `Third years at Hog -- at my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "school are allowed to visit the village sometimes,` said Harry. `So?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "snapped Uncle Vernon, taking his car keys from a hook next to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the door. `I need you to sign the permission form,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry in a rush. `And why should I do that?` sneered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon. `Well,` said Harry, choosing his words carefully, `it'll be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "hard work, pretending to Aunt Marge I go to that St. Whatsits","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "--` `St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys!` bellowed Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon, and Harry was pleased to hear a definite note of panic","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "in Uncle Vernon's voice. `Exactly,` said Harry, looking calmly up into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon's large, purple face. `It's a lot to remember. I'll have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "to make it sound convincing, won't I? What if I accidentally let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "something slip?` `You'll get the stuffing knocked out of you, won't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "you?` roared Uncle Vernon, advancing on Harry with his fist raised. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry stood his ground. `Knocking the stuffing out of me won't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "make Aunt Marge forget what I could tell her,` he said grimly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " Uncle Vernon stopped, his fist still raised, his face an ugly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "puce. `But if you sign my permission form,` Harry went on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "quickly, `I swear I'll remember where I'm supposed to go to school,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and I'll act like a Mug -- like I'm normal and everything.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " Harry could tell that Uncle Vernon was thinking it over, even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "if his teeth were bared and a vein was throbbing in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "temple. `Right,` he snapped finally. `I shall monitor your behavior carefully","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "during Marge's visit. If, at the end of it, you've toed the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "line and kept to the story, I'll sign your ruddy form.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "He wheeled around, pulled open the front door, and slammed it so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "hard that one of the little panes of glass at the top","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "fell out. Harry didn't return to the kitchen. He went back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "upstairs to his bedroom. If he was going to act like a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "real Muggle, he'd better start now. Slowly and sadly he gathered up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "all his presents and his birthday cards and hid them under the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "loose floorboard with his homework. Then he went to Hedwig's cage. Errol","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "seemed to have recovered; he and Hedwig were both asleep, heads under","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "their wings. Harry sighed, then poked them both awake. `Hedwig,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "said gloomily, `you're going to have to clear off for a week.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Go with Errol. Ron'll look after you. I'll write him a note,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "explaining. And don't look at me like that` -- Hedwig's large amber","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "eyes were reproachful -- `it's not my fault. It's the only way","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "I'll be allowed to visit Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione.` Ten","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "minutes later, Errol and Hedwig (who had a note to Ron bound","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "to her leg) soared out of the window and out of sight.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry, now feeling thoroughly miserable, put the empty cage away inside the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "wardrobe. But Harry didn't have long to brood. In next to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "no time, Aunt Petunia was shrieking up the stairs for Harry to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "come down and get ready to welcome their guest. `Do something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "about your hair!` Aunt Petunia snapped as he reached the hall. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry couldn't see the point of trying to make his hair lie","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "flat. Aunt Marge loved criticizing him, so the untidier he looked, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "happier she would be. All too soon, there was a crunch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "of gravel outside as Uncle Vernon's car pulled back into the driveway,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "then the clunk of the car doors and footsteps on the garden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "path. `Get the door!` Aunt Petunia hissed at Harry. A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "feeling of great gloom in his stomach, Harry pulled the door open.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " On the threshold stood Aunt Marge. She was very like Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon: large, beefy, and purple- faced, she even had a mustache, though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "not as bushy as his. In one hand she held an enormous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "suitcase, and tucked under the other was an old and evil-tempered bulldog.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " `Where's my Dudders?` roared Aunt Marge. `Where's my neffy-poo?` Dudley","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "came waddling down the hall, his blond hair plastered flat to his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "fat head, a bow tie just visible under his many chins. Aunt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Marge thrust the suitcase into Harry's stomach, knocking the wind out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "him, seized Dudley in a tight one-armed hug, and planted a large","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "kiss on his cheek. Harry knew perfectly well that Dudley only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "put up with Aunt Marge's hugs because he was well paid for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "it, and sure enough, when they broke apart, Dudley had a crisp","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "twenty-pound note clutched in his fat fist. `Petunia!` shouted Aunt Marge,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "striding past Harry as though he was a hat stand. Aunt Marge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and Aunt Petunia kissed, or rather, Aunt Marge bumped her large jaw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "against Aunt Petunia's bony cheekbone. Uncle Vernon now came in, smiling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "jovially as he shut the door. `Tea, Marge?` he said. `And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "what will Ripper take?` `Ripper can have some tea out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "my saucer,` said Aunt Marge as they all proceeded into the kitchen,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "leaving Harry alone in the hall with the suitcase. But Harry wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "complaining; any excuse not to be with Aunt Marge was fine by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "him, so he began to heave the case upstairs into the spare","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "bedroom, taking as long as he could. By the time he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "got back to the kitchen, Aunt Marge had been supplied with tea","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and fruitcake, and Ripper was lapping noisily in the corner. Harry saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia wince slightly as specks of tea and drool flecked her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "clean floor. Aunt Petunia hated animals. `Who's looking after the other","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "dogs, Marge?` Uncle Vernon asked. `Oh, I've got Colonel Fubster managing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "them,` boomed Aunt Marge. `He's retired now, good for him to have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "something to do. But I couldn't leave poor old Ripper. He pines","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "if he's away from me.` Ripper began to growl again as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry sat down. This directed Aunt Marge's attention to Harry for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "first time. `So!` she barked. `Still here, are you?` `Yes,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "said Harry. `Don't you say yes' in that ungrateful tone,` Aunt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Marge growled. `It's damn good of Vernon and Petunia to keep you.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Wouldn't have done it myself. You'd have gone straight to an orphanage","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "if you'd been dumped on my doorstep.` Harry was bursting to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "say that he'd rather live in an orphanage than with the Dursleys,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "but the thought of the Hogsmeade form stopped him. He forced his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "face into a painful smile. `Don't you smirk at me!` boomed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Aunt Marge. `I can see you haven't improved since I last saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "you. I hoped school would knock some manners into you.` She took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "a large gulp of tea, wiped her mustache, and said, `Where is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "it that you send him, again, Vernon?` `St. Brutus's,` said Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon promptly. `It's a first-rate institution for hopeless cases.` `I see,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "said Aunt Marge. `Do they use the cane at St. Brutus's, boy?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "she barked across the table. `Er --` Uncle Vernon nodded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "curtly behind Aunt Marge's back. `Yes,` said Harry. Then, feeling he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "might as well do the thing properly, he added, `all the time.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " `Excellent,` said Aunt Marge. `I won't have this namby-pamby, wishy-washy nonsense","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "about not hitting people who deserve it. A good thrashing is what's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "needed in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. Have you been beaten","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "often?` `Oh, yeah,` said Harry, `loads of times.` Aunt Marge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "narrowed her eyes. `I still don't like your tone, boy,` she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "said. `If you can speak of your beatings in that casual way,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "they clearly aren't hitting you hard enough. Petunia, I'd write if I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "were you. Make it clear that you approve the use of extreme","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "force in this boy's case.` Perhaps Uncle Vernon was worried that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry might forget their bargain; in any case, he changed the subject","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "abruptly. `Heard the news this morning, Marge? What about that escaped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "prisoner, eh?` As Aunt Marge started to make herself at home,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry caught himself thinking almost longingly of life at number four without","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "her. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia usually encouraged Harry to stay out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "of their way, which Harry was only too happy to do. Aunt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Marge, on the other hand, wanted Harry under her eye at all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "times, so that she could boom out suggestions for his improvement. She","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "delighted in comparing Harry with Dudley, and took huge pleasure in buying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Dudley expensive presents while glaring at Harry, as though daring him to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "ask why he hadn't got a present too. She also kept throwing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "out dark hints about what made Harry such an unsatisfactory person. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "`You mustn't blame yourself for the way the boy's turned out, Vernon,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "she said over lunch on the third day. `If there's something rotten","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "on the inside, there's nothing anyone can do about it.` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "tried to concentrate on his food, but his hands shook and his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "face was starting to burn with anger. Remember the form, he told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "himself Think about Hogsmeade. Don't say anything. Don't rise Aunt Marge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "reached for her glass of wine. `It's one of the basic","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "rules of breeding,` she said. `You see it all the time with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "dogs. If there's something wrong with the bitch, there'll be something wrong","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "with the pup --` At that moment, the wineglass Aunt Marge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "was holding exploded in her hand. Shards of glass flew in every","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "direction and Aunt Marge sputtered and blinked, her great ruddy face dripping.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " `Marge!` squealed Aunt Petunia. `Marge, are you all right?` `Not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "to worry,` grunted Aunt Marge, mopping her face with her napkin. `Must","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "have squeezed it too hard. Did the same thing at Colonel Fubster's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the other day. No need to fuss, Petunia, I have a very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "firm grip...` But Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were both looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "at Harry suspiciously, so he decided he'd better skip dessert and escape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "from the table as soon as he could. Outside in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "hall, he leaned against the wall, breathing deeply It had been a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "long time since he'd lost control and made something explode. He couldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "afford to let it happen again. The Hogsmeade form wasn't the only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "thing at stake -- if he carried on like that, he'd be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "in trouble with the Ministry of Magic. Harry was still an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "underage wizard, and he was forbidden by wizard law to do magic","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "outside school. His record wasn't exactly clean either. Only last summer he'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "gotten an official warning that had stated quite clearly that if the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Ministry got wind of any more magic in Privet Drive, Harry would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "face expulsion from Hogwarts. He heard the Dursleys leaving the table","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and hurried upstairs out of the way. Harry got through the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "next three days by forcing himself to think about his Handbook of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Do-It-Yourself Broomcare whenever Aunt Marge started on him. This worked quite well,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "though it seemed to give him a glazed look, because Aunt Marge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "started voicing the opinion that he was mentally subnormal. At last,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "at long last, the final evening of Marge's stay arrived. Aunt Petunia","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "cooked a fancy dinner and Uncle Vernon uncorked several bottles of wine.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "They got all the way through the soup and the salmon without","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "a single mention of Harry's faults; during the lemon meringue pie, Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon bored them A with a long talk about Grunnings, his drill-making","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "company; then Aunt Petunia made coffee and Uncle Vernon brought out a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "bottle of brandy. `Can I tempt you, Marge?` Aunt Marge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "had already had quite a lot of wine. Her huge face was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "very red. `Just a small one, then,` she chuckled. `A bit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "more than that... and a bit more... that's the ticket.` Dudley","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "was eating his fourth slice of pie. Aunt Petunia was sipping coffee","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "with her little finger sticking out. Harry really wanted to disappear into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "his bedroom, but he met Uncle Vernon's angry little eyes and knew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "he would have to sit it out. `Aah,` said Aunt Marge,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "smacking her lips and putting the empty brandy glass back down. `Excellent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "nosh, Petunia. It's normally just a fry-up for me of an evening,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "with twelve dogs to look after....` She burped richly and patted her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "great tweed stomach. `Pardon me. But I do like to see a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "healthy-sized boy,` she went on, winking at Dudley. `You'll be a proper-sized","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "man, Dudders, like your father. Yes, I'll have a spot more brandy,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon....` `Now, this one here --` She jerked her head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "at Harry, who felt his stomach clench. The Handbook, he thought quickly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " `This one's got a mean, runty look about him. You get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "that with dogs. I had Colonel Fubster drown one last year. Ratty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "little thing it was- Weak. Underbred.` Harry was trying to remember","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "page twelve of his book: A Charm to Cure Reluctant Reversers. `It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "all comes down to blood, as I was saying the other day.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " Bad blood will out. Now, I'm saying nothing against your family,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Petunia` she patted Aunt Petunia's bony hand with her shovellike one `but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "your sister was a bad egg. They turn up in the best","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "families. Then she ran off with a wastrel and here's the result","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "right in front of us.` Harry was staring at his plate,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "a funny ringing in his ears. Grasp your broom firmly by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "tail, he thought. But he couldn't remember what came next. Aunt Marge's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "voice seemed to be boring into him like one of Uncle Vernon's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "drills. `This Potter, 5) said Aunt Marge loudly, seizing the brandy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "bottle and splashing more into her glass and over the tablecloth, `you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "never told me what he did?` Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "were looking extremely tense. Dudley had even looked up from his pie","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "to gape at his parents. `He -- didn't work,` said Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Vernon, with half a glance at Harry. `Unemployed.` `As I expected!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "said Aunt Marge, taking a huge swig of brandy and wiping her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "chin on her sleeve. `A no-account, good-for-nothing, lazy scrounger who --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "`He was not,` said Harry suddenly. The table went very quiet. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "was shaking all over. He had never felt so angry in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "life. `MORE BRANDY!` yelled Uncle Vernon, who had gone very white.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "He emptied the bottle into Aunt Marge's glass. `You, boy,` he snarled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "at Harry. `Go to bed, go on --` `No, Vernon,` hiccuped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Aunt Marge, holding up a hand, her tiny bloodshot eyes fixed on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "Harry's. `Go on, boy, go on. Proud of your parents, are you?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "They go and get themselves killed in a car crash (drunk, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "expect) --` 'They didn't die in a car crash!` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "who found himself on his feet. `They died in a car","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "crash, you nasty little liar, and left you to be a burden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "on their decent, hardworking relatives!` screamed Aunt Marge, swelling with fury. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "are an insolent, ungrateful little --` But Aunt Marge suddenly stopped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "speaking. For a moment, it looked as though words had failed her.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "She seemed to be swelling with inexpressible anger -- but the swelling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "didn't stop. Her great red face started to expand, her tiny eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "bulged, and her mouth stretched too tightly for speech -- next second,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "several buttons had just burst from her tweed jacket and pinged off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the walls -- she was inflating like a monstrous balloon, her stomach","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "bursting free of her tweed waistband, each of her fingers blowing up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "like a salami -- `MARGE!` yelled Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "together as Aunt Marge's whole body began to rise off her chair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "toward the ceiling. She was entirely round, now, like a vast life","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "buoy with piggy eyes, and her hands and feet stuck out weirdly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "as she drifted up into the air, making apoplectic popping noises. Ripper","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "came skidding into the room, barking madly. `NOOOOOOO!` Uncle Vernon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "seized one of Marge's feet and tried to pull her down again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "but was almost lifted from the floor himself. A second later, Ripper","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "leapt forward and sank his teeth into Uncle Vernon's leg. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "tore from the dining room before anyone could stop him, heading for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the cupboard under the stairs. The cupboard door burst magically open as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "he reached it. In seconds, he had heaved his trunk to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "front door. He sprinted upstairs and threw himself under the bed, wrenching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "up the loose floorboard, and grabbed the pillowcase full of his books","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "and birthday presents. He wriggled out, seized Hedwig's empty cage, and dashed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "back downstairs to his trunk, just as Uncle Vernon burst out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "the dining room, his trouser leg in bloody tatters. `COME BACK","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "IN HERE!` he bellowed. `COME BACK AND PUT HER RIGHT!` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "a reckless rage had come over Harry. He kicked his trunk open,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "pulled out his wand, and pointed it at Uncle Vernon. `She","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "deserved it,` Harry said, breathing very fast. `She deserved what she got.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "You keep away from me.` He fumbled behind him for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "latch on the door. `I'm going,` Harry said. `I've had enough.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " And in the next moment, he was out in the dark,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" "quiet street, heaving his heavy trunk behind him, Hedwig's cage under his arm. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-2" " THE KNIGHT BUS Harry was several streets away before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "he collapsed onto a low wall in Magnolia Crescent, panting from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "effort of dragging his trunk. He sat quite still, anger still surging","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "through him, listening to the frantic thumping of his heart. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "after ten minutes alone in the dark street, a new emotion overtook","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "him: panic. Whichever way he looked at it, he had never been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "in a worse fix. He was stranded, quite alone, in the dark","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Muggle world, with absolutely nowhere to go. And the worst of it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "was, he had just done serious magic, which meant that he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "almost certainly expelled from Hogwarts. He had broken the Decree for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Restriction of Underage Wizardry so badly, he was surprised Ministry of Magic","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "representatives weren't swooping down on him where he sat. Harry shivered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and looked up and down Magnolia Crescent. What, was going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "happen to him? Would he be arrested, or would he simply be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "outlawed from the wizarding world? He thought of Ron and Hermione, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "his heart sank even lower. Harry was sure that, criminal or not,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Ron and Hermione would want to help him now, but they were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "both abroad, and with Hedwig gone, he had no means of contacting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "them. He didn't have any Muggle money, either. There was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "little wizard gold in the money bag at the bottom of his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "trunk, but the rest of the fortune his parents had left him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "was stored in a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank in London. He'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "never be able to drag his trunk all the way to London.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Unless... He looked down at his wand, which he was still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "clutching in his hand. If he was already expelled (his heart was.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "now thumping painfully fast), a bit more magic couldn't hurt. He had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the Invisibility Cloak he had inherited from his father -- what if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "he bewitched the trunk to make it feather-light, tied it to his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "broomstick, covered himself in the cloak, and flew to London? Then he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "could get the rest of his money out of his vault and...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "begin his life as an outcast. It was a horrible prospect, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "he couldn't sit on this wall forever, or he'd find himself trying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "to explain to Muggle police why he was out in the dead","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of night with a trunkful of spellbooks and a broomstick. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "opened his trunk again and pushed the contents aside, looking for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Invisibility Cloak - but before he had found it, he straightened up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "suddenly, looking around him once more. A funny prickling on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "back of his neck had made Harry feel he was being watched,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "but the street appeared to be deserted, and no lights shone from any","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of the large square houses. He bent over his trunk again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "but almost immediately stood up once more, his hand clenched on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "wand. He had sensed rather than heard it: someone or something was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "standing in the narrow gap between the garage and the fence behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "him. Harry squinted at the black alleyway. If only it would move,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "then he'd know whether it was just a stray cat or --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "something else. `Lumos,` Harry muttered, and a light appeared at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "end of his wand, almost dazzling him. He held it high over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "his head, and the pebble-dashed walls of number two suddenly sparkled; the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "garage door gleamed, and between them Harry saw, quite distinctly, the hulking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "outline of something very big, with wide, gleaming eyes. Harry stepped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "backward. His legs hit his trunk and he tripped. His wand flew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "out of his hand as he flung out an arm to break","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "his fall, and he landed, hard, in the gutter -- There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "was a deafening BANG, and Harry threw up his hands to shield","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "his eyes against a sudden blinding light -- With a yell,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "he rolled back onto the pavement, just in time. A second later,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a gigantic pair of wheels and headlights screeched to a halt exactly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "where Harry had just been lying. They belonged, as Harry saw when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "he raised his head, to a triple-decker, violently purple bus, which had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "appeared out of thin air. Gold lettering over the windshield spelled The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Knight Bus. For a Split second, Harry wondered if he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "been knocked silly by his fall. Then a conductor in a purple","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "uniform leapt out of the bus and began to speak loudly to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the night. `Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "stranded witch or wizard. just stick out your wand hand, step on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "board) and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "--` The conductor stopped abruptly. He had just caught sight of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`Harry, who was still sitting on the ground. Harry snatched up his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "wand again and scrambled to his feet. Close up, he saw that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Stan Shunpike was only a few years older than he was, eighteen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "or nineteen at most, with large, protruding ears and quite a few","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "pimples. `What were you doin' down there?` said Stan, dropping his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "professional manner. `Fell over,` said Harry. `'Choo fall over for?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "sniggered Stan. `I didn't do it on purpose,` said Harry, annoyed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "One of the knees in his jeans was torn, and the hand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "he had thrown out to break his fall was bleeding. He suddenly remembered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "why he had fallen over and turned around quickly to stare at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the alleyway between the garage and fence. The Knight Bus's headlamps were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "flooding it with light, and it was empty. `'Choo lookin' at?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Stan. `There was a big black thing,` said Harry, pointing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "uncertainly into the gap. `Like a dog... but massive...` He looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a-round at Stan, whose mouth was slightly open. With a feeling of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "unease, Harry saw Stan's eyes move to the scar on Harry's forehead.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " `Woss that on your 'ead?` said Stan abruptly. `Nothing,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry quickly, flattening his hair over his scar. If the Ministry of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Magic was looking for him, he didn't want to make it too","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "easy for them. `Woss your name?` Stan persisted. `Neville Longbottom,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Harry, saying the first name that came into his head. `So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "-- so this bus,` he went on quickly, hoping to distract Stan,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`did you say it goes anywhere?` `Yep,` said Stan proudly, `anywhere","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "you like, long's it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater. 'Ere,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said, looking suspicious again, ,You did flag us down, dincha? Stuck out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "your wand 'and, dincha?` `Yes,` said Harry quickly. `Listen, how much","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "would it be to get to London?` `Eleven Sickles,` said Stan,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`but for fifteen you get 'or chocolate, and for fifteen you get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "an 'ot water bottle an' a toofbrush in the color of your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "choice.` Harry rummaged once more in his trunk, extracted his money","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "bag, and shoved some gold into Stan's hand. He and Stan then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "lifted his trunk, with Hedwig's cage balanced on top, up the steps","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of the bus. There were no seats; instead, half a dozen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "brass bedsteads stood beside the curtained windows. Candles were burning in brackets","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "beside each bed, illuminating the wood-paneled walls. A tiny wizard in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "nightcap at the rear of the bus muttered, `Not now, thanks, I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "pickling some slugs` and rolled over in his sleep. `You 'ave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "this one,` Stan whispered, shoving Harry's trunk under the bed right behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the driver, who was sitting in an armchair in front of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "steering wheel. `This is our driver, Ernie Prang. This ,is Neville Longbottom,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Ern. ` Ernie Prang, an elderly wizard wearing very thick glasses,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "nodded to Harry, who nervously flattened his bangs again and sat down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "on his bed. `Take 'er away, Ern,` said Stan, sitting down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "in the armchair next to Ernie's. There was another tremendous BANG,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and the next moment Harry found himself flat on his bed, thrown","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "backward by the speed of the Knight Bus. Pulling himself up, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "stared out of the dark window and saw that they were now bowling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "along a completely different street. Stan was watching Harry's stunned face with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "great enjoyment. `This is where we was before you flagged us","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "down,` he said. `Where are we, Ern? Somewhere in Wales?` `Ar,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Ernie. `How come the Muggles don't hear the bus?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry. `Them!` said Stan contemptuously. `Don' listen properly, do they? Don'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "look properly either. Never notice nuffink, they don'.` `Best go wake","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "up Madam Marsh, Stan,` said Ern. `We'll be in Abergavenny in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "minute.` Stan passed Harry's bed and disappeared up a narrow wooden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "staircase. Harry was still looking out of the window, feeling increasingly nervous.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Ernie didn't seem to have mastered the use of a steering wheel.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "The Knight Bus kept mounting the pavement, but it didn't hit anything;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "lines of lampposts, mailboxes, and trash cans jumped out of its way","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "as it approached and back into position once it had passed. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Stan came back downstairs, followed by a faintly green witch wrapped in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a traveling cloak. `'Ere you go, Madam Marsh,` said Stan happily","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "as Ern stamped on the brake and the beds slid a foot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "or so toward the front of the bus. Madam Marsh clamped a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "handkerchief to her mouth and tottered down the steps. Stan threw her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "bag out after her and rammed the doors shut; there was another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "loud BANG, and they were thundering down a narrow country lane, trees","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "leaping out of the way. Harry wouldn't have been able to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "sleep even if he had been traveling on a bus that didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "keep banging loudly and jumping a hundred miles at a time. His","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "stomach churned as he fell back to wondering what was going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "happen to him, and whether the Dursleys had managed to get Aunt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Marge off the ceiling yet. Stan had unfurled a copy of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the Daily Prophet and was now reading with his tongue between his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "teeth. A large photograph of a sunken-faced man with long, matted hair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "blinked slowly at Harry from the front page. He looked strangely familiar.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " `That man!` Harry said, forgetting his troubles for a moment. `He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "was on the Muggle news!` Stanley turned to the front page","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and chuckled. `Sirius Black,` he said, nodding. `'Course 'e was on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the Muggle news, Neville, where you been?` He gave a superior","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "sort of chuckle at the blank look on Harry's face, removed the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "front page, and handed it to Harry. `You oughta read the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "papers more, Neville.` Harry held the paper up to the candlelight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and read: BLACK STILL AT LARGE Sirius Black, possibly the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today. `We are doing all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "we can to recapture Black,` said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "this morning, `and we beg the magical community to remain calm.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. `Well,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "really, I had to, don't you know,` said an irritable Fudge. `Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it-who'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "believe him if he did?` While Muggles have been told that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand that Muggles","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "people with a single curse. Harry looked into the shadowed eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of Sirius Black, the only part of the sunken face that seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "alive. Harry had never met a vampire, but he had seen pictures","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of them in his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, and Black,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "with his waxy white skin, looked just like one. `Scary-lookin' fing,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "inee?` said Stan, who had been watching Harry read. `He murdered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "thirteen people?` said Harry, handing the page back to Stan, `with one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "curse?` `Yep,` said Stan, `in front of witnesses an' all. Broad","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern?` `Ar,` said Ern darkly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " Stan swiveled in his armchair, his hands on the back, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "better to look at Harry. `Black woz a big supporter of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "You-Know-'Oo,` he said. `What, Voldemort?` said Harry, without thinking. Even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Stan's pimples went white; Ern jerked the steering wheel so hard that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a whole farmhouse had to jump aside to avoid the bus. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`You outta your tree?` yelped Stan. `'Choo say 'is name for?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`Sorry,` said Harry hastily. `Sorry, I -- I forgot --` `Forgot!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Stan weakly. `Blimey, my 'eart's goin' that fast ...` `So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "-- so Black was a supporter of You-Know-Who?` Harry prompted apologetically. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`Yeah,` said Stan, still rubbing his chest. `Yeah, that's right. Very close","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "to You-Know-'Oo, they say. Anyway, when little 'Arry Potter got the better","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of You-Know-'Oo --` Harry nervously flattened his bangs down again. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`-- all You-Know-'Oo's supporters was tracked down, wasn't they, Ern? Most of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "'em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-'Oo gone, and they came","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "quiet. But not Sirius Black. I 'eard he thought 'e'd be second-in-command","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "once You-Know-'Oo 'ad taken over. `Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out 'is wand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and 'e blasted 'alf the street apart, an' a wizard got it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "an' so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. 'Orrible,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "eh? An' you know what Black did then?` Stan continued in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "dramatic whisper. `What?` said Harry. `Laughed,` said Stan. `Jus' stood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "there an' laughed. An' when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "there, I 'e went wiv em quiet as anyfink, still laughing 'is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "'ead off. 'Cos 'e's mad, inee, Ern? Inee mad?` `If he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "weren't when he went to Azkaban, he will be now,` said Ern","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "in his slow voice. `I'd blow meself up before I set foot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "in that place. Serves him right, mind you ... after what he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "did....` `They 'ad a job coverin' it up, din' they, Ern?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Stan said. `'Ole street blown up an' all them Muggles dead. What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "was it they said ad 'appened, Ern?` `Gas explosion,` grunted Ernie.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " `An' now 'e's out,` said Stan, examining the newspaper picture of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Black's gaunt face again. `Never been a breakout from Azkaban before, 'as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "there, Ern? Beats me 'ow 'e did it. Frightenin', eh? Mind, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "don't fancy 'is chances against them Azkaban guards, eh, Ern?` Ernie","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "suddenly shivered. `Talk about summat else, Stan, there's a good lad.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Them Azkaban guards give me the collywobbles.` Stan put the paper","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "away reluctantly, and Harry leaned against the window of the Knight Bus,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "feeling worse than ever. He couldn't help imagining what Stan might be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "telling his passengers in a few nights' time. `'Ear about that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "'Arry Potter? Blew up 'is aunt! We 'ad 'im 'ere on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Knight Bus, di'n't we, Ern? 'E was tryin' I to run for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "it....` He, Harry, had broken wizard law just like Sirius Black.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Was inflating Aunt Marge bad enough to land him in Azkaban? Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "didn't know anything about the wizard prison, though everyone he'd ever heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "speak of it did so in the same fearful tone. Hagrid, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Hogwarts gamekeeper, had spent two months there only last year. Harry wouldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "soon forget the look of terror on Hagrid's face when he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "been told where he was going, and Hagrid was one of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "bravest people Harry knew. The Knight Bus rolled through the darkness,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "scattering bushes and wastebaskets, telephone booths and trees, and Harry lay, restless","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and miserable, on his feather bed. After a while, Stan remembered that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry had paid for hot chocolate, but poured it all over Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "pillow when the bus moved abruptly from Anglesea to Aberdeen. One by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "one, wizards and witches in dressing gowns and slippers descended from the upper","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "floors to leave the bus. They all looked very pleased to go.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " Finally, Harry was the only passenger left. `Right then, Neville,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Stan, clapping his hands, where abouts in London?` `Diagon Alley,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Harry. `Righto,` said Stan. `'Old tight, then.` BANG. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "They were thundering along Charing Cross Road. Harry sat up and watched","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "buildings and benches squeezing themselves out of the Knight Bus's way. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "sky was getting a little lighter. He would lie low for a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "couple of hours, go to Gringotts the. moment it opened, then set","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "off -- where, he didn't know. Ern slammed on the brakes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and the Knight Bus skidded to a halt in front of a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "small and shabby- looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which lay the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "magical entrance to Diagon Alley. `Thanks,` Harry said to Ern. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "He jumped down the steps and helped Stan lower his trunk and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Hedwig's cage onto the pavement. `Well,` said Harry. `'Bye then!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "But Stan wasn't paying attention. Still standing in the doorway to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "bus) he was goggling at the shadowy entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`There you are, Harry,` said a voice. Before Harry could turn,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "he felt a hand on his shoulder. At the same time, Stan","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "shouted, `Blimey! Ern, come 'ere! Come 'ere I` Harry looked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "at the owner of the hand on his shoulder and felt a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "bucketful of ice cascade into his stomach -- he had walked right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself. Stan leapt onto","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the pavement beside them. `What didja call Neville, Minister?` he said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "excitedly. Fudge, a portly little man in a long, pinstriped cloak,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "looked cold and exhausted. `Neville?` he repeated, frowning. `This is Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Potter.` `I knew it!` Stan shouted gleefully. `Ern! Ern! Guess 'oo","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Neville is, Ern! 'E's 'Arry Potter! I can see 'is scar!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`Yes,` said Fudge testily, `well, I'm very glad the Knight Bus picked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry up, but he and I need to step inside the Leaky","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Cauldron now...` Fudge increased the pressure on Harry's shoulder, and Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "found himself being steered inside the pub. A stooping figure bearing a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "lantern appeared through the door behind the bar. It was Tom, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "wizened, toothless landlord. `You've got him, Minister!` said Tom. `Will you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "be wanting anything? Beer? Brandy?` `Perhaps a pot of tea,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Fudge, who still hadn't let go of Harry. There was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "loud scraping and puffing from behind them, and Stan and Ern appeared,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "carrying Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage and looking around excitedly. `'Ow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "come you di'n't tell us 'oo you are, eh, Neville?` said Stan, beaming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "at Harry, while Ernie's owlish face peered interestedly over Stan's shoulder. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`And a private parlor, please, Tom,` said Fudge pointedly. `Bye,` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said miserably to Stan and Ern as Tom beckoned Fudge toward the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "passage that led from the bar. `'Bye, Neville!` called Stan. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Fudge marched Harry along the narrow passage after Tom's lantern, and then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "into a small parlor. Tom clicked his fingers, a fire burst into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "life in the grate, and he bowed himself out of the room.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " `Sit down, Harry,` said Fudge, indicating a chair by the fire.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " Harry sat down, feeling goose bumps rising up his arms despite","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the glow of the fire. Fudge took off his pinstriped cloak and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "tossed it aside, then hitched up the trousers of his bottle-green suit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and sat down opposite Harry. `I am Cornelius Fudge, Harry. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Minister of Magic.` Harry already knew this, of course; he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "seen Fudge once before, but as he had been wearing his father's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Invisibility Cloak at the time, Fudge wasn't to know that. Tom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the innkeeper reappeared, wearing an apron over his nightshirt and bearing a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "tray of tea and crumpets. He placed the tray on a table","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "between Fudge and Harry and left the parlor, closing the door behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "him. `Well, Harry,` said Fudge, pouring out tea, `you've had us","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "all in a right flap, I don't mind telling you. Running away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "from your aunt and uncle's house like that! I'd started to think...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "but you're safe, and that's what matters.` Fudge buttered himself a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "crumpet and pushed the plate toward Harry. `Eat, Harry, you look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "dead on your feet. Now then... You will be pleased to hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "that we have dealt with the unfortunate blowing-up of Miss Marjorie Dursley.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Two members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department were dispatched to Privet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Drive a few hours ago. Miss Dursley has been punctured and her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "memory has been modified. She has no recollection of the incident at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "all. So that's that, and no harm done.` Fudge smiled at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry over the rim of his teacup, rather like an uncle surveying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a favorite nephew. Harry, who couldn't believe his ears, opened his mouth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "to speak, couldn't think of anything to say, and closed it again.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " `Ah, you're worrying about the reaction of your aunt and uncle?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Fudge. `Well, I won't deny that they are extremely angry, Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "but they are prepared to take you back next summer as long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry unstuck his throat. `I always stay at Hogwarts for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Christmas and Easter holidays,` he said, `and I don't ever want to go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "back to Privet Drive.` `Now, now, I'm sure you'll feel differently","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "once you've calmed down,` said Fudge in a worried tone. `They are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "your family, after all, and I'm sure you are fond of each","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "other -- er -- very deep down.` It didn't occur to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry to put Fudge right. He was still waiting to hear what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "was going to happen to him now. `So all that remains,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Fudge, now buttering himself a second crumpet, `is to decide where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "you're going to spend the last two weeks of your vacation. I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "suggest you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron and ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`Hang on,` blurted Harry. `What about my punishment?` Fudge blinked. `Punishment?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " `I broke the law!` Harry said. `The Decree for the Restriction","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of Underage Wizardry!` `Oh, my dear boy, we're not going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "punish you for a little thing like that!` cried Fudge, waving his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "crumpet impatiently. `It was an accident! We don't send people to Azkaban","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "just for blowing up their aunts!` But this didn't tally at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "all with Harry's past dealings with the Ministry of Magic. `Last","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "pudding in my uncle's house!` he told Fudge, frowning. `The Ministry of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Magic said I'd be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "magic there!` Unless Harry's eyes were deceiving him, Fudge was suddenly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "looking awkward. `Circumstances change, Harry... We have to take into account...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "in the present climate... Surely you don't want to be expelled?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`Of course I don't,` said Harry. `Well then, what's A the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "fuss about?` laughed Fudge. `Now, have a crumpet, Harry, while I go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and see if Tom's got a room for you.` Fudge strode","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "out of the parlor and Harry stared after him. There was something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "extremely odd going on. Why had Fudge been waiting for him at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "the Leaky Cauldron, if not to punish him for what he'd done?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "And now Harry came to think of it, surely it wasn't usual","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "for the Minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "underage magic? Fudge came back, accompanied by Tom the innkeeper. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`Room eleven's free, Harry,` said Fudge. `I think you'll be very comfortable.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "just one thing, and I'm sure you'll understand... I don't want you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "wandering off into Muggle London, all right? Keep to Diagon Alley. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "you're to be back here before dark each night. Sure you'll understand.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me.` `Okay,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said Harry slowly, `but why?` `Don't want to lose you again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "do we?` said Fudge with a hearty laugh. `No, no... best we know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "where you are.... I mean...` Fudge cleared his throat loudly and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "picked up his pinstriped cloak. `Well, I'll be off, plenty to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "do, you know... `Have you had any luck with Black yet?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry asked. Fudge's finger slipped on the silver fastenings of his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "cloak. `What's that? Oh, you've heard -- well, no, not yet,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "but it's only a matter of time. The Azkaban guards have never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "yet failed... and they are angrier than I've ever seen them.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Fudge shuddered slightly. `So, I'll say good-bye.` He held out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "his hand and Harry, shaking it, had a sudden idea. `Er","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "-- Minister? Can I ask you something?` `Certainly,` said Fudge with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a smile. `Well, third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Hogsmeade, but my aunt and uncle didn't sign the permission form. D'you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "think you could --?` Fudge was looking uncomfortable. `Ah,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "said. `No, no, I'm very sorry, Harry, but as I'm not your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "parent or guardian --` `But you I re the Minister of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Magic,` said Harry eagerly. `If you gave me permission `No, I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "sorry, Harry, but rules are rules,` said Fudge flatly. 'Perhaps You'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "be able to visit Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think it's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "best if you don't... yes... well, I'll be off Enjoy your stay,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Harry.` And with a last smile and shake of Harry's hand,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "Fudge left the room. Tom now moved forward, beaming at Harry. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "`If you'll follow me, Mr. Potter,` he said, `I've already taken your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "things up...` Harry followed Tom up a handsome wooden staircase to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "a door with a brass number eleven on it, which Tom unlocked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and opened for him. Inside was a very comfortable-looking bed, some","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "highly polished oak furniture, a cheerfully crackling fire and, perched on top","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "of the wardrobe - `Hedwig!` Harry gasped. The snowy owl","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "clicked her beak and fluttered down onto Harry's arm. `Very smart","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "owl you've got there, chuckled Tom. `Arrived about five minutes after you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "did. If there's anything you need, Mr. Potter, don't hesitate to ask.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " He gave another bow and left. Harry sat on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "bed for a long time, absentmindedly stroking Hedwig. The sky outside the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "window was changing rapidly from deep, velvety blue to cold, steely gray","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "and then, slowly, to pink shot with gold. Harry could hardly believe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "that he'd left Privet Drive only a few hours ago, that he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "wasn't expelled, and that he was now facing two completely Dursley-free weeks.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " `It's been a very weird night, Hedwig,` he yawned. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" "without even removing his glasses, he slumped back onto his pillows and fell asleep.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-3" " THE LEAKY CAULDRON It took Harry several days to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "get used to his strange new freedom. Never before had he been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "able to get up whenever he wanted or eat whatever he fancied.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "He could even go wherever he pleased, as long as it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "in Diagon Alley, and as this long cobbled street was packed with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the most fascinating wizarding shops in the world, Harry felt no desire","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to break his word to Fudge and stray back into the Muggle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "world. Harry ate breakfast each morning in the Leaky Cauldron, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he liked watching the other guests: funny little witches from the country,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "up for a day's shopping; venerable-looking wizards arguing over the latest article","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "in Transfiguration Today; wild-looking warlocks; raucous dwarfs; and once, what looked suspiciously","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "like a hag, who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "a thick woollen balaclava. After breakfast Harry would go out into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the backyard, take out his wand, tap the third brick from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "left above the trash bit,, and stand back as the archway into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Diagon Alley opened in the wall. Harry spent the long sunny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "days exploring the shops and eating under the brightly colored umbrellas outside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "cafes, where his fellow diners were showing one another their purchases (","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "` it , s a lunascope, old boy -- no more messing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "around with moon charts, see?`) or else discussing the case of Sirius","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Black (`personalty, I won't let any of the children out alone until","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he's back in Azkaban`). Harry didn't have to do his homework under","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the blankets by flashlight anymore; now he could sit in the bright","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "sunshine outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, finishing all his essays with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "occasional help from Florean Fortescue himself, who, apart from knowing a great","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "deal about medieval witch burnings, gave Harry free sundaes every half an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "hour. Once Harry had refilled his money bag with gold Galleons,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts from his vault at Gringotts, he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to exercise a lot of self-control not to spend the whole lot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "at once. He had to keep reminding himself that he had five","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "years to go at Hogwarts, and how it would feel to ask","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the Dursleys for money for spellbooks, to stop himself from buying a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "handsome set of solid gold Gobstones (a wizarding game rather like marbles,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "in which the stones squirt a nasty-smelling liquid into the other player's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "face when they lose a point). He was sorely tempted, too, by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the perfect, moving model of the galaxy in a large glass ball,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "which would have meant he never had to take another Astronomy lesson.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "But the thing that tested Harry's resolution most appeared in his favorite","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "shop, Quality Quidditch Supplies, a week after he'd arrived at the Leaky","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Cauldron. Curious to know what the crowd in the shop was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "staring at, Harry edged his way inside and squeezed in among the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "excited witches and wizards until he glimpsed a newly erected podium, on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "which was mounted the most magnificent broom he had ever seen in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his life. `Just come out -- prototype --` a square-jawed wizard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "was telling his companion. `It's the fastest broom in the world, isn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "it, Dad?` squeaked a boy younger than Harry, who was swinging off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his father's arm. `Irish International Side's Just put in an order","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "for seven of these beauties!` the proprietor of the shop told the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "crowd. `And they're favorites for the World Cup!` A large witch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "in front of Harry moved, and he was able to read the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "sign next to the broom: ** THE FIREBOLT ** THIS","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "STATE-OF-THE-ART PACING BROOM SPORTS A STREAM-LINED, SUPERFINE HANDLE OF ASH, TREATED WITH","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "A DIAMOND-HARD POLISH AND HAND- NUMBERED WITH ITS OWN REGISTRATION NUMBER. EACH","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "INDIVIDUALLY SELECTED BIRCH TWIG IN THE BROOMTAIL HAS BEEN HONED TO AERODYNAMIC","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "PERFECTION, GIVING THE FIREBOLT UNSURPASSABLE BALANCE AND PINPOINT PRECISION. THE FIREBOLT HAS","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "AN ACCELERATION OF 150 MILES AN HOUR IN TEN SECONDS AND INCORPORATES","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "AN UNBREAKABLE BRAKING CHARM. PRICE ON REQUEST. Price on request... Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "didn't like to think how much gold the Firebolt would cost. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "had never wanted anything as much in his whole life -- but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he had never lost a Quidditch match on his Nim bus Two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Thousand, and what was the point in emptying his Gringotts vault for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the Firebolt, when he had a very good broom already? Harry didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "ask for the price, but he returned, almost every day after that,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "just to look at the Firebolt. There were, however, things that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry needed to buy. He went to the Apothecary to replenish his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "store of potions ingredients, and as his school robes were now several","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "inches too short in the arm and leg, he visited Madam Malkin's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Robes for All Occasions and bought new ones. Most important of all,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he had to buy his new schoolbooks, which would include those for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his two new subjects, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "got a surprise as he looked in at the bookshop window. Instead","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of the usual display of gold- embossed spellbooks the size of paving","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "slabs, there was a large iron cage behind the glass that held","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "about a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters. Torn pages","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "were flying everywhere as the books grappled with each other, locked together","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "in furious wrestling matches and snapping aggressively. Harry pulled his booklist","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "out of his pocket and consulted it for the first time. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Monster Book of Monsters was listed as the required book for Care","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of Magical Creatures. Now Harry understood why Hagrid had said it would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "come in useful. He felt relieved; he had been wondering whether Hagrid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "wanted help with some terrifying new pet. As Harry entered Flourish","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "and Blotts, the manager came hurrying toward him. `Hogwarts?` he said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "abruptly. `Come to get your new books?` `Yes,` said Harry, `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "need --` `Get out of the way,` said the manager impatiently,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "brushing Harry aside. He drew on a pair of very thick gloves,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "picked up a large, knobbly walking stick, and proceeded toward the door","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of the Monster Books' cage. `Hang on,` said Harry quickly, `I've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "already got one of those.` `Have you?` A look of enormous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "relief spread over the manager's face. `Thank heavens for that. I've been bitten","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "five times already this morning --` A loud ripping noise rent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the air; two of the Monster Books had seized a third and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "were pulling it apart. `Stop it! Stop it!` cried the manager,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "poking the walking stick through the bars and knocking the books apart.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`I'm never stocking them again, never! It's been bedlam! I thought we'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of the Invisible","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Book of Invisibility -cost a fortune, and we never found them.... Well...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "is there anything else I can help you with?` `Yes,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry, looking down his booklist, `I need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Vablatsky.` `Ah, starting Divination, are you?` said the manager, stripping off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his gloves and leading Harry into the back of the shop, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "there was a corner devoted to fortune-telling. A small table was stacked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "with volumes such as Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Broken Balls: When Fortunes Turn Foul. `Here you are,,' said the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "manager, who had climbed a set of steps to take down a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "thick, black- bound book. `Unfogging the Future. Very good guide to all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "your basic fortune-telling methods - palmistry, crystal balls, bird entrails. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry wasn't listening. His eyes had fallen on another book, which was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "among a display on a small table: Death Omens.- What to Do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "When You Know the Worst Is Coming. `Oh, I wouldn't read","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "that if I were you,` said the manager lightly, looking to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "what Harry was staring at. `You'll start seeing death omens everywhere. It's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "enough to frighten anyone to death. ` But Harry continued to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "stare at the front cover of the book; it showed a black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "dog large as a bear, with gleaming eyes. It looked oddly familiar...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " The manager pressed Unfogging the Future into Harry's hands. `Anything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "else?` he said. `Yes,` said Harry, tearing his eyes away from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the dog's and dazedly consulting his booklist. `Er -- I need Intermediate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Transfiguration and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three.` Harry emerged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "from Flourish and Blotts ten minutes later with his new books under","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his arms and made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron, hardly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "noticing where he was going and bumping into several people. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "tramped up the stairs to his room, went inside, and tipped his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "books onto his bed. Somebody had been in to tidy; the windows","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "were open and sun was pouring inside. Harry could hear the buses","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "rolling by in the unseen Muggle street behind him and the sound","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of the invisible crowd below in Diagon Alley. He caught sight of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "himself in the mirror over the basin. `It can't have been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "a death omen,` he told his reflection defiantly. `I was panicking when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "I saw that thing in Magnolia Crescent.... It was probably just a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "stray dog....` He raised his hand automatically and tried to make","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his hair lie flat `You're fighting a losing battle there, dear,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "said his mirror in a vvheezy voice. As the days slipped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "by, Harry started looking wherever he went for a sign of Ron or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione. Plenty of Hogwarts students were arriving in Diagon Alley now, with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the start of term so near. Harry met Seamus Finnigan and Dean","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Thomas, his fellow Gryffindors, in Quality Quidditch Supplies, where they too were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "ogling the Firebolt; he also ran into the real Neville Longbottom, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "round-faced, forgetful boy, outside Flourish and Blotts. Harry didn't stop to chat;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Neville appeared to have mislaid his booklist and was being told off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "by his very formidable-looking grandmother. Harry hoped she never found out that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he'd pretended to be Neville while on the run from the Ministry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of Magic. Harry woke on the last day of the holidays,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "thinking that he would at least meet Ron and Hermione tomorrow, on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the Hogwarts Express. He got up, dressed, went for a last look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "at the Firebolt, and was just wondering where he'd have lunch, when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "someone yelled his name and he turned. `Harry! HARRY!` They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "-- Ron looking incredibly freckly, Her,,one very brown, both waving frantically at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "him. `Finally!` said Ron, grinning at Harry as he sat down.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin's, and --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`I got all my school stuff last week,` Harry explained. `And how","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "come You knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?` `Dad,` said Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "simply. Mr. Weasley, who worked at the Ministry of Magic, would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of course have heard the whole story of what had happened to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Aunt Marge. `Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione in a very serious voice. `I didn't mean to,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry, while Ron roared with laughter. `I just -- lost control.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`It's not funny, Ron,` said Hermione sharply. `Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "expelled.` `So am I,` admitted Harry. `Forget expelled, I thought I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "was going to be arrested.` He looked at Ron. `Your dad doesn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "know why Fudge let me off, does he?` `Probably 'cause it's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "you, isn't it?` shrugged Ron, still chuckling. `Famous Harry Potter and all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "well!` Hermione nodded, beaming. `Mum and Dad dropped me off this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "morning with all my Hogwarts things.` `Excellent!` said Harry happily. `So,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "have you got all your new books and stuff?` `Look at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "this,` said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "and opening it. `Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "And we've got all our books --` He pointed at a large","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "bag under his chair. `What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "nearly cried when we said we wanted two.` `What's all that,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione?` Harry asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the chair next to her. ,,Well, I'm taking more new subjects than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "you, aren't IF' said Hermione. `Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " `What are you doing Muggle Studies for?` said Ron, rolling his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "eyes at Harry. `You're Muggle- born! Your mum and dad are Muggles!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "You already know all about Muggles!` `But it'll be fascinating to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "study them from the wizarding point of view,` said Hermione earnestly. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "asked Harry, while Ron sniggered. Hermione ignored them. `I've still got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "ten Galleons,` she said, checking her purse. `It's my birthday in September,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "early birthday present.` `How about a nice book? said Ron innocently.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " `No, I don't think so,` said Hermione composedly. `I really want","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " `I haven't,` said Ron. `Errol's a family owl. All I've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "is Scabbers.` He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. `And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "I want to get him checked over,` he added, placing Scabbers on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the table in front of them. `I don't think Egypt agreed with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "him.` Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "definite droop to his whiskers. `There's a magical creature shop just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "over there,` said Harry, who knew Diagon Alley very well by now.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "get her owl,` So they paid for their ice cream and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "crossed the street to the Magical Menagerie. There wasn't much room","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "and very noisy because the occupants Of these cages were all squeaking,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so Harry, Ron, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione waited, examining the cages. A pair of enormous purple toads","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored furballs that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "long, bald tails. The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the counter. `It's my rat,` he told the witch. `He been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`Bang him on the counter,` said the witch, pulling a pair of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "heavy black spectacles out of her pocket. Ron lifted Scabbers out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of his inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "wire for a better took. Like nearly everything Ron owned, Scabbers the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "rat was secondhand (he had once belonged to Ron's brother Percy) and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "a bit battered. Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "looked especially woebegone. `Hm,` said the witch, picking up Scabbers. `How","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "old is this rat?` `Dunno,` said Ron. `Quite old. He used","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to belong to my brother.` `What powers does he have?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the witch, examining Scabbers closely. `Er --` The truth was that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. The witchs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "eyes moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "had a toe missing, and tutted loudly. `He's been through the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "mill, this one,` she said. `He was like that when Percy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "gave him to me,` said Ron defensively. `An ordinary common or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "years or so,` said the witch. `Now, if you were looking for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "muttered, `Show-offs.` `Well, if you Don't want a replacement, you can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "try this rat tonic,` said the witch, reaching under the counter and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "bringing out a small red bottle. `Okay,` said Ron. `How much","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "-- OUCH!` Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers. `NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!` cried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the witch, but Scabbers, shot from between her hands like a bar","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "door. `Scabbers!` Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry followed. It took them nearly ten minutes to catch Scabbers,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "who had taken refuge under a wastepaper bin outside Quality Quidditch Supplies.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Ron stuffed the trembling rat back into his pocket and straightened up,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "massaging his head. `What was that?` `It was either a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "very big cat or quite a small tiger,` said Harry. `Where's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione?` `Probably getting her owl They made their way back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "up the crowded street to the Magical Menagerie. As they reached it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione came out, but she wasn't carrying an owl. Her arms were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "clamped tightly around the enormous ginger cat. `You bought that monster?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "said Ron, his mouth hanging open. `He's gorgeous, isn't he?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione, glowing. That was a matter of opinion, thought Harry. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "it had run headlong into a brick wall. Now that Scabbers was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "out of sight, however, the cat was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " `Herinione, that thing nearly scalped me!` said Ron. `He didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "mean to, did you, Crookshanks?` said Hermione. `And what about Scabbers?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. `He needs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "around?` `That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic,` said Hermione, slapping","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the small red bottle into Ron's hand. `And stop worrying, Crookshanks will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "one wanted him.` `Wonder why,` said Ron sarcastically as they set","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "off toward the Leaky Cauldron. They found Mr. Weasley sitting in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the bar, reading the Daily prophet. `Harry!` he said, smiling as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he looked up. `How are you?` `Fine, thanks,` said Harry as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he, Ron, and Hermione joined Mr. Weasley with A their shopping. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and Harry saw the now familiar","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "picture of Sirius Black staring up at him. `They still haven't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "caught him, then?` he asked. `No,` said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "grave. `They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to try and find him, but no luck so far.` `Would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "we get a reward if we caught him?` asked Ron. `It'd be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "good to get some more money --` `Don't be ridiculous, Ron,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. `Black's not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "who'll get him back, You mark my words.` At that moment","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "year at Hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "youngest child and only girl, Ginny. Ginny, who had always been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "very taken with Harry, seemed even more heartily embarrassed than usual when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "she saw him, perhaps because he had saved her life during their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "previous year at Hogwarts. She went very red and muttered `hello` without","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "looking at him. Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he and Harry had never met and said, `Harry. How nice to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "see you. `Hello, Percy,` said Harry, trying not to laugh. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "I hope you're well?` said Percy pompously, shaking hands. It was rather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "like being introduced to the mayor. `Very well, thanks --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`Harry!` said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`Simply splendid to see you, old boy --` `Marvelous,` said George,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. `Absolutely spiffing.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Percy scowled. `That's enough, now,` said Mrs. Weasley. `Mum!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Fred as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "too. `How really corking to see you --` `I said, that's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "enough,` said Mrs. Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. `Hello,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?` She pointed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. `Second Head Boy in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "family!` she said, swelling with pride. `And last,` Fred muttered under","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his breath. I don't doubt that,` said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`I notice they haven't made you two prefects.` `What do we","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "want to be prefects for?` said George, looking revolted at the very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "idea. `It'd take all the fun out of life.` Ginny giggled.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " `Yo u want to set a better example for your sister!` snapped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Mrs. Weasley. `Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Mother,` said Percy loftily. `I'm going up to change for dinner...` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "He disappeared and George heaved a sigh. `We tried to shut","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "him in a pyramid,` he told Harry. `But Mum spotted us.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Harry, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Hermione ate their way through five delicious courses. `How're we getting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?` asked Fred as they dug into a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "sumptuous chocolate pudding. `The Ministry's providing a couple of cars,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Mr. Weasley. Everyone looked up at him. `Why?` said Percy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "curiously. `It's because of you, Perce,` said George seriously. `And there'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them` `--","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "for Humongous Bighead,` said Fred. Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "snorted into their pudding. `Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Percy asked again, in a dignified voice. `Well, as we haven't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "got one anymore,` said Mr. Weasley, `-- and as I work","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "there, they're doing me a favor --` His voice was casual,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "but Harry couldn't help noticing that Mr. Weasley's ears had gone red,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "just like Ron's did when he was under Pressure. `Good thing,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "too,` said Mrs. Weasley briskly. `Do you realize how much luggage you've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Underground.... You are all packed, aren't you?` `Ron hasn't put all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "his new things in his trunk yet,` said Percy, in a long-suffering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "voice. `He's dumped them on my bed.` `You'd better go and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy. After","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "dinner everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one they made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "next day. Ron and Percy were next door to Harry. He had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "just closed and locked his own trunk when he heard angry voices","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "through the wall, and went to see what was going on. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "The door of number twelve was ajar and Percy was shouting. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`It was here, on the bedside table, I took it off for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "polishing `I haven't touched it, all right?` Ron roared back. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`What's up?` said Harry. `My Head Boy badge is gone,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Percy, rounding on Harry. `So's Scabbers's rat tonic,` said Ron, throwing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "things out of his trunk to look. `I think I might've left","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "it in the bar --` `You're not going anywhere till you've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "found my badge!` yelled Percy. `I'll get Scabbers's stuff, I'm packed,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry said to Ron, and he went downstairs. Harry was halfway","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "along the passage to the bar, which was now very dark, when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he heard another pair of angry voices coming from the parlor. A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "second later, he recognized them as Mr. and Mrs. Weasleys'. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "hesitated, not wanting them to know he'd heard them arguing, when the sound","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of his own name made him stop, then move closer to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "parlor door. `--makes no sense not to tell him,` Mr. Weasley","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "was saying heatedly. `Harry's got a right to know. I've tried to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "thirteen years old and --` `Arthur, the truth would terrify him!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "said Mrs. Weasley shrilly. `Do you really want to send Harry back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's happy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "not knowing!` `I don't want to make him miserable, I want","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to put him on his guard!` retorted Mr. Weasley. `You know what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves -- they've ended","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "up in the Forbidden Forest twice! But Harry mustn't do that this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "year! When I think what could have happened to him that night","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "up, I'm prepared to bet he would have been dead before the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Ministry found him.` `But he's not dead, he's fine, so what's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the point `Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "supposed to be impossible. It's been three weeks, and no one's seen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " `But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts.` `We thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "can break into Hogwarts.` `But no one's really sure that Black's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "after Harry There was a thud on wood, and Harry was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "sure Mr. Weasley had banged his fist on the table. `Molly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "that Blacks been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to pow er. Black lost everything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the night Harry stopped You- Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "in Azkaban to brood on that....` There was a silence. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "leaned still closer to the door, desperate to hear more. `Well,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Dumbledore's headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?` `Of course","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "happy about it, but he agreed.` `Not happy? Why shouldn't he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "be happy, if they're there to catch Black?` `Dumbledore isn't fond","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "of the Azkaban guards,` said Mr. Weasley heavily. `Nor am 1, if it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "comes to that... but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "`If they save Harry then I will never say another word against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "them, said Mr. Weasley wearily. `It's late, Molly, we'd better go up....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " Harry heard chairs move. As quietly as he could, he hurried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "down the passage to the bar and out of sight. The parlor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "door opened, and a few seconds later footsteps told him that Mr.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "and Mrs. Weasley were climbing the stairs. The bottle of rat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "tonic was lying under the table they had sat at earlier. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "waited until he heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's bedroom door close, then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "headed back upstairs with the bottle. Fred and George were crouching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to Percy dismantling his and Ron's room in search of his badge.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " `We've got it,` Fred whispered to Harry. `We've been improving it.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " The badge now read Bighead Boy. Harry forced a laugh,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "went to give Ron the rat tonic, then shut himself in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "room and lay down on his bed. So Sirius Black was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "after him. This explained everything. Fudge had been lenient with him because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he was so relieved to find him alive. He'd made Harry promise","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to stay in Diagon Alley where there were plenty of wizards to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "keep an eye on him. And he was sending two Ministry cars","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to take them all to the station tomorrow, so that the Weasleys","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "could look after Harry until he was on the train. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "lay listening to the muffled shouting next door and wondered why he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "didn't feel more scared. Sirius Black had murdered thirteen people with one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "curse; Mr. and Mrs, Weasley obviously thought Harry would be panic-stricken if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he knew the truth. But Harry happened to agree wholeheartedly with Mrs.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Weasley that the safest place on earth was wherever Albus Dumbledore happened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to be. Didn't people always say that Dumbledore was the only person","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Lord Voldemort had ever been afraid of? Surely Black, as Voldemort's right-hand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "man, would be just as frightened of him? And then there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "were these Azkaban guards everyone kept talking about. They seemed to scare","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "most people senseless, and if they were stationed all around the school,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "Black's chances of getting inside seemed very remote. No, all in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "all, the thing that bothered Harry most was the fact that his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "chances of visiting Hogsmeade now looked like zero. Nobody would want Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "to leave the safety of the castle until Black was caught; in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "fact, Harry suspected his every move would be carefully watched until the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "danger had passed. He scowled at the dark ceiling. Did they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "think he couldn't look after himself? He'd escaped Lord Voldemort three times;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "he wasn't completely useless.... Unbidden, the image of the beast in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "the shadows of Magnolia Crescent crossed his mind. What to do when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "you know the worst is coming... `I'm not going to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" "murdered,` Harry said out loud. `That's the spirit, dear,` said his mirror sleepily.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-4" " THE DEMENTOR Tom woke Harry the next morning with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea. Harry got dressed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and was just persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "cage when Ron banged his way into the room, pulling a sweatshirt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "over his head and looking irritable. `The sooner we get on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the train, the better,` he said. `At least I can get away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "from Percy at Hogwarts. Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know,` Ron grimaced, `his girlfriend. She's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "blotchy...` `I've got something to tell you,` Harry began, but they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Ron on infuriating Percy again. They headed down to breakfast, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Mr. Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a furrowed brow and Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "them were rather giggly. `What were you saying?` Ron asked Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "as they sat down. `Later,` Harry muttered as Percy stormed in.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " Harry had no chance to speak to Ron or Hermione in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the chaos of leaving; they were too busy heaving all their trunks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling them up near the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "door, with Hedwig and Hermes, Percy's screech owl, perched on top in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "their cages. A small wickerwork basket stood beside the heap of trunks,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "spitting loudly. `It's all right, Crookshanks,` Hermione cooed through the wickerwork.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`I'll let you out on the train.` `You won't,` snapped Ron.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`What about poor Scabbers, eh?` He pointed at his chest, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "stuck his head inside. `They're here, he said. `Harry, come on.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " Mr. Weasley marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the first of two old- fashioned dark green cars, each of which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `In you get, Harry,` said Mr. Weasley, glancing up and down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the crowded street. Harry got into the back of the car","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and was shortly joined by Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "trip on the Knight Bus. The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "ordinary. though Harry noticed that they could slide through gaps that Uncle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Vernon's new company car certainly couldn't have managed. They reached King's Cross","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "at the traffic lights. Mr. Weasley kept close to Harry's elbow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "all the way into the station. `Right then,` he said, glancing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "around them. `Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "of us. I'll go through first with Harry.` Mr. Weasley strolled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "platform nine. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leaned casually against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the barrier. Harry imitated him. In a moment, they had fallen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three- quarters and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine, puffing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "onto the train. Percy and Ginny suddenly appeared behind Harry. They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "were panting and had apparently taken the barrier at a run. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Ah, there's Penelope!` said Percy, smoothing his hair and going Pink again. Ginny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "caught Harry's eye, and they both turned away to hide their laughter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "as Percy strode over to a girl with long, curly hair, walking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "badge. stood back to let him on. They leaned out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "window and waved at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley until the train turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a corner and blocked them from view. `I need to talk","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to you in private,` Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione as the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "train picked up speed. `Go away, Ginny,` said Ron. `Oh,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "that's nice,` said Ginny huffily, and she stalked off. Harry, Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "but all were full except for the one at the very end","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "of the train. This had only one occupant, a man sitting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "fast asleep next to the window. Harry, Ron, and Hermione checked on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "pushed the food cart. The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "flecked with gray. `Who d'you reckon he is?` Ron hissed as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats farthest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "away from the window. `Professor R. J. Lupin,` whispered Hermione at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "once. `How d'you know that?` `It's on his case,` she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "one corner in peeling letters. `Wonder what he teaches?` said Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "frowning at Professor Lupin's pallid profile. `That's obvious,` whispered Hermione. `There's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against the Dark Arts.` Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Ron, and Hermione had already had two Defense Against the Dark Arts","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year. There were rumors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "that the job was jinxed. `well, I hope he's up to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "it,` said Ron doubtfully. `He looks like on, good hex would finish","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "him off, doesn't he? Anyway...` He turned to Harry. `What were you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "going to tell us?` Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Weasley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley had just given him. \When","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands over her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "mouth. She finally lowered them to say, `Sirius Black escaped to come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "after you? Oh, Harry... you'll have to be really, really careful. don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "go looking for trouble, Harry --` `I Don't go looking for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "trouble,` said Harry, nettled. `Trouble usually finds me.` `How thick would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry have to be, to go looking for a nutter who wants","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to kill him?` said Ron shakily. They were taking the news","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "worse than Harry had expected. Both Ron and Hermione seemed to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "much more frightened of Black than he was. `No one knows","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "how he got out of Azkaban,` said Ron uncomfortably. `No one's ever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too.` `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "they'll catch him, won't they?` said Hermione earnestly. `I Mean, they've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "all the Muggles looking out for him too....` `What's that noise?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Ron suddenly. A faint, tinny sort of whistle was coming from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "somewhere. The, looked all around the compartment. `It's coming from your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "trunk, Harry,` said Ron, standing UP and reaching into the luggage rack.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "A moment later he had pulled the Pocket Sneakoscope out from between","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry's robes. It was spinning very fast in the palm of Ron's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "hand and glowing brilliantly. `Is that a Sneakoscope?` said Hermione interestedly, standing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "up for a better look. `Yeah... mind you, it's a very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "cheap one,` Ron said. `It went haywire just as I was tying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry.` `Were you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "doing anything untrustworthy at the time?` said Hermione shrewdly. `No! Well...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "up to long journeys... but how else was I supposed to get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry's present to him?` `Stick it back in the trunk,` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "advised as the Sneakoscope whistled piercingly, `or it'll wake him up.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "He nodded toward Professor Lupin. Ron stuffed the Sneakoscope into a particularly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "horrible pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks, which deadened the sound, then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "closed the lid of the trunk on it. `We could get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "it checked in Hogsmeade,` said Ron, sitting back down. `They sell that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "sort of thing in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff. Fred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and George told me.` `Do you know much about Hogsmeade?` asked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Hermione keenly. `I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "--` `Yeah, I think it is,` said Ron in an offhand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "sort of way. `But that's not Why I want to go.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "I just want to get inside Honey Dukes.` `What's that?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Hermione. `It's this sweetshop,` said Ron, a dreamy look coming over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "his face, `where they've got everything... Pepper Imps -- they make you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "smoke at the mouth -- and great fat Chocoballs full of strawberry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "mousse and clotted cream, and really excellent sugar quills, which you can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "suck in class and just look like you're thinking what to write","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "next --` `But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "pressed on eagerly. `In Sites of Historical Sorcery it says the inn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion, and the Shrieking Shades","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "supposed to be the most severely haunted building in Britain --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`-- and massive sherbert balls that make you levitate a few inches","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "off the ground while you're sucking them,` said Ron, who was plainly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "not listening to a word Hermione was saying. Hermione looked around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "at Harry. `Won't it be nice to get out of school","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?` `'Spect it will,` said Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "heavily. `You'll have to tell me when You've found out.` `What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "d'you mean?` said Ron. `I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either.` Ron looked horrified. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "``You're not allowed to come? But -- no way -- McGonagall or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "someone will give you permission -- ` musclely; Crabbe was taller, with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a pudding-bowl haircut and a very thick neck; Goyle had short, bristly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "hair and long, gorilla-ish arms. `Well, look who it is,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Malfoy in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. `Potty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and the Weasel.` Crabbe and Goyle chuckled trollishly. `I heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "said Malfoy. `Did your mother die of shock?` Ron stood up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a snort. `Who's that?` said Malfoy, taking an automatic step backward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "as he spotted Lupin. `New teacher,` said Harry, who got to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "his feet, too, in case he needed to hold Ron back. `What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "were you saying, Malfoy?` Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose. `C'mon,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles. `I'm not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "going to take any crap from Malfoy this year,` he said angrily.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "I'm going to get hold of his head and --` Ron made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a violent gesture in midair. `Ron,` hissed Hermione, pointing at Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Lupin, `be careful...` But Professor Lupin was still fast asleep. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "were now a solid, shimmering gray, which graduily darkened until lanterns flickered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "train rattled, the rain hammered, the ind roared, but still, Professor Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "slept. `We must be nearly there,` said Ron, leaning forward to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "look past Professor Lupin at the now completely black window. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `Great,` said Ron, getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to try and see outside. `I'm starving. I want to get to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the feast.... `We can't be there yet,` said Hermione, checking her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "watch. `So why're we stopping?` The train was getting slower","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. Harry, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was nearest the door, got up to look into the corridor. All","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "into total darkness. `'What's going on?` said Ron's voice from behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry. `Ouch!` gasped Hermione. `Ron, that was my foot!` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "felt his way back to his seat. `D'you think we've broken","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "down?` `Dunno...` There was a squeaking sound, and Harry saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the dim black outline of Ron, wiping a patch clean on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "window and peering out. `There's something moving out there,` Ron said.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`I think people are coming aboard....` The compartment door suddenly opened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs. `Sorry -- d'you know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "what's going on? -- Ouch -- sorry `Hullo, Neville,` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville up by his cloak.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `Harry? Is that you? What's happening?` `No idea -- sit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "down --` There was a loud hissing and a yelp of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks. `I'm going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "go and ask the driver what's going on,` came Hermione's voice. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "felt her pass him, heard the door slide open again, and then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a thud and two loud squeals of pain. `Who's that?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Who's that?` `Ginny?` `Hermione?` `What are you doing?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`I was looking for Ron --` `Come in and sit down --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `Not here!` said Harry hurriedly. `I'm here!` `Ouch!` said Neville.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `Quiet!` said a hoarse voice suddenly. Professor Lupin appeared to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "have woken up at last. Harry could hear movements in his corner.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " None of them spoke. There was a soft, crackling noise,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "his eyes looked alert and wary. `Stay where you are,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was completely hidden beneath its hood. Harry's eyes darted downward, and what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "he saw made his stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "dead that had decayed in water... But it was visible only for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "cloak. And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It was inside his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "chest, it was inside his very heart.... Harry's eyes rolled up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "into his head. He couldn't see. He was drowning in cold. There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder. . And then, from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "far away, he heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams. He wanted to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "help whoever it was, he tried to move his arms, but couldn't...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him - ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Harry! Harry! Are you all right?` Someone was slapping his face.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `W -- what?` Harry opened his eyes; there were lanterns","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "above him, and the floor was shaking -- the Hogwarts Express was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "moving again and the lights had come back on. He seemed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "have slid out of his seat onto the floor. Ron and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "were kneeling next to him, and above them he could see Neville","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and Professor Lupin watching. Harry felt very sick; when he put up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "his hand to push his glasses back on, he felt cold sweat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "on his face. Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "seat. `Are you okay?` Ron asked nervously. `Yeah,` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "looking quickly toward the door. The hooded creature had vanished. `What happened?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Where's that -- that thing? Who screamed?` `No one screamed,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Ron, more nervously still. Harry looked around the bright compartment. Ginny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and Neville looked back at him, both very pale. `But I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "heard screaming --` A loud snap made them all jump. Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces. `Here,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece. `Eat it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "It'll help.` Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`What was that thing?` he asked Lupin. `A dementor,` said Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who was now giving chocolate to everyone else. `One of the dementors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "of Azkaban.` Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket. `Eat,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "repeated. `It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " He strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor. `Are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "you sure you're okay, Harry?` said Hermione, watching Harry anxiously. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Don't get it.... What happened?` said Harry, wiping more sweat off his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "face. `Well -- that thing -- the dementor -- stood there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "its face) -- and you -- you `I thought you were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "having a fit or something,` said Ron, who still looked scared. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "twitching -- 11 `And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "toward the dementor, and pulled out his wand,` said Hermione, `and he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "But the dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and sort of glided away.... ` `It was horrible,` said Neville,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "in a higher voice than usual. `Did YOU feel how cold it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "got when it came in?` I felt weird,` said Ron, shifting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "his shoulders uncomfortably. `Like I'd never be cheerful again....` Ginny, who was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a small sob; Hermione went over and put a comforting arm around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "her. `But didn't any of you -- fall off your seats?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "said Harry awkwardly. `No,` said Ron, looking anxiously at Harry again.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Ginny was shaking like mad, though....` Harry didn't understand. He felt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "weak and shivery, as though he were recovering from a bad bout","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "of flu; he also felt the beginnings of shame. Why had he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "gone to pieces like that, when no one else had? Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Lupin had come back. He paused as he entered, looked around, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "said, with a small smile, `I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " Harry took a bite and to his great surprise felt warmth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes. `We'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "be at Hogwarts in ten minutes,` said Professor Lupin. `Are you all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "right, Harry?` Harry didn't ask how Professor Lupin knew his name.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `Fine,` he muttered, embarrassed. They didn't talk much during the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "station, and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "cats meowed, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "icy sheets. `Firs' years this way!` called a familiar voice. Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Ron, and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "for their traditional journey across the lake. `All right, you three?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. They waved at him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "people around them was shunting them away along the platform. Harry, Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "and Hermione followed the rest of the school along the platform and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "awaited the remaining students, each pulled, Harry could only assume, by an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "invisible horse, because when they climbed inside and shut the door, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "coach set off all by itself, bumping and swaying in procession. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. Harry felt better since","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the chocolate, but still weak. Ron and Hermione kept looking at him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "sideways, as though frightened he might collapse again. As the carriage","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "columns topped with winged boars, Harry saw two more towering, hooded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness threatened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to engulf him again; he leaned back into the lumpy seat and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "closed his eyes until they had passed the gates. The carriage picked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Hermione and Ron got out. As Harry stepped down, a drawling,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "delighted voice sounded in his ear. `You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottorn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "telling the truth? You actualy fainted?` Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously. `Shove off, Malfoy,` said Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "whose jaw was clenched. `Did you faint as well, Weasley?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Malfoy loudly. `Did the scary old dementor frighten you too, Weasley?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Is there a problem?` said a mild voice. Professor Lupin had just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "gotten out of the next carriage. Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "delapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "said, `Oh, no -- er -- Professor,` then he smirked at Crabbe and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle. Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the three","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "oak front doors, into the cavernous entrance hall, which was lit with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "upper floors. The door into the Great Hall stood open at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "called, `Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!` Harry and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "House, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "sternlooking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "eyes were framed with square spectacles. Harry fought his way over to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "her with a feeling of foreboding: Professor McGonagall had a way of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "making him feel he must have done something wrong. `There's no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "need to look so worried -- I just want a word in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "MY office,` she told them. `Move along there, Weasley.` Ron stared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry and Hermione away from the chattering crowd;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "along a corridor. Once they were in her office, a small","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned Harry and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "ill on the train, Potter.` Before Harry could reply, there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "bustling in. Harry felt himself going red in the face. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "was bad enough that he'd passed out, or whatever he had done,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "without everyone making all this fuss. `I'm fine,` he said, `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "don't need anything `Oh, it's you, is it?` said Madam Pomfrey,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him. `I suppose","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "you've been doing something dangerous again?` `It was a dementor, Poppy,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "said Professor McGonagall. They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "clucked disapprovingly. `Setting dementors around a school, she muttered, pushing back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry's hair and feeling his forehead. `He won't be the last one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who collapses. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "effect they have on people who are already delicate `I'm not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "delicate!` said Harry crossly. `Of course you're not,` said Madam Pomfrey","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "absentmindedly, now taking his pulse. `What does he need?` said Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "McGonagall crisply. `Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "wing?` `I'm fine!` said Harry, jumping up. The thought of what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Draco Malfoy would say if he had to go to the hospital","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "wing was torture. `Well, he should have some chocolate, at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "very least,` said Madam Pomfrey, who was now trying to peer into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry's eyes. `I've already had some,` said Harry. `Professor Lupin gave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "me some. He gave it to all of us.` `Did he,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "now?` said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. `So we've finally got a Defense Against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies?` `Are you sure","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "you feel all right, Potter?` Professor McGonagall said sharply. `Yes, `said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry. `Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "word with Miss Granger about her course schedule, then we can go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "down to the feast together.` Harry went back into the corridor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "with Madam Pomfrey, who left for the hospital wing, muttering to herself","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "He had to wait only a few minutes; then Hermione emerged looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "very happy about something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the three of them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "midair. Professor Flitwick, who was a tiny little wizard with a shock","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "of white hair, was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "out of the hall. `Oh,` said Hermione softly, `we've missed the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Sorting!` New students at Hogwarts were sorted into Houses by trying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "on the sorting Hat, which shouted out the House they were best","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "suited to (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin). Professor McGonagall strode off toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry and Hermione set","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, toward the Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "table. People looked around at them as they passed along the back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "of the hall, and a few of them pointed at Harry. Had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the story of his collapsing in front of the dementor traveled that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "fast? He and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who had saved them seats. `What was all that about?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "muttered to Harry. Harry started to explain in a whisper, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "at that moment the headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "off. Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked nose. He was often described as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the greatest wizard of the age, but that wasn't why Harry respected","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "him. You couldn't help trusting Albus Dumbledore, and as Harry watched him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "beaming around at the students, he felt really calm for the first","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "time since the dementor had entered the train compartment. `Welcome!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. `Welcome to another year at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "as one of them is very serious, I think it best to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "excellent feast....` Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, `As you will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "are here on Ministry of Magic business.` He paused, and Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "remembered what Mr. Weasley had said about Dumbledore not being happy with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the dementors guarding the school. `They are stationed at every entrance","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to the grounds,` Dumbledore continued, `and while they are with us, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises -- or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "even Invisibility Cloaks,` he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "each other. `It is not in the nature of a dementor to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "that no student runs afoul of the dementors,` he said. Percy,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who was sitting a few seats down from Harry, puffed out his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`On a happier note,` he continued, I am pleased to welcome two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "new teachers to our ranks this year. `First, Professor Lupin, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Arts teacher.` There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the other teachers in their best robes. `Look at Snape!` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "hissed in Harry's ear. Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Snape ,anted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "face. it was beyond anger: it was loathing. Harry knew that expression","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "set eyes on Harry. `As to our second new appointment,` Dumbledore","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. `Well, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to his gamekeeping duties.` Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "another, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who was ruby-red in the face and staring down at his enormous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " `We should've known!` Ron roared, pounding the table. `Who else would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "have assigned us a biting book?` Harry, Ron, and Hermione were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Well, I think that's everything of importance,` said Dumbledore. `Let the feast","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "begin!` The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "food and drink. Harry, suddenly ravenous, helped himself to everything he could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "reach and began to eat. It was a delicious feast; the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were eager for it to finish so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "that they could talk to Hagrid. They knew how much being made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "a teacher would mean to him. Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "crime he had not committed. It had been Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "who had cleared Hagrid's name last year. At long last, when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "go to bed, and they got their chance. `Congratulations, Hagrid!` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "squealed as they reached the teachers' table. `All down ter you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "three,` said Hagrid, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "looked up at them., `Can' believe it... great man, Dumbledore... came straight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough.... It's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "what I always wanted. --` Overcome with emotion, he buried his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away. Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Ron, and Hermione joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "very tired now, along more corridors, UP more and more stairs, to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower's large portrait of a fat lady","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "in a pink dress asked them, `Password?` `Coming through, coming through!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "Percy called from behind the crowd. `The new password's 'Fortuna Major'!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "`Oh no,` said Neville Longbottom sadly. He always had trouble remembering the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "passwords. Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases. Harry climbed the spiral","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "stair with no thought in his head except how glad he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "to be back. They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its five","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" "four-poster beds, and Harry, looking around, felt he was home at last. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-5" " TALONS AND TEA LEAVES When Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next day, the first thing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "they saw was Draco Malfoy, who seemed to be entertaining a large","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "group of Slytherins with a very funny story. As they passed, Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "did a ridiculous impression of a swooning fit and there was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "roar of laughter. `Ignore him,` said Hermione, who was right behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry. `Just ignore him, it's not worth it....` `Hey, Potter!` shrieked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl with a face like a pug. `Potter!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "The dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooooooo!` Harry dropped into a seat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "at the Gryffindor table, next to George Weasley. `New third-year course","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "schedules,` said George, passing then, over. `What's up with you, Harry?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Malfoy,` said Ron, sitting down on George's other side and glaring over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "at the Slytherin table. George looked up in time to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Malfoy pretending to faint with terror again. `That little git,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said calmly. `He wasn't so cocky last night when the dementors were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "down at our end of the train. Came runing into our compartment,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "didn't he, Fred?` `Nearly wet himself,` said Fred, with a contemptuous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "glance at Malfoy. `I wasn't too happy myself,` said George. `They're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "horrible things, those dementors....` `Sort of freeze your insides, don't they?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Fred. `You didn't pass out, though, did you?` said Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "in a low voice. `Forget it, Harry,` said George bracingly. `Dad","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "had to go out to Azkaban one time, remember, Fred? And he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said it was the worst place he'd ever been, he came back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "all weak and shaking.... They suck the happiness out of a place,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "dementors. Most of the prisoners go mad in there.` `Anyway, we'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "see how happy Malfoy looks after our first Quidditch match,` said Fred.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Gryffindor versus Slytherin, first game of the season, remember?` The only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "time Harry and Malfoy had faced each other in a Quidditch match,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Malfoy had definitely come off worse. Feeling slightly more cheerful, Harry helped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "himself to sausages and fried tomatoes. Hermione was examining her new","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "schedule. ` Ooh, good, we're starting some new subjects today,` she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said happily. villains are these, that trespass upon my private lands! Come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "I. scorn at my fall, perchance? Draw, you knaves, you dogs!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "They watched in astonishment as the little knight tugged his sword out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of its scabbard and began brandishing it violently, hopping up and down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "in rage. But the sword was too long for him; a particularly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "wild swing made him overbalance, and he landed facedown in the grass.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Are you all right?` said Harry, moving closer to the picture.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Get back, you scurvy braggart! Back, you rogue!` The knight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "seized his sword again and used it to push himself back up,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "but the blade sank deeply into the grass and, though he pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "with all his might, he couldn't get it out again. Finally, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "had to flop back down onto the grass and push up his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "visor to mop his sweating face. `Listen,` said Harry, taking advantage","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of the knight's exhaustion, `we're looking for the North Tower. You don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "know the way, do you?` `A quest!` The knight's rage seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to vanish instantly. He clanked to his feet and shouted, `Come follow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "me, dear friends, and we shall find our goal, or else shall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "perish bravely in the charge!` He gave the sword another fruitless","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "tug, tried and failed to mount the fat pony, gave up, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "cried, `On foot then, good sirs and gentle lady! On! On!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "And he ran, clanking loudly, into the left side of the frame","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and out of sight. They hurried after him along the corridor,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "following the sound of his armor. Every now and then they spotted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "him running through a picture ahead. `Be of stout heart, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "worst is yet to come!` yelled the knight, and they saw him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "reappear in front of an alarmed group of women in crinolines, whose","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "picture hung on the wall of a narrow spiral staircase. Puffing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "loudly, Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed the tightly spiraling steps, getting dizzier","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and dizzier, until at last they heard the murmur of voices above","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "them and knew they had reached the classroom. `Farewell!` cried the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "knight, popping his head into a painting of some sinister-looking monks. `Farewell,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "my comrades-in-arms! If ever you have need of noble heart and steely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "sinew, call upon Sir Cadogan!` `Yeah, we'll call you,` muttered Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "as the knight disappeared, `if we ever need someone mental.` They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "climbed the last few steps and emerged onto a tiny landing, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "most of the class was already assembled. There were no doors off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "this landing, but Ron nudged Harry and pointed at the ceiling, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "there was a circular trapdoor with a brass plaque on it. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`'Sibyll Trelawney, Divination teacher,`' Harry read. `How're we supposed to get up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "there?` As though in answer to his question, the trapdoor suddenly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "opened, and a silvery ladder descended right at Harry's feet. Everyone got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "quiet. `After you,` said Ron, grinning, so Harry climbed the ladder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "first. He emerged into the strangest-looking classroom he had ever seen.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "In fact, it didn't look like a classroom at all, more like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a cross between someone's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. At leasttwenty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "small, circular tables were crammed inside it, all surrounded by chintz armchairs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and fat little poufs. Everything was lit with a dim, crimson light;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the curtains at the windows were all closed, and the many lamps","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "were draped with dark red scarves. it was stiflingly warm, and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "fire that was burning under the crowded mantelpiece was giving off a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "heavy, sickly sort of perfume as it heated a large copper kettle.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "The shelves running around the circular walls were crammed with dusty-looking feathers,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "stubs of candles, many packs of tattered playing cards, countless silvery crystal","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "balls, and a huge array of teacups. Ron appeared at Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "shoulder as the class assembled around them, all talking in whispers. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Where is she?` Ron said. A voice came suddenly out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the shadows, a soft, misty sort of voice. `Welcome,` it said.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`How nice to see you in the physical world at last.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry's immediate impression was of a large, glittering insect. Professor Trelawney moved","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "into the firelight, and they saw that she was very thin; her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "large glasses magnified her eyes to several times their natural size, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "she was draped in a gauzy spangled shawl. Innumerable chains and beads","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "hung around her spindly neck, and her arms and hands were encrusted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "with bangles and rings. `Sit, my children, sit,` she said, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "they all climbed awkwardly into armchairs or sank onto poufs. Harry, Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and Hermione sat themselves around the same round table. `Welcome to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Divination,` said Professor Trelawney, who had seated herself in a winged armchair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "in front of the fire. `My name is professor Trelawney. You may","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " Nobody said anything to this extraordinary pronouncement. Professor Trelawney delicately rearranged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "her shawl and continued, `So you have chosen to study Divination, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "little I will be able to teach you.. Books can take you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "only so far in this field....` At these words, both Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and Ron glanced, grinning, at Hermione, who looked startled at the news that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "books wouldn't be much help in this subject. `Many witches and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "smells and sudden disappearings, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of the future,` Professor Trelawney went on, her enormous, gleaming eyes moving","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "from face to nervous face. `It is a Gift granted to few.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "You, boy,` she said suddenly to Neville, who almost toppled off his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "pouf. `Is your grandmother well?` `I think so,` said Neville tremulously.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Professor Trelawney, the firelight glinting on her long emerald earrings. Neville gulped.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Professor Trelawney continued placidly. `We will be covering the basic methods of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Divination this year. The first term will be devoted to reading the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "tea leaves. Next term we shall progress to palmistry. By the way,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "my dear,` she shot suddenly at Parvati Patil, `beware a red-haired man.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " Parvati gave a startled look at Ron, who was right behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "her and edged her chair away from him. `In the second","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "term,` Professor Trelawney went on, `we shall progress to the crystal ball","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "-- if we have finished with fire omens, that is. Unfortunately, classes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "myself will lose my voice. And around Easter, one of our number","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "will leave us forever.` A very tense silence followed this pronouncement,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "but Professor Trelawney seemed unaware of it. `I wonder, dear,` she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said to Lavender Brown, who was nearest and shrank back in her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "chair, `if you could pass me the largest silver teapot?` Lavender,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "looking relieved, stood up, took an enormous teapot from the shelf, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "put it down on the table in front of Professor Trelawney. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Thank you, my dear. Incidentally, that thing you are dreading -- it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "will happen on Friday the sixteenth of October.` Lavender trembled. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Now, I want you all to divide into pairs. Collect a teacup","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "from the shelf, come to me, and I will fill it. Then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "sit down and drink, drink until only the dregs remain. Swill these","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "around the cup three times with the left hand, then turn the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "cup upside down on its saucer, wait for the last of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "tea to drain away, then give your cup to your partner to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "read. You will interpret the patterns using pages five and six of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Unfogging the Future. I shall move among you, helping and instructing. Oh,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and dear` -- she caught Neville by the arm as he made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to stand up -- `after you've broken your first cup, would you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "be so kind as to select one of the blue patterned ones?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "I'm rather attached to the pink.` Sure enough, Neville had no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "sooner reached the shelf of teacups when there was a tinkle of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "breaking china. Professor Trelawney swept over to him holding a dustpan and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "brush and said, `One of the blue ones, then, dear, if you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "wouldn't mind... thank you. ... ` When Harry and Ron had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "had their teacups filled, they went back to their table and tried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to drink the scalding tea quickly. They swilled the dregs around as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Professor Trelawney had instructed, then drained the cups and swapped over. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Right,` said Ron as they both opened their books at pages five","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and six. `What can you see in mine?` `A load of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "soggy brown stuff,` said Harry. The heavily perfumed smoke in the room","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "was making him feel sleepy and stupid. `Broaden your minds, my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!` Professor Trelawney","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "cried through the gloom. Harry tried to pull himself together. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Right, you've got a crooked sort of cross... ` He consulted Unfogging","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the Future. `That means you're going to have 'trials and suffering' --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "sorry about that -- but there's a thing that could be the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "sun... hang on... that means 'great happiness'... so you're going to suffer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "but be very happy....` `You need your Inner Eye tested, if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "you ask me,` said Ron, and they both had to stifle their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "laughs as Professor Trelawney gazed in their direction. `My turn...` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "peered into Harry's teacup, his forehead wrinkled with effort. `There's a blob","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a bit like a bowler hat,` he said. `Maybe you're going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "work for the Ministry of Magic... He turned the teacup the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "other way up. `But this way it looks more like an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "acorn.... What's that?` He scanned his copy of Unfogging the Future. `'A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "windfall, unexpected gold.' Excellent, you can lend me some... and there's a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "thin, here,` he turned the cup again, `that looks like an animal...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "yeah, if that was its head... it looks like a hippo... no,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a sheep...` Professor Trelawney whirled around as Harry let out a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "snort of laughter. `Let me see that, my dear,` she said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "reprovingly to Ron, sweeping over and snatching Harry's cup from him. Everyone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "went quiet to watch. Professor Trelawney was staring into the teacup,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "rotating it counterclockwise. `The falcon... my dear, you have a deadly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "enemy.` `But everyone knows that, ` said Hermione in a loud","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "whisper. Professor Trelawney stared at her. `Well, they do,` said Hermione.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Everybody knows about Harry and You-Know-Who.` Harry and Ron stared at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "her with a mixture of amazement and admiration. They had never heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hermione speak to a teacher like that before. Professor Trelawney chose not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to reply. She lowered her huge eyes to Harry's cup again and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "continued to turn it. `The club... an attack. Dear, dear, this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "is not a happy cup.... I thought that was a bowler","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "hat,` said Ron sheepishly. `The skull... danger in your path, my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "dear....` Everyone was staring, transfixed, at Professor Trelawney, who gave the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "cup a final turn, gasped, and then screamed. There was another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "tinkle of breaking china; Neville had smashed his second cup. Professor Trelawney","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "sank into a vacant armchair, her glittering hand at her heart and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "her eyes closed. `My dear boy... my poor, dear boy no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "it is kinder not to say.. . no... don't ask me....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`What is it, Professor?` said Dean Thomas at once. Everyone had got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to their feet, and slowly they crowded around Harry and Ron's table,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "pressing close to Professor Trelawney's chair to get a good look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "at Harry's cup. `My dear,` Professor Trelawney's huge eyes opened dramatically,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `You have the Grim.` `The what?` said Harry. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "could tell that he wasn't the only one who didn't understand; Dean","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Thomas shrugged at him and Lavender Brown looked puzzled, but nearly everybody","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "else clapped their hands to their mouths in horror. `The Grim,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "my dear, the Grim!` cried Professor Trelawney, who looked shocked that Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "hadn't understood. `The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "it is an omen -- the worst omen -- of death!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry's stomach lurched. That dog on the cover of Death Omens in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Flourish and Blotts -the dog in the shadows of Magnolia Crescent... Lavender","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Brown clapped her hands to her mouth too. Everyone was looking at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry, everyone except Hermione, who had gotten up and moved around to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the back of Professor Trelawney's chair. `I don't think it looks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "like a Grim,` she said flatly. Professor Trelawney surveyed Hermione with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "mounting dislike. `You'll forgive me for saying so, my dear, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "I perceive very little aura around you. Very little receptivity to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "resonances of the future.` Seamus Finnigan was tilting his head from side","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to side. `It looks like a Grim if you do this,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said, with his eyes almost shut, `but it looks more like a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "donkey from here,` he said, leaning to the left. `When you've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "all finished deciding whether I'm going to die Or not!` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "taking even himself by surprise. Now nobody seemed to want to look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "at him. `I think we will leave the lesson here for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "today,` said Professor Trelawney in her mistiest voice. `Yes... please pack away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "your things....` Silently the class took their teacups back to Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Trelawney, packed away their books, and closed their bags. Even Ron was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "avoiding Harry's eyes. `Until we meet again,` said Professor Trelawney faintly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`fair fortune be yours. Oh, and dear` -- she pointed at Neville","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "-- `you'll be late next time, so mind you work extra-hard to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "catch up.` Harry, Ron, and Hermione descended Professor Trelawney's ladder and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the winding stair in silence, then set off for Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "lesson. It took them so long to find her classroom that, early","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "as they had left Divination, they were only just in time. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry chose a seat right at the back of the room, feeling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "as though he were sitting in a very bright spotlight; the rest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of the class kept shooting furtive glances at him, as though he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "were about to drop dead at any moment. He hardly heard what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Professor McGonagall was telling them about Animagi (wizards who could transform at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "will into animals), and wasn't even watching when she transformed herself in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "front of their eyes into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "her eyes. `Really, what has got into you all today?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Professor McGonagall, turning back into herself with a faint pop, and staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "around at them all. `Not that it matters, but that's the first","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "time my transformation's not got applause from a class.` Everybody's heads","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "turned toward Harry again, but nobody spoke. Then Hermione raised her hand.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "were reading the tea leaves, and --` `Ah, of course,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning. `There is no need to say any","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "year?` Everyone stared at her. `Me,` said Harry, finally. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`I see,` said Professor McGonagall, fixing Harry with her beady eyes. `Then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "you should know, Potter, that Sibyll Trelawney has predicted the death of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "I never speak ill of my colleagues --` Professor McGonagall broke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "off, and they saw that her nostrils had gone white. She went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "on, more calmly, `Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "that if you die, you need not hand it in.` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "laughed. Harry felt a bit better. It was harder to feel scared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of a lump of tea leaves away from the dim red light","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and befuddling perfume of Professor Trelawney's classroom. Not everyone was convinced, however.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Ron still looked worried, and Lavender whispered, `But what about Neville's cup?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " When the Transfiguration class had finished, they joined the crowd thundering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "toward the Great Hall for lunch. `Ron, cheer up,` said Hermione,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "pushing a dish of stew toward him. `You heard what Professor McGonagall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said.` Ron spooned stew onto his plate and picked up his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "fork but didn't start. `Harry,` he said, in a low, serious","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "voice, `You haven't seen a great black dog anywhere, have you?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Yeah, I have,` said Harry. `I saw one the night I left","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the Dursleys'. ` Ron let his fork fall with a clatter.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Probably a stray,` said Hermione calmly. Ron looked at Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "as though she had gone mad. `Hermione, if Harry's seen a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Grim, that's -- that's bad,` he said. `My -- my uncle Bilius","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "saw one and -- and he died twenty-four hours later!` `Coincidence,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Hermione airily, pouring herself some pumpkin juice. `You don't know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "what you're talking about!` said Ron, starting to get angry. `Grims scare","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the living daylights out of most wizards!` `There you are, then,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Hermione in a superior tone. `They see the Grim and die","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of fright. The Grim's not an omen, it's the cause of death!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "And Harry's still with us because he's not stupid enough to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "one and think, right, well, I'd better kick the bucket then!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Ron mouthed wordlessly at Hermione, who opened her bag, took out her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "new Arithmancy book, and propped it open against the juice jug. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`I think Divination seems very woolly,` she said, searching for her page.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`A lot of guesswork, if you ask me.` `There was nothing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "woolly about the Grim in that cup!` said Ron hotly. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "didn't seem quite so confident when you were telling Harry it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a sheep,` said Hermione coolly. `Professor Trelawney said you didn't have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the right aura! You just don't like being bad at something for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a change!` He had touched a nerve. Hermione slammed her Arithmancy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "book down on the table so hard that bits of meat and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "carrot flew everywhere. `If being good at Divination means I have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to pretend to see death omens in a lump of tea leaves,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "I'm not sure I'll be studying it much longer! That lesson was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "absolute rubbish compared with my Arithmancy class!` She snatched up her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "bag and stalked away. Ron frowned after her. `What's she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "talking about?` he said to Harry. `She hasn't been to an Arithmancy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "class yet.` Harry was pleased to get out of the castle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "after lunch. Yesterday's rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "gray, and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as they set","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "off for their first ever Care of Magical Creatures class. Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and Hermione weren't speaking to each other. Harry walked beside them in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "silence as they went down the sloping lawns to Hagrid's hut on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was only when he spotted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "three only-too- familiar backs ahead of them that he realized they must","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "be having these lessons with the Slytherins. Malfoy was talking animatedly to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Crabbe and Goyle, who were chortling. Harry was quite sure he knew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "what they were talking about. Hagrid was waiting for his class","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "at the door of his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "with Fang the boarhound at his heels, looking impatient to start. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`C'mon, now, get a move on!` he called as the class approached.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "here? Right, follow me!` For one nasty moment, Harry thought that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hagrid was going to lead them into the forest; Harry had had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "enough unpleasant experiences in there to last him a lifetime. However, Hagrid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "they found themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "there. `Everyone gather 'round the fence here!` he called. `That's it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "-- make sure yeh can see -- now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "do is open yer books --` `How?` said the cold, drawling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "voice of Draco Malfoy. `Eh?` said Hagrid. `How do we","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "open our books?` Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of rope. Other people took theirs out too; some, like Harry, had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "belted their book shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "clamped them together with binder clips. `Hasn' -- hasn' anyone bin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "able ter open their books?` said Hagrid, looking crestfallen. The class","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "all shook their heads. `Yeh've got ter stroke 'em,` said Hagrid,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. `Look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "--` He took Hermione's copy and ripped off the Spellotape that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered, and then fell open","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and lay quiet in his hand. `Oh, how silly we've all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "been!` Malfoy sneered. `We should have stroked them! why didn't we guess!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `I -- I thought they were funny,` Hagrid said uncertainly to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hermione. `Oh, tremendously funny!` said Malfoy. `Really witty, giving us books","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "that try and rip our hands off!` `Shut up, Malfoy,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry quietly. Hagrid was looking downcast and Harry wanted Hagrid's first lesson","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to be a success. `Righ' then,` said Hagrid, who seemed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "have lost his thread, `so -- so yeh've got yer books an'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "-- an' - - now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on... ` He strode away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "from them into the forest and out of sight. `God, this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "place is going to the dogs,` said Malfoy loudly. `That oaf teaching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him `Shut","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "up, Malfoy,` Harry repeated. `Careful, Potter, there's a dementor behind you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Oooooooh!` squealed Lavender Brown, pointing toward the opposite side of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "paddock. Trotting toward them were a dozen of the most bizarre","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "creatures Harry had ever seen. They had the bodies, hind legs, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steel-colored beaks and large, brilliantly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "long and deadly looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Gee up, there!` he roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "toward the fence where the class stood. Everyone drew back slightly as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hagrid reached them and tethered the creatures to the fence. `Hippogriffs!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. `Beau'iful, aren' they?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry could sort of see what Hagrid meant. Once you got over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the first shock of seeing something that was, half horse, half bird,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "you started to appreciate the hippogriffs' gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to hair, each of them a different color: stormy gray, bronze, pinkish","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "roan, gleaming chestnut, and inky black. `So,` said Hagrid, rubbing his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "hands together and beaming around, `if yeh wan' ter come a bit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "nearer --` No one seemed to want to. Harry, Ron, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hermione, however, approached the fence cautiously. `Now, firs' thing yeh gotta","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud,` said Hagrid. `Easily offended, hippogriffs are.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "do.` Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle weren't listening; they were talking in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "an undertone and Harry had a nasty feeling they were plotting how","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "best to disrupt the lesson. `Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "ter make the firs' move,` Hagrid continued. `It's polite, see? Yeh walk","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "toward him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "yeh're allowed ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. `Right -- who wants","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "ter go first?` Most of the class backed farther away in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "answer. Even Harry, Ron, and Hermione had misgivings. The hippogriffs were tossing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "their fierce heads and flexing their powerful wings; they didn't seem to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "like being tethered like this. `No one?` said Hagrid, with a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "pleading look. `I'll do it,` said Harry. There was an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "intake of breath from behind him, and both Lavender and Parvati whispered,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Oooh, no, Harry, remember your tea leaves!` Harry ignored them. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "climbed over the paddock fence. `Good man, Harry!` roared Hagrid. `Right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "then -- let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak.` He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "untied one of the chains, pulled the gray hippogriff away from its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "fellows, and slipped off its leather collar. The class on the other","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath. Malfoy's eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "were narrowed maliciously. `Easy) now, Harry,` said Hagrid quietly. `Yeh've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "eye contact, now try not ter blink.... Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "yeh blink too much....` Harry's eyes immediately began to water, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he didn't shut thern. Buckbeak had turned his great, sharp head and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "was staring at Harry with one fierce orange eye. `Tha's it,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hagrid. `Tha's it, Harry... now, bow.` Harry didn't feel much like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "exposing the back of his neck to Buckbeak, but he did as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he was told. He gave a short bow and then looked up.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " The hippogriff was still staring haughtily at him. It didn't move.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Ah,` said Hagrid, sounding worried. `Right -- back away, now, Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "easy does it But then, to Harry's enormous surprise, the hippogriff","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "suddenly bent its scaly front knees and sank into what was an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "unmistakable bow. `Well done, Harry!` said Hagrid, ecstatic. `Right -- yeh","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!` Feeling that a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "better reward would have been to back away, Harry moved slowly toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the hippogriff and reached out toward it. He patted the beak several","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "times and the hippogriff closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " The class broke into applause, all except for Malfoy, Crabbe, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Goyle, who were looking deeply disappointed. `Righ' then, Harry,` said Hagrid.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`I reckon he might' let yeh ride him!` This was more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "than Harry had bargained for. He was used to a broomstick; but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he wasn't sure a hippogriff would be quite the same. `Yeh","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "climb up there, jus' behind the wing joint,` said Hagrid, `an' mind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "yeh don' pull any of his feathers out, he won' like that....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " Harry put his foot on the top of Buckbeaks wing and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "hoisted himself onto its back. Buckbeak stood up. Harry wasn't sure where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to hold on; everything in front of him was covered with feathers.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Go on, then'` roared Hagrid, slapping the hippogriffs hindquarters. Without","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "warning, twelve-foot wings flapped open on either side of Harry, he just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "had time to seize the hippogriff around the neck before he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "soaring upward. It was nothing like a broomstick, and Harry knew which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "one he preferred; the hippogriff's wings beat uncomfortably on either side of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "him, catching him under his legs and making him feel he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "about to be thrown off; the glossy feathers slipped under his fingers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and he didn't dare get a stronger grip; instead of the smooth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "action of his Nimbus Two Thousand, he now felt himself rocking backward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and forward as the hindquarters of the hippogriff rose and fell with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "its wings. Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "back to the ground; this was the bit Harry had been dreading;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he leaned back as the smooth neck lowered, feeling he was going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to slip off over the beak, then felt a heavy thud as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground. He just managed to hold","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "on and push himself straight again. `Good work, Harry!` roared Hagrid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "as everyone except Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle cheered. `Okay, who else wants","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a go?` Emboldened by Harry's success, the rest of the class","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "climbed cautiously into the paddock. Hagrid untied the hippogriffs one by one,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and soon people were bowing nervously, all over the paddock. Neville ran","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "repeatedly backward from his, which didn't seem to want to bend its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "knees. Ron and Hermione practiced on the chestnut, while Harry watched. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had taken over Buckbeak. He had bowed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Malfoy, who was now patting his beak, looking disdainful. `This is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "very easy,` Malfoy drawled, loud enough for Harry to, hear him. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "knew it must have been, if Potter could do it.... I bet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "you're not dangerous at all, are you?` he said to the hippogriff.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Are you, you great ugly brute?` It happened in a flash","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "of steely talons; Malfoy let out a highpitched scream and next moment,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hagrid was wrestling Buckbeak back into his collar as he strained to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "get at Malfoy, who lay curled in the grass, blood blossoming over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "his robes. `I'm dying!` Malfoy yelled as the class panicked. `I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "dying, look at me! It's killed me!` `Yer not dyin'!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hagrid, who had gone very white. `Someone help me -- gotta get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "him outta here --` Hermione ran to hold open the gate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "as Hagrid lifted Malfoy easily. As they passed, Harry saw that there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "was a long, deep gash on Malfoy's arm; blood splattered the grass","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and Hagrid ran with him, up the slope toward the castle. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Very shaken, the Care of Magical Creatures class followed at a walk.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "The Slytherins were all shouting about Hagrid. `They should fire him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "straight away!` said Pansy Parkinson, who was in tears. `It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Malfoy's fault!` snapped Dean Thomas. Crabbe and Goyle flexed their muscles threateningly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " They all climbed the stone steps into the deserted entrance hall.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `I'm going to see if he's okay!` said Pansy, and they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "all watched her run up the marble staircase. The Slytherins, still muttering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "about Hagrid, headed away in the direction of their dungeon common room;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione proceeded upstairs to Gryffindor Tower. `You think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he'll be all right?` said Hermione nervously. `Course he will. Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Pomfrey can mend cuts in about a second,` said Harry, who had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "had far worse injuries mended magically by the nurse. `That was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a really bad thing to happen in Hagrid's first class, though, wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "it?` said Ron, looking worried. `Trust Malfoy to mess things up for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "him....` They were among the first to reach the Great Hall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "at dinnertime, hoping to see Hagrid, but he wasn't there. `They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "wouldn't fire him, would they?` said Hermione anxiously, not touching her steak-and-","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "kidney pudding. `They'd better not,` said Ron, who wasn't eating either.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " Harry was watching the Slytherin table. A large group including Crabbe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "and Goyle was huddled together, deep in conversation. Harry was sure they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "were cooking up their own version of how Malfoy had been injured.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Well, you can't say it wasn't an interesting first day back,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Ron gloomily. They went up to the crowded Gryffindor common","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "room after dinner and tried to do the homework Professor McGonagall had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "given them, but all three of them kept breaking off and glancing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Out of the tower window. `There's a light on in Hagrid's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "window,` Harry said suddenly. Ron looked at his watch. `If","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "we hurried, we could go down and see him. It's still quite","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "early...` I don't know,` Hermione said slowly, and Harry saw her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "glance at him. `I'm allowed to walk across the grounds, `","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he said Pointedly. `Sirius Black hasn't got past the dementors yet, has","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he?` So they put their things away and headed out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the portrait hole, glad to meet nobody on their way to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "front doors, as they weren't entirely sure they were supposed to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "out. The grass was still wet and looked almost black in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "the twilight. When they reached Hagrid's hut, they knocked, and a voice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "growled, `C'min.` Hagrid was sitting in his shirtsleeves at his scrubbed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "wooden table; his boarhound, Fang, had his head in Hagrid's lap. One","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "look told them that Hagrid had been drinking a lot; there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a pewter tankard almost as big as a bucket in front of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "him, and he seemed to be having difficulty getting them into focus.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `'Spect it's a record,` he said thickly, when he recognized them.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`Don' reckon they've ever had a teacher who lasted on'y a day","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "before.` `You haven't been fired, Hagrid!` gasped Hermione. `Not yet,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Hagrid miserably, taking a huge gulp of whatever was in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "tankard. `But's only a matter o' time, i' n't it, after Malfoy...`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `How is he?` said Ron as they all sat down. `It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "wasn't serious, was it?` `Madam Pomfrey fixed him best she could,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Hagrid dully, `but he's sayin' it's still agony... covered in bandages...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "moanin'.. `He's faking it, ` said Harry at once. `Madam Pomfrey","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "can mend anything. She regrew half my bones last year. Trust Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to milk it for all it's worth.` `School gov'nors have bin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "told, o' course,` said Hagrid miseribly. `They reckon I started too big.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Shoulda left hippogriffs fer later... done flobberworms or summat.... Jus' thought itdmake","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "a good firs' lessons all my fault....` `It's all Malfoy's fault,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hagrid!` said Hermione earnestly. `We're witnesses,` said Harry. `You said hippogriffs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "attack if you insult them. It's Malfoy's problem that he wasn't listening.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "We'll tell Dumbledore what really happened.` `Yeah, don't worry, Hagrid, we'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "back you up,` said Ron. Tears leaked out of the crinkled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "corners of Hagrid's beetle-black eyes. He grabbed both Harry and Ron and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "pulled them into a bone-breaking hug. `I think you've had enough","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "to drink, Hagrid,` said Hermione firmly. She took the tankard from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "table and went outside to empty it. `At, maybe she's right,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Hagrid, letting go of Harry and Ron, who both staggered away,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "rubbing their ribs. Hagrid heaved himself out of his chair and followed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "Hermione unsteadily outside. They heard a loud splash. `What's he done?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said Harry nervously as Hermione came back in with the empty tankard.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " `Stuck his head in the water barrel,` said Hermione, putting the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "tankard away. Hagrid came back, his long hair and beard sopping","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "wet, wiping the water out of his eyes. `That's better,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "said, shaking his head like a dog and drenching them all. `Listen,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "it was good of yeh ter come an' see me, I really","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "-- Hagrid stopped dead, staring at Harry as though he'd only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "just realized he was there. `WHAT D'YEH THINK YOU'RE DOIN', EH?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "he roared, so suddenly that they jumped a foot in the air.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "`YEH'RE NOT TO GO WANDERIN' AROUND AFTER DARK, HARRY! AN, YOU TWO!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "LETTIN' HIM!` Hagrid strode over to Harry, grabbed his arm, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "pulled him to the door. `Come on!` Hagrid said angrily. `I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "takin' yer all back up ter school, an' don' let me catch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" "yeh walkin' down ter see me after dark again. I'm not worth that!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-6" " THE BOGGART IN THE WARDROBE Malfoy didn't reappear in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "classes until late on Thursday morning, when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "halfway through double Potions. He swaggered into the dungeon, his right arm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting, in Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "opinion, as though he were the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `How is it, Draco?` simpered Pansy Parkinson. `Does it hurt much?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `Yeah,` said Malfoy, putting on a brave sort of grimace. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry saw him wink at Crabbe and Goyle when Pansy had looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "away. `Settle down, settle down,` said Professor Snape idly. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "and Ron scowled at each other; Snape wouldn't have said `settle down`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "if they'd walked in late, he'd have given them detention. But Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "had always been able to get away with anything in Snape's classes;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Snape was head of Slytherin House, and generality favored his own students","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "above all others. They were making a new potion today, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Shrinking Solution. Malfoy set up his cauldron right next to Harry and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Ron, so that they were preparing their ingredients on the same table.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `Sir,` Malfoy called, `sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "roots, because of my arm --` `Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "for him,` said Snape without looking up. Ron went brick red.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `There's nothing wrong with your arm,` he hissed at Malfoy. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Malfoy smirked across the table. `Weasley, you heard Professor Snape; cut","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "up these roots.` Ron seized his knife, pulled Malfoy's roots toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "him, and began to chop them roughly, so that they were all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "different sizes. `Professor,` drawled Malfoy, `Weasley's mutilating my roots, sit.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Snape approached their table, stared down his hooked nose at the roots,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "then gave Ron an unpleasant smile from beneath his long, greasy black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "hair. `Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley.` `But, sit --!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Ron had spent the last quarter of an hour carefully shredding his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "own roots into exactly equal pieces. `Now,` said Snape in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "most dangerous voice. Ron shoved his own beautifully cut roots across","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the table a, Malfoy, then took up the knife again. `And,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "sir, I'll need this shrivelfig skinned,` said Malfoy, his voice full of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "malicious laughter. `Potter, you can skin Malfoy's shrivelfig,` said Snape, giving","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry the look of loathing he always reserved just for him. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry took Malfoy's shrivelfig as Ron began trying to repair the damage","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to the roots he now had to use. Harry skinned the shrivelfig","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "as fast as he could and flung it back across the table","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "at Malfoy without speaking. Malfoy was smirking more broadly than ever. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Seen your pal Hagrid lately?` he asked them quietly. `None of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "your business,` said Ron jerkily, without looking up. `I'm afraid he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "won't be a teacher much longer,` said Malfoy in a tone of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "mock sorrow. `Father's not very happy about my injury --` `Keep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury,` snarled Ron. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`- he's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, you know. And a lasting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "injury like this` -- he gave a huge, fake sigh -- `who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "knows if my arm'll ever be the same again?` `So that's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "why you're putting it on,` said Harry, accidentally beheading a dead caterpillar","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "because his hand was shaking in anger. `To try to get Hagrid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "fired.` `Well,` said Malfoy, lowering his voice to a whisper, `partly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Potter. But there are other benefits too. Weasley, slice my caterpillars for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "me.` A few cauldrons away, Neville was in trouble. Neville regularly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "went to pieces in Potions lessons; it was his worst subject, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "his great fear of Professor Snape made things ten times worse. His potion,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "which was supposed to be a bright, acid green, had turned --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `Orange, Longbottom,` said Snape, ladling some up and allowing to splash","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "back into the cauldron, so that everyone could see. `Orange. Tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "hear me say, quite clearly, that only one -tat spleen was needed?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Didn't I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Neville was pink and trembling. He looked as though he was on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the verge of tears. `Please, sir,` said Hermione, `please, I could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "help Neville put it right --` `I don't remember asking you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to show off, Miss Granger,` said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "pink as Neville. `Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Snape moved away, leaving Neville breathless with fear. `Help me!` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "moaned to Hermione. `Hey, Harry,` said Seamus Finnigan, leaning over to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "borrow Harry's brass scales, `have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted.` `Where?` said Harry and Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "quickly. On the other side of the table, Malfoy looked up, listening","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "closely. `Not too far from here,` said Seamus, who looked excited.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`It was a Muggle who saw him. 'Course, she didn't really understand.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "phoned the telephone hot line. By the time the Ministry of Magic","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "got there, he was gone.` `Not too far from here... `","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Ron repeated, looking significantly at Harry. He turned around and saw Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "watching closely. `What, Malfoy? Need something else skinned?` But Malfoy's eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "were shining malevolently, and they were fixed Harry. He leaned across the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "table. Black single-handed, Potter?` `Thinking Of trying to catch ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Yeah, that's right,` said Harry offhandedly. Malfoys thin mouth was curving","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in a mean smile. `Of course, if it was me,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "said quietly, `I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "him.` `What are you talking about, Malfoy?` said Ron roughly. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Don't you know, Potter?` breathed Malfoy, his pate eyes narrowed. `Know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "what?` Malfoy let out a low, sneering laugh. `Maybe you'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "rather not risk your neck,` he said. `Want to leave it to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the dementors, do you? But if it was me, I'd want revenge.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "I'd hunt him down myself.` `What are you talking about?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry angrily, but at that moment Snape called, `You should have finished","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "adding your ingredients by now; this potion needs to stew before it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "can be drunk, so clear away while it simmers and then we'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "test Longbottom's... ` Crabbe and Goyle laughed openly, watching Neville sweat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "as he stirred his potion feverishly. Hermione was muttering instructions to him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "out of the corner of her mouth, so that Snape wouldn't see.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry and Ron packed away their unused ingredients and went to wash","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "their hands and ladles in the stone basin in the corner. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`What did Malfoy mean?` Harry muttered to Ron as he stuck his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "hands under the icy jet that poured from the gargoyle's mouth `Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "would I want revenge on Black? He hasn't done anything to me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "-- yet. `He's making it up,` said Ron savagely. `He's trying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to make you do something stupid....` The end of the lesson","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in sight, Snape strode over to Neville, who was cowering by his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "cauldron. `Everyone gather 'round,` said Snape, his black eyes glittering, and watch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "poisoned.` The Gryffindors watched fearfully. The Slytherins looked excited. Snape picked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "up Trevor the toad in his left hand and dipped a small","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "spoon into Neville's potion, which was now green. He trickled a few","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "drops down Trevor's throat. There was a moment of hushed silence,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in which Trevor gulped; then there was a small pop, and Trevor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the tadpole was wriggling in Snape's palm. The Gryffindors burst into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "applause. Snape, looking sour, pulled a small bottle from the pocket of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "his robe, poured a few drops on top of Trevor, and he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "reappeared suddenly, fully grown. `Five points from Gryffindor,` said Snape, which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "wiped the smiles from every face. `I told you not to help","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "him, Miss Granger. Class dismissed.` Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "steps to the entrance hall. Harry was still thinking about what Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "had said, while Ron was seething about Snape. `Five points from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Gryffindor because the potion was all right! Why didn't You lie,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Hermione? You should've said Neville did it all by himself!` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "didn't answer. Ron looked around. `Where is she?` Harry turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "too. They were at the top of the steps now, watching the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "rest of the class pass them, heading for the Great Hall and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "lunch. `She was right behind us,` said Ron, frowning. Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "passed them, walking between Crabbe and Goyle. He smirked at Harry and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "disappeared. `There she is,` said Harry. Hermione was panting slightly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "hurrying up the stairs; one hand clutched her bag, the other seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to be tucking something down the front of her robes. `How","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "did you do that?` said Ron. `What?` said Hermione, joining them.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `One minute you were right behind us, the next moment, you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "were back at the bottom of the stairs again.` `What?` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "looked slightly confused. `Oh -- I had to go back for something.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Oh no --` A seam had split on Hermione's bag. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "wasn't surprised; he could see that it was crammed with at least","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "a dozen large and heavy books. `Why are you carrying all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "these around with you?` Ron asked her. `You know how many","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "subjects I'm taking,` said Hermione breathlessly. `Couldn't hold these for me, could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "you?` `But --` Ron was turning over the books she had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "handed him, looking at the covers. `You havent got any of these","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "subjects today. It's only Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Oh yes,` said Hermione vaguely, but she packed all the books back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "into her bag just the same. I hope there's something good for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "lunch, I'm starving,` she added, and she marched off toward the Great","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Hall. `D'you get the feeling Hermione's not telling us something?Ron asked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry. Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "their books, quills, and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "than he had on the train, as though he had had a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "few square meals. `Good afternoon,` he said. `Would you please put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "lesson. You will need only your wands.` A few curious looks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts before, unless you counted the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "memorable class last year when their old teacher had brought a cageful","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "of pixies -to class and set them loose. `Right then,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Professor Lupin, when everyone was ready. `If you'd follow me.` Puzzled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Professor Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "out of the classroom. He led them along the deserted corridor and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Poltergeist, who was floating upside down in midair and stuffing the nearest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "keyhole with chewing gum. Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "was two feet away; ,hen he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "into song. `Loony, loopy Lupin,` Peeves sang. `Loony, loopy Lupin, loony,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "loopy Lupin --` Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Peeves usually showed some respect toward the teachers. Everyone looked quickly at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to their surprise,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "he was still smiling. `I'd take that gum out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "keyhole if I were you, Peeves,` he said pleasantly. `Mr. Filch won't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "be able to get in to his brooms.` Filch was the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Hogwarts caretaker, a bad-tempered, failed wizard who waged a constant war against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the students and, indeed, Peeves. However, Peeves paid no attention to Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry. Professor Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "gave a small sigh and took out his wand. `This is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "a useful little spell, he told the class over his shoulder. `Please","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "watch closely.` He raised the wand to shoulder height, said, `Waddiwasi!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`and pointed it at Peeves. With the force of a bullet,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "down Peeves's left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Cool, sit!` said Dean Thomas in amazement. `Thank you, Dean,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Professor Lupin, putting his wand away again. `Shall we proceed?` They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "set off again, the class looking at shabby Professor Lupin with increased","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "respect. He led them down a second corridor and stopped, right outside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the staffroom door. `Inside, please,` said Professor Lupin, opening it and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "standing back. The staffroom, a long, paneled room full of old,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "mismatched chairs, was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "around his mouth. As Professor Lupin came in and made to close","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the door behind him, Snape said, `Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "not witness this.` He got to his feet and strode past","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the class, his black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "turned on his heel and said, `Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in his ear.` Neville went scarlet. Harry glared at Snape; it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "was bad enough that he bullied Neville in his own classes, let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "alone doing it in front of other teachers. Professor Lupin had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "raised his eyebrows. `I was hoping that Neville would assist me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "with the first stage of the operation,` he said, `and I am","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "sure he will perform it admirably.` Neville's face went, if possible,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "even redder. Snape's lip curled, but he left, shutting the door with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "a snap. `Now, then,` said Professor Lupin, beckoning the class toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the end of the room, where there was nothing but an old","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "wardrobe where the teachers kept their spare robes. As Professor Lupin went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "off the wall. `Nothing to worry about,` said Professor Lupin calmly because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "a few people had jumped backward in alarm. `There's a boggart in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "there.` Most people seemed to feel that this was something to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "worry about. Neville gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Seamus Finnigan eyed the now rattling doorknob apprehensively. `Boggarts like dark,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "enclosed spaces,` said Professor Lupin. `Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "under sinks -- I've even met one that had lodged itself in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "years some practice. `So, the first question we must ask ourselves","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "is, what is a boggart?` Hermione put up her hand. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`It's a shape-shifter,` she said. `It can take the shape of whatever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "it thinks will frighten us most.` `Couldn't have put it better","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "myself,` said Professor Lupin, and Hermione glowed. `So the boggart sitting in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "each of us most fears. `This means,` said Professor Lupin, choosing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to ignore Neville's 'mall sputter of terror, `that we have a huge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "advantage over the boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " Trying to answer a question with Hermione next to him, bobbing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "up and down on the balls of her feet with her hand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in the air, was very off-putting, but Harry had a go. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Er -- because there are so many of us, it won't know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "what shape it should be?` `Precisely,` said Professor Lupin, and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "put her hand down, looking a little disappointed. `It's always best to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "have com pany when you're dealing with a boggart. He becomes confused.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "once saw a boggart make that very mistake -- tried to frighten","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "remotely frightening. `The charm that repels a boggart is simple, yet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "a boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to assume a shape that you find amusing. `We will practice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the charm without wands first. After me, please ... Riddikulus!` `Riddikulus!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "said the class together. `Good,` said Professor Lupin. `Very good. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "forward as though he were heading for the gallows. `Right, Neville,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "said Professor Lupin. `First things first: what would you say is the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "thing that frightens you most in the world?` Neville's lips moved,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "but no noise came out. `didn't catch that, Neville, sorry,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Professor Lupin cheerfully. Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "someone to help him, then said, in barely more than a whisper,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Professor Snape.` Nearly everyone laughed. Even Neville grinned apologetically. Professor Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "however, looked thoughtful. `Professor Snape... hmmm... Neville, I believe you live","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "with your grandmother?` `Er -- yes,` said Neville nervously. `But --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "I don't want the boggart to turn into her either.` `No,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "no, you misunderstand me,` said Professor Lupin, now smiling. `I wonder, could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Neville looked startled, but said, `Well... always the same hat. A tall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress... green, normally...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "and sometimes a fox-fur scarf.` `And a handbag?` prompted Professor Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `A big red one,` said Neville. `Right then,` said Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Lupin. `Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "them in your mind's eye?` `Yes,` said Neville uncertainty, plainly wondering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "what was coming next. `When the boggart bursts out of this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "wardrobe, Neville, and sees You, it will assume the form of Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Snape,` said Lupin. `And You will raise your wand -- thus --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "and cry 'Riddikulus' -- and concentrate hard on your grandmother's clothes. If","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "hat, and that green dress, with that big red handbag.` There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "was a great shout of laughter. The wardrobe wobbled more violently. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`If Neville is successful, the boggart is likely to shift his attention","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to each of us in turn,` said Professor Lupin. `I would like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "all of you to take a moment now to think of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to look comical....` The room went quiet. Harry thought... 'What scared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "him most in the world? His first thought was Lord Voldemort","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "-- a Voldemort returned to full strength. But before he had even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "started to plan a possible counterattack on a boggart-Voldemort, a horrible image","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "came floating to the surface of his mind.... A rotting, glistening","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "hand, slithering back beneath a black cloak ... a long, rattling breath","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "from an unseen mouth... then a cold so penetrating it felt like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "drowning.... Harry shivered, then looked around, hoping no one had noticed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Many people had their eyes shut tight. Ron was muttering to himself,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Take its legs off ` Harry was sure he knew what that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "was about. Ron's greatest fear was spiders. `Everyone ready?` said Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Lupin. Harry felt a lurch of fear. He wasn't ready. How","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "could you make a dementor less frightening? But he didn't want to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "ask for more time; everyone else was nodding and rolling up their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "sleeves. `Neville, we're going to back away,` said Professor Lupin. `Let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "you have a clear field, all right? I'll call the next person","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "forward.... Everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " They all retreated, backed against the walls, leaving Neville alone beside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the wardrobe. He looked pale and frightened, but he had pushed up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the sleeves of his robes and was holding his wand ready. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`On the count of three, Neville,` said Professor Lupin, who was ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "pointing his own wand at the handle of the wardrobe. `One two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "-- three -- now!` A jet of sparks shot from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "end of Professor Lupin's wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Neville. Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "bearing down upon him, reaching inside his robes. `R -- r","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "-- riddikulus! `squeaked Neville. There was a noise like a whip","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "crack. Snape stumbled; he was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and he was swinging a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "huge crimson handbag. There was a roar of laughter; the boggart","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "paused, confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, `Parvati! Forward!` Parvati walked forward,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "her face set. Snape rounded on her. There was another crack, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "where he had stood was a bloodstained, bandaged mummy; its sightless face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "was turned to Parvati and it began to walk toward her very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "slowly, dragging its feet, its stiff arms rising -- `Riddikulus!` cried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Parvati. A bandage unraveled at the mummy's feet; it became entangled,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "fell face forward, and its head rolled off. `Seamus!` roared Professor Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " Seamus darted past Parvati. Crack! Where the mummy had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "was a woman with floorlength black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "-- a banshee. She opened her mouth wide and an unearthly sound","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "filled the room, a long, wailing shriek that made the hair on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry's head stand on end -- 'Riddikulus!` shouted Seamus. The banshee","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "made a rasping noise and clutched her throat; her voice was gone.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which chased its tail","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "in a circle, then -- crack!- became a rattlesnake, which slithered and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "writhed before -- crack! -- becoming a single, bloody eyeball. 'It's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "confused!` shouted Lupin. `We're getting there! Dean!` Dean hurried forward. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to creep along the floor like a crab. `Riddikulus!` yelled Dean.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " 'There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "mousetrap. `Excellent! Ron, you next!` Ron leapt forward. Crack!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " Quite a few people screamed. A giant spider, six feet tall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "For a moment, Harry thought Ron had frozen. Then -- `Riddikulus!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "bellowed Ron, and the spider's legs vanished; it rolled over and over;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Lavender Brown squealed and ran out of its way and it came","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to a halt at Harry's feet. He raised his wand, ready, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "-- `Here!` shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward. Crack! The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "legless spider had vanished. For a second, everyone looked wildly around to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "see where it was. Then they saw a silvery-white orb hanging in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the air in front of Lupin, who said, `Riddikulus!` almosi lazily. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Crack! `Forward, Neville, and finish him off!` said Lupin as the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "This time Neville charged forward looking determined. `Riddikulus!` he shouted, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "before Neville let out a great `Ha!` of laughter, and the boggart","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " `Excellent!` cried Professor Lupin as the class broke into applause. `Excellent)","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Neville. Well done, everyone.... Let me See... five points to Gryffindor for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "every person to tackle the boggart -- ten for Neville because he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "did it twice... and five each to Hermione and Harry.` `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "I didn't do anything,` said Harry. `You and Hermione answered my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry,` Lupin said lightly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "`Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "boggarts and summarize it for me... to be handed in on Monday.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "That will be all.` Talking excitedly, the class left the staffroom.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry, however, wasn't feeling cheerful. Professor Lupin had deliberately stopped him from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "tackling the boggart. Why? Was it because he'd seen Harry collapse on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "the train, and thought he wasn't up to much? Had he thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Harry would pass out again? But no one else seemed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "have noticed anything. `Did you see me take that banshee?` shouted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Seamus. `And the hand!` said Dean, waving his own around. `And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Snape in that hat!` `And my mummy!` I wonder why Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "Lupin's frightened of crystal balls?` said Lavender thoughtfully. `That was the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "best Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "said Ron excitedly as they made their way back to the classroom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "to get their bags. `He seems like a very good teacher,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "said Hermione approvingly. `But I wish I could have had a turn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "with the boggart --` `What would it have been for you?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" "said Ron, sniggering. `A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-7" " FLIGHT OF THE FAT FADY In no time at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "all, Defense Against the Dark Arts had become most people's favorite class.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Only Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins had anything bad to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "say about Professor Lupin. `Look at the state of his robes,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Professor Lupin passed. `He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "dresses like our old houseelf ` But no one else cared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that Professor Lupin's robes were patched and frayed. His next few lessons","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "were just as interesting as the first. After boggarts, they studied Red","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Caps, nasty little goblin like creatures that lurked wherever there had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "bloodshed: in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "waiting to bludgeon those who had gotten lost. From Red Caps they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "moved on to kappas, creepy. water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "only wished he was as happy with some of his other classes.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Worst of all was Potions. Snape was in a particularly vindictive mood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "these days, and no one was in any doubt why. The story","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of the boggart assuming Snape's shape, and the way that Neville had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "dressed it in his grandmother's clothes, had traveled through the school like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "wildfire. Snape didn't seem to find it funny. His eyes flashed menacingly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "at the very mention of Professor Lupin's name, and he was bullying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Neville worse than ever. Harry was also growing to dread the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "hours he spent in Professor Trelawney's stifling tower room, deciphering lopsided shapes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and symbols, trying to ignore the way Professor Trelawney's enormous eyes filled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "with tears every time she looked at him. He couldn't like Professer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Trelawney, even though she was treated with respect bordering on reverence by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "many of the class. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "haunting Professor Trelawney's tower room at lunch times, and always returned with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "others didn't. They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to Harry, as though he were on his deathbed. Nobody really","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "liked Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the action-packed first class, had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence. They were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after flobberworms, which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Why would anyone bother looking after them?` said Ron, after yet another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "hour of poking shredded lettuce down the flobberworms' throats. At the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "start of October, however, Harry had something else to occupy him, something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "so enjoyable it more than made up for his unsatisfactory classes. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Quidditch season was approaching, and O1iver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor team,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "called a meeting on Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "season. There were seven people on a Quidditch team: three Chasers,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "whose job it was to score goals by putting the Quaffle (a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "red, soccer-sized ball) through one of the fifty-foot-high hoops at each ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "end of the field; two Beaters, who were equipped with heavy bats to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "repel the Bludgers (two heavy black balls that zoomed around trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "attack the players); a Keeper, who defended the goal posts, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the Seeker, who had the hardest job of all, that of catching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the Golden Snitch, a tiny, winged, walnut-sized ball, whose capture ended the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "game and earned the Seeker's team an extra one hundred and fifty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "points. Oliver Wood was a burly seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and final year at Hogwarts. There was a quiet sort of desperation","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "in his voice a's he addressed his six fellow team members in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the chilly locker rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch field.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `This is our last chance -- my last chance -- to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "win the Quidditch Cup,` he told them, striding up and down in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "front of them. `I'll be leaving at the end of this year.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "I'll never get another shot at it.` `Gryffindor hasn't won for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "world -- injuries -- then the tournamentgetting called off last year Wood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`But we also know we've got the best-ruddy-team-in-the-school,` he said, punching a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "eye. `We've got three superb Chasers.` Wood pointed at Alicia Spinner,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell. `We've got two unbeatable Beaters.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us,` said Fred and George Weasley together,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "pretending to blush. `And we've got a Seeker who has never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "failed to win us a match!` Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "a kind of furious pride. `And me,` he added as an afterthought.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `We think you're very good too, Oliver,` said George. `Spanking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "good Keeper,` said Fred. `The point is,` Wood went on, resuming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "his pacing, `the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I've thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "on the thing....` Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "George looked sympathetic. `Oliver, this year's our year,` said Fred. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`We'll do it, Oliver!` said Angelina. `Definitely,` said Harry. Full","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of mud, wind, or rain could tarnish Harry's wonderful vision of finally","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "winning the huge, silver Quidditch Cup. Harry returned to the Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "common room one evening after training, cold and stiff but pleased with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the way practice had gone, to find the room buzzing excitedly. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`What's happened?`, he asked Ron and Hermione, who were sitting in two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of the best chairs by the fireside and completing some star charts","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "for Astronomy. `First Hogsmeade weekend,` said Ron, pointing at a notice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that had appeared on the battered old bulletin board. `End of October.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Halloween.` `Excellent,` said Fred, who had followed Harry through the portrait hole.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry threw himself into a chair beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "away. Hermione seemed to read his mind. `Harry, I'm sure you'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "be able to go next time,` she said. `They're bound to catch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Black soon. He's been sighted once already.` `Black's not fool enough","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to try anything in Hogsmeade,` said Ron. `Ask McGonagall if you can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "go this time, Harry. The next one might not be for ages","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "--` `Ron!` said Hermione. `Harry's supposed to stay in school-` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`He can't be the only third year left behind,` said Ron. `Ask","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "McGonagall, go on, Harry --` `Yeah, I think I will,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry, making up his mind. Hermione opened her mouth to argue,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "but at that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto her lap. A large,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "dead spider was dangling from his mouth. `Does he have to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "eat that in front of us?` said Ron, scowling. `Clever Crookshanks,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "did you catch that all by yourself?` said Hermione. Crookshanks; slowly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Just keep him over there, that's all,` said Ron irritably, turning back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to his star chart. `1've got Scabbers asleep in my bag.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry yawned. He really wanted to go to bed, but he still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "had his own star chart to complete. He pulled his bag toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "him, took out parchment, ink, and quill, and started work. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "can copy mine, if you like,` said Ron, labeling his last star","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "with a flourish and shoving the chart toward Harry. Hermione, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "disapproved of copying, pursed her lips but didn't say anything. Crookshanks was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "still staring unblinkingly at Ron, flicking the end of his bushy tail.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Then, without warning, he pounced. `OY!` Ron roared, seizing his bag","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deep inside it and began","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "tearing ferociously. `GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!` Ron tried to pull","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Ron, don't hurt him!` squealed Hermione; the whole common room was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Scabbers came flying out of the top - `CATCH THAT CAR'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Ron yelled as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "sprang over the table, and chased after the terrified Scabbers. George","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed; Scabbers streaked through twenty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs, and started","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "making furious swipes beneath it with his front paw. Ron and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Hermione hurried over; Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Scabbers out by the tail. `Look at him!` he said furiously","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. `He's skin and bone!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "You keep that cat away from him!` `Crookshanks doesn't understand it's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "wrong!` said Hermione, her voice shaking. `All cats chase rats, Ron!` `There's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "something funny about that animal!` said Ron, who was trying to persuade","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. `It heard me say","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that Scabbers was in my bag!` `Oh, what rubbish,` said Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "impatiently. `Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`That cat's got it in for Scabbers!` said Ron, 'ignoring the people","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "around him, who were starting to giggle. `And Scabbers was here first,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and he's ill!` Ron marched through the common room and out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of sight up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. Ron was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "still in a bad mood with Hermione next day. He barely talked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to her all through Herbology, even though he, Harry, and Hermione were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "working together on the same puffapod. `How's Scabbers?` Hermione asked timidly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "as they stripped fat pink pods from the plants and emptied the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "shining beans into a wooden pail. `He's hiding at the bottom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of my bed, shaking, ` said Ron angrily, missing the pail and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "scattering beans over the greenhouse floor. `Careful, Weasley, careful!` cried Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Sprout as the beans burst into bloom before their very eyes. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "They had Transfiguration next. Harry, who had resolved to ask Professor McGonagall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "after the lesson whether he could go into Hogsmeade with the rest,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "joined the line outside the class trying to decide how he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "going to argue his case. He was distracted, however, by a disturbance","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "at the front of the line. Lavender Brown seemed to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "crying. Parvati had her arm around her and was explaining something to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who were looking very serious. `What's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the matter, Lavender?` said Hermione anxiously as she, Harry, and Ron went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to join the group. `She got a letter from home this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "morning,` Parvati whispered. `It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "fox.` `Oh,` said Hermione, `I'm sorry, Lavender.` `I should have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "known!` said Lavender tragically. `You know what day it is?` `Er","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "--` `The sixteenth of October! 'That thing you're dreading, it will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "happen on the sixteenth of October!' Remember? She was right, she was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "right!` The whole class was gathered around Lavender now. Seamus shook","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "his head seriously. Hermione hesitated; then she said, `You -- you were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "dreading Binky being killed by a fox?` `Well, not necessarily by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "a fox,` said Lavender, looking up at Hermione with streaming eyes, `but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn't l?` `Oh,` said Hermione.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "She paused again. Then `Was Binky an old rabbit?` `N","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "-- no!` sobbed Lavender. `H -- he was only a baby!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Parvati tightened her arm around Lavender's shoulders. `But then, why would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "you dread him dying?` said Hermione. Parvati glared at her. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Well, look at it logically,` said Hermione, turning to the rest of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the group- `I mean, Binky didn't even die today, did he? Lavender","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "just got the news today-` Lavender wailed loudly. `- and she can't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "have been dreading it, because it's come as a real shock --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Don't mind Hermione, Lavender,` said Ron loudly, `she doesn't think other people's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "pets matter very much.` Professor McGonagall opened the classroom door at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that moment, which was perhaps lucky; Hermione and Ron were looking daggers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "at each other, and when they got into class, they seated themselves","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "on either side of Harry and didn't talk to each other for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the whole class. Harry still hadn't decided what he was going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to say to Professor McGonagall when the bell rang at the end","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of the lesson, but it was she who brought up the subject","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of Hogsmeade first. `One moment, please !` she called as the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "class made to leave. `As you're all in my House, you should","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the village, so don't forget!` Neville put up his hand. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Please, Professor, I -- I think I've lost `Your grandmother sent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "yours to me directly, Longbottom,` said Professor McGonagall. `She seemed to think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "it was safer. Well, that's all, you may leave.` `Ask her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "now,` Ron hissed at Harry. `Oh. but --` Hermione began. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Go for it, Harry,` said Ron stubbornly. Harry waited for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "rest of the class to disappear, then headed nervously for Professor McGonagall's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "desk. `Yes, Potter?` Harry took a deep breath. `Professor, my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "aunt and uncle -- er -- forgot to sign my form,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "said. Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles at him but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "didn't say anything. `So -- er d'you think it would be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "all right mean, will It be okay if I -- if I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "go to Hogsmeade?` Professor McGonagall looked down and began shuffling papers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "on her desk. `I'm afraid not, Potter,` she said. `You heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "what I said. No form, no visiting the village. That's the rule.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `But -- Professor, my aunt and uncle -- you know, they're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Muggles, they don't really understand about -- about Hogwarts forms and stuff,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry said, while Ron egged him on with vigorous nods. `If you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "said I could go --` `But I don't say so,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Professor McGonagall, standing up and piling her papers neatly into a drawer.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "She turned to look at him, with an odd expression on her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "face. Was it pity? `I'm sorry, Potter, but that's my final word.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "You had better hurry, or you'll be late for your next lesson.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " There was nothing to be done. Ron called Professor McGonagall a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "lot of names that greatly annoyed Hermione; Hermione assumed an `all-for-the-best` expression","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that made Ron even angrier, and Harry had to endure everyone in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the class talking loudly and happily about what they were going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "do first, once they got into Hogsmeade. `There's always the feast,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "said Ron, in an effort to cheer Harry UP. `You know, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Halloween feast, in the evening.` `Yeah,` said Harry gloomily, `great.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "The Halloween feast was always good, but it would taste a lot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "better if he was coming to it after a day in Hogsmeade","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "with everyone else. Nothing anyone said made him feel any better about being","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "left behind. Dean Thomas, who was good with a quill, had offered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to forge Uncle Vernon's signature on the form, but as Harry had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "already told Professor McGonagall he hadn't had it signed, that was no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "good. Ron halfheartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak, but Hermione stamped on that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "one, reminding Ron what Dumbledore had told them about the dementors being","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "able to see through them. Percy had what were possibly the least","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "helpful words of comfort. `They make a fuss about Hogsmeade, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "I assure you, Harry, it's not all it's cracked up to be,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "he said seriously. `All right, the sweetshop's rather good, and Zonko's Joke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Shop's frankly dangerous, and yes, the Shrieking Shack's always worth a visit,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "but really, Harry, apart from that, you're not missing anything.` On","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Halloween morning, Harry awoke with the rest and went down to breakfast,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "feeling thoroughly depressed, though doing his best to act normally. `We'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "bring you. lots of sweets back from Honeydukes,` said Hermione, looking desperately","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "sorry for him. `Yeah, loads,` said Ron. He and Hermione had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "finally forgotten their squabble about Crookshanks in the face of Harry's difficulties.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Don't worry about me,` said Harry, in what he hoped was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "at, offhand voice, `I'll see you at the feast. Have a good","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "time.` He accompanied them to the entrance hall, where Filch, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "one was sneaking out who shouldn't be going. `Staying here, Potter?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "shouted Malfoy, who was standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle. `Scared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of passing the dementors?` Harry ignored him and made his solitary","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "way up the marble staircase, through the deserted corridors, and back to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Gryffindor Tower. `Password?` said the Fat Lady, jerking out of a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "doze. `Fortuna Major,` said Harry listlessly. The portrait swung open","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and he climbed through the hole into the common room. It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "full of chattering first and second years, and a few older students,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "who had obviously visited Hogsmeade so often the novelty had worn off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry!` It was Colin Creevey, a second","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "year who was deeply in awe of Harry and never missed an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "opportunity to speak to him. `Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Harry?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Why not? Hey` -- Colin looked eagerly around at his friends --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`you can come and sit with us, if you like, Harry!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Er -- no, thanks, Colin,` said Harry, who wasn't in the mood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to have a lot of people staring avidly at the scar on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "his forehead. `I -- I've got to go to the library, got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to get some work done.` After that, he had no choice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "but to turn right around and head back out of the portrait","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "hole again. `What was the point waking me up?` the Fat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Lady called grumpily after him as he walked away. Harry wandered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "dispiritedly toward the library, but halfway there he changed his mind; he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "didn't feel like working. He turned around and came face-to-face with Filch, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "had obviously just seen off the last of the Hogsmeade visitors. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`What are you doing?` Filch snarled suspiciously. `Nothing,` said Harry truthfully.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Nothing!` spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. `A likely story! Sneaking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "around on your own -- why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying Stink","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "nasty little friends?` Harry shrugged. `Well, get back to your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "common room where you belong!` snapped Filch, and he stood glaring until","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry had passed out of sight. But Harry didn't go back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to the common room; he climbed a staircase, thinking vaguely of visiting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the Owlery to see Hedwig, and was walking along another corridor when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "a voice from inside one of the rooms said, `Harry?` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "around his office door. `What are you doing?` said Lupin, though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "in a very different voice from Filch. `Where are Ron and Hermione?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Hogsmeade,` said Harry, in a would-be casual voice. `Ah,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Lupin. He considered Harry for a moment. `Why don't you come in?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "I've just taken delivery of a grindylow for our next lesson.` `A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "what?` said Harry. I He followed Lupin into his office. In","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly green","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers. `Water demon,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Lupin, surveying the grindylow thoughtfully. `We shouldn't have much difficulty with him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "not after the kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle.` The grindylow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "weeds in a corner. `Cup of tea?` Lupin said, looking around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "for his kettle. `I was just thinking of making one.` `All","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "right,` said Harry awkwardly. Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout. `Sit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "down,` said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. `I've only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "got teabags, I'm afraid -- but I daresay you've had enough of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "tea leaves?` Harry looked at him. Lupin's eyes were twinkling. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`How did you know about that?` Harry asked. `Professor McGonagall told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "me,` said Lupin, passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. `You're not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "worried, are you?` `No,` said Harry. He thought for a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "moment of telling Lupin about the dog he'd seen in Magnolia Crescent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "but decided not to. He didn't want Lupin to think he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "a coward, especially since Lupin alreadv seemed to think he couldn't cope","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "with a boggart. Something of Harry's thoughts seemed to have shown","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "on his face, because Lupin said, `Anything worrying you, Harry?` `No,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry lied. He drank a bit of tea and watched the grindylow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "brandishing a fist at him. `Yes,` he said suddenly, putting his tea","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "down on Lupin's desk. `You know that day we fought the boggart?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Yes,` said Lupin slowly. `Why didn't you let me fight it?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "said Harry abruptly. Lupin raised his eyebrows. `I would have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "thought that was obvious, Harry,` he said, sounding surprised. Harry, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "had expected Lupin to deny that he'd done any such thing, was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "taken aback. `Why?` he said again. `Well,` said Lupin, frowning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "slightly, `I assumed that if the boggart faced you, it would assume","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the shape of Lord Voldemort.` Harry stared. Not only was this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the last answer he'd expected, but Lupin had said Voldemort's name. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "only person Harry had ever heard say the name aloud (apart from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "himself) was Professor Dumbledore. `Clearly, I was wrong,` said Lupin, still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "frowning at Harry. `But I didn't think it a good idea for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "panic.` `I didn't think of Voldemort,` said Harry honestly. `I --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "I remembered those dementors.` `I see,` said Lupin thoughtfully. `Well, well...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "I'm impressed.` fie smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "face. `That suggests that what you fear most of all is --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "fear. Very wise, Harry.` Harry didn't know what to say to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that, so he drank some mot,, tea. `So you've been thinking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that I didn't believe you capable of fighting the boggart?` said Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "shrewdly. `Well... yeah,` said Harry. He was suddenly feeling a lot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "happier. `Professor Lupin, you know the dementors --` He was interrupted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "by a knock on the door. `Come in,` called Lupin. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "black eyes narrowing. `Ah, Severus,` said Lupin, smiling. `Thanks very much.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Could you leave it here on the desk for me?` Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between Harry and Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `I was just showing Harry my grindylow,` said Lupin pleasantly, pointing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "at the tank. `Fascinating,` said Snape, without looking at it. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "should drink that directly, Lupin.` `Yes, Yes, I will,` said Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `I made an entire cauldronful,` Snape continued. `If you need more.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Not at all,` said Snape, but there was a look in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "his eye Harry didn't like. He backed out of the room, unsmiling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and watchful. Harry looked curiously at the goblet. Lupin smiled. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me,` he said.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "particularly complex.` He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. `Pity sugar","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "makes it useless,` he added, taking a sip and shuddering. `Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "--?` Harry began. Lupin looked at him and answered the unfinished question.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `I've been feeling a bit off-color,` he said. `This potion is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "it.` Professor Lupin took another sip and Harry had a crazy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "urge to knock the goblet out of his hands. `Professor Snape's very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "interested in the Dark Arts, he blurted out. `Really?` said Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "looking only mildly interested as he took another gulp of potion. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Some people reckon --` Harry hesitated, then plunged recklessly on, `some people","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "reckon he'd do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "job.` Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face. `Disgusting,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "he said. `Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. see you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "at the feast later.` `Right,` said Harry, putting down his empty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "teacup. The empty goblet was still smoking. `There you go,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "said Ron. `We got as much as we could carry.` A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "shower of brilliantly colored sweets fell into Harry's lap. It was dusk,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and Ron and Hermione had just turned up in the common room,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "pink-faced from the cold wind and looking as though they'd had the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "time of their lives. `Thanks,` said Harry, picking up a packet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of tiny black Pepper Imps. `What's Hogsmeade like? Where did you go?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " By the sound of it -- everywhere. Dervish and Banges, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "wizarding equipment shop, Zonko's Joke Shop, into the Three Broomsticks for foaming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "mugs of hot butterbeer, and many places besides. `The post office,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry! About two hundred owls, all sitting on shelves, all color-coded depending","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "on how fast you want your letter to get there!` `Honeydukes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "has got a new kind of fudge; they were giving out free","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "samples, there's a bit, look --` `We think we saw an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "ogre, honestly, they get all sorts at the Three Broomsticks --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Wish we could have brought you some butterbeer, really warms you up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "--` `What did you do?` said Hermione, looking anxious. `Did you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "get any work done?` `No,` said Harry. `Lupin made me a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came in....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "He told them all about the goblet. Ron's mouth fell open. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Lupin drank it?` he gasped. `Is he mad?` Hermione checked her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "watch. `We'd better go down, you know, the feast'll be starting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "in fiveminutes They hurried through the portrait hole and into the crowd,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "still discussing Snape. `But if he -- you know` -- Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "dropped her voice, glancing nervously around -- `if he was trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to poison Lupin -- he wouldn't have done it in front of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry.` `Yeah, maybe,` said Harry as they reached the entrance hall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and crossed into the Great Hall. It had been decorated with hundreds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins, a cloud of fluttering live bats, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "many flaming orange streamers, which were swimming lazily across the stormy ceiling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "like brilliant watersnakes. The food was delicious; even Hermione and Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "who were full to bursting with Honeydukes sweets, managed second helpings of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "everything. Harry kept glancing at the staff table. Professor Lupin looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "cheerful and as well as he ever did; he was talking animatedly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to tiny little Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Harry moved his eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "along the table, to the place where Snape sat. Was he imagining","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "it, or were Snape's eyes flickering toward Lupin more often than was natural?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " The feast finished with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "They popped out of the walls and tables to do a bit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "of formation gliding; Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had a great","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "success with a reenactment of his own botched beheading. It had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "been such a pleasant evening that Harry's good mood couldn't even be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "spoiled by Malfoy, who shouted through the crowd as they all left","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the hall, `The dementors send their love, Potter!` Harry, Ron, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Hermione followed the rest of the Gryffindors along the usual path to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached the corridor that ended with the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`Why isn't anyone going in?` said Ron curiously. Harry peered over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "the heads in front of him. The portrait seemed to be closed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Let me through, please,` came Percy's voice, and he came bustling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "importantly through the crowd. `What's the holdup here? You can't all have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "forgotten the password -- excuse me, I'm Head Boy --` And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor. They heard Percy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "say, in a suddenly sharp voice, `Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "People's heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "`What's going on?` said Ginny, who had just arrived. A moment","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "later, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping toward the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "together to let him through, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to see what the trouble was. `Oh, my --` Hermione grabbed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Harry's arm. The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait, which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "had been slashed so viciously that strips of canvas littered the floor;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "great chunks of it had been torn away completely. Dumbledore took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes somber,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape hurrying toward him. `We","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "need to find her,` said Dumbledore. `Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "castle for the Fat Lady.` `You'll be lucky!` said a cackling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "voice. It was Peeves the Poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "worry. `What do you mean, Peeves?` said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "grin faded a little. He didn't dare taunt Dumbledore. Instead he adopted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "an oily voice that was no better than his cackle. `Ashamed, Your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Headship, sit. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "between the trees. Crying something dreadful,` he said happily. `Poor thing,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "added unconvincingly. `Did she say who did it?` said Dumbledore quietly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " `Oh yes, Professorhead,` said Peeves, with the air of one cradling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "a large bombshell in his arms. `He got very angry when she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "wouldn't let him in, you see.` Peeves flipped over and grinned at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" "Dumbledore from between his own legs. `Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-8" " GRIM DEFEAT Professor Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to the Great Hall, where they were joined ten minutes later by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, who all looked extremely confused.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the castle,` Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "all doors into the hall. `I'm afraid that, for your own safety,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "reported to me immediately,` he added to Percy, who was looking immensely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "proud and important. `Send word with one of the ghosts.` Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, `Oh, yes, you'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "be needing...` One casual wave of his wand and the long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "squashy purple sleeping bags. `Sleep well,` said Professor Dumbledore, closing the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "door behind him. The hall immediately began to buzz excitedly; the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Gryffindors were telling the rest of the school what had just happened.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `Everyone into their sleeping bags!` shouted Percy. `Come on, now, no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!` `C'mon,` Ron said to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Harry and Hermione; they seized three sleeping bags and dragged them into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a corner. `Do you think Black's still in the castle?` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "whispered anxiously. `Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be,` said Ron. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know,` said Hermione as they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "climbed fully dressed into their sleeping bags and propped themselves on their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "elbows to talk. `The one night we weren't in the tower....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I reckon he's lost track of time, being on the run,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Ron. `Didn't realize it was Halloween. Otherwise he'd have come bursting in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "here.` Hermione shuddered. All around them, people were asking one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "another the same question: `How did he get in?` `Maybe he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "knows how to Apparate,` said a Ravenclaw a few feet away, `Just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "appear out of thin air, you know.` `Disguised himself, probably,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a Hufflepuff fifth year. `He could've flown in,` suggested Dean Thomas. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered to read Hogwarts,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "A History?` said Hermione crossly to Harry and Ron. `Probably,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Ron. `Why?` `Because the castle's protected by more than walls, You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "know,,, said Hermione. `There are all sorts of enchantments on it, to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "stop people entering by stealth. You can't just Apparate in here. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I'd like to see the disguise that could fool those dementors. They're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "guarding every single entrance to the grounds. They'd have seen him fly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "in too. And Fitch knows all the secret passages, they'll have them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "covered....` `The lights are going out now!` Percy shouted. `I want","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!` The candles","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "all went out at once. The only light now came from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "silvery ghosts, who were drifting about talking seriously to the prefects, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the enchanted ceiling, which, like the sky outside, was scattered with stars.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "What with that, and the whispering that still filled the hall, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "felt as though he were sleeping outdoors in a light wind. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Once every hour, a teacher would reappear in the hall to check","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "that everything was quiet. Around three in the morning, when many students","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "had finally fallen asleep, Professor Dumbledore came in. Harry watched him looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "around for Percy, who had been prowling between the sleeping bags, telling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "people off for talking. Percy was only a short way away from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Harry, Ron, and Hermlone, who quickly pretended to be asleep as Dumbledore's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "footsteps drew nearer. `Any sign of him, Professor?` asked Percy in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a whisper. `No. All well here?` `Everything under control, sir.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `Good. There's no point moving them all now. I've found a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "temporary guardian for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You'll be able to move","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "them back in tomorrow.` `And the Fat Lady, sir?` `Hiding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor. Apparently she refused","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She's still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "very distressed, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Mr. Filch restore","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "her.` Harry heard the door of the hall creak open again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and more footsteps. `Headmaster?` It was Snape. Harry kept quite still,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "listening hard. `The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "not there. And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?` `All","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "searched.` `Very well, Severus. I didn't really expect Black to linger.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "asked Snape. Harry raised his head very slightly off his arms","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to free his other ear, `Many, Severus, each of them as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "unlikely as the next.` Harry opened his eyes a fraction and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "squinted up to where they stood; Dumbledore's back was to him, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "he could see Percy's face, rapt with attention, and Snape's profile, which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "looked angry. `You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "-- ah -- the start of term?` said Snape, who was barely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "opening his lips, as though trying to block Percy out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "conversation. `I do, Severus,` said Dumbledore, and there was something like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "warning in his voice. `It seems -- almost impossible -- that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Black could have entered the school without inside help. I did express","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "my concerns whet, you appointed --` `I do not believe a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Dumbledore, and his tone made it so clear that the subject was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "closed that Snape didn't reply. `I must go down to the dementors,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "said Dumbledore. I said I would inform them when our search was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "complete.` `Didn't they want to help, sit?` said Percy. `Oh","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "yes,` said Dumbledore coldly. `But I'm afraid no dementor will cross the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "threshold of this castle while I am headmaster.` Percy looked slightly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "abashed. Dumbledore left the hall, walking quickly and quietly. Snape stood for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a moment, watching the headmaster with an expression of deep resentment on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "his face; then he too left. Harry glanced sideways at Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and Hermione. Both of them had their eyes open too, reflecting the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "starry ceiling. `\What was all that about?` Ron mouthed. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "school talked of nothing but Sirius Black for the next few days.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "wilder; Hannah Abbott, from Hufflepuff, spent much of their next Herbology class","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " The Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and Replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "gray pony. Nobody was very happy about this. Sir Cadogan spent half","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "his time challenging people to duels, and the rest thinking up ridiculously","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "complicated passwords, which he changed at least twice a day. `He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a complete lunatic,` said Seamus Finnigan angrily to Percy. `Can't we get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "anyone else?` `None of the other pictures wanted the job,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Percy. `Frightened of what happened to the Fat Lady. Sir Cadogan was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the only one brave enough to volunteer.` Sir Cadogan, however, was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the least of Harry's worries. He was now being closely watched. Teachers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "found excuses to walk along corridors with him, and Percy Weasley (acting,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Harry suspected, on his mother's orders) was tailing him everywhere like an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "extremely pompous guard dog. To cap it all, Professor McGonagall summoned Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "into her office, with such a somber expression on her face Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "thought someone must have died. `There's no point hiding it from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "you any longer, Potter,` she said in a very serious voice. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "know this will come as a shock to you, but Sirius Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "--` `I know he's after me,` said Harry wearily. `I heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Ron's dad telling his mum. Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Magic.` Professor McGonagall seemed very taken aback. She stared at Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "for a moment or two, then said, `I see! Well, in that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "case, Potter, you'll understand why I don't think it's a good idea","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "for you to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings. Out on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "field with only Your team members, it's very exposed, Potter --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`We've got our first match on Saturday!` said Harry, outraged. `I've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to train, Professor!` Professor McGonagall considered him intently. Harry knew she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was deeply interested in the Gryffindor team's prospects; it had been she,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "after all, who'd suggested him as Seeker in the first Place. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "waited, holding his breath. `Hmm...` Professor McGonagall stood up and stared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "out of the window at the Quidditch field, just visible through the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "rain. `Well... goodness knows, I'd like to see us win the Cup","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "at last... but all the same, Potter... I'd be happier if a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "teacher were present. I'll ask Madam Hooch to oversee your training sessions.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " The weather worsened steadily as the first Quidditch match drew nearer.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Undaunted, the Gryffindor team was training harder than ever under the eye","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "of Madam Hooch. Then, at their final training session before Saturday's match,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Oliver Wood gave his team some unwelcome news. `We're not playing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Slytherin!` he told them, looking very angry. `Flint's just been to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead.` `Why?` chorused the rest of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "team. `Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. `But it's obvious why they're doing it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "as Wood spoke, they heard a distant rumble of thunder. `There's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!` said Harry furiously. `He's faking it!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`I know that, but we can't prove it,` said Wood bitterly, `And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and Seeker, Cedric Diggory --` Angelina, Alicia, and Katie suddenly giggled.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `What?` said Wood, frowning at this lighthearted behavior. `He's that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "tall, good-looking one, isn't he?` said Angelina. `Strong and silent,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Katie, and they started to giggle again. `He's only silent because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "he's too thick to string two words together,` said Fred impatiently. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `We were playing in completely different conditions!` Wood shouted, his eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "bulging slightly. `Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We mustn't relax!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "We must keep our focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "must win!` `Oliver, calm down!` said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. `We're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously.` The day before the match, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "winds reached howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms that extra torches and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "none more so than Malfoy. `Ah, if only my arm was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "feeling a bit better!` he sighed as the gale outside pounded the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "windows. Harry had no room in his head to worry about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "anything except the match tomorrow. Oliver Wood kept hurrying up to him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "between classes and giving him tips. The third time this happened, Wood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "talked for so long that Harry suddenly realized he was ten minutes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "late for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and set off at a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "run with Wood shouting after him, `Diggory's got a very fast swerve,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Harry, so you might want to try looping him --` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "skidded to a halt outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "pulled the door open, and dashed inside. `Sorry I'm late, Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Lupin. I --` But it wasn't Professor Lupin who looked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "at him from the teacher's desk; it was Snape. `This lesson","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "points from Gryffindor. Sit down.` But Harry didn't move. `Where's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Professor Lupin?` he said. `He says he is feeling too ill","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to teach today,` said Snape with a twisted smile. `I believe I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "told you to sit down?` But Harry stayed where he was.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `What's wrong with him?` Snape's black eyes glittered. `Nothing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "life-threatening,` he said, looking as though he wished it were. `Five more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "down again, it will be fifty.` Harry walked slowly to his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "seat and sat down. Snape looked around at the class. `As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "record of the topics you have covered so far --` `Please,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "sir, we've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows,` said Hermione quickly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`and we're just about to start --` `Be quiet,` said Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "coldly. `I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Professor Lupin's lack of organization.` `He's the best Defense Against the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Dark Arts teacher we've ever had,` said Dean Thomas boldly, and there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the class. Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "looked more menacing than ever. `You are easily satisfied. Lupin is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "hardly overtaxing you -- I ,Would expect first years to be able","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to deal with Red Caps and grindylows. Today we shall discuss --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " Harry watched him flick through the textbook, to the very back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "chapter, which he must know they hadn't covered. `Werewolves,` said Snape.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `But, sir,` said Hermione, seemingly unable to restrain herself, `we're not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start hinkypunks --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`Miss Granger,` said Snape in a voice of deadly calm, `I was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "under the impression that I am teaching this lesson, not you. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I am telling you all to turn to page 394.` He glanced","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "around again. 'All of you! Now!` With many bitter sidelong looks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and some sullen muttering, the class opened their books. `Which of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "true wolf?` said Snape. Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Hermione, whose hand, as it so often did, had shot straight into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the air. `Anyone?` Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "back. `Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the basic distinction between --` `We told you,` said Parvati suddenly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `Silence!` snarled Snape. `Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "behind you all are....` `Please, sir,` said Hermione, whose hand was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "still in the air, `the werewolf differs from the true wolf in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "several small ways. The snout of the werewolf --` `That is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Snape coolly. `Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "at least twice a week, said loudly, `You asked us a question","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "be told?` The class knew instantly he'd gone too far. Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath. `Detention,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Weasley,` Snape said silkily, his face very close to Ron's. `And if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I ever hear you criticize the way I teach a class again, you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "will be very sorry indeed.` No one made a sound throughout","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the rest of the lesson. They sat and made notes on werewolves","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "from the textbook, while Snape prowled up and down the rows of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "desks, examining the work they had been doing with Professor Lupin. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`Very poorly explained... That is incorrect, the kappa is more commonly found","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "in Mongolia.... Professor Lupin gave this eight out of ten? I wouldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "have given it three....` When the bell rang at last, Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "held them back. `You will each write an essay, to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I want two rolls of parchment or, the subject, and I want","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "hand. Weasley, stay behind, we need to arrange your detention.` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and Hermione left the room with the rest of the class, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "waited until they were well out of earshot, then burst into a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "furious tirade about Snape. `Snape's never been like this with any","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, even if he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "did want the job,` Harry said to Hermione. `Why's he got it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "in for Lupin? D'you think this is all because of the boggart?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `I don't know,` said Hermione pensively. `But I really hope Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Lupin gets better soon....` Ron caught up with them five minutes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "later, in a towering rage. `D'you know what that --` (he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "called Snape something that made Hermione say `Ron!`) `-- is making me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "do? I've got to scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Without magic!` He was breathing deeply, his fists clenched. `Why couldn't Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "have hidden in Snape's office, eh? He could have finished him off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "for us!` Harry woke extremely early the next morning; so early","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "that it was till dark. For a moment he thought the roaring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "of the wind had woken him. Then he felt a cold breeze","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "on the back of his neck and sat bolt upright -- Peeves","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the Poltergeist had been floating next to him, blowing hard in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "ear. `What did you do that for?` said Harry furiously. Peeves","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "puffed out his cheeks, blew hard, and zoomed backward out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "room, cackling. Harry fumbled for his alarm clock and looked at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "it. It was half past four. Cursing Peeves, he rolled over and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "tried to get back to sleep, but it was very difficult, now","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "that he was awake, to ignore the sounds of the thunder rumbling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "overhead, the pounding of the wind against the castle walls, and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "distant creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest. In a few","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "hours he would be out on the Quidditch field, battling through that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "gale. Finally, he gave up any thought of more sleep, got up,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "dressed, picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand, and walked quietly out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the dormitory. As Harry opened the door, something brushed against his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "leg. He bent down just in time to grab Crookshanks by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "end of his bushy tail and drag him outside. `You know,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I reckon Ron was right about you,` Harry told Crookshanks suspiciously. `There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "are plenty of mice around this place -- go and chase them.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Go on,` he added, nudging Crookshanks down the spiral staircase with his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "foot. `Leave Scabbers alone.` The noise of the storm was even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "louder in the common roorn. Harry knew better than to think the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "match would be canceled; Quidditch matches weren't called off for trifles like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "thunderstorms. Nevertheless, he was starting to feel very apprehensive. Wood had pointed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor; Diggory was a fifth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "year and a lot bigger than Harry. Seekers were usually light ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and speedy, but Diggory's weight would be an advantage in this weather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "because he was less likely to be blown off course. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "whiled away the hours until dawn in front of the fire, getting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "up every now and then to stop Crookshanks from sneaking up ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the boys, staircase again. At long last Harry thought it must be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "time for breakfast, so he headed through the portrait hole alone. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`Stand and fight, you mangy cur!` yelled Sir Cadogan. `Oh, shut","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "up,` Harry yawned. He revived a bit over a large bowl","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "of porridge, and by the time he'd started on toast, the rest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "of the team had turned up. `It's going to be a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "tough one,` said Wood, who wasn't eating anything. `Stop worrying, Oliver,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "said Alicia soothingly, `we don't mind a bit of rain.` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "it was considerably more than a bit of rain. Such was the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "popularity of Quidditch that the whole school turned out to watch the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "match as usual, but they ran down the lawns toward the Quidditch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "field, heads bowed against the ferocious wind, umbrellas being whipped out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "their hands as they went. just before he entered the locker room,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Harry saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, laughing and pointing at him from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "under an enormous umbrella on their way to the stadium. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "team changed into their scarlet robes and waited for Wood's usual pre-match","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "pep talk, but it didn't come. He tried to speak several times,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "made an odd gulping noise, then shook his head hopelessly and beckoned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "them to follow him. The wind was so strong that they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "staggered sideways as they walked out onto the field. If the crowd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was cheering, they couldn't hear it over the fresh rolls of thunder.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Rain was splattering over Harry's glasses. How on earth was he going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to see the Snitch in this? The Hufflepuffs were approaching from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the opposite side of the field, wearing canary-yellow robes. The Captains walked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "up to eacb other and shook hands; Diggory smiled at Wood but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Wood no, looked as though he had lockjaw and merely nodded. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "saw Madam Hooch's mouth form the words, `Mount Your brooms.,, He pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "his right foot out of the mud with a squelch and swung","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "it over his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch put her whistle to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill and distant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "they were off Harry rose fast, but his Nimbus was swerving","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "slightly with the wind. He held it as steady as he could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and turned, squinting into the rain. Within five minutes Harry was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "soaked to his skin and frozen, hardly able to see his teammates,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "let alone the tiny Snitch. He flew backward and forward across the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "field past blurred red and yellow shapes, with no idea of what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was happening in the rest of the game. He couldn't hear the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "commentary over the wind. The crowd was hidden beneath a sea of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "cloaks and battered umbrellas. Twice Harry came very close to being unseated","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "by a Bludger; his vision was so clouded by the rain on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "his glasses he hadn't seen them coming. He lost track of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "time. It was getting harder and harder to hold his broom straight.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "The sky was getting darker, as though night had decided to come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "early. Twice Harry nearly hit another player, without knowing whether it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a teammate or opponent; everyone was now so wet, and the rain","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "so thick, he could hardly tell them apart.... With the first","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "flash of lightning came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle; Harry could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "just see the outline of Wood through the thick rain, gesturing him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to the ground. The whole team splashed down into the mud. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`I called for time-out!` Wood roared at his team. `Come on, under","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "here --` They huddled at the edge of the field under","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a large umbrella; Harry took off his glasses and wiped them hurriedly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "on his robes. `What's the score?` `We're fifty points up,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "said Wood, `but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "into the night.` `I've got no chance with these on,` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "said exasperatedly, waving his glasses. At that very moment, Hermione appeared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "at his shoulder; she was holding her cloak over her head and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was, inexplicably, beaming. `I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "glasses, quick!` He handed them to her, and as the team","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "watched in amazement, Hermione tapped them with her wand and said, `Impervius!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `There!` she said, handing them back to Harry. `They'll repel water!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " Wood looked as though he could have kissed her. `Brilliant!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "he called hoarsely after her as she disappeared into the crowd. `Okay,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "team, let's go for it!` Hermione's spell had done the trick.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Harry was still numb with cold, still wetter than he'd ever been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "in his life, but he could see. Full of fresh determination, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "urged his broom through the turbulent air, staring in every direction for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the Snitch, avoiding a Bludger, ducking beneath Diggory, who was streaking in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the opposite direction.... There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "by forked lightning. This was getting more and more dangerous. Harry needed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to get the Snitch quickly - He turned, intending to head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "back toward the middle of the field, but at that moment, another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "flash of lightning illuminated the stands, and Harry saw something that distracted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "him completely , the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " Harry's numb hands slipped on the broom handle and his Nimbus","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "dropped a few feet. Shaking his sodden bangs out of his eyes,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "he squinted back into the stands. The dog had vanished. `Harry!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "came Wood's anguished yell from the Gryffindor goal posts. `Harry, behind you!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " Harry looked wildly around. Cedric Diggory was pelting up the field,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled air","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "between them - With a jolt of panic, Harry threw himself","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "flat to the broornhandle and zoomed toward the Snitch. `Come on!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "he growled at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. 'Taster!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " But something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "though Harry had gone suddenly deaf -- what was going on? ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over him, inside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "him, just as he became aware of something moving on the field","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "below... Before he'd had time to think, Harry had taken his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "eyes off the Snitch and looked down. At least a hundred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "at his insides. And then he heard it again.... Someone was screaming,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "screaming inside his head... a woman... `Not Harry, not Harry, please","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "not Harry!` `Stand aside, you silly girl... stand aside, now....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead --` Numbing,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "swirling white mist was filling Harry's brain.... What was he doing? Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was he flying? He needed to help her... She was going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "die.... She was going to be murdered.... He was falling, falling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "through the icy mist. `Not Harry! Please... have mercy... have mercy....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "knew no more. `Lucky the ground was so soft.` `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "thought he was dead for sure.` `But he didn't even break","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "his glasses.` Harry could hear the voices whispering, but they made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "no sense whatsoever. He didn't have a clue where he was, or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "how he'd got there, or what he'd been doing before he got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "there. All he knew was that every inch of him was aching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "as though it had been beaten. `That was the scariest thing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "I've ever seen in my life.` Scariest... the scariest thing... hooded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "black figures... cold ... screaming... Harry's eyes snapped open. He was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "lying in the hospital wing. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, spattered with mud","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "from head to foot, was gathered around his bed. Ron and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "were also there, looking as though they'd just climbed out of a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "swimming pool. `Harry!` said Fred, who looked extremely white underneath, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "mud. `How're you feeling?` It was as though Harry's memory was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "on fast forward. The lightning -- the Grim -- the Snitch --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "and the dementors... `What happened?` he said, sitting up so suddenly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "they all gasped. `You fell off,` said Fred. `Must've been --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "what -- fifty feet?` `We thought you'd died,` said Alicia, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "was shaking. Hermione made a small, squeaky noise. Her eyes were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "extremely bloodshot. `But the match,` said Harry. `What happened? Are we","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "doing a replay?` No one said anything. The horrible truth sank","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "into Harry like a stone. `We didn't -- lose?` `Diggory","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "got the Snitch,` said George. `Just after you fell. He didn't realize","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "won fair and square... even Wood admits it.` `Where is Wood?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there. `Still in the showers,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "said Fred. `We think he's trying to drown himself.` Harry put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "his face to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. Fred grabbed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "his shoulder and shook it roughly. `C'mon, Harry, you've never missed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the Snitch before.` `There had to be one time you didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "get it,` said George. `It's not over yet,` said Fred. `We","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "lost by a hundred points` `Right? So if Hufflepuff loses to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin --.` `Hufflepuff'll have to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "lose by at least two hundred points,` said George. `But if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "they beat Ravenclaw...` `No Way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff...` `It all depends on the points --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "a margin of a hundred either way.` Harry lay there, not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "saying a word. They had lost... for the first time ever, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "had lost a Quidditch match. After ten minutes or so, Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "Pomfrey came over to tell the team to leave him in peace.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `We'll come and see you later,` Fred told him. `Don't beat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "yourself up, Harry, you're still the best Seeker we've ever had.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "The team trooped out, trailing mud behind them. Madam Pomfrey shut the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "door behind them, looking disapproving. Ron and Hermione moved nearer to Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "bed. `Dumbledore was really angry,` Hermione said in a quaking voice.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`I've never seen him like that before. He ran onto the field","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "as You fell, waved his wand, and you sort of slowed down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "before you hit the ground. Then he whirled his wand at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " `Then he magicked you onto a stretcher,` said Ron. `And walked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "up to school with you floating on it. Everyone thought you were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "--` His voice faded, but Harry hardly noticed. He was thinking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "about what the dementors had done to him... about the screaming voice.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "He looked up and saw Ron and Hermione lookin, at him so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "anxiously that he quickly cast around for something matter-of-fact to say. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "`Did someone get my Nimbus?` Ron and Hermione looked quickly at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "each other. `Er --` `What?` said Harry, looking from one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "to the other. `Well... when you fell off, it got blown","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "away,` said Hermione hesitantly. `And?` `And it hit -- it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "hit -- oh, Harry -- it hit the Whomping Willow.` Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "insides lurched. The Whomping Willow was a very violent tree that stood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "alone in the middle of the grounds. `And?` he said, dreading","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "the answer. `Well, you know the Whomping Willow,` said Ron. `It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "-- it doesn't like being hit.` `Professor Flitwick brought it back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "just before you came around, said Hermione in a very small voice.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" "twig onto the bed, the only remains of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-9" " THE MARAUDER'S MAP Madam Pomfrey insisted on keeping Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. He didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "argue or complain, but he wouldn't let her throw away the shattered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "remnants of his Nimbus Two Thousand. He knew he was being stupid,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "knew that the Nimbus was beyond repair, but Harry couldn't help it;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he felt as though he'd lost one of his best friends. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "He had a stream of visitors, all intent on cheering him up.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "cabbages, and Ginny Weasley, blushing furiously, turned up with a get-well card","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "she had made herself, which sang shrilly unless Harry kept it shut","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "under his bowl of fruit. The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "morning, this time accompanied by Wood, who told Harry (in a hollow,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "dead sort of voice) that he didn't blame him in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "slightest. Ron and Hermione left Harry's bedside only at night- But nothing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "anyone said or did could make Harry feel any better, because they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "knew only half of what was troubling him. He hadn't told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "anyone about the Grim, not even Ron -and Hermione, because he knew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Ron would panic and Hermione would scoff. The fact remained, however, that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it had now appeared twice, and both appearances had been followed by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "near-fatal accidents; the first time, he had nearly been run over by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the Knight Bus; the second, fallen fifty feet from his broomstick. Was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the Grim going to haunt him until he actually died? Was he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "going to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "for the beast? And then there were the dementors. Harry felt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "sick and humiliated every time he thought of them. Everyone said the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "dementors were horrible, but no one else collapsed every time they went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "near one. No one else heard echoes in their head of their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "dying parents. Because Harry knew who that screaming voice belonged to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "now. He had heard her words, heard them over and over again","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "during the night hours in the hospital wing while he lay awake,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "staring at the strips of moonlight on the ceiling. When the dementors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "approached him, he heard the last moments of his mother's life, her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "attempts to protect him, Harry, from Lord Voldemort, and Voldemort's laughter before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he murdered her.... Harry dozed fitfully, sinking into dreams full of clammy,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "rotted hands and petrified pleading, jerking awake to dwell again on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "mother's voice. It was a relief to return to the noise","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and bustle of the main school on Monday, where he was forced","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to think about other things, eve', if he had to endure Draco","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Malfoys taunting. Malfoy was almost beside himself with glee at Gryffindor's defeat.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "He had finally taken off his bandages, and celebrated having the full","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "use of both arms again by doing spirited imitations of Harry falling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "off his broom. Malfoy spent much of their next Potions class doing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "dementor imitations across the dungeon; Ron finally cracked and flung a large,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "slippery crocodile heart at Malfoy, which hit him in the face and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "caused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor. `If Snape's teaching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Defense Against the Dark Arts again, I'm skiving off,` said Ron as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "they headed toward Lupin's classroom after lunch. `Check who's in there, Hermione.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " Hermione peered around the classroom door. `It's okay!` Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Lupin was back at work. It certainly looked as though he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "there were dark shadows beneath his eyes; nevertheless, he smiled at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "class as they took their seats, and they burst at once into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "an explosion of complaints about Snape's behavior while Lupin had been ill.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `It's not fair, he was only filling in, why should he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "give us homework?` `We don't know anything about werewolves two rolls","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of parchment!` `Did you tell Professor Snape we haven't covered them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "yet?` Lupin asked, frowning slightly. The babble broke out again. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Yes, but he said we were really behind he wouldn't listen --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `-- two rolls of parchment!` Professor Lupin smiled at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "look of indignation on every face. `Don't worry. I'll speak to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Professor Snape. You don't have to do the essay.` `Oh no,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Hermione, looking very disappointed. `I've already finished it!` They had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had brought along a glass box","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "containing a hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "were made of wisps of smoke, rather frail and harmless looking. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Lures travelers into bogs,` said Professor Lupin as they took notes. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "notice the lantern dangling from his hand? Hops ahead -people follow the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "light -- then --` The hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "against the glass. When the bell rang, everyone gathered up their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "things and headed for the door, Harry among them, but -- ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Wait a moment, Harry,` Lupin called. `I'd like a word.` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "doubled back and watched Professor Lupin covering the hinkypunk's box with a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "cloth. `I heard about the match,` said Lupin, turning back to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "his desk and starting to pile books into his briefcase, `and I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`No,` said Harry. `The tree smashed it to bits.` Lupin sighed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "at Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it. No broomstick would have a chance.` `Did you hear about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the dementors too?` said Harry with difficulty. Lupin looked at him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "quickly. `Yes, I did. I don't think any of us have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing restless for some","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "time -- furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "I suppose they were the reason you fell?` `Yes,` said Harry.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "He hesitated, and then the question he had to ask burst from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "him before he could stop himself.` Why? Why do they affect me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "like that? Am I just --?` `It has nothing to do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with weakness,` said Professor Lupin sharply, as though he had read Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "mind. `The dementors affect you worse than the others because there are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "horrors in your past that the others don't have.` A ray","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of wintery sunlight fell across the classroom, illuminating Lupin's gray hairs and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the lines on his young face. `Dementors are among the foulest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "can't see them. Get too near a dementor and every good feeling,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "something like itself... soul-less and evil. You'll be left with nothing but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "have nothing to feel ashamed of.` `When they get near me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "--` Harry stared at Lupin's desk, his throat tight. `I can hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Voldemort murdering my mum.` Lupin made a sudden motion with his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "arm as though to grip Harry's shoulder, but thought better of it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "There was a moment's Silence, then -- `Why did they have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to come to the match?` said Harry bitterly. `They're getting hungry,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Lupin coolly, shutting his briefcase with a snap. `Dumbledore won't let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "them into the school, so their supply of human prey has dried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "up.... I don't think they could resist the large crowd around the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Quidditch field. All that excitement ... emotions running high... it was their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "idea of a feast.` `Azkaban must be terrible,` Harry muttered. Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "nodded grimly. `The fortress is set on a tiny island, way","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "out to sea, but they don't need walls and water to keep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the prisoners in, not when they're all trapped inside their own heads,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "incapable of a single cheery thought. Most of them go mad within","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "weeks.` `But Sirius Black escaped from them,` Harry said slowly. `He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "got away...` Lupin's briefcase slipped from the desk; he had to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "stoop quickly to catch it. `Yes,` he said, straightening up, `Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "must have found a way to fight them. I wouldn't have believed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it possible.... Dementors are supposed to drain a wizard of his powers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "if he is left with them too long....` `You made that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "dementor on the train back off,` said Harry suddenly. `There are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "-- certain defenses one can use,` said Lupin. `But there was only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "one dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficult","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it becomes to resist.` `What defenses?` said Harry at once. `Can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you teach me?` `I don't pretend to be an expert at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "fighting dementors, Harry, quite the contrary...` `But if the dementors come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to another Quidditch match, I need to be able to fight them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "--` Lupin looked into Harry's determined face, hesitated, then said, `Well...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "all right. I'll try and help. But it'll have to wait until","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "next term, I'm afraid. I have a lot to do before the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "holidays. I chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill.` What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with the promise of anti-dementor lessons from Lupin, the thought that he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "might never have to hear his mother's death again, and the fact","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "that Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match at the end of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "November, Harry's mood took a definite upturn. Gryffindor were not out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the running after all, although they could not afford to lose another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "match. Wood became repossessed of his manic energy, and worked his team","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "as hard as ever in the chilly haze of rain that persisted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "into December. Harry saw no hint of a dementor within the grounds.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Dumbledore's anger seemed to be keeping them at their stations at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "entrances. Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "a buzz of Christmas in the air. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "be real, fluttering fairies. The students were all happily discussing their plans","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "for the holidays. Both Ron and Hermione had decided to remain at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Hogwarts, and though Ron said it was because he couldn't stand two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "weeks with Percy, and Hermione insisted she needed to use the library,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry wasn't fooled; they were doing it to keep him company, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he was very grateful. To everyone's delight except Harry's, there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to be another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "term. `We can do all our Christmas shopping there!` said Hermione.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Mum and Dad would really love those Toothflossing Stringmints from Honeydukes!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Resigned to the fact that he would be the only third year","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "staying behind again, Harry borrowed a copy of Which Broomstick from Wood,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and decided to spend the day reading up on the different makes.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "He had been riding one of the school brooms at team practice,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "an ancient Shooting Star, which was very slow and jerky; he definitely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "needed a new broom of his own. On the Saturday morning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of the Hogsmeade trip, Harry bid good-bye to Ron and Hermione, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "were wrapped in cloaks and scarves, then turned up the marble staircase","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "alone, and headed back toward Gryffindor Tower. Snow had started to fall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "outside the windows, and the castle was very still and quiet. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Psst -- Harry!` He turned, halfway along the third-floor corridor, to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "see Fred and George peering out at him from behind a statue","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch. `What are you doing?` said Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "curiously. `How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?` `We've come to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "give you a bit of festive cheer before we go,` said Fred,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with a mysterious wink. `Come in here....` He nodded toward an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed statue. Harry followed Fred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and George inside. George closed the door quietly and then turned, beaming,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to look at Harry. `Early Christmas present for you, Harry,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said. Fred pulled something from inside his cloak with a flourish","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and laid it on one of the desks. It was a large,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "square, very worn piece of parchment with nothing written on it. Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "suspecting one of Fred and George's jokes, stared at it. `What's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "that supposed to be?` `This, Harry, is the secret of our","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "success,` said George, patting the parchment fondly. `It's a wrench, giving","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it to you,` said Fred, `but we decided last night, your need's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "greater than ours.` `Anyway, we know it by heart,` said George.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`We bequeath it to you. We don't really need it anymore.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`And what do I need with a bit of old parchment?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry. `A bit of old parchment!` said Fred, closing his eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with a grimace as though Harry had mortally offended him. `Explain, George.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `Well... when we were in our first year, Harry -- young,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "carefree, and innocent --` Harry snorted. He doubted whether Fred and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "George had ever been innocent. `Well, more innocent than we are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "now -- we got into a spot of bother with Filch.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "for some reason --` `So he hauled us off to his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "office and started threatening us with the usual --` detention disembowelment and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous. `Don't tell me --` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "starting to grin. `Well, what would you've done?` said Fred. `George","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and grabbed -- this.` `It's not as bad as it sounds,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you know,` said George. `We don't reckon Filch ever found out how","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "wouldn't have confiscated it.` `And you know how to work it?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `Oh yes,` said Fred, smirking. `This little beauty's taught us more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "than all the teachers in this school.` `You're winding me up,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Harry, looking at the ragged old bit of parchment. `Oh,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "are we?` said George. He took out his wand, touched the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "parchment lightly, and said, `I solemnly swear that I am up to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "no good.` And at once, thin ink lines began to spread","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "like a spider's web from the point that George's wand had touched.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "They joined each other, they crisscrossed, they fanned into every corner of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "green words, that proclaimed: Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDER'S","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "MAP It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing were the tiny ink","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "dots moving around it, each labeled with a name in minuscule writing.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Astounded, Harry bent over it. A labeled dot in the top left","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "corner showed that Professor Dumbledore was pacing his study; the caretaker's cat,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Mrs. Norris, was prowling the second floor; and Peeves the Poltergeist was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "currently bouncing around the trophy room. And as Harry's eyes traveled up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and down the familiar corridors, he noticed something else. This map","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "showed a set of passages he had never entered. And many of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "them seemed to lead - `Right into Hogsmeade,` said Fred, tracing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "one of them with his finger. `There are seven in all. Now,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Filch knows about these four` -- he pointed them out -- `but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it until last winter, but it's caved in -- completely blocked. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one, because the Whomping Willow's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "And as you might've noticed, the entrance is right outside this room,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "through that one-eyed old crone's hump.` `Moony, Wormtaill Padfoot, and Prongs,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "sighed George, patting the heading of the map. `We owe them so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "much.` `Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "lawbreakers,` said Fred solemnly. `Right,` said George briskly. `Don't forget to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "wipe it after you've used it or anyone can read it,` Fred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said warningly. `Just tap it again and say, 'Mischief managed!' And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it'll go blank.` `So, young Harry,` said Fred, in an uncanny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "impersonation of Percy, `mind you behave yourself.` `See you in Honeydukes,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said George, winking. They left the room, both smirking in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "satisfied sort of way. Harry stood there, gazing at the miraculous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "map. He watched the tiny ink Mrs. Norris turn left and pause","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to sniff at something on the floor. If Filch really didn't know...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he wouldn't have to pass the dementors at all.... But even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "as he stood there, flooded with excitement, something Harry had once heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Mr. Weasley say came floating out of his memory. Never trust","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "keeps its brain. This map was one of those dangerous magical","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "objects Mr. Weasley had been warning against.... Aids for Magical Mischief Makers...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "but then, Harry reasoned, he only wanted to use it to get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "into Hogsmeade, it wasn't as though he wanted to steal anything or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "attack anyone... and Fred and George had been using it for years","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "without anything horrible happening.... Harry traced the secret passage to Honeydukes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with his finger. Then, quite suddenly, as though following orders, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "rolled up the map, stuffed it inside his robes, and hurried to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the door of the classroom. He opened it a couple of inches.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "There was no one outside. Very carefully, he edged out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "room and behind the statue of the one-eyed witch. What did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he have to do? He pulled out the map again and saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to his astonishment, that a new ink figure had appeared upon it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "labeled Harry Potter. This figure was standing exactly where the real Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was standing, about halfway down the third-floor corridor. Harry watched carefully.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "His little Ink self appeared to be tapping the witch with his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "minute wand. Harry quickly took out his real wand and tapped the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "statue. Nothing happened. He looked back at the map. The tiniest speech","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "bubble had appeared next to his figure. The word inside said, `Dissendium.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `Dissendium!` Harry whispered, tapping the stone witch again. At once,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the statue's hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry glanced quickly up and down the corridor, then tucked the map","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "away again, hoisted himself into the hole headfirst, and pushed himself forward.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " He slid a considerable way down what felt like a stone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "slide, then landed on cold, damp earth. He stood up, looking around.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "It was pitch dark. He held up his wand, muttered, `Lumos!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "` and saw that he was in a very narrow, low, earthy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "passageway. He raised the map, tapped it with the tip of his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "wand, and muttered, `Mischief managed!` The map went blank at once. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "folded it carefully, tucked it inside his robes, then, heart beating fast,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "both excited and apprehensive, he set off. The passage twisted and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "turned, more like the burrow of a giant rabbit than anything else.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry hurried along it, stumbling now and then on the uneven floor,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "holding his wand out in front of him. It took ages,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "but Harry had the thought of Honeydukes to sustain him. After what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "felt like an hour, the passage began to rise. Panting, Harry sped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "up, his face hot, his feet very cold. Ten minutes later,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he came to the foot of some worn stone steps, which rose","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "out of sight above him. Careful not to make any noise, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "began to climb. A hundred steps, two hundred steps, he lost count","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "as he climbed, watching his feet.... Then, without warning, his head hit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "something hard. It seemed to be a trapdoor. Harry stood there,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "massaging the top of his head, listening. He couldn't hear any sounds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "above him. Very slowly, he pushed the trapdoor open and peered over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the edge. He was in a cellar, which was full of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "wooden crates and boxes. Harry climbed out of the trapdoor and replaced","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it -- it blended so perfectly with the dusty floor that it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was impossible to tell it was there. Harry crept slowly toward the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "wooden staircase that led upstairs. Now he could definitely hear voices, not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to mention the tinkle of a bell and the opening and shutting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of a door. Wondering what he ought to do, he suddenly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "heard a door open much closer at hand; somebody was about to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "come downstairs. `And get another box of Jelly Slugs, dear, they've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "nearly cleaned us out --` said a woman's voice. A pair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of feet was coming down the staircase. Harry leapt behind an enormous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "crate and waited for the footsteps to pass. He heard the man","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "shifting boxes against the opposite wall. He might not get another chance","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "-- Quickly and silently, Harry dodged out from his hiding place","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and climbed the stairs; looking back, he saw an enormous backside and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "shiny bald head, buried in a box. Harry reached the door at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the top of the stairs, slipped through it, and found himself behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the counter of Honeydukes -- he ducked, crept sideways, and then straightened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "up. Honeydukes was so crowded with Hogwarts students that no one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "looked twice at Harry. He edged among them, looking around, and suppressed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "a laugh as he imagined the look that would spread over Dudley's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "piggy face if he could see where Harry was now. There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable. Creamy chunks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat, honey-colored toffees; hundreds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of different kinds of chocolate in neat rows; there was a large","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "barrel of Every Flavor Beans, and another of Fizzing Whizbees, the levitating","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "sherbert balls that Ron had mentioned; along yet another wall were `Special","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Effects` -- sweets: Droobles Best Blowing Gum (which filled a room with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "bluebell-colored bubbles that refused to pop for days), the strange, splintery Toothflossing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Stringmints, tiny black Pepper Imps (`breathe fire for your friends!`), Ice Mice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "(`hear your teeth chatter and squeak!`), peppermint creams shaped like toads (`hop","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "realistically in the stomach!`), fragile sugar-spun quills, and exploding bonbons. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "squeezed himself through a crowd of sixth years and saw a sign","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "hanging in the farthest corner of the shop (UNUSUAL TASTES). Ron and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Hermione were standing underneath it, examining a tray of blood-flavored lollipops. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "sneaked up behind them. `Ugh, no, Harry won't want one of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "those, they're for vampires, I expect,` Hermione was saying. `How about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "these?` said Ron, shoving a jar of Cockroach Clusters under Hermione's nose.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `Definitely not,` said Harry. Ron nearly dropped the jar. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Harry!` squealed Hermione. `What are you doing here? How -- how did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you --?` `Wow!` said Ron, looking very impressed, `you've learned to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Apparate!` `'Course I haven't,` said Harry. He dropped his voice so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "that none of the sixth years could hear him and told them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "all about the Marauder's Map. `How come Fred and George never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "gave it to me!` said Ron, outraged. `I'm their brother!` `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry isn't going to keep it!` said Hermione, as though the idea","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "were ludicrous. `He's going to hand it in to Professor McGonagall, aren't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you, Harry?` `No, I'm not!` said Harry. `Are you mad?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Ron, goggling at Hermione. `Hand in something that good?` `If","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "I hand it in, I'll have to say where I got it!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Filch would know Fred and George had nicked it!` `But what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "about Sirius Black?` Hermione hissed. `He could be using one of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "passages on that map to get into the castle! The teachers have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "got to know!` `He can't be getting in through a passage,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Harry quickly. `There are seven secret tunnels on the map, right?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Fred and George reckon Filch already knows about four of them. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of the other three -- one of them's caved in, so no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "one can get through it. one of them's got the Whomping Willow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "planted over the entrance, so you can't get out of it. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the one I just came through -well - - it's really hard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to see the entrance to it down in the cellar, so unless","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he knew it was there...` Harry hesistated. What if Black did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "know the passage was there? Ron, however, cleared his throat significantly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and pointed to a notice pasted on the inside of the sweetshop","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "door. --------BY ORDER OF -------- THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC Customers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "are reminded that until further notice, dementors will be patrolling the streets","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of Hogsmeade every night after sundown. This measure has been put in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents and will be lifted upon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the recapture of Sirius Black. It is therefore advisable that you complete","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "your shopping well before nightfall. Merry Christmas! `See?` said Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "quietly. `I'd like to see Black try and break into Honeydukes with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "dementors swarming all over the village. Anyway, Hermione, the Honeydukes owners would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "hear a break-in, wouldn't they? They live over the shop!` `Yes,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "but but --` Hermoine seemed to be struggling to find another problem.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Look, Harry still shouldn't be coming into Hogsmeade. He hasn't got a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "signed form! If anyone finds out, he'll be in so much trouble!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "And it's not nightfall yet -- what if Sirius Black turns up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "today? Now?` `He'd have a job spotting Harry in this,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Ron, nodding through the mullioned windows at the thick, swirling snow. `Come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "on, Hermione, it's Christmas. Harry deserves a break.` Hermione bit her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "lip, looking extremely worried. `Are you going to report me?` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "asked her, grinning. `Oh -- of course not -- but honestly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry --` `Seen the Fizzing Whizbees, Harry?` said Ron, grabbing him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and leading him over to their barrel. `And the Jelly Slugs? And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the Acid Pops? Fred gave me one of those when I was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "seven -- it burnt a hole right through my tongue. I remember","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Mum walloping him with her broomstick.` Ron stared broodingly into the Acid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Pop box. `Reckon Fred'd take a bit of Cockroach Cluster if I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "told him they were peanuts?` When Ron and Hermione had paid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "for all their sweets, the three of them left Honeydukes for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "blizzard outside. Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card; the little thatched","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "hanging in the trees. Harry shivered; unlike the other two, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "didn't have his cloak. They headed up the street, heads bowed against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the wind, Ron and Hermione shouting through their scarves. `That's the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "post office `Zonko's is up there --` `We could go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "up to the Shrieking Shack `Tell you what,` said Ron, his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "teeth chattering, `shall we go for a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " Harry was more than willing; the wind was fierce and his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "hands were freezing, so they crossed the road, and in a few","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "minutes were entering the tiny inn. It was extremely crowded, noisy,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "warm, and smoky. A curvy sort of woman with a pretty face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was serving a bunch of rowdy warlock' up at the bar. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`That's Madam Rosmerta,` said Ron. `I'll get the drinks, shall I?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "added, going slightly red. Harry and Hermione made their way to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the back of the room, ,,her, there was a small, vacant table","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "between the window and a handsome Christmas tree, which stood next to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the fireplace. Ron came back five minutes later, carrying three foaming tankards","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of hot butterbeer. `Merry Christmas!` he said happily, raising his tankard.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " Harry drank deeply. It was the most delicious thing he'd ever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "tasted and seemed to heat every bit of him from the inside.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " A sudden breeze ruffled his hair. The door of the Three","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Broomsticks had opened again. Harry looked over the rim of his tankard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and choked. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had just entered the pub","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with a flurry of snowflakes, shortly followed by Hagrid, who was deep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "in conversation with a portly man in a lime-green bowler hat and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "a pinstriped cloak -- Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic. In an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "instant, Ron and Hermione had both placed hands on the top of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry's head and forced him off his stool and under the table.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Dripping with butterbeer and crouching out of sight, Harry clutched his empty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "tankard and watched the teachers' and Fudge's feet move toward the bar,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "pause, then turn and walk right toward him. Somewhere above him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Hermione whispered, Mobiliarbus!` The Christmas tree beside their table rose a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "few inches off the ground, drifted sideways, and landed with a soft","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "thump right in front of their table, hiding them from view. Staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "through the dense lower branches, Harry saw four sets of chair legs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "move back from the table right beside theirs, then heard the grunts","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and sighs If the teachers and minister as they sat down. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Next he saw another pair of feet, wearing sparkly turquoise high heels,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and heard a woman's voice. `A small gillywater --` `Mine,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Professor McGonagall's voice. `Four pints of mulled mead --` `Ta,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Rosmerta,` said Hagrid. `A cherry syrup and soda with ice and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "umbrella --` `Mmm!` said Professor Flitwick, smacking his lips. `So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you'll be the red currant rum, Minister.` `Thank you, Rosmerta, m'dear,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Fudge's voice. `Lovely to see you again, I must say. Have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "one yourself, won't you? Come and join us....` `Well, thank you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "very much, Minister.` Harry watched the glittering heels march away and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "back again. His heart was pounding uncomfortably in his throat. Why hadn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it occurred to him that this was the last weekend of term","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "for the teachers to& And how long were they going to sit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "there? He needed time to sneak back into Honeydukes if he wanted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to return to school tonight.... Hermione's leg gave a nervous twitch next","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to him. `So, what brings you to this neck of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "woods, Minister?` came Madam Rosmerta's voice. Harry saw the lower part","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of Fudge's thick body twist in his chair as though he were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "checking for eavesdroppers. Then he said in a quiet voice, `What else,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "m'dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the school at Halloween?` I did hear a rumor,` admitted Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Rosmerta. `Did you tell the whole pub, Hagrid?` said Professor McGonagall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "exasperatedly. `Do you think Blacks still in the area, Minister?` whispered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Madam Rosmerta. `I'm sure of it,` said Fudge shortly. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "know that the dementors have searched the whole village twjce?` said Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Rosmerta, a slight edge to her voice. `Scared all my customers away...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "It's very bad for business, Minister.` `Rosmerta, dear, I don't like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "them any more than you do,` said Fudge uncomfortably. `Necessary precaution... unfortunate,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "but there YOU are.... I've just met some of them. They're in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "a fury against Dumbledore -- he won't let them inside the castle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "grounds.` `I should think not,` said Professor McGonagall sharply. `How are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?` `Hear, hear!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "squeaked tiny Professor Flitwick, whose feet were dangling a foot from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "ground. `All the same,` demurred Fudge, `they are here to protect","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you all from something much worse.... We all know what Black's capable","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of...` `Do you know, I still have trouble believing it,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Madam Rosmerta thoughtfully. `Of all the people to go over to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought... I mean,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "you'd had too much mead.` `You don't know the half of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "it, Rosmerta,` said Fudge gruffly. `The worst he did isn't widely known.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `The worst?` said Madam Rosmerta, her voice alive with curiosity, `Worse","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "than murdering all those poor people, you mean?` `I certainly do,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Fudge. `I ca'A believe that. What could possibly be worse?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`You say you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta,` mur- mured Professor McGonagall.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`Do you remember who his-best friend was?` `Naturally,` said Madam Rosmerta,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "with a small laugh. `Never saw one without the other, did you?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "The number of times I had them in here -- ooh, they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "James Potter!` Harry dropped his tankard with a loud clunk. Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "kicked him. `Precisely,` said Professor McGonagall. `Black and Potter. Ringleaders of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "their little gang. Both very bright, of course -- exceptionally bright, in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "fact -- but I don't think we've ever had such a pair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of troublemakers --` `I dunno,` chuckled Hagrid. `Fred and George Weasley","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "could give 'em a run fer their money.` `You'd have thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Black and Potter were brothers!` chimed in Professor Flitwick. `Inseparable!` `Of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "course they were,` said Fudge. `Potter trusted Black beyond all his other","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry. Harry has","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "him.` `Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "whispered Madam Rosmerta. `Worse even than that, rn'dear....` Fudge dropped his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "voice and proceeded in a sort of low rumble. `Not many people","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "are aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well, of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm.` `How does that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "work?` said Madam Rosmerta, breathless with interest. Professor Flitwick cleared his throat.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `An immensely complex spell,` he said squeakily, `involving the magical concealment","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "-- unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting room window!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `So Black was the Potters' Secret-Keeper?` whispered Madam Rosmerta. `Naturally,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Professor McGonagall. `James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would die rather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "hiding himself... and yet, Dumbledore remained worried. I remember him offering to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "be the Potters' Secret-Keeper himself.` `He suspected Black?` gasped Madam Rosmerta.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `He was sure that somebody close to the Potters had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements,` said Professor McGonagall darkly. `Indeed, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "had suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who.` `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "James Potter insisted on using Black?` `He did,` said Fudge heavily.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "--` `Black betrayed them?` breathed Madam Rosmerta. `He did indeed. Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the moment of the Potters' death. But, as we all know, You-Know-Who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "met his downfall in little Harry Potter. Powers gone, horribly weakened, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "fled. And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "his true colors as a traitor. He had no choice but to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "run for it --` `Filthy, stinkin' turncoat!` Hagrid said, so loudly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "that half the bar went quiet. `Shh!` said Professor McGonagall. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`I met him!` growled Hagrid. `I musta bin the last ter see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "him before he killed all them people! It was me what rescued","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Harry from Lily an' James's house after they was killed! jus' got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "his forehead, an' his parents dead... an' Sirius Black turns up, on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "that flyin' motorbike he used ter ride. Never occurred ter me what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he was doin' there. I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Secret-Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack an' come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "ter see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. An'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!` Hagrid roared.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `Hagrid, please!` said Professor McGonagall. `Keep your voice down!` `How","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was I ter know he wasn' upset abou' Lily an' James? It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was You-Know-Who he cared abou'! An' then he says, 'Give Harry ter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "me, Hagrid, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him --' Ha! But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "I'd had me orders from Dumbledore, an' I told Black no, Dumbledore","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Harry was ter go ter his aunt an' uncle's. Black argued,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "motorbike ter get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore,' he says.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " `I shoulda known there was somethin' fishy goin' on then. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "loved that motorbike, what was he givin' it ter me for? Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "wouldn' he need it anymore? Fact was, it was too easy ter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "trace. Dumbledore knew he'd bin the Potters' Secret-Keeper. Black knew he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "goin' ter have ter run fer it that night, knew it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "a matter o' hours before the Ministry was after him. `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "what if I'd given Harry to him, eh? I bet he'd 've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. His bes' friends'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "son! But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "nothin' and no one that matters to em anymore....` A long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "silence followed Hagrid's story. Then Madam Rosmerta said with some satisfaction, `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he didn't manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "up with him next day!` `Alas, if only we had,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Fudge bitterly. `It was not we who found him. It was little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Peter Pettigrew -- another of the Potters' friends. Maddened by grief, no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper, he went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "after Black himself.` `Pettigrew... that fat little boy who was always","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "tagging around after them at Hogwarts?` said Madam Rosmerta. `Hero-worshipped Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and Potter,` said Professor McGonagall. `Never quite in their league, talent-wise. I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was often rather ,harp with him. You can imagine how I -how","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "I regret that now...` She sounded as though she had a sudden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "head cold. `There, now, Minerva,` said Fudge kindly, `Pettigrew died a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "hero's death. Eyewitnesses -- Muggles, of course, we wiped their, memories later","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "-- told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' And then he went for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "his wand. Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " Professor McGonagall blew her nose and said thickly, `Stupid boy ...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "foolish boy... he was always hopeless at dueling... should have left it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to the Ministry....` `I tell yeh, if I'd got ter Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "before little Pettigrew did, I wouldn't 've messed around with wands --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "I'd 've ripped him limb -- from -- limb,` Hagrid growled. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "`You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid,` said Fudge sharply. `Nobody","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was Junior","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time, and I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "those people. I -- I will never forget it. I still dream","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of him... a heap of bloodstained robes and a few -- a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "few fragments --` Fudge's voice stopped abruptly. There was the sound","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of five noses being blown. `Well, there you have it, Rosmerta,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "said Fudge thickly. `Black was taken away by twenty members of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Magical Law Enforcement 'Squad and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Class, which I think was some comfort to his poor mother. Blades","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "been in Azkaban ever since.` Madam Rosmerta let out a long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "sigh. `Is it true he's mad, Minister?` `I wish I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "could say that he was,` said Fudge slowly. `I certainly believe his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "all those Muggles was the action of a cornered and desperate man","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "-- cruel... pointless. Yet I met Black on my last inspection of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "Azkaban. You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "themselves in the dark; there's no sense in them... but I was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored -- asked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded at how little effect","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the dementors seemed to be having on him -- and he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "outside his door day and night.` `But what do you think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he's broken out to do?` said Madam Rosmerta. `Good gracious, Minister, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?` I daresay that is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "his -- er -- eventual plan,` said Fudge evasively. `But we hope","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "friendless is one thing... but give him back his most devoted servant,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and I shudder to think how quickly he'll rise again....` There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "was a small chink of glass on wood. Someone had set down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "their glass. `You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with the headmaster,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "he'd better head back up to the castle,` said Professor McGonagall. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "One by one, the pairs of feet in front of Harry took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "the weight of their owners once more; hems of cloaks swung into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "sight, and Madam Rosemerta's glittering heels disappeared behind the bar. The door","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "of the Three Broomsticks opened again, there was another flurry of snow,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "and the teachers had disappeared. `Harry?` Ron's and Hermione's faces","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" "appeared under the table. They were both staring at him, lost for words. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-10" " THE FIREBOLT Harry didn't have a very clear idea","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "of how he had managed to get back into the Honeydukes cellar,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "through the tunnel, and into the castle once more. All he knew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "was that the return trip seemed to take no time at all,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and that he hardly noticed what he was doing, because his head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "was still pounding with the conversation he had just heard. Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "had nobody ever told him? Dumbledore, Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Cornelius Fudge... why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hadn't anyone ever mentioned the fact that Harry's parents had died because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "their best friend had betrayed them? Ron and Herinione watched Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "nervously all through dintier, not daring to talk about what they'd overheard,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "because Percy was sitting close by them. When they went upstairs to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the crowded common room, it was to find Fred and George had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "set off half a dozen Dungbombs in a fit of end- of-term","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "high spirits. Harry, who didn't want Fred and George asking him whether","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "he'd reached Hogsmeade or not, sneaked quietly up to the empty dormitory","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and headed straight for his bedside cabinet. He pushed his books aside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and quickly found what he was looking for -- the leather-bound photo","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "album Hagrid had given him two years ago, which was full of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "wizard pictures of his mother and father. He sat down on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "bed, drew the hangings around him, and started turning the pages, searching,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "until... He stopped on a picture of his parents' wedding day.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "There was his father waving up at him, beaming, the untidy black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hair Harry had inherited standing up in all directions. There was his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "mother, alight with happiness, arm in arm with his dad. And there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "... that must be him. Their best man... Harry had never given","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "him a thought before. If he hadn't known it was the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "same person, he would never have guessed it was Black in this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "old photograph. His face wasn't sunken and waxy, but handsome, full of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "laughter. Had he already been working for Voldemort when this picture had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "been taken? Was he already planning the deaths of the two people","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "next to him? Did he realize he was facing twelve years in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Azkaban, twelve years that would make him unrecognizable? But the dementors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "don't affect him, Harry thought, staring into the handsome, laughing face. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "doesn't have to hear my Min screaming if they get too close","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "- Harry slammed the album shut, reached over and stuffed it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "back into his cabinet, took off his robe and glasses and got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "into bed, making sure the hangings were hiding him from view. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "The dormitory door opened. `Harry?` said Ron's voice uncertainly. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Harry still, pretending to be asleep. He heard Ron leave again, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "rolled over on his back, his eyes wide open. A hatred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "such as he had never known before was coursing through Harry like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "poison. He could see Black laughing at him through the darkness, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "though somebody had pasted the picture from the album over his eyes.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "He watched, as though somebody was playing him a piece of film,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Sirius Black blasting Peter Pettigrew (who resembled Neville Longbottom) into a thousand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "pieces. He could hear (though having no idea what Black's voice might","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "sound like) a low, excited mutter. `It has happened, My Lord... the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Potters have made me their Secret-Keeper and then came another voice, laughing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "shrilly, the same laugh that Harry heard inside his head whenever the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "dementors drew near.... `Harry, you -- you look terrible.` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hadn't gotten to sleep until daybreak. He had awoken to find the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "dormitory deserted, dressed, and gone down the spiral staircase to a common","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "room that was completely empty except for Ron, who was eating a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Peppermint Toad and massaging his stomach, and Hermione, who had spread her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "homework over three tables. `Where is everyone?` said Harry. `Gone!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "It's the first day of the holidays, remember?` said Ron, watching Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "closely. `It's nearly lunchtime; I was going to come and wake you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "up in a minute.` Harry slumped into a chair next to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the fire. Snow was still falling outside the windows. Crookshanks was spread","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "out in front of the fire like a large, ginger rug. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`You really don' look well, you know,` Hermione said, peering anxiously into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "his face. `I'm fine,` said Harry. `Harry, listen,` said Hermione,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "exchanging a look with Ron, you must be really upset about what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "stupid.` `Like what?` said Harry. `Like trying to go after","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Black,` said Ron sharply. Harry could tell they had rehearsed this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "conversation while he had been asleep. He didn't say anything. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "won't, will you, Harry?` said Hermione. `Because Black's not worth dying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "for,` said Ron. Harry looked at them. They didn't seem to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "understand at all. `D'you know what I see and hear every","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "time a dementor gets too near me?` Ron and Hermione shook their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "heads, looking apprehensive. `I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Voldemort. And if you'd heard your mum screaming like that, just about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her --` `There's nothing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "you can do!` said Hermione, looking stricken. `The dementors will catch Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and he'll go back to Azkaban and -- and serve him right!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `You heard what Fudge said. Black isn't affected by Azkaban like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "normal people are. It's not a punishment for him like it is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "for the others.` `So what are you saying?` said Ron, looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "very tense. `You want to -- to kill Black or something?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`Don't be silly,` said Herinione in a panicky voice. `Harry doesn't want","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "to kill anyone, do you, Harry?` Again, Harry didn't answer. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "didn't know what he wanted to do. All he knew was that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the idea of doing nothing, while Black was at liberty, was almost","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "more than he could stand. Malfoy knows,` he said abruptly. `Remember","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "what he said to me in Potions? 'If it was me, I'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hunt him down myself... I'd want revenge. `You're going to take","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Malfoy's advice instead of ours?` said Ron furiously. `Listen... you know what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "me -- the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a box. That was the biggest bit of him they could find.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous --` `Malfoy's dad must","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "have told him,` said Harry, ignoring Ron. `He was right in Voldemort's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "inner circle --` `Say You-Know-Who, will you?` interjected Ron angrily. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`-- so obviously, the Malfoys knew Black was working for Voldemort --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `-- and Malfoy'd love to see you blown into about a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "million pieces, like Pettigrew! Get a grip. Malfoy's just hoping you'll get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch.` `Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "please,` said Hermione, her eyes now shining with tears, `Please be sensible.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Black did a terrible, terrible thing, but d-don't Put Yourself in danger,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "it's what Black wants.... Oh, Harry, you'd be Playing right into Black's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hands if you went looking for him. Your mum and dad wouldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "want you to get hurt, would they? They'd never want you to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "go looking for Black!` `I'll never know what they'd have wanted,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "because thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them,` said Harry shortly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " There was a silence in which Crookshanks stretched luxuriously flexing his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "claws. Ron's pocket quivered. `Look,` said Ron, obviously casting around for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a change of subject, `it's the holidays! It's nearly Christmas! Let's --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "let's go down and see Hagrid. We haven't visited him for ages!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `No!` said Hermione quickly. `Harry isn't supposed to leave the castle,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Ron --` `Yeah, let's go,` said Harry, sitting up, `and I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "me all about my parents!` Further discussion of Sirius Black plainly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "wasn't what Ron had had in mind. `Or we could have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a game of chess, he said hastily, `or Gobstones. Percy left a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "set --` `No, let's visit Hagrid,` said Harry firmly. So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "they got their cloaks from their dormitories and set off through the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "portrait hole (`Stand and fight, you yellow-bellied mongrels!`), down through the empty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "castle and out through the oak front doors. They made their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "way slowly down the lawn, making a shallow trench in the glittering,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "powdery snow, their socks and the hems of their cloaks soaked and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "freezing. The Forbidden Forest looked as though it had been enchanted, each","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "tree smattered with silver, and Hagrid's cabin looked like an iced cake.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " Ron knocked, but there was no answer. `He's not out,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "is he?` said Hermione, who was shivering under her cloak. Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "had his ear to the door. `There's a weird noise,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said. `Listen -- is that Fang?` Harry and Hermione put their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "ears to the door too. From inside the cabin came a series","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "of low, throbbing moans. `Think we'd better go and get someone?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Ron nervously. `Hagrid!` called Harry, thumping the door. `Hagrid, are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "you in there. There was a sound of heavy footsteps, then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the door creaked open. Hagrid stood there with his eyes red and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "swollen, tears splashing down the front of his leather vest. `YWve","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "heard?` he bellowed, and he flung himself onto Harry's neck. Hagrid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "being at least twice the size of a normal man, this was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "no laughing matter. Harry, about to collapse under Hagrid's weight, was rescued","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "by Ron and Hermione, who each seized Hagrid under an arm and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "heaved him back into the cabin. Hagrid allowed himself to be steered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "into a chair and slumped over the table, sobbing uncontrollably, his face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "glazed with tears that dripped down into his tangled beard. `Hagrid,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "what is it?` said Hermione, aghast. Harry spotted an official-looking letter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "lying open on the table. `What's this, Hagrid?` Hagrid's sobs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "redoubled, but he shoved the letter toward Harry, who Picked it up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and read aloud: Dear Mr. Hagrid, Further to our inquiry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "into the attack by a hippogriff on a student in your class,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "responsibility for the regrettable incident. `Well, that's okay then, Hagrid!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Ron, clapping Hagrid oil the shoulder. But Hagrid continued to sob, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "waved one of his gigantic hands, inviting Harry to read on. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "However, we must register our concern about the hippogriff in question. We","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "we ask you to present yourself and your hippogriff at the Committee's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the hippogriff should","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "be kept tethered and isolated. Yours in fellowship... There followed a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "list of the school governors. `Oh,` said Ron. `But you said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Buckbeak isn't a bad hippogriff, Hagrid. I bet he'll get off ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Dangerous Creatures!` choked Hagrid, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. `They've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "it in fer interestin' creatures!` A sudden sound from the corner","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "of Hagrid's cabin made Harry, Ron, and Hermione whip around. Buckbeak the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hippogriff was lying in the corner, chomping on something that was oozing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "blood all over the floor. `I couldn' leave him tied up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "out there in the snow!` choked Hagrid. `All on his own! At","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Christmas.` Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another. They had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "never seen eye to eye with Hagrid about what he called `interesting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "creatures` and other people called `terrifying monsters.` Or' the other hand, there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "didn't seem to be any particular harm in Buckbeak. In fact, by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Hagrid's usual standards, he was positively cute. `You'll have to put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "up a good strong defense, Hagrid,` said Hermione, sitting down and laying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a hand on Hagrid's massive forearm. `I'm sure you can prove Buckbeak","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "is safe.` `Won't make no diff'rence!` sobbed Hagrid. `Them Disposal devils,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o' him! Ad if I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "lose the case, Buckbeak --` Hagrid drew his finger swiftly across","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "his throat, then gave a great wail and lurched forward, his face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "in his arms. `What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?` said Harry. `He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "done more'n enough fer me already,` groaned Hagrid. `Got enough on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "plate what with keepin' them dementors outta the castle, an' Sirius Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "lurkin' around --` Ron and Hermione looked quickly at Harry, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "though expecting him to start berating Hagrid for not telling him the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "truth about Black. But Harry couldn't bring himself to do it, not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "now that he saw Hagrid so miserable and scared. `Listen, Hagrid,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "he said, `you can't give up. Hermione's right, You just need a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "good defense. You can call us as witnesses --` `I'm sure","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "I've read about a case of hippogriff-baiting,` said Hermione thoughtfully, `where the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hippogriff got off I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "exactly what happened.` Hagrid howled still more loudly. Harry and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "looked at Ron to help them. `Er -- shall I make","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a cup of tea?` said Ron. Harry stared at him. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`It's what my mum does whenever someone's upset,` Ron muttered, shrugging. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "At last, after many more assurances of help, with a steaming mug","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "of tea in front of him, Hagrid blew his nose on a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "handkerchief the size of a tablecloth and said, `Yer right. I can'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "afford to go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together..... Fang the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "boarhound came timidly out from under the table and laid his head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "on Hagrid's knee. `I've not bin meself lately,` said Hagrid, stroking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Fang with one hand and mopping his face with the other. `Worried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "abou' Buckbeak, an' no one likin' me classes --` `We do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "like them!` lied Hermione at once. `Yeah, they're great!` said Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "crossing his fingers under the table. `Er -- how are the flobberworms?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `Dead,` said Hagrid gloomily. `Too much lettuce.` `Oh no!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Ron, his lip twitching. `An' them dementors make me feel ruddy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "terrible an' all,` said Hagrid, with a sudden shudder. `Gotta walk past","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "'em ev'ry time I want a drink in the Three Broomsticks. 'S","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "like bein' back in Azkaban --` He fell silent, gulping his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "tea. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him breathlessly. They had never heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Hagrid talk about his brief spell in Azkaban before. After a pause,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Hermione said timidly, `Is it awful in there, Hagrid?` `Yeh've no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "idea,` said Hagrid quietly. `Never bin anywhere like it. Thought I was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "goin' mad. Kep' goin' over horrible stuff in me mind... the day","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "I got expelled from Hogwarts... day me dad died... day I had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "ter let Norbert go....` His eyes filled with tears. Norbert was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the baby dragon Hagrid had once won in a game of cards.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `Yeh can' really remember who yeh are after a while. An'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "yeh can' really see the point o' livin' at all. I used","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "ter hope I'd jus' die in me sleep. When they let me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "out, it was like bein' born again, ev'rythin' I came floodin' back,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "it was the bes' feelin' in the world. Mind, the dementors weren't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "keen on lettin' me go.` `But you were innocent!` said Hermione. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Hagrid snorted. `Think that matters to them? They don' care. Long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "as they've got a couple o' hundred humans stuck there with 'em,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "so they can leech all the happiness out of 'em, they don'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "give a damn who's guilty an' who's not.` Hagrid went quiet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "for a moment, staring into his tea. Then he said quietly, `Thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "o' jus' letting Buckbeak go... tryin' ter make him fly away... but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "how d'yeh explain ter a hippogriff it's gotta go inter hidin'? An'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "-an' I'm scared o' breakin' the law....` He looked up at them,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "tears leaking down his face again. `I don' ever want ter go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "back ter Azkaban.` The trip to Hagrid's, though far from fun,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "had nevertheless had the effect Ron and Hermione had hoped. Though Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "had by no means forgotten about Black, he couldn't brood constantly on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "revenge if he wanted to help Hagrid win his case against the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. He, Ron, and Hermione went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "to the library the next day and returned to the empty common","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "room laden with books that might help prepare a defense for Buckbeak.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "The three of them sat in front of the roaring fire, slowly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "turning the pages of dusty volumes about famous cases If marauding beasts,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "speaking occasionally when they ran across something relevant. `Here's something... there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "was a case in 1722... but the hippogriff was convicted -- ugh,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "look what they did to it, that's disgusting --` `This might","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "help, look -- a manticore savaged someone in 1296, and they let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the manticore off -- oh -- no, that was only because everyone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "was too scared to go near it.` Meanwhile, in the rest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "of the castle, the usual magnificent Christmas decorations had been put up,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "despite the fact that hardly any of the students remained to enjoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "them. Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe were strung along the corridors,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armor, and the Great","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "stars. A powerful and delicious smell of cooking pervaded the corridors, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "by Christmas Eve, it had grown so strong that even Scabbers poked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "his nose out of the shelter of Ron's pocket to sniff hopefully","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "at the air. On Christmas morning, Harry was woken by Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "throwing his pillow at him. `Oy! Presents!` Harry reached for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "his glasses and put them on, squinting through the semi-darkness to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "foot of his bed, where a small heap of parcels had appeared.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Ron was already ripping the paper off his own presents. 'Another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "sweater from Mum... maroon again... see if you've got one. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "had. Mrs. Weasley had sent him a scarlet sweater with the Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "lion knitted on the front, also a dozen home-baked mince pies, some","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Christmas cake, and a box of nut brittle. As he moved all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "these things aside, he saw a long, thin package lying underneath. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`What's that?` said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "socks in his hand. `Dunno...` Harry ripped the parcel open","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and gasped as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Ron dropped his socks and jumped off his bed for a closer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "look. `I don't believe it,` he said hoarsely. It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a Firebolt, identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "every day in Diagon Alley. Its handle glittered as he picked it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "up. He could feel it vibrating and let go; it hung in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "midair, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "His eyes moved from the golden registration number at the top of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the handle, right down to the perfectly smooth, streamlined birch twigs that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "made up the tail. `Who sent it to you?` said Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "in a hushed voice. `Look and see if there's a card,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Harry. Ron ripped apart the Firebolt's wrappings. `Nothing! Blimey,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "who'd spend that much on you?` `Well,` said Harry, feeling stunned,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys.` I bet it was Dumbledore,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Ron, now walking around and around the Firebolt, taking in every","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "glorious inch. `He sent you the Invisibility Cloak anonymously....` `That was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "my dad's, though,` said Harry. `Dumbledore was just Passing it on to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "me. He wouldn't spend hundreds of Galleons on me. He can't go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "giving students stuff like this --` `That's why he wouldn't say","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "it was from him!` said Ron. `In case some git like Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said it was favoritism. Hey, Harry` -- Ron gave a great whoop","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "of laughter -- `Malfoy! Wait till he sees you on this! He'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "be sick as a pig! This is an international standard broom, this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "is!` `I can't believe this,` Harry muttered, running a hand along","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the Firebolt, while Ron sank onto Harry's bed, laughing his head off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "at the thought of Malfoy. `Who -?` `I know,` said Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "controlling himself, `I know who it could've been -- Lupin!` `What?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Harry, now starting to laugh himself `Lupin? Listen, if he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "this much gold, he'd be able to buy himself some new robes.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `Yeah, but he likes you,` said Ron. `And he was away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "when your Nimbus got smashed, and he might've heard about it and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "decided to visit Diagon Alley and get this for you --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`What d'you mean, he was away?` said Harry. `He was ill when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "I was playing in that match.` `Well, he wasn't in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hospital wing,` said Ron. `I was there, cleaning out the bedpans on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "that detention from Snape, remember?` Harry frowned at Ron. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "can't see Lupin affording something like this.` `What're you two laughing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "about?` Hermione had just come in, wearing her dressing gown and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "carrying Crookshanks, who was looking very grumpy, with a string of tinsel","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "tied around his neck. `Don't bring him in here!` said Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hurriedly snatching Scabbers from the depths of his bed and stowing him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "in his pajama pocket. But Hermione wasn't listening. She dropped Crookshanks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "onto Seamus's empty bed and stared, open-mouthed, at the Firebolt. `Oh,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Harry! Who sent you that?` `No idea,` said Harry. `There wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a card or anything with it.` To his great surprise, Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "did not appear either excited or intrigued by the news. On the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "contrary, her face fell, and she bit her lip. `What's the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "matter with you?` said Ron. `I don't know,` said Hermione slowly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "to be quite a good broom, isn't it?` Ron sighed exasperatedly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `It's the best broom there is, Hermione,` he said. `So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "it must've been really expensive....` `Probably cost more than all the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Slytherins' brooms put together,` said Ron happily. `Well... who'd send Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "it?` said Hermione. `Who cares?` said Ron impatiently. `Listen, Harry, can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "I have a go on it? Can I?` `I don't think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "anyone should ride that broom just yet!` said Hermione shrilly. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and Ron looked at her. `What d'you think Harry's going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "do with it -- sweep the floor?` said Ron. But before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Hermione could answer, Crookshanks sprang from Seamus's bed, right at Ron's chest.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `GET -- HIM -- OUT -- OF -- HERE!` Ron bellowed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "as Crookshanks's claws ripped his pajamas and Scabbers attempted a wild escape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "over his shoulder. Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "misjudged kick at Crookshanks that hit the trunk at the end of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Harry's bed, knocking it over and causing Ron to hop up and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "down, howling with pain. Crookshanks's fur suddenly stood on end. A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "shrill, tint,, whistling was filling the room. The Pocket Sneakoscope had become","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "dislodged from Uncle Vernon's old socks and was whirling and gleaming on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the floor. I forgot about that!` Harry said, bending down and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "picking up the Sneakoscope. I never wear those socks if I can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "help it.... The Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in his palm. Crookshanks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "was hissing and spitting at it. `You'd better take that cat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "out of here, Hermione,` said Ron furiously, sitting on Harry's bed nursing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "his toe. `Can't you shut that thing up?` he added to Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "maliciously on Ron. Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and threw it back into his trunk. All that could be heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "now were Ron's stifled moans of pain and rage. Scabbers was huddled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "in Ron's hands. It had been a while since Harry had seen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "him out of Ron's pocket, and he was unpleasantly surprised to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "that Scabbers, once so fat, was now very skinny; patches of fur","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "seemed to have fallen out too `He's not looking too good,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "is he?` Harry said. `It's stress!` said Ron. `He'd be fine","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "if that big stupid furball left him alone!` But Harry, remembering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "what the woman at the Magical Menagerie had said about rats living","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "only three years, couldn't help feeling that unless Scabbers had powers he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "had never revealed, he was reaching the end of his life. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "despite Ron's frequent conplaints that Scabbers was both boring and useless, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "was sure Ron would be very miserable if Scabbers died. Christmas","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor common room","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "that morning. Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory, but was furious","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "with Ron for trying to kick him; Ron was still fuming about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Crookshanks's fresh attempt to eat Scabbers. Harry gave up trying to make","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "them talk to each other and devoted himself to examining the Firebolt,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "which he had brought down to the common room with him. For","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well; she didn't say","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "anything, but she kept looking darkly at the broom as though it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "too had been criticizing her cat. At lunchtime they went down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "to the Great Hall, to find that the House tables had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "moved against the walls again, and that a single table, set for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "twelve, stood in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Sprout, and Flitwick were there, along with Filch, the caretaker, who had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and rather moldy- looking tailcoat. There were only three other students, two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "extremely nervous-looking first years and a sullen-faced Slytherin fifth year. `Merry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Christmas!` said Dumbledore as Harry, Ron, and Hermione approached the table. `As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "House tables.... Sit down, sit down!` Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "down side by side at the end of the table. `Crackers!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver noisemaker to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged. With a bang like a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witchs hat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "topped with a stuffed vulture. Harry, remembering the boggart, caught Ron's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "eye and they both grinned; Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "hat toward Dumbledore, who swapped it for his wizard's hat at once.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `Dig in!` he advised the table, beaming around. As Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "was helping himself to roast potatoes, the doors of the Great Hall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "opened again. It was Professor Trelawney, gliding toward them as though on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "wheels. She had put on a green sequined dress in honor of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the occasion, making her look more than ever like a glittering, oversized","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "dragonfly. `Sibyll, this is a pleasant surprise!` said Dumbledore, standing up.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster,` said Professor Trelawney in her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "mistiest, most faraway voice, `and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and I do beg you to forgive my lateness....` `Certainly, certainly,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. `Let me draw you up a chair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "--` And he did indeed draw a chair in midair with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "his wand, which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall. Professor Trelawney, however, did not sit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "down; her enormous eyes had been roving around the table, and she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream. I dare not, Headmaster!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "rise will be the first to die!` `We'll risk it, Sibyll,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Professor McGonagall inpatiendy. `Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " Professor Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "shut and mouth clenched tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "the table. Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `Tripe, Sibyll?` Professor Trelawney ignored her. Eyes open again, she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "looked around once more and said, `But where is dear Professor Lupin?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again,` said Dumbledore, indicating","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "that everybody should start serving themselves. `Most unfortunate that it should happen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "on Christmas Day.` `But surely you already knew that, Sibyll?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows raised. Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "very cold look. `Certainly I knew, Minerva, 11 she said quietly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`But one does not parade the fact that one is All- Knowing.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Eye, so as not to make others nervous. `That explains a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "great deal,` said Professor McGonagall tartly. Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a good deal less misty. `If you must know, Minerva, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`Imagine that,` said Professor McGonagall dryly. I doubt,` said Dumbledore, in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a cheerful but slightly raised voice, which put an end to Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "McGonagall and Professor Trelawney's conversation, `that Professor Lupin is in any immediate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "danger. Severus, you've made the potion for him again?` `Yes, Headmaster,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Snape. `W -- what?` said Harry, scrambling to his feet. `Why?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " `It will need to be checked for jinxes,` said Professor McGonagall.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "`Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Flitwick will strip it down --` `Strip it down?` repeated Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "as though Professor McGonagall was mad. `It shouldn't take more than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "a few weeks,` said Professor McGonagall. `You will have it back if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "we are sure it is jinx-free.` `There's nothing wrong with it!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "said Harry, his voice shaking slightly. `Honestly, Professor --` `You can't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "know that, Potter,` said Professor McGonagall, quite kindly, `not until you've flown","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "I shall keep you informed.` Professor McGonagall turned on her heel","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "and carried the Firebolt out of the portrait hole, which closed behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "her. Harry stood staring after her, the tin of High-Finish Polish still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "clutched in his hands. Ron, however, rounded on Hermione. `What did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "you go running to McGonagall for? Hermione threw her book aside.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "She was still pink in the face, but stood up and faced","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "Ron defiantly. `Because I thought -- and Professor McGonagall agrees with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" "me -- that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-11" " THE PATRONUS Harry knew that Hermione had meant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "well, but that didn't stop him from being angry with her. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "had been the owner of the best broom in the world for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a few short hours, and now, because of her interference, he didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "know whether he would ever see it again. He was positive that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "there was nothing wrong with the Firebolt now, but what sort of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "state would it be in once it had been subjected to all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "sorts of anti-jinx tests? Ron was furious with Hermione too. As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "far as he was concerned, the stripping-down of a brand- new Firebolt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remained convinced that she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "had acted for the best, started avoiding the common room. Harry and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didn't try","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "to persuade her to come back. All in all, they were glad","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "when the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again. Wood sought Harry out on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the night before term started. `Had a good Christmas?` he said,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "and then, without waiting for an answer, he sat down, lowered his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "voice, and said, `I've been, doing some thinking over Christmas, Harry. After","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "last match, you know. If the dementors come to the next one...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "I mean... we can't afford you to -- well --` Wood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "broke off, looking awkward. `I'm working on it,` said Harry quickly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Professor Lupin said he'd train me to ward off the dementors. We","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "should be starting this week. He said he'd have time after Christmas.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Ah,` said Wood, his expression clearing. `Well, in that case --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "I really didn't want to lose you as Seeker, Harry. And have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "you ordered a new broom yet?` `No,` said Harry. `What!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "You'd better get a move on, you know -- you can't ride","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "that Shooting Star against Ravenclaw!` `He got a Firebolt for Christmas,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said Ron. `A Firebolt? No! Seriously? A -- a real Firebolt?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Don't get excited, Oliver,` said Harry gloomily. `I haven't got it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "anymore. It was confiscated.` And he explained all about how the Firebolt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was now being checked for jinxes. `Jinxed? How could it be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "jinxed?` `Sirius Black` Harry said wearily. `He's supposed to be after","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "me. So McGonagall reckons he might have sent it.` Waving aside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the information that a famous murderer was after his Seeker, Wood said,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`But Black couldn't have bought a Firebolt! He's on the run! The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "whole country's on the lookout for him! How could he just walk","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy a broomstick?` `I know,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry, `but McGonagall still wants to strip it down --` Wood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "went pale. `I'll go and talk to her, Harry,` he promised.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`I'll make her see reason.... A Firebolt... a real Firebolt, on our","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "team... She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we do.... I'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "make her see sense. A Firebolt...` Classes started again the next","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "day. The last thing anyone felt like doing was spending two hours","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "on the grounds on a raw January morning, but Hagrid had provided","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a bonfire full of salamanders for their enjoyment, and they spent an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "unusually good lesson collecting dry wood and leaves to keep the fire","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "blazing while the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "logs. The first Divination lesson of the new term was much less","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "fun; Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "time in informing Harry that he had the shortest life line she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "had ever seen. It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry was keen to get to; after his conversation with Wood, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wanted to get started on his anti-dementor lessons as soon as possible.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Ah yes,` said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "at the end of class. `Let me see... how about eight o'clock","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "We can't bring a real dementor into the castle to practice on....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Still looks ill, doesn't he?` said Ron as they walked down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the corridor, heading to dinner. `What d'you reckon's the matter with him?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " There was a loud and impatient `tuh` from behind them. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was Hermione, who had been sitting at the feet of a suit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of armor, repacking her bag, which was so full of books it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wouldn't close. `And what are you tutting at us for?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Ron irritably. `Nothing,` said Hermione in a lofty voice, heaving her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "bag back over her shoulder. `Yes, you were,` said Ron. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said I wonder what's wrong with Lupin, and you --` `Well,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "isn't it obvious?` said Hermione, with a look of maddening superiority. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`If you don't want to tell us, don't,` snapped Ron. `Fine,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said Hermione haughtily, and she marched off. `She doesn't know,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Ron, staring resentfully after Hermione. `She's just trying to get us to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "talk to her again.` At eight o'clock on Thursday evening, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "left Gryffindor Tower for the History of Magic classroom. It was dark","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "and empty when he arrived, but he lit the lamps with his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wand and had waited only five minutes when Professor Lupin turned up,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto Professor Binn's desk.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `What's that?` said Harry. `Another boggart,` said Lupin, stripping off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "his cloak. `I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet. It's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the nearest we'll get to a real dementor. The boggart will turn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "into a dementor when he sees you, so we'll be able to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "practice on him. I can store him in my office when we're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "not using him; there's a cupboard under my desk he'll like.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Okay,` said Harry, trying to sound as though he wasn't apprehensive at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "all and merely glad that Lupin had found such a good substitute","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "for a real dementor. `So...` Professor Lupin had taken out his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "own wand, and indicated that Harry should do the same. `The spell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "I am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry -- well beyond ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Charm.` `How does it work?` said Harry nervously. `Well, when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "it works correctly, It conjures up a Patronus,` said Lupin, `which is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a kind of anti- dementor -- a guardian that acts as a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "shield between you and the dementor.` Harry had a sudden vision","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of himself crouching behind a Hagridsized figure holding a large club. Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Lupin continued, `The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of the very things that the dementor feeds upon -- hope, happiness,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the desire to survive -- but it cannot feel despair, as real","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "humans can, so the dementors can't hurt it. But I must warn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "you, Harry, that the charm might be too advanced for you. Many","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "qualified wizards have difficulty with it.` `What does a Patronus look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "like?` said Harry curiously. `Each one is unique to the wizard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "who conjures it.` `And how do you conjure it?` `With","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "your might, on a single, very happy memory.` Harry cast his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "mind about for a happy memory. Certainly, nothing that had happened to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "him at the Dursleys' was going to do. Finally, he settled on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the moment when he had first ridden a broomstick. `Right,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said, trying to recall as exactly as possible the wonderful, soaring sensation","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of his stomach. `The incantation is this --` Lupin cleared his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "throat. `Expecto patronum!` `Expecto patronum, ` Harry repeated under his breath,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`expecto patronum.` `Concentrating hard on your happy memory?` `Oh --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "yeah --` said Harry, quickly forcing his thoughts back to that first","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "broom ride. `Expecto patrono -- no, patronum -- sorry -- expecto patronum,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "expecto patronum` Something whooshed suddenly out of the end of his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wand; it looked like a wisp of silvery gas. `Did you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "see that?` said Harry excitedly. `Something happened!` `Very good,` said Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "smiling. `Right, then -- ready to try it on a dementor?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Yes,` Harry said, gripping his wand very tightly, and moving into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "middle of the deserted classroom. He tried to keep his mind on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "flying, but something else kept intruding.... Any second now, he might hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "his mother again... but he shouldn't think that, or he would hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "her again, and he didn't want to... or did he? Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "grasped the lid of the packing case and pulled. A dementor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "rose slowly from the box, its hooded face turned toward Harry, one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "glistening, scabbed hand gripping its cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "and went out. The dementor stepped from the box and started to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath. A wave of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "piercing cold broke over him -- `Expecto patronum!` Harry yelled. `Expecto","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "patronum! Expecto --` But the classroom and the dementor were dissolving....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry was failing again through thick white fog, and his mother's voice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was louder than ever, echoing inside his head -- `Not Harry! Not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry! please -- I'll do anything!` `Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Harry!` Harry jerked back to life. He was lying flat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "on his back on the floor. The classroom lamps were alight again.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "He didn't have to ask what had happened. `Sorry,` he muttered,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "sitting up and feeling cold sweat trickling down behind his glasses. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Are you all right?` said Lupin. `Yes...` Harry pulled himself up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "on one of the desks and leaned against it. `Here --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Lupin handed him a Chocolate Frog. `Eat this before we try again.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "I didn't expect you to do it your first time; in fact,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "I would have been astounded if you had.` `It's getting worse,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry muttered, biting off the Frog's head. `I could hear her louder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "that time -- and him -- Voldemort Lupin looked paler than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "usual. , `Harry, if you don't want to continue, I will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "more than understand --` `I do!` said Harry fiercely, stuffing the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "rest of the Chocolate Frog into his mouth. `I've got to! What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "if the dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I can't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the Quidditch Cup!` `All right then... ` said Lupin. `You might","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "want to select 'other memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "on.... That one doesn't seem to have been strong enough....` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "thought hard and decided his feelings when Gryffindor had won the House","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Championship last year had definitely qualified as very happy. He gripped his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wand tightly again and took up his position in the middle of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the classroom. `Ready?` said Lupin, gripping the box lid. `Ready,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said Harry; trying hard to fill his head with happy thoughts about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Gryffindor winning, and not dark thoughts about what was going to happen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "when the box opened. `Go!` said Lupin, pulling off the lid.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "The room went icily cold and dark once more. The dementor glided","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "forward, drawing its breath; one rotting hand was extending toward Harry -","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Expecto patronum!` Harry yelled. `Expecto patronum! Expecto Pat --` White","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "fog obscured his senses... big, blurred shapes were moving around him... then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "came a new voice, a man's voice, shouting, panicking -- `Lily,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "--` The sounds of someone stumbling ftom a room -- a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "door bursting open -- a cackle of high- pitched laughter -- ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Harry! Harry... wake up....` Lupin was tapping Harry hard on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "face. This time it was a minute before Harry understood why he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was lying on a dusty classroom floor. `I heard my dad,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry mumbled. `That's the first time I've ever heard him -- he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "run for it....` Harry suddenly realized that there were tears on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "his face mingling with the sweat. He bent his face as low","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "as possible, wiping them off on his robes, pretending to do up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "his shoelace, so that Lupin wouldn't see. `You heard James?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Lupin in a strange voice. `Yeah...` Face dry, Harry looked up.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Why -- you didn't know my dad, did you?` `I --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "I did, as a matter of fact,` said Lupin. `We were friends","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry -- perhaps we should leave it here for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced.... I shouln't have suggested putting you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "through this....` `No!` said Harry. He got up again. `I'll have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "one more go! I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "it is.... Hang on....` He racked his brains. A really, really","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "happy memory... one that he could turn into a good, strong Patronus...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " The moment when he'd first found out he was a wizard,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "and would be leaving the Dursleys for Hogwarts! If that wasn't a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "happy memory, he didn't know what was.... Concentrating very hard on how","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "he had felt when he'd realized he'd be leaving Privet Drive, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "got to his feet and faced the packing case once more. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Ready?` said Lupin, who looked as though he were doing this against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "his better judgment. `Concentrating hard? All right -- go!` He pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "off the lid of the case for the third time, and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "dementor rose out of it; the room fell cold and dark ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "'EXPECTO PATRONUM!` Harry bellowed. `EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM! ` The screaming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "inside Harry's head had started again -- except this time, it sounded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "as though it were coming from a badly tuned radio -- softer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "and louder and softer again -- and he could still see the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "dementor -- it had halted -- and then a huge, silver shadow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "came bursting out of the end of Harry's wand, to hover between","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "him and the dementor, and though Harry's legs felt like water, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was still on his feet -- though for how much longer, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wasn't sure -- `Riddikulus!` roared Lupin, springing forward. There was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a loud crack, and Harry's cloudy Patronus vanished along with the dementor;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "he sank into a chair, feeling as exhausted as if he'd just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "run a mile, and felt his legs shaking. Out of the corner","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of his eye, he saw Professor Lupin forcing the boggart back into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the packing case with his wand; it had turned into a silvery","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "orb again. `Excellent!` Lupin said, striding over to where Harry sat.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Excellent, Harry! That was definitely a start!` `Can we have another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "go? Just one more go?` `Not now,` said Lupin firmly. `You've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "had enough for one night. Here --` He handed Harry a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "large bar of Honeydukes' best chocolate. `Eat the lot, or Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?` `Okay,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said Harry. He took a bite of the chocolate and watched Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "extinguishing the lamps that had rekindled with the disappearance of the dementor.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "A thought had just occurred to him. `Professor Lupin?` he said.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`If you knew my dad, you must've known Sirius Black as well.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " Lupin turned very quickly. `What gives you that idea?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said sharply. `Nothing -- I mean, I just knew they were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "friends at Hogwarts too....` Lupin's face relaxed. `Yes, I knew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "him,` he said shortly. `Or I thought I did. You'd better be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "off, Harry, it's getting late.` Harry left the classroom, walking along","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the corridor and around a corner, then took a detour behind a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "suit of armor and sank down on its plinth to finish his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "chocolate, wishing he hadn't mentioned Black, as Lupin was obviously not keen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "on the subject. Then Harry's thoughts wandered back to his mother and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "father... He felt drained and strangely empty, even though he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "so full of chocolate. Terrible though it was to hear his parents'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "last moments replayed inside his head, these were the only times Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "had heard their voices since he was a very small child. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "he'd never be able to produce a proper Patronus if he half","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wanted to hear his parents again.... `They're dead,` he told himself","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "sternly. `They're dead and listening to echoes of them won't bring them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "back. You'd better get a grip on yourself if you want that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Quidditch Cup.` He stood up, crammed the last bit of chocolate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "into his mouth, and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. Ravenclaw played","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Slytherin a week after the start of term. Slytherin won, though narrowly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "According to Wood, this was good news for Gryffindor, who would take","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "second place if they beat Ravenclaw too. He therefore increased the number","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of team practices to five a leek. This meant that with Lupin's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "anti-dementor classes, which in themselves were more draining than six Quidditch practices,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry had just one night a week to do all his homework.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Even so, he was showing the strain nearly as much as Hermione,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "whose immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`How's she doing it?` Ron muttered to Harry one evening as Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "sat finishing a nasty essay on Undetectable Poisons for Snape. Harry looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "up. Hermione was barely visible behind a tottering pile of books. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Doing what?` `Getting to all her classes!` Ron said. `I heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "her talking to Professor Vector, that Arithmancy witch, this morning. They were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "going on about yesterday's lesson, but Hermione can't 've been there, because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "she was with us in Care of Magical Creatures! And Ernie McMillan","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "told me she's never missed a Muggle Studies class, but half of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "them are at the same time as Divination, and she's never missed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "one of them either!` Harry didn't have time to fathom the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "mystery of Hermione's impossible schedule at the moment; he really needed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "get on with Snape's essay. Two seconds later, however, he was interrupted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "again, this time by Wood. `Bad news, Harry. I've just been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She -- er -- got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a bit shirty with me. Told m' I'd got my priorities wrong.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Snitch first.` Wood shook his head in disbelief. `Honestly, the way she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was yelling at me... you'd think I'd said something terrible... then I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "asked her how much longer she was going to keep it. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "screwed up his face and imitated Professor McGonagall's severe voice. 'As long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "as necessary, Wood'... I reckon it's time you ordered a new broom,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry. There's an order form at the back of Which Broomstick... you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "could get a Nimbus Two Thousand and One, like Malfoy's got.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`I'm not buying anything Malfoy thinks is good,` said Harry flatly. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "weather. The match against Ravenclaw was drawing nearer and nearer, but Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "still hadn't ordered a new broom. He was now asking Professor McGonagall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "for news of the Firebolt after every Transfiguration lesson, Ron standing hopefully","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "at his shoulder, Hermione rushing past with her face averted. `No,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Potter, you can't have it back yet,` Professor McGonagall told him the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "twelfth time this happened, before he'd even opened his mouth. `We've checked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "for most of the usual curses, but Professor Flitwick believes the broom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "might be carrying a Hurling Hex. I shall tell you once we've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "finished checking it. Now, please stop badgering me.` To make matters","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "even worse, Harry's anti-dementor lessons were not going nearly as well as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "he had hoped. Several sessions on, he was able to produce an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "indistinct, silvery shadow every time the boggart-dementor approached him, but his Patronus","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was too feeble to drive the dementor away. All it did was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "hover, like a semitransparent cloud, draining Harry of energy as he fought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "to keep it there. Harry felt angry with himself, guilty about his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "secret desire to hear his parents' voices again. `You're expecting too","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "much of yourself,` said Professor Lupin, sternly in their fourth week of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "practice. `For a thirteen-year-old wizard, even an indistinct Patronus is a huge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "achievement. You aren't passing out anymore, are you?` I thought a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Patronus would -- charge the dementors down or something,` said Harry dispiritedly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Make them disappear --` `The true Patronus does do that,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Lupin. `But you've achieved a great deal in a very short space","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of time. If the dementors put in an appearance at your next","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Quidditch match, You will be able to keep them at bay long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "enough to get back to the ground.` `You said it's harder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "if there are loads of them,` said Harry. `I have complete","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "confidence in you,` said Lupin, smiling. `Here -- you've earned a drink","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "- something from the Three Broomsticks. You won't have tried it before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "--` He pulled two bottles out of his briefcase. `Butterbeer!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said Harry, without thinking. `Yeah, I like that stuff!` Lupin raised","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "an eyebrow. `Oh -Ron and Hermione brought me some back from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Hogsmeade,` Harry lied quickly. I see,` said Lupin, though he still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "looked slightly suspicious. `Well -- let's drink to a Gryffindor victory against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Ravenclaw! Not that I'm supposed to take sides, as a teacher... `","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "he added hastily They drank the butterbeer in silence, until Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "voiced something he'd been wondering for a while. `What's under a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "dementor's hood?` Professor Lupin lowered his bottle thoughtfully. `Hmmm... well,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the only people who really know are in no condition to tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "us. You see, the dementor lowers its hood only to use its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "last and worst weapon.` `What's that?` `They call it the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Dementor's Kiss,` said Lupin, with a slightly twisted smile. `It's what dementors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "do to those they wish to destroy utterly. I suppose there must","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "be some kind of mouth under there, because they clamp their jaws","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "upon the mouth of the victim and -- and suck out his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "soul.` Harry accidentally spat out a bit of butterbeer. `What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "-- they kill --?` `Oh no,` said Lupin. `Much worse than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "that. You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "of self anymore, no memory, no. .. anything. There's no chance at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "all of recovery. You'll just exist. As an empty shell. And your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "soul is gone forever... lost.` Lupin drank a little more butterbeer,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "then said, `It's the fate that awaits Sirius Black. It was in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the Daily Prophet this morning. The Ministry have given the dementors permission","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "to perform it if they find him.` Harry sat stunned for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a moment at the idea of someone having their soul sucked out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "through their mouth. But then he thought of Black. `He deserves","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "it,` he said suddenly. `You think so?` said Lupin lightly. `Do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "you really think anyone deserves that?` `Yes,` said Harry defiantly. `For...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "for some things...` He would have liked to have told Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "about the conversation he'd overheard about Black in the Three Broomsticks, about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Black betraying his mother and father, but it would have involved revealing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "that he'd gone to Hogsmeade without permission, and he knew Lupin wouldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "be very impressed by that. So he finished his butterbeer, thanked Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "and left the History of Magic classroom. Harry half wished that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "he hadn't asked what was under a dementor's hood, the answer had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "been so horrible, and he was so lost in unpleasant thoughts of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "what it would feel like to have your soul sucked out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "you that he walked headlong into Professor McGonagall halfway up the stairs.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Do watch where you're going, Potter!` `Sorry, Professor --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`I've just been looking for you in the Gryffindor common room, Well,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "here it is, we've done everything we could think of, and there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it at all. You've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a very good friend somewhere, Potter....` Harry's jaw dropped. She was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "holding out his Firebolt, and it looked as magnificent as ever. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`I can have it back?` Harry said weakly. `Seriously?` `Seriously,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Professor McGonagall, and she was actually smiling. `I daresay you'll need to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "get the feel of it before Saturday's match, won't you? And Potter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "-- do try and win, won't you? Or we'll be out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the running for the eighth year. in a row, as Professor Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was kind enough to remind me only last night....` Speechless, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "carried the Firebolt back upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. As he turned a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "corner, he saw Ron dashing toward him, grinning from ear to ear.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `She gave it to You? Excellent! Listen, can I still have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "a go on it? Tomorrow?` `Yeah... anything,` said Harry, his heart","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "lighter than it had been in a month. `You know what --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "we should make up with Hermione.... She was only trying to help....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `Yeah, all right,` said Ron. `She's in the common room how","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "working, for a change --` They turned into the corridor to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Gryffindor Tower and saw Neville Longbottom, pleading with Sir Cadogan, who seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "to be refusing him entrance. `I wrote them down!` Neville was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "saying tearfully. `But I must've dropped them somewhere!` `A likely tale!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "roared Sir Cadogan. Then, spotting Harry and Ron: `Good even, my fine","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "young yeomen! Come clap this loon in irons. He is trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "force entry to the chambers within!` `Oh, shut up,` said Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "as he and Harry drew level with Neville. `I've lost the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "passwords!` Neville told them miserably. `I made him tell me what passwords","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "he was going to use this week, because he keeps changing them,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "and now I don't know what I've done with them!` `Oddsbodikins,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "said Harry to Sir Cadogan, who looked extremely disappointed and reluctantly swung","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "forward to let them into the common room. There was a sudden,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "excited murmur as every head turned and the next moment, Harry was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "surrounded by people exclaiming over his Firebolt. `Where'd you get it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry?` `Will you let me have a go?` `Have you ridden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "it yet, Harry?` `Ravenclaw'll have no chance, they're all on Cleansweep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Sevens!` `Can I just hold it, Harry?` After ten minutes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "or so, during which the Firebolt was Passed around and admired from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "every angle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Ron had a clear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "view of Hermione, the only person who hadn't rushed over to them,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "bent over her work and carefully avoiding their eyes. Harry and Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "approached her table and at last, she looked up. `I got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "it back,` said Harry, grinning at her and holding up the Firebolt.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " `See, Hermione? There wasn't anything wrong with it!` said Ron. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Well -- there might have been!` said Hermione. `I mean, at least","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "you know now that it's safe!` `Yeah, I suppose so,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry. `Id better put it upstairs.` `I'll take it!` said Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "eagerly. `I've got to give Scabbers his rat tonic.` He took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the Firebolt and, holding it as if it were made of glass,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "carried it away up the boys' staircase. `Can I sit down,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "then?` Harry asked Hermione. `I suppose so,` said Hermione, moving a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "great stack of parchment off a chair. Harry looked around at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "the cluttered table, at the long Arithmancy essay on which the ink","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "was still glistening, at the even longer Muggle Studies essay (`Explain Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Muggles Need Electricity` and at the rune translation Hermione was now poring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "over. `How are you getting through all this stuff?` Harry asked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "her. `Oh, well -- you know -- working hard,` said Hermione.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Close-up, Harry saw that she looked almost as tired as Lupin. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`Why don't you just drop a couple of subjects?` Harry asked, watching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "her lifting books as she searched for her rune dictionary. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "couldn't do that!` said Hermione, looking scandalized. `Arithmancy looks terrible,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "Harry, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart. `Oh no, it's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "wonderful!` said Hermione earnestly. `It's my favorite subject! It's --` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "exactly what was wonderful about Arithmancy, Harry never found out. At that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "precise moment, a strangled yell echoed down the boys' staircase. The whole","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "footsteps, growing louder and louder -- and then Ron came leaping into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "view, dragging with him a bedsheet. `LOOK!` he bellowed, striding over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "to Hermione's table. `LOOK!` he yelled, shaking the sheets in her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "face. `Ron, what --?` `SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!` Hermione was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Harry looked down at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it. Something that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "looked horribly like -- `BLOOD!` Ron yelled into the stunned silence.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "`HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?` `N","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "-- no,` said Hermione in a trembling voice. Ron threw something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "down onto Hermione's rune translation. Hermione and Harry leaned forward. Lying on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" "top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-12" " GRYFFINDOR VERSUS RAVENCLAW It looked like the end of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ron and Hermione's friendship. Each was so angry with the other that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry couldn't see how they'd ever make up. Ron was enraged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "that Hermione had never taken Crookshanks's attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "bothered to keep a close enough watch on him, and was still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "trying to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "for Scabbers under all the boys' beds. Hermione, meanwhile, maintained fiercely that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hairs might have been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "prejudiced against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on Ron's head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "in the Magical Menagerie. Personally, Harry was sure that Crookshanks had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "eaten Scabbers, and when he tried to point out to Hermione that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the evidence all pointed that way, she lost her temper with Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "too. `Okay, side with Ron, I knew you would!` she said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "shrilly. `First the Firebolt, now Scabbers, everything's my fault, isn't it! just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "leave me alone, Harry, I've got a lot of work to do!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " Ron had taken the loss of his rat very hard indeed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " `Come on, Ron, you were always saying how boring Scabbers was,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "said Fred bracingly. `And he's been off-color for ages, he was wasting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "away. It was probably better for him to snuff it quickly --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "one swallow -- he probably didn't feel a thing.` `Fred!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ginny indignantly. `All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "said it yourself,` said George. `He bit Goyle for us once!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ron said miserably. `Remember, Harry?` `Yeah, that's true,` said Harry. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`His finest hour,` said Fred, unable to keep a straight face. `Let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the scar on Goyle's finger stand as a lasting tribute to his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "memory. Oh, come on, Ron, get yourself down to Hogsmeade and buy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "a new rat, what's the point of moaning?` In a last-ditch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "attempt to cheer Ron up, Harry persuaded him to come along to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the Gryffindor team's final practice before the Ravenclaw match, so that he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "could have a ride on the Firebolt after they'd finished. This did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "seem to take Ron's mind off Scabbers for a moment (`Great! Can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "I try and shoot a few goals on it?`) so they set","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "off for the Quidditch field together. Madam Hooch, who was still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "overseeing Gryffindor practices to keep an eye on Harry, was just as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "impressed with the Firebolt as everyone else had been. She took it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "in her hands before takeoff and gave them the benefit of her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "professional opinion. `Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "series has a fault, it's a slight list to the tail end","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "-- you often find they develop a drag after a few years.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "They've updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "me of the old Silver Arrows -- a Pity they've stopped making","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "them. I learned to fly on one, and a very fine old","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "broom it was too....` She continued in this vein for some","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "time, until Wood said, `Er -- Madam Hooch? Is it okay if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry has the Firebolt back? We need to practice....` `Oh --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "right -- here you are, then, Potter,` said Madam Hooch. `I'll sit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "over here with Weasley....` She and Ron left the field to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "sit in the stadium, and the Gryffindor team gathered around Wood for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "his final instructions for tomorrow's match. `Harry, I've just found out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "who Ravenclaw is playing as Seeker. It's Cho Chang. She's a fourth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "year, and she's pretty good.... I really hoped she wouldn't be fit,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "she's had some problems with injuries....` Wood scowled his displeasure that Cho","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Chang had made a full recovery, then said, `On the other hand,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "she rides a Comet Two Sixty, which is going to look like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "a joke next to the Firebolt.` He gave Harry's broom a look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of fervent admiration, then said, `Okay, everyone, let's go -- ` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "And at long last, Harry mounted his Firebolt, and kicked off from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the ground. It was better than he'd ever dreamed. The Firebolt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "turned with the lightest touch; it seemed to obey his thoughts rather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "than his grip; it sped across the field at such speed that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the stadium turned into a green-and-gray blur; Harry turned it so sharply","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "that Alicia Spinnet screamed, then he went into a perfectly controlled dive,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "brushing the grassy field with his toes before rising thirty, forty, fifty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "feet into the air again. `Harry, I'm letting the Snitch out!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Wood called. Harry turned and raced a Bludger toward the goal","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "posts; he outstripped it easily, saw the Snitch dart out from behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Wood, and within ten seconds had caught it tightly in his hand.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " The team cheered madly. Harry let the Snitch go again, gave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "it a minute's head start, then tore after it, weaving in and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "out of the others; he spotted it lurking near Katie Bell's knee,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "looped her easily, and caught it again. It was the best","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "practice ever; the team, inspired by the presence of the Firebolt in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "their midst, performed their best moves faultlessly, and by the time they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hit the ground again, Wood didn't have a single criticism to make,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "which, as George Weasley pointed out, was a first. `I can't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "see what's going to stop us tomorrow!` said Wood. `Not unless --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry, you've sorted out your dementor problem, haven't you?` `Yeah,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry, thinking of his feeble Patronus and wishing it were stronger. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`The dementors won't turn up again, Oliver. Dumbledore'd go ballistic,` said Fred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "confidently. `Well, let's hope not,` said Wood. `Anyway -- good work,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "everyone. Let's get back to the tower... turn in early --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`I'm staying out for a bit; Ron wants a go on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Firebolt,` Harry told Wood, and while the rest of the team headed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "off to the locker rooms, Harry strode over to Ron, who vaulted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the barrier to the stands and came to meet him. Madam Hooch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "had fallen asleep in her seat. `Here you go,` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "handing Ron the Firebolt. Ron, an expression of ecstasy on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "face, mounted the broom and zoomed off into the gathering darkness while","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry walked around the edge of the field, watching him. Night had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "fallen before Madam Hooch awoke with a start, told Harry and Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "off for not waking her, and insisted that they go back to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the castle. Harry shouldered the Firebolt and he and Ron walked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "out of the shadowy stadium, discussing the Firebolt's superbly smooth action, its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "phenomenal acceleration, and its pinpoint turning. They were halfway toward the castle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "when Harry, glancing to his left, saw something that made his heart","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "turn over -- a pair of eyes, gleaming out of the darkness.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " Harry stopped dead, his heart banging against his ribs. `What's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the matter?` said Ron. Harry pointed. Ron pulled out his wand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "and muttered, `Lumos!` A beam of light fell across the grass,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hit the bottom of a tree, and illuminated its branches; there, crouching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "among the budding leaves, was Crookshanks. `Get out of here!` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "roared, and he stooped down and seized a stone lying on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "grass, but before he could do anything else, Crookshanks had vanished with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "one swish of his long ginger tail. `See?` Ron said furiously,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "chucking the stone down again. `She's still letting him wander about wherever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "he wants -- probably washing down Scabbers with a couple of birds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "now....` Harry didn't say anything. He took a deep breath as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "relief seeped through him; he had been sure for a moment that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "those eyes had belonged to the Grim. They set off for the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "castle once more. slightly ashamed of his moment of panic, Harry didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "say anything to Ron -- nor did he look left or right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "until they had reached the well-lit entrance hall. Harry went down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "to breakfast the next morning with the rest of the boys in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "his dormitory, all of whom seemed to think the Firebolt deserved a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "sort of guard of honor. As Harry entered the Great Hall, heads","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "turned in the direction of the Firebolt, and there was a good","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "deal of excited muttering. Harry saw, with enormous satisfaction, that the Slytherin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "team were all looking thunderstruck. `Did you see his face?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ron gleefully, looking back at Malfay. `He can't believe it! This is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "brilliant!` Wood, too, was basking in the reflected glory of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Firebolt. `Put it here, Harry,` he said, laying the broom in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the middle of the table and carefully turning it so that its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "name faced upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt. `Now,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "now, Penny, no sabotage!` said Percy heartily as she examined the Firebolt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "closely. `Penelope and I have got a bet on,` he told the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "team. `Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!` Penelope put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry, and went back to her table.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " `Harry -- make sure you win,` said Percy, in an urgent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "whisper. `I haven't got ten Galleons. Yes, I'm coming, Penny!` And-he bustled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "off to join her in a piece of toast. `Sure you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "can manage that broom, Potter?` said a cold, drawling voice. Draco","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Coyle right behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "him. `Yeah, reckon so,` said Harry casually. `Got plenty of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "special features, hasn't it?` said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. `Shame it doesn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "come with a parachute -- in case you get too near a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "dementor.` Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. `Pity you can't attach an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "extra arm to yours, Malfoy,` said Harry. `Then it could catch the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Snitch for you.` The Gryffindor team laughed loudly. Malfoy's pale eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him rejoin the rest of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, no doubt asking Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "whether Harry's broom really was a Firebolt. At a quarter to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "eleven, the Gryffindor team set off for the locker rooms. The weather","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "couldn't have been more different from their match against Hufflepuff. It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "a clear, cool day with a very light breeze; there would be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "no visibility problems this time, and Harry, though nervous, was starting to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "feel the excitement only a Quidditch match could bring. They could hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the rest of the school moving into the stadium beyond. Harry took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "off his black school robes, removed his wand from his pocket, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "stuck it inside the T-shirt he was going to wear under his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Quidditch robes. He only hoped he wouldn't need it. He wondered suddenly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "whether Professor Lupin was in the crowd, watching. `You know what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "we've got to do,` said Wood as they prepared to leave the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "locker rooms. `If we lose this match, we're out of the running.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "just -- just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "be okay!` They walked out onto the field to tumultuous applause.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were already standing in the middle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of the field. Their Seeker, Cho Chang, was the only girl on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "their team. She was shorter than Harry by about a head, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry couldn't help noticing, nervous as he was, that she was extremely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "pretty. She smiled at Harry as the teams faced each other behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "their captains, and he felt a slight lurch in the region of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " `Wood, Davies, shake hands,` Madam Hooch said briskly, and Wood shook","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hands with the Ravenclaw Captain. `Mount your brooms... on my whistle...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "three -- two -- one --` Harry kicked off into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "air and the Firebolt zoomed higher and faster than any other broom;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "he soared around the stadium and began squinting around for the Snitch,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "listening all the while to the commentary, which was being provided by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the Weasley twins' friend Lee Jordan. `They're off, and the big","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "excitement this match is the Firebolt that Harry Potter is flying for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Gryffindor. According to Which Broomstick, the Firebolt's going to be the broom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of choice for the national teams at this year's World Championship --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " `Jordan, would you mind telling us what's going on in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "match?` interrupted Professor McGonagall's voice. `Right you are, Professor -- just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "giving a bit of background information -- the Firebolt, incidentally, has a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "built-in auto-brake and --` `Jordan!` `Okay, okay, Gryffindor in possession,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Katie Bell of Gryffindor, heading for goal...` Harry streaked past Katie","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "in the opposite direction, gazing around for a glint of gold and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "noticing that Cho Chang was tailing him closely. She was undoubtedly a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "very good flier -- she kept cutting across him, forcing him to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "change direction. `Show her your acceleration, Harry!` Fred yelled as he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "whooshed past in pursuit of a Bludger that was aiming for Alicia.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " Harry urged the Firebolt forward as they rounded the Ravenclaw goal","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "posts and Cho fell behind. Just as Katie succeeded in scoring the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "first goal of the match, and the Gryffindor end of the field","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "went wild, he saw it -- the Snitch was close to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "ground, flitting near one of the barriers. Harry dived; Cho saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "what he was doing and tore after him -- Harry was speeding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "up, excitement flooding him; dives were his speciality, he was ten feet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "away -- Then a Bludger, hit by one of the Ravenclaw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Beaters, came pelting out of nowhere; Harry veered off course, avoiding it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "by an inch, and in those few, crucial seconds, the Snitch had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "vanished. There was a great `Ooooooh` of disappointment from the Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "supporters, but much applause for their Beater from the Ravenclaw end. George","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Weasley vented his feelings by hitting the second Bludger directly at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "offending Beater, who was forced to roll right over in midair to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "avoid it. `Gryffindor leads by eighty points to zero, and look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "at that Firebolt go! Potter's really putting it through its paces now,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "see it turn -- Chang's Comet is just no match for it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the Firebolt's precision- balance is really noticeable in these long --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`JORDAN! ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "COMMENTARY!` Ravenclaw was pulling back; they had now scored three goals,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "which put Gryffindor only fifty points ahead -- if Cho got the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Snitch before him, Ravenclaw would win. Harry dropped lower, narrowly avoiding a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ravenclaw Chaser, scanning the field frantically -- a glint of gold, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "flutter of tiny wings -- the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "post -- Harry accelerated, eyes fixed on the speck of gold","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "ahead -- but just then, Cho appeared out of thin air, blocking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "him -- `HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. `KNOCK HER OFF","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!` Harry turned and caught sight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of Cho; she was grinning. The Snitch had vanished again. Harry turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "his Firebolt upward and was soon twenty feet above the game. Out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of the corner of his eye, he saw Cho following him.... She'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "decided to mark him rather than search for the Snitch herself... All","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "right, then... if she wanted to tail him, she'd have to take","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the consequences.... He dived again, and Cho, thinking he'd seen the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Snitch, tried to follow; Harry pulled out of the dive very sharply;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "she hurtled downward; he rose fast as a bullet once more, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "then saw it, for the third time -- the Snitch was glittering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "way above the field at the Ravenclaw end. He accelerated; so,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "many feet below, did Cho. He was winning, gaining on the Snitch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "with every second -- then -- `Oh!` screamed Cho, pointing. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Distracted, Harry looked down. Three dementors, three tall, black, hooded dementors,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "were looking up at him. He didn't stop to think. Plunging","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "a hand down the neck of his robes, he whipped out his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "wand and roared, `Expecto patronum!` Something silver-white, something enormous, erupted from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the end of his wand. He knew it had shot directly at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the dementors but didn't pause to watch; his mind still miraculously clear,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "he looked ahead -- he was nearly there. He stretched out the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hand still grasping his wand and just managed to close his fingers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "over the small, struggling Snitch. Madam Hooch's whistle sounded. Harry turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "around in midair and saw six scarlet blurs bearing down on him;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "next moment, the whole team was hugging him so hard he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "nearly pulled off his broom. Down below he could hear the roars","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of the Gryffindors in the crowd. `That's my boy!` Wood kept","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "yelling. Alicia, Angelina, and Katie had all kissed Harry; Fred had him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "in a grip so tight Harry felt as though his head would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "come off In complete disarray, the team managed to make its way","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "back to the ground. Harry got off his broom and looked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "to see a gaggle of Gryffindor supporters sprinting onto the field, Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "in the lead. Before he knew it, he had been engulfed by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the cheering crowd. `Yes!` Ron yelled, yanking Harry's arm into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "air. `Yes! Yes!` `Well done, Harry!` said Percy, looking delighted. `Ten Galleons","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "to me! Must find Penelope, excuse me --` `Good for you,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry!` roared Seamus Finnigan. `Ruddy brilliant!` boomed Hagrid over the heads","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of the milling Gryffindors. `That was quite some Patronus,` said a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "voice in Harry's ear. Harry turned around to see Professor Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "who looked both shaken and pleased. `The dementors didn't affect me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "at all!` Harry said excitedly. `I didn't feel a thing!` `That","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "would be because they -- er -- weren't dementors,` said Professor Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`Come and see -- ` He led Harry out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "crowd until they were able to see the edge of the field.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " `You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright,` said Lupin. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "stared. Lying in a crumpled heap on the ground were Malfoy, Crabbe,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Goyle, and Marcus Flint, the Slytherin team Captain, all struggling to remove","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "themselves from long, black, hooded robes. It looked as though Malfoy had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "been standing on Goyle's shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the utmost fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall. `An unworthy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "trick!` she was shouting. `A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ah, here he comes now!` If anything could have set the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "seal on Gryffindor's victory, it was this. Ron, who had fought his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "way through to Harry's side, doubled up with laughter as they watched","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Malfoy fighting to extricate himself from the robe, Goyle's head still stuck","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "inside it. `Come on, Harry!` said George, fighting his way over.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`Party! Gryffindor common room, now!` `Right,` said Harry, and feeling happier","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "than he had in ages, he and the rest of the team","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "led the way, still in their scarlet robes, out of the stadium","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "and back up to the castle. It felt as though they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "had already won the Quidditch Cup; the party went on all day","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "and well into the night. Fred and George Weasley disappeared for a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "couple of hours and returned with armfuls of bottles of butterbeer, pumpkin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "fizz, and several bags full of Honeydukes sweets. `How did you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "do that?` squealed Angelina Johnson as George started throwing Peppermint Toads into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the crowd. `With a little help from Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Prongs,` Fred muttered in Harry's ear. Only one person wasn't joining","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "in the festivities. Hermione, incredibly, was sitting in a corner, attempting to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "read an enormous book entitled Home Life and Social Habits of British","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Muggles. Harry broke away from the table where Fred and George had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "started juggling butterbeer bottles and went over to her. `Did you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "even come to the match?` he asked her. `Of course I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "did,` said Hermione in a strangely high-pitched voice, not looking up. `And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "I'm very glad we won, and I think you did really well,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "but I need to read this by Monday.` `Come on, Hermione,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "come and have some food,` Harry said, looking over at Ron and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "wondering whether he was in a good enough mood to bury the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hatchet. `I can't, Harry. I've still got four hundred and twenty-two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "pages to read!` said Hermione, now sounding slightly hysterical. `Anyway...` She glanced","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "over at Ron too. `He doesn't want me to join in.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "There was no arguing with this, as Ron chose that moment to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "say loudly, `If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " Hermione burst into tears. Before Harry could say or do anything,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "she tucked the enormous book under her arm, and, still sobbing, ran","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "toward the staircase to the girls' dormitories and out of sight. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`Can't you give her a break?` Harry asked Ron quietly. `No,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "said Ron flatly. `If she just acted like she was sorry --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "but she'll never admit she's wrong, Hermione. She's still acting like Scabbers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "has gone on vacation or something.` The Gryffindor party ended only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "when Professor McGonagall turned up in her tartan dressing gown and hair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "net at one in the morning, to insist that they all go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "to bed. Harry and Ron climbed the stairs to their dormitory, still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "discussing the match. At last, exhausted, Harry climbed into bed, twitched the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hangings of his four-poster shut to block out a ray of moonlight,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "lay back, and felt himself almost instantly drifting off to sleep.... ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "He had a very strange dream. He was walking through a forest,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery-white. It was winding its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "way through the trees ahead, and he could only catch glimpses of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "it between the leaves. Anxious to catch up with it, he sped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "up, but as he moved faster, so did his quarry. Harry broke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "into a run, and ahead he heard hooves gathering speed. Now he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "was running flat out, and ahead he could hear galloping. Then he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "turned a corner into a clearing and - `AAARRGGHH! NOOO!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Harry woke as suddenly as though he'd been hit in the face.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Disoriented in the total darkness, he fumbled with his hangings, he could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "hear movements around him, and Seamus Finnigan's voice from the other side","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of the room: `What's going on?` Harry thought he heard the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "dormitory door slam. At last finding the divide in his curtains, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "ripped them back, and at the same moment, Dean Thomas lit his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "lamp. Ron was sitting up in bed, the hangings torn from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "one side, a look of utmost terror on his face. `Black!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Sirius Black! With a knife!` `What?` `Here! Just now! Slashed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the curtains! Woke me up!` `You sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "said Dean. `Look at the curtains! I tell you, he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "here!` They all scrambled out of bed; Harry reached the dormitory","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "door first, and they sprinted back down the staircase. Doors opened behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "them, and sleepy voices called after them. `Who shouted?` `What're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "you doing?` The common room was lit with the glow of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the dying fire, still littered with the debris from the party. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "was deserted. `Are you sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?` `I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "telling you, I saw him!` `What's all the noise?` `Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "McGonagall told us to go to bed!` A few of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "girls had come down their staircase, pulling or, dressing gowns and yawning.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Boys, too, were reappearing. `Excellent, are we carrying on?` said Fred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Weasley brightly. `Everyone back upstairs!` said Percy, hurrying into the common","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "room and pinning his Head Boy badge to his pajamas as he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "spoke. `Perce -- Sirius Black!` said Ron faintly. `In our dormitory!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "With a knife! Woke me up!` The common room went very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "still. `Nonsense!` said Percy, looking startled. `You had too much to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "eat, Ron -- had a nightmare --` `I'm telling you --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " `Now, really, enough's enough!` Professor McGonagall was back. She slammed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the portrait behind her as she entered the common room and stared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "furiously around. `I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "this is getting ridiculous! Percy, I expected better of you!` `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "certainly didn't authorize this, Professor!` said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "was just telling them all to get back to bed! My brother","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Ron here had a nightmare --` `IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "yelled. `PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "HOLDING A KNIFE!` Professor McGonagall stared at him. `Don't be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " `Ask him!` said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of Sir Cadogan's picture. `Ask him if he saw --` Glaring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the Portrait back open and went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "outside. The whole common room listened with bated breath. `Sir Cadogan, did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?` `Certainly, good lady!` cried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "Sir Cadogan. There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "the common room. `You -- you did?` said Professor McGonagall. `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "-- but the password!` `He had 'em!` said Sir Cadogan proudly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "`Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "of paper!` Professor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk. `Which","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "person,` she said, her voice shaking, `which abysmally foolish person wrote down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "this week's passwords and left them lying around?` There was utter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" "head to fluffy slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-13" " SNAPE'S GRUDGE No one in Gryffindor Tower slept","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "that night. They knew that the castle was being searched again, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the whole House stayed awake in the common room, waiting to hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "whether Black had been caught. Professor McGonagall came back at dawn, to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "tell them that he had again escaped. Throughout the day, everywhere","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "they went they saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "seen teaching the front doors to recognize a large picture of Sirius","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Black; Filch was suddenly bustling up and down the corridors, boarding up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes. Sir Cadogan","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "had been fired. His portrait had been taken back to its lonely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "landing on the seventh floor, and the Fat Lady was back. She","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "had been expertly restored, but was still extremely nervous, and had agreed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to return to her job only on condition that she was given","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "extra protection. A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "guard her. They paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "grunts and comparing the size of their clubs. Harry couldn't help","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "noticing that the statue of the one-eyed witch on the third floor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "remained unguarded and unblocked. It seemed that Fred and George had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "right in thinking that they -- and now Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "-- were the only ones who knew about the hidden passageway within","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "it. `D'you reckon we should tell someone?` Harry asked Ron. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`We know he's not coming in through Honeyduke's,` said Ron dismissively. `We'd've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "heard if the shop had been broken into.` Harry was glad","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Ron took this view. If the one-eyed witch was boarded up too,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "he would never be able to go into Hogsmeade again. Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "had become an instant celebrity. For the first time in his life,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "people were paying more attention to him than to Harry, and it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was clear that Ron was rather enjoying the experience. Though still severely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "shaken by the night's events, he was happy to tell anyone who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "asked what had happened, with a wealth of detail. `... I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draft...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "I woke up and one side of the hangings on my bed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "had been pulled down.... I rolled over... and I saw him standing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "over me... like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair ... holding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "this great long knife, must've been twelve inches... and he looked at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "scampered. `Why, though?` Ron added to Harry as the group of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "secondyear girls who had been listening to his chilling tale departed. `Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "did he run?` Harry had been wondering the same thing. Why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "had Black, having got the wrong bed, not silenced Ron and proceeded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to Harry? Black had proved twelve years ago that he didn't mind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "murdering innocent people, and this time he had been facing five unarmed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "boys, four of whom were asleep. `He must've known he'd have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "a job getting back out of the castle once you'd yelled and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "woken people up,` said Harry thoughtfully. `He'd've had to kill the whole","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "House to get back through the portrait hole... then he would' ve","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "met the teachers....` Neville was in total disgrace. Professor McGonagall was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "so furious with him she had banned him from all future Hogsmeade","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "visits, given him a detention, and forbidden anyone to give him the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "password into the tower. Poor Neville was forced to wait. outside the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "common room every night for somebody to let him in, while the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "security trolls leered unpleasantly at him. None of these punishments, however, came","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "close to matching the one his grandmother had in store for him.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Two days after Black's break-in, she sent Neville the very worst thing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "a Hogwarts student could receive over breakfast -- a Howler. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "school owls swooped into the Great Hall carrying the mail as usual,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and Neville choked as a huge barn owl landed in front of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "him, a scarlet envelope clutched in its beak. Harry and Ron, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "were sitting opposite him, recognized the letter as a Howler at once","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "-- Ron had got one from his mother the year before. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Run for it, Neville,` Ron advised. Neville didn't need telling twice.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "He seized the envelope, and holding it before him like a bomb,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "sprinted out of the hall, while the Slytherin table exploded with laughter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "at the sight of him. They heard the Howler go off in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the entrance hall -- Neville's grandmother's voice, magically magnified to a hundred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "times its Usual volume, shrieking about how he had brought shame on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the whole family. Harry was too busy feeling sorry for Neville","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to notice immediately that he had a letter too. Hedwig got his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "attention by nipping him sharply on the wrist. `Ouch! Oh --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "thanks, Hedwig.` Harry tore open the envelope while Hedwig helped herself","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to some of Neville's cornflakes. The note inside said: Dear Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and Ron, How Abut having tea with me this afternoon 'round six?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "I'll come collect you from the castle. WAIT FOR ME IN THE","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "ENTRANCE HALL; YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED OUT ON YOUR OWN. Cheers, Hagrid ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`He probably wants to hear all about Black!` said Ron. So","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "at six o'clock that afternoon, Harry and Ron left Gryffindor Tower, passed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the security trolls at a run, and headed down to the entrance","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "hall. Hagrid was already waiting for them. `All right, Hagrid!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said Ron. `S'pose you want to hear about Saturday night, do you?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `I've already heard all abou' it,` said Hagrid, opening the front","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "doors and leading them outside. `Oh,` said Ron, looking slightly put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "out. The first thing they saw on entering Hagrid's cabin was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Buckbeak, who was stretched out on top of Hagrid's patchwork quilt, his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "enormous wings folded tight to his body, enjoying a large plate of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "dead ferrets. Averting his eyes from this unpleasant sight, Harry saw a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "gigantic, hairy brown suit and a very horrible yellow-and-orange tie hanging from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the top of Hagrid's wardrobe door. `What are they for, Hagrid?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said Harry. `Buckbeaks case against the Committee fer the Disposal o'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Dangerous Creatures,` said Hagrid. `This Friday. Him an' me'll be goin' down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "ter London together. I've booked two beds on the Knight Bus....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry felt a nasty pang of guilt. He had completely forgotten that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Buckbeak's trial was so near, and judging by the uneasy look on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Ron's face, he had too. They had also forgotten their promise about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "helping him prepare Buckbeak's defense; the arrival of the Firebolt had driven","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "it clean out of their minds. Hagrid poured them tea and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "offered them a plate of Bath buns but they knew better than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to accept; they had had too much experience with Hagrid's cooking. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "I got somethin' ter discuss with you two,` said Hagrid, sitting himself","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "between them and looking uncharacteristically serious. `What?` said Harry. `Hermione,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said Hagrid. `What about her?` said Ron. `She's in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "righ' state, that's what. She's bin comin' down ter visit me a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "lot since Chris'mas. Bin feelin' lonely. Firs' yeh weren' talking to her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "because o' the Firebolt, now yer not talkin' to her because her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "cat --` `-- ate Scabbers!` Ron interjected angrily. `Because her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "cat acted like all cats do,` Hagrid continued doggedly. `She's cried a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "fair few times, yeh know. Goin' through a rough time at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "moment. Bitten off more'n she can chew, if yeh ask me, all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the work she's tryin' ter do. Still found time ter help me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "with Buckbeak's case, mind.... She's found some really good stuff fer me...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "reckon he'll stand a good chance now...` `Hagrid, we should've helped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "as well -- sorry --` Harry began awkwardly. `I'm not blamin'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "yeh!` said Hagrid, waving Harry's apology aside. `Gawd knows yeh've had enough","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "ter be gettin' on with. I've seen yeh practicin' Quidditch ev'ry hour","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "o' the day an' night -- but I gotta tell yeh, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "thought you two'd value yer friend more'n broomsticks or rats. Tha's all.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Harry and Ron exchanged uncomfortable looks. `Really upset, she was,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "when Black nearly stabbed yeh, Ron. She's got her heart in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "right place, Hermione has, an' you two not talkin' to her --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `If she'd just get rid of that cat, I'd speak to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "her again!` Ron said angrily. `But she's still sticking up for it!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "It's a maniac, and she won't hear a word against it!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Hagrid wisely. Behind him, Buckbeak spat a few ferret bones onto Hagrid's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "pillow. They spent the rest of their visit discussing Gryffindor's improved","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "chances for the Quidditch Cup. At nine o'clock, Hagrid walked them back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "up to the castle. A large group of people was bunched","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "around the bulletin board when they returned to the common room. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Hogsmeade, next weekend!` said Ron, craning over the heads to read the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "new notice. `What d'you reckon?` he added quietly to Harry as they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "went to sit down. `Well, Filch hasn't done anything about the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "passage into Honeydukes....` Harry said, even more quietly. `Harry!` said a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "voice in his right ear. Harry started and looked around at Hermione,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "who was sitting at the table right behind them and clearing a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "space in the wall of books that had been hiding her. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Harry, if you go into Hogsmeade again... I'll tell Professor McGonagall about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "that map!` said Hermione. `Can you hear someone talking, Harry?` growled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Ron, not looking at Hermione. `Ron, how can you let him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "go with you? After what Sirius Black nearly did to you! I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "mean it, I'll tell --` `So now you're trying to get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry expelled!` said Ron furiously. `Haven't you done enough damage this year?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but with a soft hiss,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Crookshanks leapt onto her lap. Hermione took one frightened look at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "expression on Ron's face, gathered up Crookshanks, and hurried away toward the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "girls' dormitories. `So how about it?` Ron said to Harry as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "though there had been no interruption. `Come on, last time we went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "you didn't see anything. You haven't even been inside Zonko's yet!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry looked around to check that Hermione was well out of earshot.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `Okay,` he said. `But I'm taking the Invisibility Cloak this time.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " On Saturday morning, Harry packed his Invisibility Cloak in his bag,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "slipped the Marauder's Map into his pocket, and went down to breakfast","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "with everyone else. Hermione kept shooting suspicious looks down the table at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "him, but he avoided her eye and was careful to let her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "see him walking back up the marble staircase in the entrance hall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "as everybody else proceeded to the front doors. `'Bye!` Harry called","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to Ron. `See you when you get back!` Ron grinned and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "winked. Harry hurried up to the third floor, slipping the Marauder's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Map out of his pocket as he went. Crouching behind the one-eyed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "witch, he smoothed it out. A tiny dot was moving in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "direction. Harry squinted at it. The minuscule writing next to it read","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Neville Longbottom. Harry quickly pulled out his wand, muttered, `Dissendium!` and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "shoved his bag into the statue, but before he could climb in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "himself, Neville came around the corner. `Harry! I forgot you weren't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "going to Hogsmeade either!` `Hi, Neville,` said Harry, moving swiftly away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "from the statue and pushing the map back into his pocket. `What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "are you up to?` `Nothing,` shrugged Neville. `Want a game of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Exploding Snap?` `Er -- not now -- I was going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "go to the library and do that vampire essay for Lupin --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `I'll come with you!` said Neville brightly. I haven't done it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "either!` `Er -- hang on -- yeah, I forgot, I finished","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "it last night!` `Great, you can help me!` said Neville, his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "round face anxious. `I don't understand that thing about the garlic at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "all -- do they have to eat it, or --` He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "broke off with a small gasp, looking over Harry's shoulder. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was Snape. Neville took a quick step behind Harry. `And what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "are you two doing here?` said Snape, coming to a halt and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "looking from one to the other. `An odd place to meet --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " To Harry's immense disquiet, Snape's black eyes flicked to the doorways","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "on either side of them, and then to the one-eyed witch. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`We're not -- meeting here,` said Harry. `We just -- met here.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `Indeed?` said Snape. `You have a habit of turning up in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "unexpected places, Potter, and you are very rarely there for no good","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "reason.... I suggest the pair of you return to Gryffindor Tower, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "you belong.` Harry and Neville set off without another word. As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "they turned the corner, Harry looked back. Snape was running one of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his hands over the one-eyed witch's head, examining it closely. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "managed to shake Neville off at the Fat Lady by telling him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the password, then pretending he'd left his vampire essay in the library","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and doubling back. Once out of sight of the security trolls, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "pulled out the map again and held it close to his nose.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " The third floor corridor seemed to be deserted. Harry scanned the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "map carefully and saw, with a leap of relief, that the tiny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "dot labeled Severus Snape was now back in its office. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "sprinted back to the one-eyed witch, opened her hump, heaved himself inside,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and slid down to meet his bag at the bottom of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "stone chute. He wiped the Marauder's Map blank again, then set off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "at a run. Harry, completely hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak, emerged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "into the sunlight outside Honeydukes and prodded Ron in the back. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "It's me,` he muttered. `What kept you?` Ron hissed. `Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was hanging around.` They set off up the High Street. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Where are you?` Ron kept muttering out of the corner of his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "mouth. `Are you still there? This feels weird....` They went to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the post office; Ron pretended to be checking the price of an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "owl to Bill in Egypt so that Harry could have a good","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "look around. The owls sat hooting softly down at him, at least","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "three hundred of them; from Great Grays right down to tiny little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Scops owls (`Local Deliveries Only`), which were so small they could have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "sat in the palm of Harry's hand. Then they visited Zonko's,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "which was so packed with students Harry had to exercise great care","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "not to tread on anyone and cause a panic. There were jokes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and tricks to fulfill even Fred's and George's wildest dreams; Harry gave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Ron whispered orders and passed him some gold from under the cloak.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "They left Zonko's with their money bags considerably lighter than they had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "been on entering, but their pockets bulging with Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, Frog","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Spawn Soap, and a Nose-Biting Teacup apiece. The day was fine","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and breezy, and neither of them felt like staying indoors, so they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "walked past the Three Broomsticks and climbed a slope to visit the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain. It stood a little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "way above the rest of the village, and even in daylight was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "slightly creepy, with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden. `Even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it,` said Ron as they leaned on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "fence, looking up at it. `I asked Nearly Headless Nick... he says","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "he's heard a very rough crowd lives here. No one can get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "in. Fred and George tried, obviously, but all the entrances are sealed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "shut....` Harry, feeling hot from their climb, was just considering taking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "off the cloak for a few minutes when they heard voices nearby.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Someone was climbing toward the house from the other side of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "hill; moments later, Malfoy had appeared, followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Malfoy was speaking. `... should have an owl from Father any","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "time now. He had to go to the hearing to tell them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "about my arm... about how I couldn't use it for three months....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. `I really wish I could hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "that great hairy moron trying to defend himself... 'There's no 'arm in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "'im, 'onest that hippogriff's as good as dead --` Malfoy suddenly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "caught sight of Ron. His pale face split in a malevolent grin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `What are you doing, Weasley?` Malfoy looked up at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "crumbling house behind Ron. `Suppose You'd love to live here, wouldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "you, Weasley? Dreaming about having your own bedroom? I heard your family","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "all sleep in one room -- is that true?` Harry seized","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the back of Ron's robes to stop him from leaping on Malfoy.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Leave him to me,` he hissed in Ron's ear. The opportunity","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was too perfect to miss. Harry crept silently around behind Malfoy, Crabbe,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and Goyle, bent down, and scooped a large handful of mud out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of the path. `We were just discussing your friend Hagrid,` Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said to Ron. `Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "they cut off his hippogriff's SPLAT. Malfoy's head jerked forward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "as the mud hit him; his silverblond hair was suddenly dripping in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "muck. `What the --?` Ron had to hold onto the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "fence to keep himself standing, he was laughing so hard. Malfoy, Crabbe,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and Goyle spun stupidly on the spot, staring wildly around, Malfoy trying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to wipe his hair clean. `What was that? 'Who did that?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `Very haunted up here, isn't it?` said Ron, with the air","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of one commenting on the weather. Crabbe and Goyle were looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "scared. Their bulging muscles were no use against ghosts. Malfoy was staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "madly around at the deserted landscape. Harry sneaked along the path,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "where a particularly sloppy puddle yielded some foul-smelling, green sludge. SPLATTER.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Crabbe and Goyle caught some this time. Goyle hopped furiously on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the spot, trying to rub it out of his small, dull eyes.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `It came from over there!` said Malfoy, wiping his face, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "staring at a spot some six feet to the left of Harry.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Crabbe blundered forward, his long arms outstretched like a zombie. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "dodged around him, picked up a stick, and lobbed it at Crabbe's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "back. Harry doubled up with silent laughter as Crabbe did a kind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of pirouette in midair, trying to see who had thrown it. As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Ron was the only person Crabbe could see, it was Ron he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "started toward, but Harry stuck out his leg. Crabbe stumbled -- and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his huge, flat foot caught the hem of Harry's cloak. Harry felt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "a great tug, then the cloak slid off his face. For","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "a split second, Malfoy stared at him. `AAARGH!` he yelled, pointing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "at Harry's head. Then he turned tail and ran, at breakneck speed,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "back down the hill, Crabbe and Goyle behind him. Harry tugged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the cloak up again, but the damage was done. `Harry!` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said, stumbling forward and staring hopelessly at the point where Harry had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "disappeared, `you'd better run for it! If Malfoy tells anyone -- you'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "better get back to the castle, quick --` `See you later,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry, and without another word, he tore back down the path toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Hogsmeade. Would Malfoy believe what he had seen? Would anyone believe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Malfoy? Nobody knew about the Invisibility Cloak -- nobody except Dumbledore.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry's stomach turned over -- Dumbledore would know exactly what had happened,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "if Malfoy said any- thing -- Back into Honeydukes, back down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the cellar steps, across the stone floor, through the trapdoor -- Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "pulled off the cloak, tucked it under his arm, and ran, flat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "out, along the passage.... Malfoy would get back first... how long would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "it take him to find a teacher? Panting, a sharp pain in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his side, Harry didn't slow down until he reached the stone slide.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "He would have to leave the cloak where it was, it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "too much of a giveaway in case Malfoy had tipped off a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "teacher -- he hid it in a shadowy corner, then started to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "climb, fast as he could, his sweaty hands slipping on the sides","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of the chute. He reached the inside of the witch's hump, tapped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "it with his wand, stuck his head through, and hoisted himself out;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the hump closed, and just as Harry jumped out from behind the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "statue, he heard quick footsteps approaching. It was Snape. He approached","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry at a swift walk, his black robes swishing, then stopped in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "front of him. `So,` he said. There was a look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of surpressed triumph about him. Harry tried to look innocent, all too","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "aware of his sweaty face and his muddy hands, which he quickly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "hid in his pockets. `Come with me, Potter,` said Snape. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry followed him downstairs, trying to wipe his hands clean on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "inside of his robes without Snape noticing. They walked down the stairs","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to the dungeons and then into Snape's office. Harry had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "in here only once before, and he had been in very serious","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "trouble then too. Snape had aquired a few more slimy horrible things","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "in jars since last time, all standing on shelves behind his desk,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "glinting in the firelight and adding to the threatening atmosphere. `Sit,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said Snape. Harry sat. Snape, however, remained, standing. `Mr. Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "has just been to see me with a strange story, Potter,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Snape. Harry didn't say anything. `He tells me that he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was up by the Shrieking Shack when he ran into Weasley --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "apparently alone.` Still, Harry didn't speak. `Mr. Malfoy states that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "he was standing talking to Weasley, when a large amount of mud","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "hit him in the back of the head. How do you think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "that could have happened?` Harry tried to look mildly surprised. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`I don't know, Professor.` Snape's eyes were boring into Harry's. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was exactly like trying to stare down a hippogriff. Harry tried hard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "not to blink. `Mr. Malfoy then saw an extraordinary apparition. Can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "you imagine what it might have been, Potter?` `No,` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "now trying to sound innocently curious. `It was your head, Potter.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Floating in midair.` There was a long silence. `Maybe he'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "better go to Madam Pomfrey,` said Harry. `If he's seeing things like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "--` `What would your head have been doing in Hogsmeade, Potter?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said Snape softly. `Your head is not allowed in Hogsmeade. No part","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of your body has permission to be in Hogsmeade.` `I know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "that,` said Harry, striving to keep his face free of guilt or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "fear. `It sounds like Malfoy's having hallucin --` `Malfoy is not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "having hallucinations,` snarled Snape, and he bent down, a hand on each","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "arm of Harry's chair, so that their faces were a foot apart.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`If your head was in Hogsmeade, so was the rest of you.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `I've been up in Gryffindor Tower,` said Harry. `Like you told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "--` `Can anyone confirm that?` Harry didn't say anything. Snape's thin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "mouth curled into a horrible smile. `So,` he said, straightening up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "again. `Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "is a law unto himself Let the ordinary people worry about his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "safety! Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "for the consequences. Harry stayed silent. Snape was trying to provoke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "him into telling the truth. He wasn't going to do it. Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "had no proof -- yet. `How extraordinarily like your father you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "are, Potter,` Snape said suddenly, his eyes glinting. `He too was exceedingly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "arrogant. A small amount of talent on the Quidditch field made him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "think he was a cut above the rest of us too. Strutting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "around the place with his friends and admirers... The resemblance between you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "is uncanny.` `My dad didn't strut,` said Harry, before he could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "stop himself. `And neither do I.` `Your father didn't set much","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "store by rules either,` Snape went on, pressing his advantage, his thin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "face full of malice. `Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "His head was so swollen --` `SHUT UP!` Harry was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "suddenly on his feet. Rage such as he had not felt since","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his last night in Privet Drive was coursing through him. He didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "care that Snape's face had gone rigid, the black eyes flashing dangerously.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `What did you say to me, Potter?` `I told you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to shut up about my dad!` Harry yelled. I know the truth,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "all right? He saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn't even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "be here if it wasn't for my dad!` Snape's sallow skin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "had gone the color of sour milk. `And did the headmaster","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "tell you the circumstances in which your father saved my life?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "whispered. `Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for precious Potter's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "delicate ears?` Harry bit his lip. He didn't know what had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "happened and didn't want to admit it -- but Snape seemed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "have guessed the truth. I would hate for you to run","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "away with a false idea of your father, Potter,` he said, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "terrible grin twisting his face. `Have you been imagining some act of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "glorious heroism? Then let me correct you -- your saintly father and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his friends played a highly amusing joke on me that would have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold feet at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the last moment. There was nothing brave about what he did. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was saving his own skin as much as mine. Had their joke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "succeeded, he would have been expelled from Hogwarts.` Snape's uneven, yellowish","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "teeth were bared. `Turn out your pockets, Potter!` he spat suddenly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Harry didn't move. There was a pounding in his ears. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Turn out your pockets, or we go straight to the headmaster! Pull","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "them out, Potter!` Cold with dread, Harry slowly pulled out the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "bag of Zonko's tricks and the Marauder's Map. Snap picked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "the Zonko's bag. `Ron gave them to me,` said Harry, praying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "he'd get a chance to tip Ron off before Snape saw him.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`He -brought them back from Hogsmeade last time --` `Indeed? And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "you've been carrying them around ever since? How very touching... and what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "is this?` Snape had picked up the map. Harry tried with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "all his might to keep his face impassive. `Spare bit of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "parchment,` he said with a shrug. Snape turned it over, his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "eyes on Harry. `Surely you don't need such a very old","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "piece of parchment?` he said. `Why don't I just -- throw this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "away?` His hand moved toward the fire. `No!` Harry said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "quickly. `So!` said Snape, his long nostrils quivering. `Is this another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "treasured gift from Mr. Weasley? Or is it -- something else? A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "letter, perhaps, written in invisible ink? Or -- instructions to get into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Hogsmeade without passing the dementors?` Harry blinked. Snape's eyes gleamed. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`Let me see, let me see....` he muttered, taking out his wand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and smoothing the map out on his desk. `Reveal your secret!` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said, touching the wand to the parchment. Nothing happened. Harry clenched","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his hands to stop them from shaking. `Show yourself!` Snape said,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "tapping the map sharply. It stayed blank. Harry was taking deep,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "calming breaths. `Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to yield the information you conceal!` Snape said, hitting the map with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his wand. As though an invisible hand were writing upon it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "words appeared on the smooth surface of the map. Mooney presents","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "large nose out of other people's business.` Snape froze. Harry stared,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "dumbstruck, at the message. But the map didn't stop there. More writing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "was appearing beneath the first. `Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugle git.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " It would have been very funny if the situation hadn't been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "so serious. And there was more.... `Mr. Padfoot would like to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Harry closed his eyes in horror. When he'd opened them, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "map had had its last word. `Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "good day, and advises him to wash his hair , the slimeball.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " Harry waited for the blow to fall. `So...` said Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "softly. `We'll see about this....` He strode across to his fire,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "seized a fistful of glittering powder from a jar on the fireplace,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and threw it into the flames. `Lupin!` Snape called into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "fire. `I want a word!` Utterly bewildered, Harry stared at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "fire. A large shape had appeared in it, revolving very fast. Seconds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "later, Professor Lupin was clambering out of the fireplace, brushing ash off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his shabby robes. `You called, Severus?` said Lupin mildly. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "certainly did,` said Snape, his face contorted with fury as he strode","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "back to his desk. `I have just asked Potter to empty his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "pockets. He was carrying this.` Snape pointed at the parchment, on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "which the words of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "shining. An odd, closed expression appeared on Lupin's face. `Well?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Snape. Lupin continued to stare at the map. Harry had the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "impression that Lupin was doing some very quick thinking. `Well?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Snape again. `This parchment is plainly full of Dark Magic. This is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "supposed to be your area of expertise, Lupin. Where do you imagine","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Potter got such a thing?` Lupin looked up and, by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "merest half-glance in Harry's direction, warned him not to interrupt. `Full","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of Dark Magic?` he repeated mildly. `Do you really think so, Severus?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "parchment that insults anybody who reads it. Childish, but surely not dangerous?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "I imagine Harry got it from a joke shop --` `Indeed?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said Snape. His jaw had gone rigid with anger. `You think a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "joke shop could supply him with such a thing? You don't think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry didn't understand what Snape was talking about. Nor, apparently, did Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `You mean, by Mr. Wormtail or one of these people?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "said. `Harry, do you know any of these men?` `No,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Harry quickly. `You see, Severus?` said Lupin, turning back to Snape.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`It looks like a Zonko product to me --` Right on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "cue, Ron came bursting into the office. He was completely out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "breath, and stopped just short of Snape's desk, clutching the stitch in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "his chest and trying to speak. `I -- gave -- Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "-- that -- stuff,` he choked. `Bought -- it... in Zonko's... ages","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "-- ago...` `Well!` said Lupin, clapping his hands together and looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "around cheerfully. `That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "back, shall I?` He folded the map and tucked it inside his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "robes. `Harry, Ron, come with me, I need a word about my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "vampire essay -- excuse us, Severus --` Harry didn't dare look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "at Snape as they left his office. He. Ron, and Lupin walked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "all the way back into the entrance hall before speaking. Then Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "turned to Lupin. `Professor, I --` `I don't want to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "hear explanations,` said Lupin shortly. He glanced around the empty entrance hall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and lowered his voice. `I happen to know that this map was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it' s","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "a map,` he said as Harry and Ron looked amazed. `I don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "want to know how it fell into your possession. I am, however,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "astounded that you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "I can't let you have it back, Harry.` Harry had expected","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "that, and was too keen for explanations to protest. `Why did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?` `Because...,` Lupin hesitated,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "`because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "They'd think it extremely entertaining.` `Do you know them?` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "impressed. `We've met,` he said shortly. He was looking at Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "more seriously than ever before. `Don't expect me to cover up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "for you again, Harry. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "But I would have thought that what you have heard when the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "poor way to repay them -- gambling their sacrifice for a bag","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "of magic tricks.` He walked away, leaving Harry feeling worse by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "far than he had at any point in Snape's office. Slowly, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "and Ron mounted the marble staircase. As Harry passed the one-eyed witch,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "he remembered the Invisibility Cloak -- it was still down there, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "he didn't dare go and get it. `It's my fault,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "Ron abruptly. `I persuaded you to go. Lupin's right, it was stupid,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "we shouldn't've done it --` He broke off; they reached the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "corridor where the security trolls were pacing, and Hermione was walking toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "them. One look at her face convinced Harry that she had heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "what had happened. His heart plummeted -- had she told Professor McGonagall?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " `Come to have a good gloat?` said Ron savagely as she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "stopped in front of them. `Or have you just been to tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "on us?` `No,` said Hermione. She was holding a letter in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "her hands and her lip was trembling. `I just thought you ought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" "to know... Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-14" " THE QUIDDITCH FINAL He sent me this,` Hermione said,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "holding out the letter. Harry took it. The parchment was damp,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "it was very difficult to read. Dear Hermione, We lost. I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Execution date to be fixed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Beaky has enjoyed London. I won't forget all the help you gave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "us. Hagrid `They can't do this,` said Harry. `They can't.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Buckbeak isn't dangerous.` `Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Hermione, wiping her eyes. `You know what he's like. They're a bunch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope.... Nothing will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "have changed.` `Yeah, it will,` said Ron fiercely. `You won't have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Oh, Ron!` Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away. `Ron, I'm really,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "really sorry about Scabbers...` she sobbed. `Oh -- well -- he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was old,` said Ron, looking thoroughly relieved that she had let go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of him. `And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and Dad might get me an owl now.` The safety measures","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Creatures lessons. He seemed numb with shock at the verdict. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "he told 'em....` `There's still the appeal!` said Ron fiercely. `Don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "give up Yet, we're working on it!` They were walking back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "looking back, laughing derisively. `S'no good, Ron,` said Hagrid sadly as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "they reached the castle steps. `That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "he's ever had. I owe him that....` Hagrid turned around and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Look at him blubber!` Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "just inside the castle doors, listening. `Have you ever seen anything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "quite as pathetic?` said Malfoy. `And he's supposed to be our teacher!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "got there first -- SMACK! She had slapped Malfoy across the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul -- you evil --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " `Hermione!` said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "as she swung it back. `Get off, Ron!` Hermione pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "out her wand. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "for instructions, thoroughly bewildered. `C'mon,` Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Hermione!` Ron said again, sounding both stunned and irnpressed. `Harry, you'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "better beat him in the Quidditch final!` Hermione said shrilly. `You just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!` `We're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "due in Charms,` said Ron, still goggling at Hermione. `We'd better go.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " They hurried up the marble staircase toward Professor Flitwick's classroom. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`You're late, boys!` said Professor Flitwick reprovingly as Harry opened the classroom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "door. `Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "we've already divided into pairs --` Harry and Ron hurried to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "a desk at the back and opened their bags. Ron looked behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "him. `Where's Hermione gone?` Harry looked around too. Hermione hadn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "entered the classroom, yet Harry knew she had been right next to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "him when he had opened the door. `That's weird,` said Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "staring at Ron. `Maybe -- maybe she went to the bathroom or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "something?` But Hermione didn't turn up all lesson. `She could've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "done with a Cheering Charm on her too,` said Ron as the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "class left for lunch, all grinning broadly -- the Cheering Charms had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "left them with a feeling of great contentment. Hermione wasn't at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "lunch either. By the time they had finished their apple pie, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "after-effects of the Cheering Charms were wearing off, and Harry and Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "had started to get slightly worried. `You don't think Malfoy did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "something to her?` Ron said anxiously as they hurried upstairs toward Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Tower. They passed the security trolls, gave the Fat Lady the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "password (`Flibbertigibbet`), and scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep, her head resting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "on an open Arithmancy book. They went to sit down on either","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "side of her. Harry prodded her awake. `Wh -- what?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Hermione, waking with a start and staring wildly around. `Is it time","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to go? W -- which lesson have we got now?` `Divination,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "but it's not for another twenty minutes,` said Harry. `Hermione, why didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "you come to Charms?` `What? Oh no!` Hermione squeaked. `I forgot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to go to Charms!` `But how could you forget?` said Harry.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`I don't believe it!` Hermione wailed. `Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was Malfoy, I was thinking about him and I lost track of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "things!` `You know what, Hermione?` said Ron, looking down at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow. `I reckon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "you're cracking up. You're trying to do too much.` `No, I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "not!` said Hermione, brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "hopelessly around for her bag. `I just made a mistake, that's all!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry... I'll see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "you in Divination!` Hermione joined them at the foot of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "ladder to Professor Trelawneys classroom twenty minutes later, looking extremely harrassed. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`I can't believe I missed Cheering Charms! And I bet they come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "up in our exams; Professor Flitwick hinted they might!` Together they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "climbed the ladder into the dim, stifling tower room. Glowing on every","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist. Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Ron, and Hermione sat down together at the same rickety table. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term,` Ron muttered, casting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "a wary eye around for Professor Trelawney, in case she was lurking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "nearby. `Don't complain, this means we've finished palmistry,` Harry muttered back.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "my hands.` `Good day to you!` said the familiar, misty voice,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance out of the shadows.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Parvati and Lavender quivered with excitement, their faces lit by the milky","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "glow of their crystal ball. `I have decided to introduce the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned,` said Professor Trelawney,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "sitting with her back to the fire and gazing around. `The fates","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice.` Hermione snorted.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " `Well, honestly... 'the fates have informed her' who sets the exam?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "She does! What an amazing prediction!` she said, not troubling to keep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "her voice low. Harry and Ron choked back laughs. It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "hard to tell whether Professor Trelawney had heard them as her face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was hidden in shadow. She continued, however, as though she had not.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " `Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art,` she said dreamily. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "do not expect any of you to See when first you peer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "into the Orb's infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "conscious mind and external eyes` -- Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "-- `so as to clear the Inner Eye and the superconscious. Perhaps,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "if we are lucky, some of you will see before the end","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of the class.` And so they began. Harry, at least, felt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "extremely foolish, staring blankly at the crystal ball, trying to keep his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "mind empty when thoughts such as `this is stupid` kept drifting across","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "it. It didn't help that Ron kept breaking into silent giggles and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Hermione kept tutting. `Seen anything yet?` Harry asked them after a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "quarter of an hour's quiet crystal gazing. `Yeah, there's a burn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "on this table,` said Ron, pointing. `Someone's spilled their candle.` `This","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "is such a waste of time,` Hermione hissed. `I could be practicing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "something useful. I could be catching up on Cheering Charms --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Professor Trelawney rustled past. `Would anyone like me to help them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?` she murmured over the clinking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of her bangles. I don't need help,` Ron whispered. `It's obvious","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Both Harry and Hermione burst out laughing. `Now, really!` said Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Trelawney as everyone's heads turned in their direction. Parvati and Lavender were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "looking scandalized. `You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!` She approached their table","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and peered into their crystal ball. Harry felt his heart sinking. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was sure he knew what was coming -- `There is something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "here!` Professor Trelawney whispered, lowerng her face to the ball, so that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "it was reflected twice in her huge glasses. `Something moving... but what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "is it?` Harry was prepared to bet everything he owned, Including","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "his Firebolt, that it wasn't good news, whatever it was. And sure","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "enough -- `My dear Professor Trelawney breathed, gazing up at Harry.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`It is here, plainer than ever before... my dear, stalking toward you, growing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "ever closer... the Gr --` `Oh, for goodness' sake!` said Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "loudly. `Not that ridiculous Grim again!` Professor Trelawney raised her enormous","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "eyes to Hermione's face. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and they both","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "glared at Hermione too. Professor Trelawney stood up, surveying Hermione with unmistakable","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "anger. `I am sorry to say that from the moment you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "have arrived in this class my dear, it has been apparent that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "mundane.` There was a moment's silence. Then -- `Fine!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Hermione suddenly, getting up and cramming Unfogging the Future back into her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "bag. `Fine!` she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "knocking Ron off his chair. `I give up! I'm leaving!` And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to the whole class's amazement, Hermione strode over to the trapdoor, kicked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "took a few minutes for the class to settle down again. Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Trelawney seemed to have forgotten all about the Grim. She turned abruptly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "from Harry and Ron's table, breathing rather heavily as she tugged her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "gauzy shawl more closely to her. `Ooooo!` said Lavender suddenly, making","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "everyone start. `Ooooo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? 'Around Easter, one of our number will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "leave us forever!' You said it ages ago, Professor!` Professor Trelawney","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "gave her a dewy smile. `Yes, my dear, I did indeed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One hopes, however, that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "one might have mistaken the Signs.... The Inner Eye can be a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "burden, you know...` Lavender and Parvati looked deeply impressed, and moved","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "over so that Professor Trelawney could join their table instead. `Some","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "day Hermione's having, eh?` Ron muttered to Harry, looking awed. `Yeah...`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " Harry glanced into the crystal ball but saw nothing but swirling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "white mist. Had Professor Trelawney really seen the Grim again? Would he?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "The last thing he needed was another near-fatal accident, with the Quidditch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "final drawing ever nearer. The Easter holidays were not exactly relaxing.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "The third years had never had so much homework. Neville Longbottom seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "close to a nervous collapse, and he wasn't the only one. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Call this a holiday!` Seamus Finnigan roared at the common room one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "afternoon. `The exams are ages away, what're they playing at?` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "nobody had as much to do as Hermione. Even without Divination, she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was taking more subjects than anybody else. She was usually last to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "leave the common room at night, first to arrive at the library","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the next morning; she had shadows like Lupin's under her eyes, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "seemed constantly close to tears. Ron had taken over responsibility for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Buckbeak's appeal. When he wasn't doing his own work, he was poring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "over enormously thick volumes with names like The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality. He was so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "absorbed, he even forgot to be horrible to Crookshanks. Harry, meanwhile,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "had to fit in his homework around Quidditch practice every day, not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to mention endless discussions of tactics with Wood. The Gryffindor-Slytherin match would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "take place on the first Saturday after the Easter holidays. Slytherin was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "leading the tournament by exactly two hundred points. This meant (as Wood constantly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "reminded his team) that they needed to win the match by more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "than that amount to win the Cup. It also meant that the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "burden of winning fell largely on Harry, because capturing the Snitch was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "worth one hundred and fifty points. `So you must catch it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "only if we're more than fifty points up,` Wood told Harry constantly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Only if we're more than fifty points up, Harry, or we win","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the match but lose the Cup. You've got that, Haven't you? You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "must catch the Snitch only if we're --` `I KNOW, OLIVER!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry yelled. The whole of Gryffindor House was obsessed with the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "coming match. Gryffindor hadn't won the Quidditch Cup since the legendary Charlie","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Weasley (Ron's second oldest brother) had been seeker. But Harry doubted whether","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "any of them, even Wood, wanted to win as much as he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "did. The enmity between Harry and Malfoy was at its highest point","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "ever. Malfoy was still smarting ,bout the mud-throwing incident in Hogsmeade and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was even more furious that Harry had somehow wormed his way out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of punishment. Harry hadn't forgotten Malfoy's attempt to sabotage him in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "match against Ravenclaw, but it was the matter of Buckbeak that made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "him most determined to beat Malfoy in front of the entire school.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " Never, in anyone's memory, had a match approached in such a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "highly charged atmosphere. By the time the holidays were over, tension between","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the two teams and their Houses was at the breaking point. A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, culminating in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "year ended up in the hospital wing with leeks sprouting out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "their ears. Harry was having a particularly bad time of it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "He couldn't walk to class without Slytherins sticking out their legs and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "trying to trip him up; Crabbe and Goyle kept popping up wherever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "he went, and slouching away looking disappointed when they saw him surrounded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "by people. Wood had given instructions that Harry should be accompanied everywhere","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "he went, in case the Slytherins tried to put him out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "action. The whole of Gryffindor House took up the challenge enthusiastically, so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "that it was impossible for Harry to get to classes on time","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "because he was surrounded by a vast, chattering crowd. Harry was more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "concerned for his Firebolt's safety than his own. When he wasn't flying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "it, he locked it securely in his trunk and frequently dashed back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "up to Gryffindor Tower at break times to check that it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "still there. All usual pursuits were abandoned in the Gryffindor common","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "room the night before the match. Even Hermione had Put down her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "books. `I can't work, I can't concentrate,` she said nervously. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "There was a great deal of noise. Fred and George Weasley were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "dealing with the pressure by being louder and more exuberant than ever.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Oliver Wood was crouched over a model of a Quidditch field in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the corner, prodding little figures across it with his wand and muttering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to himself Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were laughing at Fred's and George's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "jokes. Harry was sitting with Ron and Hermione, removed from the center","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of things, trying not to think about the next day, because every","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "time he did, he had the horrible sensation that something very large","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was fighting to get out of his stomach. `You're going to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "fine,` Hermione told him, though she looked positively terrified. `You've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "a Firebolt!` said Ron. `Yeah...` said Harry, his stomach writhing. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "It came as a relief when Wood suddenly stood up and yelled,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Team! Bed!` Harry slept badly. First he dreamed that he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "overslept, and that Wood was yelling, `Where were you? We had to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "use Neville instead!` Then he dreamed that Malfoy and the rest of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Slytherin team arrived for the match riding dragons. He was flying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "at breakneck speed, trying to avoid a spurt of flames from Malfoy's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "steed's mouth, when he realized he had forgotten his Firebolt. He fell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "through the air and woke with a start. It was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "few seconds before Harry remembered that the match hadn't taken place yet,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "that he was safe in bed, and that the Slytherin team definitely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "wouldn't be allowed to play on dragons. He was feeling very thirsty.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Quietly as he could, he got out of his four-poster and went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to pour himself some water from the silver jug beneath the window.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " The grounds were still and quiet. No breath of wind disturbed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the treetops in the Forbidden Forest; the Whomping Willow was motionless and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "innocent-looking. It looked as though the conditions for the match would be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "perfect. Harry set down his goblet and was about to turn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "back to his bed when something caught his eye. An animal of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "some kind was prowling across the silvery lawn. Harry dashed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "his bedside table, snatched up his glasses, and put them on, then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "hurried back to the window. It couldn't be the Grim -- not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "now -- not right before the match - He peered out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "at the grounds again and, after a minute's frantic searching, spotted it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "It was skirting the edge of the forest now... It wasn't the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Grim at all ... it was a cat.... Harry clutched the window","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "ledge in relief as he recognized the bottlebrush tail. It was only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Crookshanks.... Or was it only Crookshanks? Harry squinted, pressing his nose","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "flat against the glass. Crookshanks seemed to have come to a halt.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry was sure he could see something else moving in the shadow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of the trees too. And just then, it emerged -- a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "gigantic, shaggy black dog, moving stealthily across the lawn, Crookshanks trotting at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "its side. Harry stared. What did this mean? If Crookshanks could see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the dog as well, how could it be an omen of Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "death? `Ron!` Harry hissed. `Ron! Wake up!` `Huh?` I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "need you to tell me if you can see something!` `S'all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "dark, Harry,` Ron muttered thickly. `What're you or, about?` `Down here","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "--` Harry looked quickly back out of the window. Crookshanks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and the dog had vanished. Harry climbed onto the windowsill to look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "right down into the shadows of the castle, but they weren't there.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Where had they gone? A loud snore told him Ron had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "fallen asleep again. Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "entered the Great Hall the next day to enormous applause. Harry couldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "help grinning broadly as he saw that both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "tables were applauding them too. The Slytherin table hissed loudly as they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "passed. Harry noticed that Malfoy looked even paler than usual. Wood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "spent the whole of breakfast urging his team to eat, while touching nothing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "himself Then he hurried them off to the field before anyone else","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "had finished, so they could get an idea of the conditions. As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "they left the Great Hall, everyone applauded again. `Good luck, Harry!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "called Cho. Harry felt himself blushing. `Okay -- no wind to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "speak of -- sun's a bit bright, that could impair your vision,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "watch out for it -- ground's fairly hard, good, that'll give us","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "a fast kickoff --` Wood paced the field, staring around with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the team behind him. Finally, they saw the front doors of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "castle open in the distance and the rest of the school spilling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "onto the lawn. `Locker rooms,` said Wood tersely. None of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "them spoke as they changed into their scarlet robes. Harry wondered if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "they were feeling like he was: as though he'd eaten something extremely","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "wriggly for breakfast. In what seemed like no time at all, Wood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was saying, `Okay, it's time, let's go --` They walked out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "onto the field to a tidal wave of noise. Threequarters of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "crowd was wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "upon them, or brandishing banners with slogans like `GO GRYFFINDOR!` and `LIONS","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "FOR THE CUK' Behind the Slytherin goal posts, however, two hundred people","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "were wearing green; the silver serpent of Slytherin glittered on their flags,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and Professor Snape sat in the very front row, wearing green like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "everyone else, and a very grim smile. `And here are the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Gryffindors!` yelled Lee Jordan, who was acting as commentator as usual. `Potter,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years --` Lee's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "comments were drowned by a tide of `boos` from the Slytherin end.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " `And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "size rather than skill --` More boos from the Slytherin crowd.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry, however, thought Lee had a point. Malfoy was easily the smallest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "person On the Slytherin team; the rest of them were enormous. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Captains, shake hands!` said Madam Hooch. Flint and Wood approached each","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "other and grasped each other's hand very tightly; it looked as though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "each was trying to break the other's fingers. `Mount your brooms!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "said Madam Hooch. `Three... two... one...` The sound of her whistle","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was lost in the roar from the crowd as fourteen brooms rose","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "into the air. Harry felt his hair fly back off his forehead;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "his nerves left him in the thrill of the flight; he glanced","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "around, saw Malfoy on his tail, and sped off in search of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Snitch. `And it's Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinner of Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Alicia! Argh, no -- Quaffle intercepted by Warrington, Warrington of Slytherin tearing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "UP the field -- WHAM! -- nice Bludger work there by George","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Weasley, Warrington drops the Quaffle, it's caught by -- Johnson, Gryffindor back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "in possession, come on, Angelina -- nice swerve around Montague -- duck,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Angelina, that's a Bludger!- SHE SCORES! TEN-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!` Angelina punched","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the air as she soared around the end of the field; the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "sea of scarlet below was screaming its delight `OUCH!` Angelina","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was nearly thrown from her broom as Marcus Flint went smashing into her.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " `Sorry!` said Flint as the crowd below booed. `Sorry, didn't see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "her!` A moment later, Fred Weasley chucked his Beater's club at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the back of Flint's head. Flint's nose smashed into the handle of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "his broom and began to bleed. `That will do!` shrieked Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Hooch, zooming between then. `Penalty shot to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "on their Chaser! Penalty shot to Slytherin for deliberate damage to their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Chaser!` `Come off it, Miss!` howled Fred, but Madam Hooch blew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "her whistle and Alicia flew forward to take the penalty. `Come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "on, Alicia!` yelled Lee into the silence that had descended on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "crowd. `YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE KEEPER! TWENTY-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!` Harry turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Firebolt sharply to watch Flint, still bleeding freely, fly forward to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "take the Slytherin penalty. Wood was hovering in front of the Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "goal posts, his jaw clenched. `'Course, Wood's a superb Keeper!` Lee","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Jordan told the crowd as Flint waited for Madam Hooch's whistle. `Superb!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Very difficult to pass -- very difficult indeed -- YES! I DON'T","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "BELIEVE IT! HE'S SAVED IT!` Relieved, Harry zoomed away, gazing around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "for the Snitch, but still making sure he caught every word of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Lee's commentary. It was essential that he hold Malfoy off the Snitch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "until Gryffindor was more than fifty points up -- `Gryffindor in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "possession, no, Slytherin in possession -- no! Gryffindor back in possession","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and it's Katie Bell, Katie Bell for Gryffindor with the Quaffle, she's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "streaking up the field -- THAT WAS DELIBERATE!` Montague, a Slytherin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Chaser, had swerved in front of Katie, and instead of seizing the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Quaffle had grabbed her head. Katie cart wheeled in the air, managed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to stay on her broom, but dropped the Quaffle. Madam Hooch's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "whistle rang out again as she soared over to Montague and began","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "shouting at him. A minute later, Katie had put another penalty past","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Slytherin Seeker. `THIRTY-ZERO! TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Jordan, if you can't commentate in an unbiased way --` `I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "telling it like it is, Professor!` Harry felt a huge jolt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of excitement. He had seen the Snitch it was shimmering at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "foot of one of the Gryffindor goal posts -- but he mustn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "catch it yet -- and if Malfoy saw it - Faking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "a look of sudden concentration, Harry pulled his Firebolt around and sped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "off toward the Slytherin end -- it worked. Malfoy went haring after","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "him, clearly thinking Harry had seen the Snitch there.... WHOOSH. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "One of the Bludgers came streaking past Harry's right ear, hit by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the gigantic Slytherin Beater, Derrick. Then again WHOOSH. The second","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Bludger grazed Harry's elbow. The other Beater, Bole, was closing in. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry had a fleeting glimpse of Bole and Derrick zooming toward him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "clubs raised -- He turned the Firebolt upward at the last","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "second, and Bole and Derrick collided with a sickening crunch. `Ha","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "haaa!` yelled Lee Jordan as the Slytherin Beaters lurched away from each","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "other, clutching their heads. `Too bad, boys! You'll need to get up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "earlier than that to beat a Firebold And it's Gryffindor in possession","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "again, as Johnson takes the Quaffle -- Flint alongside her -- poke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "him in the eye, Angelina! -- it was a joke, Professor, it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was a joke -- oh no -- Flint in possession, Flint flying toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Gryffindor goal posts, come on now, Wood, save --!` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Flint had scored; there was an eruption of cheers from the Slytherin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "end, and Lee swore so badly that Professor McGonagall tried to tug","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the magical megaphone away from him. `Sorry, Professor, sorry! WoiA happen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "again! So, Gryffindor in the lead, thirty points to ten, and Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "in possession --` it was turning into the dirtiest game Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "had ever played in. Enraged that Gryffindor had taken such an early","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "lead, the Slytherins were rapidly resorting to any means to take the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Quaffle. Bole hit Alicia with his club and tried to say he'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "thought she was a Bludger. George Weasley elbowed Bole in the face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "in retaliation. Madam Hooch awarded both teams penalties, and Wood pulled off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "another spectacular save, making the score forty-ten to Gryffindor. The Snitch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "had disappeared again. Malfoy was still keeping close to Harry as he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "soared over the match, looking around for it once Gryffindor was fifty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "points ahead - Katie scored. Fifty-ten. Fred and George Weasley were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "swooping around her, clubs raised, in case any of the Slytherins were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "thinking of revenge. Bole and Derrick took advantage of Fred's and George's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "absence to aim both Bludgers at Wood; they caught him in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "stomach, one after the other, and he rolled over in the air,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "clutching his broom, completely winded. Madam Hooch was beside herself ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`YOU DO NOT ATTACK THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUAFFLE IS WITHIN THE","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "SCORING AREA!` she shrieked at Bole and Derrick. `Gryffindor penalty!` And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Angelina scored. Sixty-ten. Moments later, Fred Weasley pelted a Bludger at Warrington,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "knocking the Quaffle Out of his hands; Alicia seized it and put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "it through the Slytherin goal -- seventy-ten. The Gryffindor crowd below","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was screaming itself hoarse -- Gryffindor was sixty points in the lead,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and if Harry caught the Snitch now, the Cup was theirs. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "could almost feel hundreds of eyes following him as he soared around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the field, high above the rest of the game, with Malfoy speeding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "along behind him. And then he saw it. The Snitch was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "sparkling twenty feet above him. Harry put on a huge burst","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of speed; the wind was roaring in his ears; he stretched out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "his hand, but suddenly, the Firebolt was slowing down -- Horrified,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "he looked around. Malfoy had thrown himself forward, grabbed hold of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Firebolt's tail, and was pulling it back. `You --` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "was angry enough to hit Malfoy, but couldn't reach -- Malfoy was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "panting with the effort of holding onto the Firebolt, but his eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "were sparkling maliciously. He had achieved what he'd wanted to do --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Snitch had disappeared again. `Penalty! Penalty to Gryffindor! I've never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "seen such tactics.` Madam Hooch screeched, shooting up to where Malfoy was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "sliding back onto his Nimbus Two Thousand and One. `YOU CHEATING","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "SCUM!` Lee Jordan was howling into the megaphone, dancing out of Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "McGonagall's reach. `YOU FILTHY, CHEATING B --` Pprofessor McGonagall didn't even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "bother to tell him off She was actually shaking her finger in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Malfoys direction, her hat had fallen off, and she too was shouting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "furiously. Alicia took Gryffindor's penalty, but she was so angry she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "missed by several feet. The Gryffindor team was losing concentration and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Slytherins, delighted by Malfoy's foul on Harry, were being spurred on to greater","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "heights. `Slytherin in possession, Slytherin heading for goal -- Montague scores","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "--` Lee groaned. `Seventy- twenty to Gryffindor...` Harry was now marking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Malfoy so closely their knees kept hitting each other. Harry wasn't going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "to let Malfoy anywhere near the Snitch.... `Get out of it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Potter!` Malfoy yelled in frustration as he tried to turn and found","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry blocking him. `Angelina Johnson gets the Quaffle for Gryffindor, come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "on, Angelina, COME ON!` Harry looked around. Every single Slytherin player","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "apart from Malfoy was streaking up the pitch toward Angelina, including the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Slytherin Keeper -- they were all going to block her -- ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry wheeled the Firebolt around, bent so low he was lying flat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "along the handle, and kicked it forward. Like a bullet, he shot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "toward the Slytherins. `AAAAAAARRRGH!` They scattered as the Firebolt zoomed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "toward them; Angelina's Way was clear. `SHE SCORES! SHE SCORES! Gryffindor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "leads by eighty Points to twenty!` Harry, who had almost pelted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "headlong into the stands, skidded to a halt in midair, reversed, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "zoomed back into the middle of the field. And then he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "saw something to make his heart stand still. Malfoy was diving, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "look of triumph on his face -- there, a few feet above","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the grass below, was a tiny, golden glimmer - Harry urged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Firebolt downward, but Malfoy was miles ahead - `Go! Go!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Go!` Harry urged his broom. He was gaining on Malfay -- Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "flattened himself to the broom handle as Bole sent a Bludger at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "him -- he was at Malfoy's ankles -- he was level --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " Harry threw himself forward, took both hands off his broom. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way and -- `YES!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "He pulled out of his dive, his hand in the air, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the stadium exploded. Harry soared above the crowd, an odd ringing in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "his ears. The tiny golden ball was held tight in his fist,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "beating its wings hopelessly against his fingers. Then Wood was speeding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "toward him, half-blinded by tears; he seized Harry around the neck and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "sobbed unrestrainedly into his shoulder. Harry felt two large thumps as Fred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "and George hit them; then Angelina's, Alicia's, and Katie's voices, `We've won","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Cup! We've won the Cup!` Tangled together in a many-armed hug,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "the Gryffindor team sank, yelling hoarsely, back to earth. Wave upon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "wave of crimson supporters was pouring over the barriers onto the field.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Hands were raining down on their backs. Harry had a confused impression","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "of noise and bodies pressing in on him. Then he, and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "rest of the team, were hoisted onto the shoulders of the crowd.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Thrust into the light, he saw Hagrid, Plastered with crimson rosettes --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "`Yeh beat 'em, Harry, yeh beat 'em! Wait till I tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Buckbeak!` There was Percy, jumping up and down like a maniac, all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "dignity forgotten. Professor McGonagall was sobbing harder even than Wood, wiping her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "eyes with an enormous Gryffindor flag; and there, fighting their way toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry, were Ron and Hermione. Words failed them. They simply beamed as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "Harry was borne toward the stands, where Dumbledore stood waiting with the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "enormous Quidditch Cup. If only there had been a dementor around....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "As a sobbing Wood passed Harry the Cup, as he lifted it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" "into the air, Harry felt he could have produced the world's best Patronus. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-15" " PROFESSOR TRELAWNEY'S PREDICTION Harry's euphoria at finally winning the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Quidditch Cup lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "playing a casual game of Gobstones or watching the giant squid propel","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "itself dreamily across the surface of the lake. But they couldn't.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Exams were nearly upon them, and instead of lazing around outside, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "students were forced to remain inside the castle, trying to bully their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "brains into concentrating while enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the windows. Even Fred and George Weasley had been spotted working; they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "were about to take their O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). Percy was getting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ready to take his N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), the highest qualification","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Hogwarts offered. As Percy hoped to enter the Ministry of Magic, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "needed top grades. He was becoming increasingly edgy, and gave very severe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "punishments to anybody who disturbed the quiet of the common room in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the evenings. In fact, the only person who seemed more anxious than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Percy was Hermione. Harry and Ron had given up asking her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "how she was managing to attend several classes at once, but they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "couldn't restrain themselves when they saw the exam schedule she had drawn","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "up for herself. The first column read: Monday 9 o'clock,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Arithmancy 9 o'clock, Transfiguration Lunch 1 o'clock, Charms ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "1 o'clock, Ancient Runes `Hermione?` Ron said cautiously, because she was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "liable to explode when interrupted these days. `Er -- are you sure","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "you've copied down these times right?` `What?` snapped Hermione, picking up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the exam schedule and examining it. `Yes, of course I have.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Is there any point asking how you're going to sit for two","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "exams at once?` said Harry. `No,` said Hermione shortly. `Have either","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?` `Oh, yeah,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading,` said Ron, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "very quietly. Hermione started shifting heaps of parchment Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "plenty of opportunity to speak to Hagrid. `Beaky's gettin' a bit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "depressed,` Hagrid told them, bending low on the pretense of checking that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Harry's flobberworm was still alive. `Bin cooped up too long. But still... we'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "know day after tomorrow -- one way or the other --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "They had Potions that afternoon, which was an unqualified disaster. Try as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Harry might, he couldn't get his Confusing Concoction to thicken, and Snape,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "standing watch with an air of vindictive pleasure, scribbled something that looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "suspiciously like a zero onto his notes before moving away. Then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "came Astronomy at midnight, up on the tallest tower; History of Magic","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "on Wednesday morning, in which Harry scribbled everything Florean Fortescue had ever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "told him about medieval witch-hunts, while wishing he could have had one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of Fortescue's choco-nut sundaes with him in the stifling classroom. Wednesday afternoon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "meant Herbology, in the greenhouses under a baking-hot sun; then back to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the common room once more, with sunburnt necks, thinking longingly of this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "time next day, when it would all be over. Their second","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to last exam, on Thursday morning, was Defense Against the Dark Arts.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Professor Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any of them had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun, where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a grindylow,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a hinkypunk,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new boggart.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" " `Excellent, Harry,` Lupin muttered as Harry climbed out of the trunk,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "grinning. `Full marks.` Flushed with his success, Harry hung around to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "watch Ron and Hermione. Ron did very well until he reached the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "hinkypunk, which successfully confused him into sinking waist-high into the quagmire. Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "did everything perfectly until she reached the trunk with the boggart in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "it. After about a minute inside it, she burst out again, screaming.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" " `Hermione!` said Lupin, startled. `What's the matter?` `P -- P","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "-- Professor McGonagall!` Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. `Sh -- she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "said I'd failed everything!` It took a little while to calm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Hermione down. When at last she had regained a grip on herself,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "she, Harry, and Ron went back to the castle. Ron was still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "slightly inclined to laugh at Hermione's boggart, but an argument was averted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "by the sight that met them on the top of the steps.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" " Cornelius Fudge, sweating slightly in his pinstriped cloak, was standing there staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "out at the grounds. He started at the sight of Harry. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Hello there, Harry!` he said. `Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "finished?` `Yes,` said Harry. Hermione and Ron, not being on speaking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "terms with the Minister of Magic, hovered awkwardly in the background. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Lovely day,` said Fudge, casting an eye over the lake. `Pity...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "pity...` He sighed deeply and looked down at Harry. `I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "here on an unpleasant mission, Harry. The Committee for the Disposal of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "I was asked to step in.` `Does that mean the appeal's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "already happened?` Ron interrupted, stepping forward. `No, no, it's scheduled for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "this afternoon,` said Fudge, looking curiously at Ron. `Then you might","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "not have to witness an execution at A!` said Eon stoutly. `The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "hippogriff might get off!` Before Fudge could answer, two wizards came","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "through the castle doors behind him. One was so ancient he appeared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "strapping, with a thin back mustache. Harry gathered that they were representatives","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, because tie very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "old wizard squinted toward Hagrid's cabin and said in a feeble voice,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this.... Two o'clock, isn't it,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Fudge?` The black-mustached man was fingering something in his belt; Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "looked and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "blade of a shining axe. Ron opened his mouth to say something,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "but Hermione nudged him hard in the ribs and jerked her head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "toward the entrance hall. `Why'd you stop me?` said Ron angrily","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "as they entered the Great Hall for lunch. `Did you see them?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "They've even got the axe ready! This isn't justice!` `Ron, your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "dad works for the Ministry, you can't go saying things like that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to his boss!` said Hermione, but she too looked very upset. `As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argue, hi case","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "properly, they can't possibly execute Buckbeak....` But Harry could tell Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "didn't really believe what she was saying. All around them, people were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "talking excitedly as they ate their lunch, happily anticipating the end of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the exams that afternoon, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione, lost in worry about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Hagrid and Buckbeak, didn't join in. Harry's and Ron's last exam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "was Divination; Hermione's, Muggle Studies. They walked up the marble staircase together;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Hermione left them on the first floor and Harry and Ron proceeded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "all the way up to the seventh, where many of their class","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "were sitting on the spiral staircase to Professor Trelawney's classroom, trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "cram in a bit of last-minute studying. `She's seeing us all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "separately,` Neville informed them as they went to sit down next to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "him. He had his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "lap at the pages devoted to crystal gazing. `Have either of you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ever seen anything in a crystal ball?` he asked them unhappily. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Nope,` said Ron in an offhand voice. He kept checking his watch;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Harry. knew that he was counting down the time until Buckbeak's appeal","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "started. The line of people outside the classroom shortened very slowly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "As each person climbed back down the silver ladder, the rest of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the class hissed, `What did she ask? Was it okay?` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "they all refused to say. `She says the crystal ball's told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "her that if I tell you, I'll have a horrible accident!` squeaked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Neville as he clambered back down the ladder toward Harry and Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "who had now reached the landing. `That's convenient,` snorted Ron. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "know, I'm starting to think Hermione was right about her` -- he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "jabbed his thumb toward the trapdoor overhead -- `she's a right old","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "fraud.` `Yeah,` said Harry, looking at his own watch. It-was now","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "two o'clock. `Wish she'd hurry up...` Parvati came back down the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ladder glowing with pride. `She says I've got all the makings","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of a true Seer,` she informed Harry and Ron. `I saw loads","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of stuff... Well, good luck!` She hurried off down the spiral","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "staircase toward Lavender. `Ronald Weasley,` said the familiar, misty voice from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "over their heads. Ron grimaced at Harry and climbed the silver ladder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "out of sight. Harry was now the only person left to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "tested. He settled himself on the floor with his back against the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "wall, listening to a fly buzzing in the sunny window, his mind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "across the grounds with Hagrid. Finally, after about twenty minutes, Ron's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "large feet reappeared on the ladder. `How'd it go?` Harry asked him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "standing up. `Rubbish,` said Ron. `Couldn't see a thing, so I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "made some stuff up. Don't think she was convinced, though....` `Meet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "you in the common room,` Harry muttered as Professor Trelawney's voice called,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Harry Potter!` The tower room was hotter than ever before; the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "curtains were closed, the fire was alight, and the usual sickly scent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "made Harry cough as he stumbled through the clutter of chairs and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "table to where Professor Trelawney sat waiting for him before a large","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "crystal ball. `Good day, my dear,` she said softly. `If you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "would kindly gaze into the Orb.... Take your time, now... then tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "me what you see within it....` Harry bent over the crystal","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ball and stared, stared as hard as he could, willing it to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "show him something other than swirling white fog, but nothing happened. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Well?` Professor Trelawney prompted delicately. `What do you see?` The heat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "was overpowering and his nostrils were stinging with the perfumed smoke wafting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "from the fire beside them. He thought of what Ron had just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "said, and decided to pretend. `Er --` said Harry, `a dark","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "shape... um...` `What does it resemble?` whispered Professor Trelawney. `Think, now...`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" " Harry cast his mind around and it landed on Buckbeak. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`A hippogriff,` he said firmly. `Indeed!` whispered Professor Trelawney, scribbling keenly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "on the parchment perched upon her knees. `My boy, you may well","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "be seeing the outcome of poor Hagrid's trouble with the Ministry of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Magic! Look closer... Does the hippogriff appear to... have its head?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Yes,` said Harry firmly. `Are you sure?` Professor Trelawney urged him.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Are you quite sure, dear? You don't see it writhing on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ground, perhaps, and a shadowy figure raising an axe behind it?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`No!` said Harry, starting to feel slightly sick. `No blood? No","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "weeping Hagrid?` `No!` said Harry again, wanting more than ever to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "leave the room and the heat. `It looks fine, it's - -","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "flying away...` Professor Trelawney sighed. `Well, dear, I think we'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "leave it there.... A little disappointing... but I'm sure you did your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "best.` Relieved, Harry got up, picked up his bag and turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to go, but then a loud, harsh voice spoke behind him. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT.` Harry wheeled around. Professor Trelawney had gone rigid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "in her armchair; her eyes were unfocused and her mouth sagging. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`S -- sorry?` said Harry. But Professor Trelawney didn't seem to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "hear him. Her eyes started to roll. Harry sat there in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "panic. She looked as though she was about to have some sort","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of seizure. He hesitated, thinking of running to the hospital wing --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "and then Professor Trelawney spoke again, in the same harsh voice, quite","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "unlike her own: `THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS, ABANDONED","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "BY HIS FOLLOWERS. HIS SERVANT HAS BEEN CHAINED THESE TWELVE YEARS. TONIGHT,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "BEFORE MIDNIGHT... THE SERVANT WILL BREAK FREE AND SET OUT TO REJOIN","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "HIS MASTER. THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN WITH HIS SERVANTS AID,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER HE WAS. TONIGHT... BEFORE MIDNIGHT... THE","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "SERVANT... WILL SET OU... TO REJOIN... HIS MASTER.... Professor Trelawney's head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "fell forward onto her chest. She made a grunting sort of noise.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Harry sat there, staring at her. Then, quite suddenly, Professor Trelawney's head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "snapped up again. `I'm so sorry, dear boy,` she said dreamily,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`the heat of the day, you know... I drifted off for a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "moment....` Harry sat there, staring at her. `Is there anything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "wrong, my dear?` `You -- you just told me that the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "-- the Dark Lord's going to rise again... that his servant's going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to go back to him. Professor Trelawney looked thoroughly startled. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`The Dark Lord? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? My dear boy, that's hardly something to joke","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "about.... Rise again, indeed --` ,'But you just said it! You.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "said the Dark Lord --` `I think you must have dozed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "off too, dear!` said Professor Trelawney. `I would certainly not presume to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "predict anything quite as far-fetched as that!` Harry climbed back down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the ladder and the spiral staircase, wondering... had he just heard Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Trelawney make a real prediction? Or had that been her idea of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "an impressive end to the test? Five minutes later he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "dashing past the security trolls outside the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Trelawney's words still resounding in his head. People were striding past him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "in the opposite direction, laughing and joking, heading for the grounds and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "a bit of long-awaited freedom; by the time he had reached the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "portrait hole and entered the common room, it was almost deserted. Over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "in the corner, however, sat Ron and Hermione. `Professor Trelawney,` Harry panted,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`just told me --` But he stopped abruptly at the sight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of their faces. `Buckbeak lost,` said Ron weakly. `Hagrid's just sent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "this.` Hagrid's note was dry this time, no tears had splattered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "it, yet his hand seemed to have shaken so much as he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "wrote that it was hardly legible. Lost appeal. They're going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down. I don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "want you to see it. Hagrid `We've got to go,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "said Harry at once. `He can't just sit there on his own,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "waiting for the executioner!` `Sunset, though,` said Ron, who was staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "out the window ill a glazed sort of way. `We'd never be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "allowed... 'specially you, Harry....` Harry sank his head into his hands,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "thinking. `If we only had the Invisibility Cloak....` `Where is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "it?` said Hermione. Harry told her about leaving it in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "passageway under the one-eyed witch. `... if Snape sees me anywhere","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "near there again, I'm in serious trouble,` he finished. `That's true,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "said Hermione, getting to her feet. `If he sees you.... How do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "you open the witch's hump again?` `You -- you tap it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "and say, 'Dissendium,'` said Harry. `But --` Hermione didn't wait for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the rest of his sentence; she strode across the room, pushed open","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the Fat Lady's portrait and vanished from sight. `She hasn't gone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to get it?` Ron said, staring after her. She had. Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "returned a quarter of an hour later with the silvery cloak folded","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "carefully under her robes. `Hermione, I don't know what's gotten, into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "you lately!` said Ron, astounded. `First you hit Malfoy, then you walk","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "out on Professor Trelawney --` Hermione looked rather flattered. They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "went down to dinner with everybody else, but did not return to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Gryffindor Tower afterward. Harry had the cloak hidden down tie front of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "his robes; he had to keep his arms folded to hide the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "lump. They skulked in an empty chamber off the entrance hall, listening,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "until they were sure it was deserted. They heard a last pair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of people hurrying across the hall and a door slamming. Hermione poked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "her head around the door. `Okay,` she whispered, `no one there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "-- cloak on --` Walking very close together so that nobody would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "see them, they crossed the hall on tiptoe beneath the cloak, then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "walked down the stone front steps into the grounds. The sun was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "already sinking behind the Forbidden Forest, gilding the top branches of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "trees. They reached Hagrid's cabin and knocked. He was a minute","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "in answering, and when he did, he looked all around for his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "visitor, pale-faced and trembling. `It's us,` Harry hissed. `We're wearing the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Yeh shouldn've come!` Hagrid whispered, but he stood back, and they stepped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly and Harry pulled off the cloak.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" " Hagrid was not crying, nor did he throw himself upon their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "necks. He looked like a man who did not know where he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "was or what to do. This helplessness was worse to watch than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "tears. `Wan' some tea?` he said. His great hands were shaking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "as he reached for the kettle. `Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?` said Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "hesitantly. I -- I took him outside,` said Hagrid, spilling milk","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "all over the table as he filled up the jug. `He's tethered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an' --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "an' smell fresh air -- before Hagrid's hand trembled so violently","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "that the milk jug slipped from his grasp and shattered all over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the floor. `I'll do it, Hagrid,` said Hermione quickly, hurrying over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "and starting to clean up the mess. `There's another one in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the cupboard,` Hagrid said, sitting down and wiping his forehead on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "sleeve. Harry glanced at Ron, who looked back hopelessly. `Isn't there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "anything anyone can do, Hagrid?` Harry asked fiercely, sitting down next to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "him. `Dumbledore --` `He's tried,` said Hagrid. `He's got no power","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but they're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "scared.... Yeh know what Lucius Malfoy's like... threatened 'em, I expect... an'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the executioner, Macnair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's... but it'll be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "quick an' clean... an' I'll be beside him.... ` Hagrid swallowed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "His eyes were darting all over the cabin as though looking for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "some shred of hope or comfort. `Dumbledore's gonna come down while","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "it -- while it happens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "ter -- ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore....` Hermione, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "had been rummaging in Hagrid's cupboard for another milk jug, let out a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "small, quickly stifled sob. She straightened up with the new jug in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "her hands, fighting back tears. `We'll stay with you too, Hagrid,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "she began, but Hagrid shook his shaggy head. `Yeh're ter go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don' wan' yeh","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "watchin'. An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway... If Fudge an' Dumbledore","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "catch yeh out without permission, Harry, yeh'll be in big trouble.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Silent tears were now streaming down Hermione's face, but she hid them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "from Hagrid, bustling around making tea. Then, as she picked up the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "milk bottle to pour some into the jug, she let out a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "shriek. `Ron, I don't believe it -- it's Scabbers!` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "gaped at her. `What are you talking about?` Hermione carried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the milk jug over to the table and turned it upside down.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to get back inside, Scabbers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the rat came sliding out onto the table. `Scabbers!` said Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "blankly. `Scabbers, what are you doing here?` He grabbed the struggling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "rat and held him up to the light. Scabbers looked dreadful. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "was thinner than ever, large tufts of hair had fallen out leaving","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "wide bald patches, and he writhed in Ron's hands as though desperate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to free himself `It's okay, Scabbers!` said Ron. `No cats! There's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "nothing here to hurt you!` Hagrid suddenly stood up, his eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "fixed on the window. His normally ruddy face had gone the color","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of parchment. `They're comin'....` Harry, Ron, and Hermione whipped around.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "A group of men was walking down the distant castle steps. In","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "front was Albus Dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Next to him trotted Cornelius Fudge. Behind them came the feeble old","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Committee member and the executioner, Macnair. `Yeh gotta go,` said Hagrid.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Every inch of him was trembling. `They mustn' find yeh here.... Go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "now...` Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket and Hermione picked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "the cloak. `I'll let yeh out the back way,` said Hagrid. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "They followed him to the door into his back garden. Harry felt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "strangely unreal, and even more so when he saw Buckbeak a few","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "yards away, tethered to a tree behind Hagrid's Pumpkin patch. Buckbeak seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "to know something was happening. He turned his sharp head from side to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "side and pawed the ground nervously. `It's okay, Beaky,` said Hagrid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "softly. `It's okay...` He turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. `Go on,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "he said. `Get goin'.` But they didn't move. `Hagrid, we","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "can't --` `We'll tell them what really happened --` `They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "can't kill him --` `Go!` said Hagrid fiercely. `It's bad enough","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "without you lot in trouble an' all!` They had no choice.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "As Hermione threw the cloak over Harry and Ron, they heard voices","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "at the front of the cabin. Hagrid looked at the place where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "they had just vanished from sight. `Go quick,` he said hoarsely.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`Don' listen....` And he strode back into his cabin as someone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "knocked at the front door. Slowly, in a kind of horrified","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "trance, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off silently around Hagrid's house. As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "they reached the other side, the front door closed with a sharp","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "snap. `Please, let's hurry,` Hermione whispered. `I can't stand it, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "can't bear it....` They started up the sloping lawn toward the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "castle. The sun was sinking fast now; the sky had turned to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "a clear, purple-tinged grey, but to the west there was a ruby-red","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "glow. Ron stopped dead. `Oh, please, Ron,` Hermione began. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "`It's Scabbers -- he won't -- stay put --` Ron was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but the rat","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "was going berserk; squeaking madly, twisting and flailing, trying to sink his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "teeth into Ron's hand. `Scabbers, it's me, you idiot, it's Ron,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Ron hissed. They heard a door open behind them and men's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "voices. `Oh, Ron, please let's move, they're going to do it!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "Hermione breathed. `Okay -- Scabbers, stay put --` They walked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "forward; Harry, like Hermione, was trying not to listen to the rumble","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "of voices behind them. Ron stopped again. `I can't hold him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "-- Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us --` The rat was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "squealing wildly, but not loudly enough to cover up the sounds drifting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "from Hagrid's garden. There was a jumble of indistinct male voices, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "silence, and then, without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "axe. Hermione swayed on the spot. `They did it!` she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" "whispered to Harry. `I d -- don't believe it -- they did it!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-16" " CAT, RAT, AND DOG Harry's mind had gone blank","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "with shock. The three of them stood transfixed with horror under the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Invisibility Cloak. The very last rays of the setting sun were casting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a bloody light over the long- shadowed grounds. Then, behind them, they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "heard a wild howling. `Hagrid,` Harry muttered. Without thinking about what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "he was doing, he made to turn back, but both Ron and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Hermione seized his arms. `We can't,` said Ron, who was paper-white.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`He'll be in worse trouble if they know we've been to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "him....` Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven. `How -- could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "-- they?` she choked. `How could they?` `Come on,` said Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "whose teeth seemed to be chattering. They set off back toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the castle, walking slowly to keep themselves hidden under the cloak. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "light was fading fast now. By the time they reached open","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "ground, darkness was settling like a spell around them. `Scabbers, keep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "still,` Ron hissed, clamping his hand over his chest. The rat was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wriggling madly. Ron came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "deeper into his pocket. `What's the matter with you, You stupid rat?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Stay still -- OUCH! He bit me!` `Ron, be quiet!` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "whispered urgently. `Fudge'll be out here in a minute --` `He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "won't -- stay -- put --` Scabbers was plainly terrified. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was writhing with all his might, trying to break free of Ron's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "grip. `What's the matter with him?` But Harry had just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "seen -- stinking toward them, his body low to the ground, wide","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "yellow eyes glinting eerily in the darkness -- Crookshanks. Whether he could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "see them or was following the sound of Scabbers's squeaks, Harry couldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "tell. `Crookshanks!` Hermione moaned. `No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "But the cat was getting nearer -- `Scabbers -- NO!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Too late -- the rat had slipped between Ron's clutching fingers, hit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the ground, and scampered away. In one bound, Crookshanks sprang after him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and before Harry or Hermione could stop him, Ron had thrown the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelted away into the darkness. `Ron!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Hermione moaned. She and Harry looked at each other, then followed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "at a sprint; it ``as impossible to run full out under the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "cloak; they pulled it off and it streamed behind them like a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "banner as they hurtled after Ron; they could hear his feet thundering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "along ahead and his shouts at Crookshanks. `Get away from him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "-- get away -- Scabbers, come here --` There was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "loud thud. `Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat --` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and Hermione almost fell over Ron; they skidded to a stop right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "in front of him. He was sprawled on the ground, but Scabbers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was back in his pocket; he had both hands held tight over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the quivering lump. `Ron -- come on back under the cloak","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "--` Hermione panted. `Dumbledore the Minister -- they'll be coming back out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "in a minute --` But before they could cover themselves again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "before they could even catch their breath, they heard the soft pounding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "of gigantic paws.... Something was bounding toward them, quiet as a shadow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "-- an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog. Harry reached for his wand,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "but too late -- the dog had made an enormous leap and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the front paws hit him on the chest; he keeled over backward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "in a whirl of hair; he felt its hot breath, saw inch-","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "long teeth - But the force of its leap had carried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "it too far; it rolled off him. Dazed, feeling as though his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "ribs were broken, Harry tried to stand up; he could hear it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "growling as it skidded around for a new attack. Ron was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "on his feet. As the dog sprang back toward them he pushed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Harry aside; the dog's jaws fastened instead around Ron's outstretched arm. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "lunged forward, he seized a handful of the brute's hair, but it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was dragging Ron away as easily as though he were a rag","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "doll -- Then, out of nowhere, something hit Harry so hard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "across the face he was knocked off his feet again. He heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Hermione shriek with pain and fall too. Harry groped for his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wand, blinking blood out of his eyes `Lumos!`he whispered. The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wandlight showed him the trunk of a thick tree; they had chased","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Scabbers into the shadow of the Whomping Willow and its branches were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "creaking as though in a high wind, whipping backward and forward to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "stop them going nearer. And there, at the base of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "trunk, was the dog, dragging Ron backward into a large gap in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the roots -- Ron was fighting furiously, but his head and torso","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "were slipping out of sight -- `Ron!` Harry shouted, trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "follow, but a heavy branch whipped lethally through the air and he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was forced backward again. All they could see now was one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "of Ron's legs, which he had hooked around a root in an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "effort to stop the dog from pulling him farther underground -- but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a horrible crack cut the air like a gunshot; Ron's leg had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "broken, and a moment later, his foot vanished from sight. `Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "-- we've got to go for help --` Hermione gasped; she was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "bleeding too; the Willow had cut her across the shoulder. `No!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "That thing's big enough to eat him; we haven't got time --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " `Harry -- we're never going to get through without help --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " Another branch whipped down at them, twigs clenched like knuckles. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`If that dog can get in, we can,` Harry panted, darting here","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and there, trying to find a way through the vicious, swishing branches,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "but he couldn't get an inch nearer to the tree roots without","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "being in range of the tree's blows. `Oh, help, help,` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "whispered frantically, dancing U._ certainly on the spot, `Please...` Crookshanks darted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "forward. He slithered between the battering branches like a snake and placed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his front paws upon a knot on the trunk. Abruptly, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "though the tree had been turned to marble, it stopped moving. Not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a leaf twitched or shook. `Crookshanks!` Hermione whispered uncertainly. She now","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "grasped Harry's arm painfully hard. `How did he know --?` `He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "friends with that dog,` said Harry grimly. `I've seen them together. Come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "on -- and keep your wand out --` They covered the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "distance to the trunk in seconds, but before they had reached the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "gap in the roots, Crookshanks had slid into it with a flick","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "of his bottlebrush tail. Harry went next; he crawled forward, headfirst, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "slid down an earthy slope to the bottom of a very low","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "tunnel. Crookshanks was a little way along, his eyes flashing in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "light from Harry's wand. Seconds later, Hermione slithered down beside him. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`Where's Ron?` she whispered in a terrified voice. `This way,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Harry, setting off, bent-backed, after Crookshanks. `Where does this tunnel come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "out?` Hermione asked breathlessly from behind him. `I don't know... It's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "marked on the Marauder's Map but Fred and George said no one's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "ever gotten into it.... It goes off the edge of the map,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "but it looked like it was heading for Hogsmeade...` They moved","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "as fast as they could, bent almost double; ahead of them, Crookshanks's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "tail bobbed in and out of view. On and on went the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "passage; it felt at least as long as the one to Honeydukes....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "All Harry could think of was Ron and what the enormous dog","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "might be doing to him.... He was drawing breath in sharp, painful","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "gasps, running at a crouch.... And then the tunnel began to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "rise; moments later it twisted, and Crookshanks had gone. instead, Harry could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "see a patch of dim light through a small opening. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and Hermione paused, gasping for breath, edging forward. Both raised their wands","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "to see what lay beyond. It was a room, a very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "disordered, dusty room. Paper was peeling from the walls; there were stains","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "all over the floor; every piece of furniture was broken as though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "somebody had smashed it. The windows were all boarded up. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "glanced at Hermione, who looked very frightened but nodded. Harry pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "himself out of the hole, staring around. The room was deserted, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a door to their right stood open, leading to a shadowy hallway.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Hermione suddenly grabbed Harry's arm again. Her wide eyes were traveling around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the boarded windows. `Harry,` she whispered, `I think we're in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Shrieking Shack.` Harry looked around. His eyes fell on a wooden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "chair near them. Large chunks had been torn out of it; one of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the legs had been ripped off entirely. `Ghosts didn't do that,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "he said slowly. At that moment, there was a creak overhead.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Something had Moved upstairs. Both of them looked up at the ceiling.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Hermione's grip on Harry's arm was so tight he was losing feeling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "in-his fingers. He raised his eyebrows at her; she nodded again and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "let go. Quietly as they could, they crept out into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "hall and UP the crumbling staircase. Everything was covered in a thick","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "layer of dust except the floor, where a wide shiny stripe had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "been made by something being dragged upstairs. They reached the dark","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "landing. `Nox,` they whispered together, and the lights at the end","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "of their wands went out. Only one door was open. As they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "crept toward it, they heard movement from behind it; a low moan,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and then a deep, loud purring. They exchanged a last look, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "last nod. Wand held tightly before him, Harry kicked the door","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wide open. On a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings lay","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Crookshanks, purring loudly at the sight of them. On the floor beside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "him, clutching his leg, which stuck out at a strange angle, was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Ron. Harry and Hermione dashed across to him. `Ron --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "are you okay?` `Where's the dog?` `Not a dog,` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain. `Harry, it's a trap --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " `What --` `He's the dog... he's an Animagus.` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was staring over Harry's shoulder. Harry wheeled around. With a snap, the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "man in the shadows closed the door behind them. A mass","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "in a grin. It was Sirius Black. `Expelliarmus!`he croaked, pointing Ron's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wand at them. Harry's and Hermione's wands shot out of their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "hands, high in the air, and Black caught them. Then he took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a step closer. His eyes were fixed on Harry. `I thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "you'd come and help your friend,` he said hoarsely. His voice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "sounded as though he had long since lost the habit of using","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "it. `Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "you) not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful... it will make","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "everything much easier....` The taunt about his father rang in Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "ears as though Black had bellowed it. A boiling hate erupted in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Harry's chest, leaving no place for fear. For the first time in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his life, he wanted his wand back in his hand, not to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "defend himself, but to attack... to kill. Without knowing what he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "doing, he started forward, but there was a sudden movement on either","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "side of him and two pairs of hands grabbed him and held","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "him back.... `No, Harry!` Hermione gasped in a petrified whisper; Ron, however,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "spoke to Black. `If you want to kill Harry, you'll have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "to kill us too!` he said fiercely, though the effort of standing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "upright was draining him of still more color, and he swayed slightly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "as he spoke. Something flickered in Black's shadowed eyes. `Lie","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "down,` he said quietly to Ron. `You will damage that leg even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "more.` `Did you hear me?` Ron said weakly, though he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "clinging painfully to Harry to stay upright. `You'll have to kill all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "three of us!` `There'll be only one murder here tonight,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Brack, and his grin widened. `Why's that?` Harry spat, trying to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wrench himself free of Ron, and Hermione. `Didn't care last time, did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew... What's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?` `Harry!` Hermione whimpered. `Be quiet!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " `HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!` Harry roared, and with a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "huge effort he broke free of Hermione's and Ron's restraint and lunged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "forward - He had forgotten about magic -- he had forgotten","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "that he was short and skinny and thirteen, whereas Black was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "tall, full-grown man -- all Harry knew was that he wanted to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "hurt Black as badly as he could and that he didn't care","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "how much he got hurt in return -- Perhaps it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the shock of Harry doing something so stupid, but Black didn't raise","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the wands in time -- one of Harry's hands fastened over his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wasted wrist, forcing the wand tips away; the knuckles of Harry's other","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "hand collided with the side of Black's head and they fell, backward,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "into the wall - Hermione was screaming; Ron was yelling; there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was a blinding flash as the wands in Black's hand sent a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "jet of sparks into the air that missed Harry's face by inches;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Harry felt the shrunken arm under his fingers twisting madly, but he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "clung on, his other hand punching every part of Black it could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "find. But Black's free hand had found Harry's throat `No,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "he hissed, `I've waited too long --` The fingers tightened, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "choked, his glasses askew. Then he saw Hermione's foot swing out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "of nowhere. Black let go of Harry with a grunt of pain;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Ron had thrown himself on Black's wand hand and Harry heard a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "faint clatter -- He fought free of the tangle of bodies","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and saw his own wand rolling across the floor; he threw himself","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "toward it but `Argh!` Crookshanks had joined the fray; both","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "sets of front claws had sunk themselves deep into Harry's arm; Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "threw him off, but Crookshanks now darted toward Harry's wand -- ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`NO YOU DON'T!` roared Harry, and he aimed a kick at Crookshanks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "that made the cat leap aside, spitting; Harry snatched up his wand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and turned - `Get out of the way!` he shouted at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Ron and Hermione. They didn't need telling twice. Hermione, gasping for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "breath, her lip bleeding, scrambled aside, snatching up her and Ron's wands.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Ron crawled to the four-poster and collapsed onto it, panting, his white","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "face now tinged with green, both hands clutching his broken leg. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Black was sprawled at the bottom of the wall. His thin chest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "rose and fell rapidly as he watched Harry walking slowly nearer, his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wand pointing straight at Black's heart. `Going to kill me, Harry?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "he whispered. Harry stopped right above him, his wand still pointing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "at Black's chest, looking down at him. A livid bruise was rising","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "around Black's left eye and his nose was bleeding. `You killed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "my parents,` said Harry, his voice shaking slightly, but his wand hand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "quite steady. Black stared up at him out of those sunken","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "eyes. `I don't deny it,` he said very quietly. `But if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "you knew the whole story.` `The whole story?` Harry repeated, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "furious pounding in his ears. `You sold them to Voldemort. That's all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "I need to know.` `You've got to listen to me,` Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "said, and there was a note of urgency in his voice now.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`You'll regret it if you don't.... You don't understand....` `I understand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a lot better than you think,` said Harry, and his voice shook","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "more than ever. `You never heard her, did you? My mum... trying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "to stop Voldemort killing me... and you did that... you did it....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " Before either of them could say another word, something ginger streaked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "past Harry; Crookshanks leapt onto Black's chest and settled himself there, right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "over Black's heart. Black blinked and looked down at the cat. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`Get off,` he murmured, trying to push Crookshanks off him. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Crookshanks sank his claws into Black's robes and wouldn't shift. He turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his ugly, squashed face to Harry and looked up at him with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "those great yellow eyes. To his right, Hermione gave a dry sob.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " Harry stared down at Black and Crookshanks, his grip tightening on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the wand. So what if he had to kill the cat too?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "It was in league with Black.... If it was prepared to die,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "trying to protect Black, that wasn't Harry's business.... If Black wanted to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "save it, that only proved he cared more for Crookshanks than for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Harry's parents.... Harry raised the wand. Now was the moment to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "do it. Now was the moment to avenge his mother and father.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "He was going to kill Black. He had to kill Black. This","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was his chance.... The seconds lengthened. And still Harry stood frozen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "there, wand poised, Black staring up at him, Crookshanks on his chest.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Ron's ragged breathing came from near the bed; Hermione was quite silent. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "And then came a new sound - Muffled footsteps were echoing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "up through the floor -- someone was moving downstairs. `WE'RE UP","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "HERE!` Hermione screamed suddenly. `WE'RE UP HERE -- SIRIUS BLACK - QUICK!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " Black made a startled movement that almost dislodged Crookshanks; Harry gripped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his wand convulsively -- Do it now! said a voice in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "head -- but the footsteps were thundering up the stairs and Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "still hadn't done it. The door of the room burst open","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "in a shower of red sparks and Harry wheeled around as Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Lupin came hurtling into the room, his face bloodless, his wand raised","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and ready. His eyes flickered over Ron, lying on the floor, over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Hermione, cowering next to the door, to Harry, standing there with his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "wand covering Black, and then to Black himself, crumpled and bleeding at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Harry's feet. `Expelliarmus!` Lupin shouted. Harry's wand flew once more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "out of his hand; so did the two Hermione was holding. Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "caught them all deftly, then moved into the room, staring at Black,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "who still had Crookshanks lying Protectively across his chest. Harry stood","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "there, feeling suddenly empty. He hadn't done it. His nerve had failed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "him. Black was going to be handed back to the dementors. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Then Lupin spoke, in a very tense voice. `Where is he,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Sirius?` Harry looked quickly at Lupin. He didn't understannd what Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "meant. Who was Lupin talking about? He turned to look at Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "again. Black's face was quite expressionless. For a few seconds, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "didn't move at all. Then, very slowly, he raised his empty hand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and pointed straight at Ron. Mystified, Harry glanced around at Ron, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "looked bewildered. `But then...` Lupin muttered, staring at Black so intently","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "it seemed he was trying to read his mind, `... why hasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "he shown himself before now? Unless` -- Lupin's eyes suddenly widened, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "though he was seeing something beyond Black, something none of the rest","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "could see, `-- unless he was the one... unless you switched... without","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "telling me?` Very slowly, his sunken gaze never leaving Lupin's face,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Black nodded. `Professor,` Harry interrupted loudly, `what's going on --?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "But he never finished the question, because what he saw made his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "voice die in his throat. Lupin was lowering his wand, gazing fixed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "at Black. The Professor walked to Black's side, seized his hand, pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "him to his feet so that Crookshanks fell to the floor, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "embraced Black like a brother. Harry felt as though the bottom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "had dropped out of his stomach. `DON'T BELIEVE IT!` Hermione screamed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " Lupin let go of Black and turned to her. She had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "raised herself off the floor and was pointing at Lupin, wild-eyed. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "-- you --` `Hermione --` `-- you and him!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`Hermione, calm down --` `I didn't tell anyone!` Hermione shrieked. `I've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "been covering up for you --` `Hermione, listen to me, please'`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Lupin shouted. `I can explain --` Harry could feel himself shaking,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "not with fear, but with a fresh wave of fury. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "trusted you,` he shouted at Lupin, his voice wavering, out of control,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`and all the time you've been his friend!` `You're wrong,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Lupin. `I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now -- Let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "me explain....` `NO!` Hermione screamed. `Harry, don't trust him, he's been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "he's a werewolf!` There was a ringing silence. Everyone's eyes were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "now on Lupin, who looked remarkably calm, though rather pale. `Not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "at all up to your usual standard, Hermione,` he said. `Only one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "out of three, I'm afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead. An odd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "shiver passed over his face. `But I won't deny that I am","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a werewolf.` Ron made a valiant effort to get up again","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "but fell back with a whimper of pain. Lupin made toward him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "looking concerned, but Ron gasped, `Get away ftom me, werewolf!` Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "stopped dead. Then, with an obvious effort, he turned to Hermione and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "said, `How long have you known?` `Ages,` Hermione whispered. `Since I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "did Professor Snape's essay...` `He'll be delighted,` said Lupin coolly. `He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "assigned that essay hoping someone would realize what my symptoms meant.... Did","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "you check the lunar chart and realize that I was always ill","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "at the full moon? Or did you realize that the boggart changed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "into the moon when it saw me?` `Both,` Hermione said quietly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " Lupin forced a laugh. `You're the cleverest witch of your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "age I've ever met, Hermione.` `I'm not,` Hermione whispered. `If I'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "been a bit cleverer, I'd have told everyone what you are!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`But they already know,` said Lupin. `At least, the staff do.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`Dumbledore hired you when he knew you were a werewolf. Ron gasped.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`Is he mad?` `Some of the staff thought so,` said Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`He had to work very hard to convince certain teachers that I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "trustworthy --` `AND HE WAS WRONG!` Harry yelled. `YOUVE BEEN HELPING","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "HIM ALL THE TIME!` He was pointing at Black, who suddenly crossed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "to the four-poster bed and sank onto it, his face hidden in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "one shaking hand. Crookshanks leapt up beside him and stepped onto his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "lap, purring. Ron edged away from both of them, dragging his leg.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " I have not been helping Sirius,` said Lupin. `If you'll give","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "me a chance, I'll explain. Look --` He separated Harry's, Ron's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and Hermione's wands and threw each back to its owner; Harry caught","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his, stunned. There, said Lupin, sticking his own wand back into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his belt `You're armed, we're not. Now will you listen?` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "didn't know what to think. Was it a trick? `If you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "haven't been helping him,` he said, with a furious glance at Black,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`how did you know he was here?` `The map,` said Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examining it --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`You know how to work it?` Harry said suspiciously. `Of course","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "I know how to work it,` said Lupin, waving his hand impatiently.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`I helped write it. I'm Moony -- that was my friends' nickname","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "for me at school.` `You wrote --?` `The important thing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "is, I was watching it carefully this evening, because I had an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "idea that you, Ron, and Hermione might try and sneak out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the castle to visit Hagrid before his hippogriff was executed. And I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "was right, wasn't I` He had started to pace up and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "down, looking at them. Little patches of dust rose at his feet.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " `You might have been wearing your father's old cloak, Harry--` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`How d'you know about the cloak?` `The number of times I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "saw James disappearing under it...,` said Lupin, waving an impatient hand again.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`The point is, even if you're wearing an Invisibility Cloak, you still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "show up on the Marauder's Map. I watched you cross the grounds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and enter Hagrid's hut. Twenty minutes later, you left Hagrid, and set","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "off back toward the castle. But you were now accompanied by somebody","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "else.` `What?` said Harry. `No, we weren't!` I couldn't believe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "my eyes,` said Lupin, still pacing, and ignoring Harry's interruption. `I thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?` `No","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "one was with us!` said Harry. `And then I saw another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "dot, moving fast toward you, labeled Sirius Black.... I saw him collide","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "with you; I watched as he pulled two of you into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Whomping Willow --` `One of us!` Ron said angrily. `No,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Ron,` said Lupin. `Two of you.` He had stopped his pacing,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his eyes moving over Ron. `Do you think I could have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a look at the rat?` he said evenly. `What?` said Ron.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`What's Scabbers got to do with it?` `Everything,` said Lupin. `Could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "I see him, please?` Ron hesitated, then put a hand inside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "his robes. Scabbers emerged, thrashing desperately; Ron had to seize his long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "bald tail to stop him escaping. Crookshanks stood up on Black's leg","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "and made a soft hissing noise. Lupin moved closer to Ron.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "He seemed to be holding his breath as he gazed intently at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "Scabbers. `What?` Ron said again, holding Scabbers close to him, looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "scared. `What's my rat got to do with anything?` `That's not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "a rat,` croaked Sirius Black suddenly. `What d'you mean -- of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "course he's a rat --` `No, he's not,` said Lupin quietly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" "`He's a wizard.` `An Animagus,` said Black, `by the name of Peter Pettigrew.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-17" " MOONY, WORMTAIL, PADDFOOT, AND PRONGS It took a few","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "seconds for the absurdity of this statement to sink in. Then Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "voiced what Harry was thinking. `You're both mental.` `Ridiculous!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Hermione faintly. `Peter Pettigrew's dead!` said Harry. `He killed him twelve","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "years ago!` He pointed at Black, whose face twitched convulsively. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "meant to,` he growled, his yellow teeth bared, `but little Peter got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the better of me... not this time, though!` And Crookshanks was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "thrown to the floor as Black lunged at Scabbers; Ron yelled with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "pain as Black's weight fell on his broken leg. .`Sirius, NO!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Lupin yelled, launching himself forwards and dragging Black away from Ron again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "`WAIT! You can't do it just like that -- they need to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "understand -- we've got to explain --` `We can explain afterwards!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "snarled Black, trying to throw Lupin off. One hand was still clawing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the air as it tried to reach Scabbers, who was squealing like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "a piglet, scratching Ron's face and neck as he tried to escape.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" " `They've -- got -- a -- right -- to -- know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "-- -everything!` Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Black. `Ron's kept him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "as a pet! There are parts of it even I don't understand,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "and Harry -- you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!` Black stopped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, who was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched, ad bleeding hands. `All right,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "then,` Black said, without taking his eyes off the rat. `Tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "commit the murder I was imprisoned for...` `You're nutters, both of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "you,` said Ron shakily, looking round at Harry and Hermione for support.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "`I've had enough of this. I'm off.` He tried to heave","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "himself up on his good leg, but Lupin raised his wand again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "pointing it at Scabbers. `You're going to hear me out, Ron,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "he said quietly. `Just keep a tight hold on Peter while you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "listen.` `HE'S NOT PETER, HE'S SCABBERS!` Ron yelled, trying to fore","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the rat back into his front pocket, but Scabbers was fighting to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "hard; Ron swayed and overbalanced, and Harry caught him am pushed him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "back down to the bed. Then, ignoring Black, Harry turned to Lupin. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die,` he said. `A whole street","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "full of them...` `They didn't see what they thought they saw!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "said Black savagely, still watching Scabbers struggling in Ron's hands. `Everyone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "thought Sirius killed Peter,` said Lupin, nodding. `I believed it myself --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "until I saw the map tonight. Because the Marauder's map never lies...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Peter's alive. Ron's holding him, Harry.` Harry looked down at Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "and as their eyes met, they agreed, silently: Black and Lupin were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "both out of their minds. Their story made no sense whatsoever. How","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "could Scabbers be Peter Pettigrew? Azkaban must have unhinged Black after all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "-- but why was Lupin playing along with him? Then Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "spoke, in a trembling, would-be calm sort of voice, as though trying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "to will Professor Lupin to talk sensibly. `But Professor Lupin... Scabbers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "can't be Pettigrew... it just can't be true, you know it can't...`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" " `Why can't it be true?` Lupin said calmly, as though they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "were in class, and Hermione had simply spotted a problem in an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "experiment with grindylows. `Because... because people would know if Peter Pettigrew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "had been an Animagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "And I looked them up when I did my homework -- the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Ministry of Magic keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "animals; there's a register showing what animal they become, and their markings","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "and things... and I went and looked Professor McGonagall up on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "register, and there have been only seven Animagi this century, and Pettigrew's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "name wasn't on the list.` Harry had barely had time to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "marvel inwardly at the effort Hermione put into her homework, when Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "started to laugh. `Light again, Hermione!` he said. `But the Ministry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "never knew that here used to be three unregistered Animagi running around","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Hogwarts.` `I you're going to tell them the story, get a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "move on, Remus,` said Black, who was still watching Scabbers's every desperate","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "move. `I've waited twelve years, I'm not going to wait much longer.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" " `All right... but you'll need to help me, Sirius,` said Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I only know how it began...` Lupin broke off. There had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "been a loud creak behind him. The bedroom door had opened of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "its own accord. All five of them stared at it. Then Lupin strode","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "toward it and looked out into the landing. `No one there...`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" " `This place is haunted!` said Ron. `It's not,` said Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "still looking at the door in a puzzled way. `The Shrieking Shack","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "was never haunted.... The screams and howls the villagers used to hear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "were made by me.` He pushed his graying hair out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "his eyes, thought for a moment then said, `That's where all of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "this starts -- with my becoming a werewolf, None of this could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "have happened if I hadn't been bitter... and if I hadn't been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "so foolhardy...` He looked sober and tired. Ron started to interrupt,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "but Hermione, said, `Shh!` She was watching Lupin very intently. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "as a very small boy when I received the bite. My parents","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "tried everything, but in those days there was no cure. The potion","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "that Professor Snape has been making for me is a very recent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "discovery. It makes me safe, you see. As long as I take","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "it in the week, preceding the full moon, I keep my mind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "when I transform.... I'm able to curl up in my office, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "harmless wolf, and wait for the moon to wane again. `Before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the Wolfsbane Potion was discovered, however, I became a fully fledged monster","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "once a month. It seemed impossible that I would be able to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "come to Hogwarts. Other parents weren't likely to want their children exposed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "to me. `But then Dumbledore became Headmaster, and he was sympathetic.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "He said that as long as we took certain precautions, there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "no reason I shouldn't come to school....` Lupin sighed, and looked directly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "at Harry. `I told you, months ago, that the Whomping Willow was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "planted the year I came to Hogwarts. The truth is that it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "was planted because I came to Hogwarts. This house` -- Lupin looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "miserably around the room, -- `the tunnel that leads to it --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "they were built for my use. Once a month, I was smuggled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "out of the castle, into this place, to transform. The tree was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "placed at the tunnel mouth to stop anyone coming across me while","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I was dangerous.` Harry couldn't see where this story was going,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "but he was listening raptly all the same. The only sound apart","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "from Lupin's voice was Scabbers's frightened squeaking. `My transformations in those days","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "were -- were terrible. It is very painful to turn into a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "werewolf. I was separated from humans to bite, so I bit and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "scratched myself instead. The villagers heard the noise and the screaming and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "thought they were hearing particularly violent spirits. Dumbledore encouraged the rumor.... Even","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "now, when the house has been silent for years, the villagers don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "dare approach it....` `But apart from my transformations, I was happier","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "than I had ever been in my life. For the first time","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "ever, I had friends, three great friends. Sirius Black... Peter Pettigrew... and,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "of course, your father, Harry -- James Potter.` `Now, my three","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared once a month.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I made up all sorts of stories. I told them my mother","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "was ill, and that I had to go home to see her...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I was terrified they would desert me the moment they found out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "what I was. But of course, they, like you, Hermione, worked out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the truth....` `And they didn't desert me at all. Instead, they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "did something for me that would make my transformations not only bearable,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "but the best times of my life. They became Animagi.` `My","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "dad too?` said Harry, astounded. `Yes, indeed,` said Lupin. `It took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "them the best part of three years to work out how to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "do it. Your father and Sirius here were the cleverest students in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the school, and lucky they were, because the Animagus transformation can go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "horribly wrong -- one reason the Ministry keeps a close watch on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "those attempting to do it. Peter needed all the help he could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "get from James and Sirius. Finally, in our fifth year, they managed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "it. They could each turn into a different animal at will.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "`But how did that help you?` said Hermione, sounding puzzled. `They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "couldn't keep me company as humans, so they kept me company as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "animals,` said Lupin. `A werewolf is only a danger to people. They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "sneaked out of the castle every month under James's Invisibility Cloak. They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "transformed... Peter, as the smallest, could slip beneath the Willow's attacking branches","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "and touch the knot that freezes it. They would then slip down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the tunnel and join me. Under their influence, I became less dangerous.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "My body was still wolfish, but my mind seemed to become less so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "while I was with them.` `Hurry up, Remus,` snarled Black, who","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "was still watching Scabbers with a horrible sort of hunger on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "face. `I'm getting there, Sirius, I'm getting there... well, highly exciting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "possibilities were open to us now that we could all transform. Soon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "we were leaving the Shrieking Shack and roaming the school grounds and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the village by night. Sirius and James transformed into such large animals,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "they were able to keep a werewolf in check. I doubt whether","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "any Hogwarts students ever found out more about the Hogwarts grounds and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Hogsmeade than we did.... And that's how we came to write the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Marauder's Map, and sign it with our nicknames. Sirius is Padfoot. Peter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "is Wormtail. James was Prongs.` `What sort of animal --?` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "began, but Hermione cut him off. `That was still really dangerous!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Running around in the dark with a werewolf! What if you'd given","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the others the slip, and bitten somebody?` `A thought that still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "haunts me,` said Lupin heavily. `And there were near misses, many of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "them. We laughed about them afterwards. We were young, thoughtless -- carried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "away with our own cleverness.` I sometimes felt guilty about betraying","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Dumbledore's trust, of course... he had admitted me to Hogwarts when no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "other headmaster would have done so, and he had no idea I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "was breaking the rules he had set down for my own and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "others' safety. He never knew I had led three fellow students into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "becoming Animagi illegally. But I always managed to forget my guilty feelings","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "every time we sat down to plan our next month's adventure. And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I haven't changed...` Lupin's face had hardened, and there was self-disgust","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "in his voice. `All this year, I have been battling with myself,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "wondering whether I should tell Dumbledore that Sirius was an Animagus. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I didn't do it. Why? Because I was too cowardly. It would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "have meant admitting that I'd betrayed his trust while I was at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "school, admitting that I'd led others along with me... and Dumbledore's trust","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "has meant everything to me. He let me into Hogwarts as a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "boy, and he gave me a job when I have been shunned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "all my adult life, unable to find paid work because of what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I am. And so I convinced myself that Sirius was getting into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "school using dark arts he learned from Voldemort, that being an Animagus","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "had nothing to do with it... so, in a way, Snape's been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "right about me all along.` `Snape?` said Black harshly, taking his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "eyes off Scabbers; for the first time in minutes and looking up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "at Lupin. `What's Snape got to do with it?` `He's here,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Sirius,` said Lupin heavily. `He's teaching here as well.` He looked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. `Professor Snape was at school with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "us. He fought very hard against my appointment to the Defense Against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "the Dark Arts job. He has been telling Dumbledore A year that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "I am not to be trusted. He has his reasons... you see,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Sirius here played a trick on him which nearly killed him, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "trick which involved me --` Black made a derisive noise. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "`It served him right,` he sneered. `Sneaking around, trying to find out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "what we were up to... hoping he could get us expelled....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "`Severus was very interested in where I went every month.` Lupin told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione. `We were in the same year, you know,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "and we -- er -- didn't like each other very much. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "especially disliked James. Jealous, I think, of James's talent on the Quidditch","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "field... anyway Snape had seen me crossing the grounds with Madam Pomfrey","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "one evening as she led me toward the Whomping Willow to transform.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Sirius thought it would be -- er -- amusing, to tell Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "all he had to do was prod the knot on the tree","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "trunk with a long stick, and he'd be able to get in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "after me. Well, of course, Snape tried it -- if he'd got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "as far as this house, he'd have met a fully grown werewolf","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "-- but your father, who'd heard what Sirius had done, went after","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Snape and pulled him back, at great risk to his life... Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "glimpsed me, though, at the end of the tunnel. He was forbidden","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "by Dumbledore to tell anybody, but from that time on he knew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "what I was....` `So that's why Snape doesn't like you,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Harry slowly, `because he thought you were in on the joke?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "`That's right,` sneered a cold voice from the wall behind Lupin. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" "Severus Snape was pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointing, directly at Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-18" " THE SERVANT OF LORD VOLDEMORT Hermione screamed. Black leapt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to his feet. Harry felt as though he'd received a huge electric","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "shock. `I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Snape, throwing the cloak aside, careful to keep this wand pointing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "directly at Lupin's chest. `Very useful, Potter, I thank you....` Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph. `You're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?` he said, his eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "glittering. `I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I did... lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "sight.` `Severus --` Lupin began, but Snape overrode him. `I've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "your hideout --` `Severus, you're making a mistake,` said Lupin urgently.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`You haven't heard everything -- I can explain -- Sirius is not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "here to kill Harry --` `Two more for Azkaban tonight,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Snape, his eyes now gleaming fanatically. `I shall be interested to see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "how Dumbledore takes this.... He was quite convinced you were harmless, you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "know, Lupin... a tame werewolf --` `You fool,` said Lupin softly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " BANG! Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Snape's wand","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and twisted themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists, and ankles; he overbalanced and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "fell to the floor, unable to move. With a roar of rage,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Black started toward Snape, but Snape pointed his wand straight between Black's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "eyes. `Give me a reason,` he whispered. `Give me a reason","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to do it, and I swear I will.` Black stopped dead.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "It would have been impossible to say which face showed more hatred.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " Harry stood there, paralyzed, not knowing what to do or whom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to believe. He glanced around at Ron and Hermione. Ron looked just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "as confused as he did, still fighting to keep hold on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "struggling Scabbers. Hermione, however, took an uncertain step toward Snape and said,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "in a very breathless voice, `Professor Snape -- it it wouldn't hurt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to hear what they've got to say, w -- would it?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school,` Snape spat.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`You, Potter, and Weasley are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `But if -- if there was a mistake --` `KEEP","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!` Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged. `DON'T TALK","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!` A few sparks shot out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "end of his wand, which was still pointed at Black's face. Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "fell silent. `Vengeance is very sweet,` Snape breathed at Black. `How","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I hoped I would be the one to catch you....` `The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "joke's on you again, Severus,` Black snarled. `As long as this boy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "brings his rat up to the castle` -- he jerked his head","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "at Ron -- `I'll come quietly....` `Up to the castle?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Snape silkily. `I don't think we need to go that far. All","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I have to do is call the dementors once we get out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black... pleased","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "enough to give you a little kiss, I daresay... I --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "What little color there was in Blacks face left it. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "-you've got to hear me out,` he croaked. `The rat -- look","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "at the rat --` But there was a mad glint in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Snape's eyes that Harry had never seen before. He seemed beyond reason.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Come on, all of you,` he said. He clicked his fingers,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and the ends of the cords that bound Lupin flew to his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hands. `I'll drag the werewolf. Perhaps the dementors will have a kiss","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "for him too --` Before he knew what he was doing,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Harry had crossed the room in three strides and blocked the door.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Get out of the way, Potter, you're in enough trouble already,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "snarled Snape. `If I hadn't been here to save your skin --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Professor Lupin could have killed me about a hundred times this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "year,` Harry said. `I've been alone with him loads of times, having","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "defense lessons against the dementors. If he was helping Black, why didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "he just finish me off then?` `Don't ask me to fathom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the way a werewolf's mind works,` hissed Snape. `Get out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "way, Potter.` `YOURE PATHETIC!` Harry yelled. `JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "FOOL OF YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN --` `SILENCE!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!` Snape shrieked, looking madder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "than ever. `Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "neck; you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken in Black --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "now get out of the way, or I will make you. GET","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "OUT OF THE WAY, POTTER!` Harry made up his mind in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "a split second. Before Snape could take even one step toward him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "he had raised his wand. `Expelliarmus!` he yelled -- except that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "his wasn't the only voice that shouted. There was a blast that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "made the door rattle on its hinges; Snape was lifted off his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "feet and slammed into the wall, then slid down it to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "floor, a trickle of blood oozing from under his hair. He had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "been knocked out. Harry looked around. Both Ron and Hermione had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "tried to disarm Snape at exactly the same moment. Snape's wand soared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "in a high arc and landed on the bed next to Crookshanks.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `You shouldn't have done that,` said Black, looking at Harry. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`You should have left him to me....` Harry avoided Black's eyes.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "He wasn't sure, even now, that he'd done the right thing. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`We attacked a teacher... We attacked a teacher...` Hermione whimpered, staring at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the lifeless Snape with frightened eyes. `Oh, we're going to be in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "so much trouble --` Lupin was struggling against his bonds. Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "bent down quickly and untied him. Lupin straightened up, rubbing his arms","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "where the ropes had cut into them. `Thank you, Harry,` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said. `I'm still not saying I believe you,` he told Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Then it's time we offered you some proof,` said Lupin. `You,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "boy -- give me Peter, please. Now.` Ron clutched Scabbers closer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to his chest. `Come off it,` he said weakly. `Are you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "trying to say he broke out of Azkaban just to get his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hands on Scabbers? I mean...` He looked up at Harry and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "for support, `Okay, say Pettigrew could turn into a rat -- there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "are millions of rats -- how's he supposed to know which one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "he's after if he was locked up in Azkaban?` `You know,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Sirius, that's a fair question,` said Lupin, turning to Black and frowning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "slightly. `How did you find out where he was?` Black put","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "one of his clawlike hands inside his robes and took out a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "crumpled piece of paper, which he smoothed flat and held out to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "show the others. It was the photograph of Ron and his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "family that had appeared in the Daily Prophet the previous summer, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "there, on Ron's shoulder, was Scabbers. `How did you get this?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Lupin asked Black, thunderstruck. `Fudge,` said Black. `When he came to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "inspect Azkaban last year, he gave me his paper. And there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Peter, on the front page on this boy's shoulder... I knew him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "at once... how many times had I seen him transform? And the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "caption said the boy would be going back to Hogwarts... to where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Harry was... `My God,` said Lupin softly, staring from Scabbers to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the picture in the paper and back again. `His front paw...` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`What about it?` said Ron defiantly. `He's got a toe missing,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Black. `Of course,` Lupin breathed. `So simple... so brilliant... he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "cut it off himself?` `Just before he transformed,` said Black. `When","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I cornered him, he yelled for the whole street to hear that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I'd betrayed Lily and James. Then, before I could curse him, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "blew apart the street with the wand behind his back, killed everyone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "within twenty feet of himself -- and sped down into the sewer","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "with the other rats....` `Didn't you ever hear, Ron?` said Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`The biggest bit of Peter they found was his finger.` `Look,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Scabbers probably had a fight with another rat or something! He's been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "in my family for ages, right --` `Twelve years, in fact,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Lupin. `Didn't you ever wonder why he was living so long?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `We -- we've been taking good care of him!` said Ron.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Not looking too good at the moment, though, is he?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Lupin. `I'd guess he's been losing weight ever since he heard Sirius","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was on the loose again....` `He's been scared of that mad","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "cat!` said Ron, nodding toward Crookshanks, who was still purring on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "bed. But that wasn't right, Harry thought suddenly... Scabbers had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "looking ill before he met Crookshanks... ever since Ron's return from Egypt...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "since the time when Black had escaped.... `This cat isn't mad,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Black hoarsely. He reached out a bony hand and stroked Crookshanks's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "fluffy head. `He's the most intelligent of his kind I've ever met.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "He recognized Peter for what he was right away. And when he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "met me, he knew I was no dog. It was a while","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "before he trusted me.... Finally, I managed to communicate to him what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I was after, and he's been helping me. .. `What do you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "mean?` breathed Hermione. `He tried to bring Peter to me, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "couldn't... so he stole the passwords into Gryffindor Tower for me.... As","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I understand it, he took them from a boy's bedside table....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Harry's brain seemed to be sagging under the weight of what he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was hearing. It was absurd... and yet... `But Peter got wind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "of what was going on and ran for it.` croaked Black. `This","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "cat -- Crookshanks, did you call him? -- told me Peter had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "left blood on the sheets.... I supposed he bit himself... Well, faking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "his own death had worked once.` These words jolted Harry to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "his senses. `And why did he fake his death?` he said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "furiously. `Because he knew you were about to kill him like you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "killed my parents!` `No,` said Lupin, `Harry-` `And now you've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "come to finish him off!` `Yes, I have,` said Black, with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "an evil look at Scabbers. `Then I should've let Snape take","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you!` Harry shouted. `Harry,` said Lupin hurriedly, `don't you see? All","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "this time we've thought Sirius betrayed your parents, and Peter tracked him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "down -- but it was the other way around, don't you see?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Peter betrayed your mother and father -- Sirius tracked Peter down --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `THAT'S NOT TRUE!` Harry yelled. `HE WAS THEIR SECRET-KEEPER! HE SAID","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "SO BEFORE YOU TURNED UP. HE SAID HE KILLED THEM!` He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was pointing at Black, who shook his head slowly; the sunken eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "were suddenly over bright. `Harry... I as good as killed them,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "he croaked. `I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "me.... I'm to blame, I know it.... The night they died, I'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I set out for your parents' house straight away. And when I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies... I realized what Peter must've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "done... what I'd done....` His voice broke. He turned away. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`Enough of this,` said Lupin, and there was a steely note in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "his voice Harry had never heard before. `There's one certain way to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "prove what really happened. Ron, give me that rat.` `What are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you going to do with him if I give him to you?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Ron asked Lupin tensely. `Force him to show himself,` said Lupin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`If he really is a rat, it won't hurt him.` Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hesitated. Then at long last, he held out Scabbers and Lupin took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "him. Scabbers began to squeak without stopping, twisting and turning, his tiny","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "black eyes bulging in his head. `Ready, Sirius?` said Lupin. Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "had already retrieved Snape's wand from the bed. He approached Lupin and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the struggling rat, and his wet eyes suddenly seemed to be burning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "in his face. `Together?` he said quietly. `I think so,,,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Lupin, holding Scabbers tightly in one hand and his wand in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the other. `On the count of three. One -- two -- THREE!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " A flash of blue-white light erupted from both wands; for a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "moment, Scabbers was frozen in midair, his small gray form twisting madly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "-- Ron yelled -- the rat fell and hit the floor. There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was another blinding flash of light and then -- It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "like watching a speeded-up film of a growing tree. A head was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "shooting upward from the ground; limbs were sprouting; a moment later, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "man was standing where Scabbers had been, cringing and wringing his hands.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Crookshanks was spitting and snarling on the bed; the hair on his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "back was standing up. He was a very short man, hardly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "taller than Harry and Hermione. His thin, colorless hair was unkempt and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "there was a large bald patch on top. He had the shrunken","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "appearance of a plump man who has lost a lot of weight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "in a short time. His skin looked grubby, almost like Scabbers's fur,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and something of the rat lingered around his pointed nose and his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "very small, watery eyes. He looked around at them all, his breathing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "fast and shallow. Harry saw his eyes dart to the door and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "back again. `Well, hello, Peter,` said Lupin pleasantly, as though rats","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "frequently erupted into old school friends around him. `Long time, no see.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `S -- Sirius... R -- Remus...` Even Pettigrew's voice was squeaky.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Again, his eyes darted toward the door. `My friends... my old friends...`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " Black's wand arm rose, but Lupin seized him around the wrist,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "gave him a warning took, then turned again to Pettigrew, his voice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "light and casual. `We've been having a little chat, Peter, about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "what happened the night Lily and James died. You might have missed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the finer points while you were squeaking around down there on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "bed --` `Remus,` gasped Pettigrew, and Harry could see beads of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "sweat breaking out over his pasty face, `you don't believe him, do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you...? He tried to kill me, Remus....` `So we've heard,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Lupin, more coldly. `I'd like to clear up one or two little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "matters with you, Peter, if you'll be so --` `He's come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to try and kill me again!` Pettigrew squeaked suddenly, pointing at Black,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and Harry saw that he used his middle finger, because his index","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was missing. `He killed Lily and James and now he's going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "kill me too.... You've got to help me, Remus....` Black's face","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "looked more skull-like than ever as he stared at Pettigrew with his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "fathomless eyes. `No one's going to try and kill you until","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "we've sorted a few things out,` said Lupin. `Sorted things out?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "squealed Pettigrew, looking wildly about him once more, eyes taking in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "boarded windows and, again' the only door. `I knew he'd come after","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "me! I knew he'd be back for me! I've been waiting for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "this for twelve years!` `You knew Sirius was going to break","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "out of Azkaban?` said Lupin, his brow furrowed. `When nobody has ever","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "done it before?` `He's got dark powers the rest of us","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "can only dream of!` Pettigrew shouted shrilly. `How else did he get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "out of there? I suppose He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named taught him a few tricks!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Black started to laugh, a horrible, mirthless laugh that filled the whole","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "room. `Voldemort, teach me tricks?` he said. Pettigrew flinched as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "though Black had brandished a whip at him. `What, scared to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hear your old master's name?` said Black. I don't blame you, Peter.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "His lot aren't very happy with you, are they?` `Don't know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "what you mean, Sirius --` muttered Pettigrew, his breathing faster than ever.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "His whole face was shining with sweat now. `You haven't been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hiding from me for twelve years,` said Black. `You've been hiding from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Voldemort's old supporters. I heard things in Azkaban, Peter... They all think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you're dead, or you'd have to answer to them.... I've heard them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "screaming all sorts of things in their sleep. Sounds like they think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the double-crosser double-crossed them. Voldemort went to the Potters' on your information...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and Voldemort met his downfall there. And not all Voldemort's supporters ended","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "up in Azkaban, did they? There are still plenty out here, biding","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "their time, pretending they've seen the error of their ways. If","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "they ever got wind that you were still alive, Peter --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`Don't know... what you're talking about...,` said Pettigrew again, more shrilly than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "ever. He wiped his face on his sleeve and looked up at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Lupin. `You don't believe this -- this madness, Remus --` `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "must admit, Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "would want to spend twelve years as a rat,` said Lupin evenly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Innocent, but scared!` squealed Pettigrew. `If Voldemort's supporters were after me,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "it was because I put one of their best men in Azkaban","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "-- the spy, Sirius Black!` Black's face contorted. `How dare","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you,` he growled, sounding suddenly like the bearsized dog he had been.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I, a spy for Voldemort? When did I ever sneak around people","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "who were stronger and more powerful than myself? But you, Peter --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I'll never understand why I didn't see you were the spy from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the start. You always liked big friends who'd look after you, didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you? It used to be us... me and Remus... and James.... ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Pettigrew wiped his face again; he was almost panting for breath. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`Me, a spy... must be out of your mind... never... don't know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "how you can say such a --` `Lily and James only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "made you Secret-Keeper because I suggested it,` Black hissed, so venomously that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Pettigrew took a step backward. `I thought it was the perfect plan...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "a bluff... Voldemort would be sure to come after me, would never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "dream they'd use a weak, talentless thing like you.... It must have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "been the finest moment of your miserable life, telling Voldemort you could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hand him the Potters.` Pettigrew was muttering distractedly; Harry caught words","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "like `far-fetched` and `lunacy,` but he couldn't help paying more attention to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the ashen color of Pettigrew's face and the way his eyes continued","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to dart toward the windows and door. `Professor Lupin?` said Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "timidly. `Can -- can I say something?` `Certainly, Hermione,` said Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "courteously. `Well -- Scabbers -- I mean, this -- this man","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "-- he's been sleeping in Harry's dormitory for three years. If he's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "working for You-Know-Who, how come he never tried to hurt Harry before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "now?` `There!` said Pettigrew shrilly, pointing at Ron with his maimed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hand. `Thank you! You see, Remus? I have never hurt a hair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "of Harry's head! Why should I?` `I'll tell you why,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Black. `Because you never did anything for anyone unless you could see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "what was in it for you. Voldemort's been in hiding for fifteen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "years, they say he's half dead. You weren't about to commit murder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "right under Albus Dumbledore's nose, for a wreck of a wizard who'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "lost all of his power, were you? You'd want to be quite","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "sure he was the biggest bully in the playground before you went","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "back to him, wouldn't you? Why else did you find a wizard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "family to take you in? Keeping an ear out for news, weren't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "YOU, Peter? Just in case your old protector regained strength, and it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was safe to rejoin him....` Pettigrew opened his mouth and closed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "it several times. He seemed to have lost the ability to talk.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Er -- Mr. Black -- Sirius?` said Hermione. Black jumped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "at being addressed like this and stared at Hermione as though he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "had never seen anything quite like her. `If you don't mind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "me asking, how -- how did you get out of Azkaban, if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you didn't use Dark Magic?` `Thank you!` gasped Pettigrew, nodding frantically","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "at her. `Exactly! Precisely what I --` But Lupin silenced him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "with a look. Black was frowning slightly at Hermione, but not as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "though he were annoyed with her. He seemed to be pondering his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "answer. `I don't know how I did it,` he said slowly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`I think the only reason I never lost my mind is that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I knew I was innocent. That wasn't a happy thought, so the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "dementors couldn't suck it out of me... but it kept me sane","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and knowing who I am... helped me keep my powers... so when","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "it all became ... too much... I could transform in my cell...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "become a dog. Dementors can't see, you know....` He swallowed. `They feel","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "their way toward people by feeding off their emotions.... They could tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "that my feelings were less -- less human, less complex when I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was a dog... but they thought, of course, that I was losing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "my mind like everyone else in there, so it didn't trouble them.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "But I was weak, very weak, and I had no hope of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "driving them away from me without a wand....` `But then I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "saw Peter in that picture... I realized he was at Hogwarts with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Harry... perfectly positioned to act, if one hint reached his ears that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the Dark Side was gathering strength again....` Pettigrew was shaking his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "head, mouthing noiselessly, but staring all the while at Black as though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "hypnotized. `... ready to strike at the moment he could be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "sure of allies... and to deliver the last Potter to them. if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "he gave them Harry, who'd dare say he'd betrayed Lord Voldemort? He'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "be welcomed back with honors.... `So you see, I had to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "do something. I was the only one who knew Peter was still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "alive....` Harry remembered what Mr. Weasley had told Mrs. Wealsey. `The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "guards say he's been talking in his sleep... always the same words...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "'He's at Hogwarts.'` `It was as if someone had lit a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "fire In my head, and the dementors couldn't destroy it.... It wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "a happy feeling... it was an obsession... but it gave me strength,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "it cleared my mind. So, one night when they opened my door","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to bring food, I slipped past them as a dog.... It's so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I was thin, very thin... thin enough to slip through the bars....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I swam as a dog back to the mainland.... I journeyed north","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and slipped into the Hogwarts grounds as a dog. I've been living","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "in the forest ever since, except when I came to watch the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Quidditch, of course. You fly as well as your father did, Harry....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " He looked at Harry, who did not look away. `Believe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "me,` croaked Black. `Believe me, Harry. I never betrayed James and Lily.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I would have died before I betrayed them.` And at long","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "last, Harry believed him. Throat too tight to speak, he nodded. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`No!` Pettigrew had fallen to his knees as though Harry's nod","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "had been his own death sentence. He shuffled forward on his knees,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "groveling, his hands clasped in front of him as though praying. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`Sirius -- it's me... it's Peter... your friend... you wouldn't --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Black kicked out and Pettigrew recoiled. `There's enough filth on my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "robes without you touching them,` said Black. `Remus!` Pettigrew squeaked, turning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to Lupin instead, writhing imploringly in front of him. `You don't believe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "this wouldn't Sirius have told you they'd changed the plan?` `Not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "if he thought I was the spy, Peter,` said Lupin. `I assume","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "that's why you didn't tell me, Sirius?` he said casually over Pettigrews","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "head. `Forgive me, Remus,` said Black. `Not at all, Padfoot,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "old friend,` said Lupin, who was now rolling up his sleeves. `And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "will you, in turn, forgive me for believing you were the spy?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Of course,` said Black, and the ghost of a grin flitted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "across his gaunt face. He, too, began rolling up his sleeves. `Shall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "we kill him together?` `Yes, I think so,` said Lupin grimly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `You wouldn't... you won't...,` gasped Pettigrew. And he scrambled around to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Ron. `Ron... haven't I been a good friend... a good pet?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "You won't let them kill me, Ron, will you... you're on my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "side, aren't you. But Ron was staring at Pettigrew with the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "utmost revulsion. `I let you sleep in my bed!` he said.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Kind boy... kind master...` Pettigrew crawled toward Ron `You won't let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "them do it.... I was your rat.... I was a good pet....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `If you made a better rat than a human, it's not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "much to boast about, Peter,` said Black harshly. Ron, going still paler","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "with pain, wrenched his broken leg out of Pettigrew's reach. Pettigrew turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "on his knees, staggered forward, and seized the hem of Hermione's robes.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `Sweet girl... clever girl... you -- you won't let them.... Help","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "me....` Hermione pulled her robes out of Pettigrew's clutching hands and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "backed away against the wall, looking horrified. Pettigrew knelt, trembling uncontrollably,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and-turned his head slowly toward Harry. `Harry... Harry... you look just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "like your father... just like him....` `HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "HARRY?` roared Black. `HOW DARE YOU FACE HIM? HOW DARE YOU TALK","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "ABOUT JAMES IN FRONT OF HIM?` `Harry,` whispered Pettigrew, shuffling toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "him, hands outstretched. `Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed.... James would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "have understood, Harry... he would have shown me mercy...` Both Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and Lupin strode forward, seized Pettigrew's shoulders, and threw him backward onto","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "the floor. He sat there, twitching with terror, staring up at them.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `You sold Lily and James to Voldemort,` said Black, who was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "shaking too. `Do you deny it?` Pettigrew burst into tears. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "was horrible to watch, like an oversized, balding baby, cowering on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "floor. `Sirius, Sirius, what could I have done? The Dark Lord...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you have no idea... he has weapons you can't imagine.... I was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "scared, Sirius, I was never brave like you and Remus and James.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I never meant it to happen.... He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named forced me --` `DON'T","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "LIE!` bellowed Black. `YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!` `He --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "he was taking over everywhere!` gasped Pettigrew. `Wh -- what was there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to be gained by refusing him?` `What was there to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "gained by fighting the most evil wizard who has ever existed?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Black, with a terrible fury in his face. `Only innocent lives, Peter!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `You don't understand!` whined Pettigrew. `He would have killed me, Sirius!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!` roared Black. `DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!` Black and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Lupin stood shoulder to shoulder, wands raised. `You should have realized,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Lupin quietly, `if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Good-bye, Peter.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " Hermione covered her face with her hands and turned to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "wall. `NO!` Harry yelled. He ran forward, placing himself in front","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Pettigrew, facing the wands. `You can't kill him,` he said breathlessly. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "can't.` Black and Lupin both looked staggered. `Harry, this piece","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "of vermin is the reason you have no parents,` Black snarled. `This","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "cringing bit of filth would have seen you die too, without turning","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "a hair. You heard him. His own stinking skin meant more to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "him than your whole family.` `I know,` Harry panted. `We'll take","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "him up to the castle. We'll hand him over to the dementors....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "He can go to Azkaban... but don't kill him.` `Harry!` gasped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Pettigrew, and he flung his arms around Harry's knees. `You -- thank","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "you -- it's more than I deserve -- thank you --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`Get off me,` Harry spat, throwing Pettigrew's hands off him in disgust.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it because -- I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "don't reckon my dad would've wanted them to become killers -- just","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "for you.` No one moved or made a sound except Pettigrew,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "whose breath was coming in wheezes as he clutched his chest. Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and Lupin were looking at each other. Then, with one movement, they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "lowered their wands. `You're the only person who has the right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "to decide, Harry,` said Black. `But think... think what he did....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`He can go to Azkaban,` Harry repeated. `If anyone deserves that place,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "he does....` Pettigrew was still wheezing behind him. `Very well,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Lupin. `Stand aside, Harry.` Harry hesitated. `I'm going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "tie him up,` said Lupin. `That's all, I swear.` Harry stepped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "out of the way. Thin cords shot from Lupin's wand this time,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "and next moment, Pettigrew was wriggling on the floor, bound and gagged.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " `But if you transform, Peter,` growled Black, his own wand pointing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "at Pettigrew too, `we will kill you. You agree, Harry?` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "looked down at the pitiful figure on the floor and nodded so","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "that Pettigrew could see him. `Right,` said Lupin, suddenly businesslike. `Ron,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "I can't mend bones nearly as well as Madam Pomfrey, so I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "think it's best if we just strap your leg up until we","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "can get you to the hospital wing.` He hurried over to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Ron, bent down, tapped Ron's leg with his wand, and muttered, `Ferula.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Bandages spun up Ron's leg, strapping it tightly to a splint. Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "helped him to his feet; Ron put his weight gingerly on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "leg and didn't wince. `That's better,` he said. `Thanks.` `What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "about Professor Snape?` said Hermione in a small voice, looking down at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "Snape's prone figure. `There's nothing seriously wrong with him,` said Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "bending over Snape and checking his pulse. `You were just a little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "-- overenthusiastic. Still out cold. Er -- perhaps it will be best","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "if we don't revive him until we're safety back in the castle.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "We can take him like this....` He muttered, `Mobilicorpus.` As though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "invisible strings were tied to Snape's wrists, neck, and knees, he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "pulled into a standing position, head still lolling unpleasantly, like a grotesque","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "puppet. He hung a few inches above the ground, his limp feet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "dangling. Lupin picked up the Invisibility Cloak and tucked it safely into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "his pocket. `And two of us should be chained to this,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "said Black, nudging Pettigrew with his toe. `Just to make sure.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "`I'll do it,` said Lupin. `And me,` said Ron savagely, limping","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "forward. Black conjured heavy manacles from thin air; soon Pettigrew was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "upright again, left arm chained to Lupin's right, right arm to Ron's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "left. Ron's face was set. He seemed to have taken Scabbers's true","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "identity as a personal insult. Crookshanks leapt lightly off the bed and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" "led the way out of the room, his bottlebrush tail held jauntily high. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-19" " THE DEMENTOR'S KISS Harry had never been part","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "of a stranger group. Crookshanks led the way down the stairs; Lupin,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Pettigrew, and Ron went next, looking like entrants in a six-legged race.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Next came Professor Snape, drifting creepily along, his toes hitting each stair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "as they descended, held up by his own wand, which was being","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "pointed at him by Sirius. Harry and Hermione brought up the rear.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " Getting back into the tunnel was difficult. Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "had to turn sideways to manage it; Lupin still had Pettigrew covered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "with his wand. Harry could see them edging awkwardly along the tunnel","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "in single file. Crookshanks was still in the lead. Harry went right","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "after Black, who was still making Snape drift along ahead of them;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "he kept bumping his lolling head on the low ceiling. Harry had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "the impression Black was making no effort to prevent this. `You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "know what this means?` Black said abruptly to Harry as they made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "their slow progress along the tunnel. `Turning Pettigrew in?` `You' re","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "free,` said Harry. `Yes...,` said Black. `But I'm also -- I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "don't know if anyone ever told you -- I'm your godfather.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "`Yeah, I knew that,` said Harry. `Well... your parents appointed me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "your guardian,` said Black stiffly. `If anything happened to them...` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "waited. Did Black mean what he thought he meant? `I'll understand,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "said Black. `But... well... think about it. Once my name's cleared... if","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "you wanted a... a different home...` Some sort of explosion took","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "place in the pit of Harry's stomach. `What -- live with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "you?` he said, accidentally cracking his head on a bit of rock","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "protruding from the ceiling. `Leave the Dursleys?` `Of course, I thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "you wouldn't want to,` said Black quickly. `I understand, I just thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "I'd --` `Are you insane?` said Harry, his voice easily as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "croaky as Black's. `Of course I want to leave the Dursleys!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Have you got a house? When can I move in?` Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "turned right around to look at him; Snape's head was scraping the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "ceiling but Black didn't seem to care. `You want to?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "said. `You mean it?` `Yeah, I mean it!` said Harry. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Black's gaunt face broke into the first true smile Harry had seen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "upon it. The difference it made was startling, as though a person","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "ten years younger were shining through the starved mask; for a moment,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "he was recognizable as the man who had laughed at Harry's parents'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "wedding. They did not speak again until they had reached the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "end of the tunnel. Crookshanks darted up first; he had evidently pressed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "his paw to the knot on the trunk, because Lupin, Pettigrew, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Ron clambered upward without any sound of savaging branches. Black saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Snape up through the hole, then stood back for Harry and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to pass. At last, all of them were out. The grounds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "were very dark now; the only light came from the distant windows","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "of the castle. Without a word, they set off. Pettigrew was still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "wheezing and occasionally whimpering. Harry's mind was buzzing. He was going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "leave the Dursleys. He was going to live with Sirius Black, his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "parents' best friend.... He felt dazed.... What would happen when he told","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "the Dursleys he was going to live with the convict they'd seen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "on television... ! `One wrong move, Peter,` said Lupin threateningly ahead.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "His wand was still pointed sideways at Pettigrew's chest. Silently they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "tramped through the grounds, the castle lights growing slowly larger. Snape was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "still drifting weirdly ahead of Black, his chin bumping on his chest.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "And then - A cloud shifted. There were suddenly dim shadows","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "on the ground. Their party was bathed in moonlight. Snape collided","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "with Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron, who had stopped abruptly. Black froze. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "flung out one arm to make Harry and Hermione stop. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "could see Lupin's silhouette. He had gone rigid. Then his limbs began","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to shake. `Oh, my --` Hermione gasped. `He didn't take his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "potion tonight! He's not safe!` `Run,` Black whispered. `Run. Now.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "But Harry couldn't run. Ron was chained to Pettigrew and Lupin. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "leapt forward but Black caught him around the chest and threw him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "back. `Leave it to me -- RUN!` There was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "terrible snarling noise. Lupin's head was lengthening. So was his body. His","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "shoulders were hunching. Hair was sprouting visibly on his face and hands,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "which were curling into clawed paws. Crookshanks's hair was on end again;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "he was backing away -- As the werewolf reared, snapping its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "long jaws, Sirius disappeared from Harry's side. He had transformed. The enormous,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "bearlike dog bounded forward. As the werewolf wrenched itself free of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "manacle binding it, the dog seized it about the neck and pulled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "it backward, away from Ron and Pettigrew. They were locked, jaw to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "jaw, claws ripping at each other. Harry stood, transfixed by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "sight, too intent upon the battle to notice anything else. It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Hermione's scream that alerted him -- Pettigrew had dived for Lupin's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "dropped wand. Ron, unsteady on his bandaged leg, fell. There was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "bang, a burst of light -- and Ron lay motionless on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "ground. Another bang -- Crookshanks flew into the air and back to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "the earth in a heap. `Expelliarmus.` Harry yelled, pointing his own","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "wand at Pettigrew; Lupin's wand flew high into the air and out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "of sight. `Stay where you are!` Harry shouted, running forward. Too","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "late. Pettigrew had transformed. Harry saw his bald tail whip through the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "manacle on Ron's outstretched arm and heard a scurrying through the grass.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " There was a howl and a rumbling growl; Harry turned to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "see the werewolf taking flight; it was galloping into the forest --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " `Sirius, he's gone, Pettigrew transformed!` Harry yelled. Black was bleeding;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "there were gashes across his muzzle and back, but at Harry's words","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "he scrambled up again, and in an instant, the sound of his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "paws faded to silence as he pounded away across the grounds. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Harry and Hermione dashed over to Ron. `What did he do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to him?` Hermione whispered. Ron's eyes were only half-closed, his mouth hung","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "open; he was definitely alive, they could hear him breathing, but he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "didn't seem to recognize them. `I don't know....` Harry looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "desperately around. Black and Lupin both gone... they had no one but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Snape for company, still hanging, unconscious, in midair. `We'd better get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "them up to the castle and tell someone,` said Harry, pushing his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "hair out of his eyes, trying to think straight. `Come --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "But then, from beyond the range of their vision, they heard a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "yelping, a whining: a dog in pain.... `Sirius,` Harry muttered, staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "into the darkness. He had a moment's indecision, but there was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "nothing they could do for Ron at the moment, and by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "sound of it, Black was in trouble -- Harry set off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "at a run, Hermione right behind him. The yelping seemed to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "coming from the ground near the edge of the lake. They pelted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "toward it, and Harry, running flat out, felt the cold without realizing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "what it must mean - The yelping stopped abruptly. As they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "reached the lakeshore, they saw why -- Sirius had turned back into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "a man. He was crouched on all fours, his hands over his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "head. 'Nooo,` he moaned. 'Nooo... please....` And then Harry saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "them. Dementors, at least a hundred of them, gliding in a black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "mass around the lake toward them. He spun around, the familiar, icy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "cold penetrating his insides, fog starting to obscure his vision; more were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "appearing out of the darkness on every side; they were encircling them....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " `Herrnione, think of something happy!` Harry yelled, raising his wand, blinking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "furiously to try and clear his vision, shaking his head to rid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "it of the faint screaming that had started inside it -- ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "I'm going to live with my godfather. I'm leaving the Dursleys. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "He forced himself to think of Black, and only Black, and began","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to chant: `Expecto patronum! Expecto patronum!` Black gave a shudder, rolled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "over, and lay motionless on the ground, pale as death. He'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "be all right. I'm going to go and live with him. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "`Expecto patronum! Hermione, help me! Expecto patronum!` `Expecto --` Hermione whispered,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "`expecto -- expecto --` But she couldn't do it. The dementors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "were closing in, barely ten feet from them. They formed a solid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "wall around Harry and Hermione, and were getting closer.... `EXPECTO PATRONUM!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Harry yelled, trying to blot the screaming from his ears. `EXPECTO PATRONUM!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " A thin wisp of silver escaped his wand and hovered like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "mist before him. At the same moment, Harry felt Hermione collapse next","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to him. He was alone... completely alone.... `Expecto -- expecto patronum","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "--` Harry felt his knees hit the cold grass. Fog was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "clouding his eyes. With a huge effort, he fought to remember --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Sirius was innocent -- innocent -- We'll be okay -- I' mgoing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to live with him -- `Ex ecto patronum!` he gasped. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "By the feeble light of his formless Patronus, He saw a dementor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "halt, very close to him. It couldn't walk through the cloud of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "silver mist Harry had conjured. A dead, slimy hand slid out from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "under the cloak. It made a gesture as though to sweep the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Patronus aside. `No -- no --` Harry gasped. `He's innocent... expecto","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "expecto patronum --` He could feet them watching him, hear their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "rattling breath like an evil wind around him. The nearest dementor seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to be considering him. Then it raised both its rotting hands --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "and lowered its hood. Where there should have been eyes, there","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "was only thin, gray scabbed skin, stretched blankly over empty sockets. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "there was a mouth... a gaping, shapeless hole, sucking the air with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "the sound of a death rattle. A paralyzing terror filled Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "so that he couldn't move or speak. His Patronus flickered and died.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " White fog was blinding him. He had to fight... expecto patronum","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "... he couldn't see... and in the distance, he heard the familiar","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "screaming... expecto patronum... he groped in the mist for Sirius, and found","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "his arm... they weren't going to take him.... But a pair","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "of strong, clammy hands suddenly attached themselves around Harry's neck. They were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "forcing his face upward.... He could feel its breath.... It was going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "to get rid of him first.... He could feel its putrid breath....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "His mother was screaming in his ears.... She was going to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "the last thing he ever heard -- And then, through the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "fog that was drowning him, he thought he saw a silvery light","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "growing brighter and brighter... He felt himself fall forward onto the grass....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Facedown, too weak to move, sick and shaking, Harry opened his eyes.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "The dementor must have released him. The blinding light was illuminating the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "grass around him.... The screaming had stopped, the cold was ebbing away...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " Something was driving the dementors back.... It was circling around him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "and Black and Hermione.... They were leaving.... The air was warm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "again.... With every ounce of strength he could muster, Harry raised","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "his head a few inches and saw an animal amid the light,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "galloping away across the lake.... Eyes blurred with sweat, Harry tried to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "make out what it was.... It was as bright as a unicorn....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "Fighting to stay conscious, Harry watched it canter to a halt as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "it reached the opposite shore. For a moment, Harry saw, by its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "brightness, somebody welcoming it back... raising his hand to pat it... someone","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "who looked strangely familiar ... but it couldn't be... Harry didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "understand. He couldn't think anymore. He felt the last of his strength","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" "leave him, and his head hit the ground as he fainted. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-20" " HERMIONE'S SECRET Shocking business... shocking... miracle none of them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "died... never heard the like... by thunder, it was lucky you were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "there, Snape....` `Thank you, Minister.` `Order of Merlin, Second Class,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I'd say. First Class, if I can wangle it!` `Thank you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "very much indeed, Minister.` `Nasty cut you've got there.... Black's work,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I suppose?` `As a matter of fact, it was Potter, Weasley,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Granger, Minister....` `No!` `Black had bewitched them, I saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "it immediately. A Confundus Charm, to judge by their behavior. They seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to think there was a possibility he was innocent. They weren't responsible","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "for their actions. On the other hand, their interference might have permitted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Black to escape.... They obviously thought they were going to catch Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "single-handed. They've got away with a great deal before now... I'm afraid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "it's given them a rather high opinion of themselves... and of course","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Potter has always been allowed an extraordinary amount of license by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "headmaster --` `Ah, well, Snape... Harry Potter, you know... we've all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "got a bit of a blind spot where he's concerned.` `And","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "yet -- is it good for him to be given so much","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "special treatment? Personally, I try and treat him like any other student.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "And any other student would be suspended -- at the very least","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- for leading his friends into such danger. Consider, Minister -- against","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "all school rules -- after all the precautions put in place for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his protection -- out-of-bounds, at night, consorting with a werewolf and a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "murderer -- and I have reason to believe he has been visiting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hogsmeade illegally too --` `Well, well... we shall see, Snape, we","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "shall see.... The boy has undoubtedly been foolish....` Harry lay listening","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "with his eyes tight shut. He felt very groggy. The words he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "was hearing seemed to be traveling very slowly from his ears to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his brain, so that it was difficult to understand.... His limbs felt","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "like lead; his eyelids too heavy to lift.... He wanted to lie","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "here, on this comfortable bed, forever.... `What amazes me most is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the behavior of the dementors... you've really no idea what made them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "retreat, Snape?` `No, Minister... by the time I had come 'round","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "they were heading back to their positions at the entrances....` `Extraordinary.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "And yet Black, and Harry, and the girl --` `All unconscious","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "by the time I reached them. I bound and gagged Black, naturally,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "conjured stretchers, and brought them all straight back to the castle.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "There was a pause. Harry's brain seemed to be moving a little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "faster, and as it did, a gnawing sensation grew in the pit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of his stomach.... He opened his eyes. Everything was slightly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "blurred. Somebody had removed his glasses. He was lying in the dark","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hospital wing. At the very end of the ward, he could make","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "out Madam Pomfrey with her back to him, bending over a bed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry squinted. Ron's red hair was visible beneath Madam Pomfrey's arm. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry moved his head over on the pillow. In the bed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his right lay Hermione. Moonlight was falling across her bed. Her eyes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "were open too. She looked petrified, and when she saw that Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "was awake, pressed a finger to her lips, then pointed to the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hospital wing door. It was ajar, and the voices of Cornelius Fudge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Snape were coming through it from the corridor outside. Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Pomfrey now came walking briskly up the dark ward to Harry's bed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "He turned to took at her. She was carrying the largest block","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of chocolate he had ever seen in his life. It looked like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "a small boulder. `Ah, you're awake!` she said briskly. She placed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the chocolate on Harry's bedside table and began breaking it apart with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "a small hammer. `How's Ron?` said Harry and Hermione together. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`He'll live, said Madam Pomfrey grimly. `As for you two you'll be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "staying here until I'm satisfied you're -- Potter, what do you think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "you're doing?` Harry was sitting up, putting his glasses back on,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and picking up his wand. `I need to see the headmaster,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "he said. `Potter,` said Madam Pomfrey soothingly, `it's all right. They've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "got Black. He's locked away upstairs. The dementors will be performing the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "kiss any moment now --` `WHAT?` Harry jumped up out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of bed; Hermione had done the same. But his shout had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "heard in the corridor outside; next second, Cornelius Fudge and Snape had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "entered the ward. `Harry, Harry, what's this?` said Fudge, looking agitated.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`You should be in bed -- has he had any chocolate?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "asked Madam Pomfrey anxiously. `Minister, listen!` Harry said. `Sirius Black's innocent!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Peter Pettigrew faked his own death! We saw him tonight! You can't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "let the dementors do that thing to Sirius, he's --` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Fudge was shaking his head with a small smile on his face.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `Harry, Harry, you're very confused, you've been through a dreadful ordeal,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "lie back down, now, we've got everything under control....` `YOU HAVEN'T!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry yelled. `YOUVE GOT THE WRONG MAN!` `Minister, listen, please,` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "said; she had hurried to Harry's side and was gazing imploringly into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Fudge's face. `I saw him too. It was Ron's rat, he's an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Animagus, Pettigrew, I mean, and --` `You see, Minister?` said Snape.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Confunded, both of them.... Black's done a very good job on them....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`WE'RE NOT CONFUNDED!` Harry roared. `Minister! Professor!` said Madam Pomfrey angrily.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`I must insist that you leave. Potter is my patient, and he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "should not be distressed!` `I'm not distressed, I'm trying to tell","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "them what happened!` Harry said furiously. `If they'd just listen --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "But Madam Pomfrey suddenly stuffed a large chunk of chocolate into Harry's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "mouth; he choked, and she seized the opportunity to force him back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "onto the bed. `Now, please, Minister, these children need care. Please","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "leave The door opened again. It was Dumbledore. Harry swallowed his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "mouthful of chocolate with great difficulty and got up again. `Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Dumbledore, Sirius Black --` `For heaven's sake!` said Madam Pomfrey hysterically.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr. Potter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Miss Granger,` said Dumbledore calmly. `I have just been talking to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Sirius Black --` `I suppose he's told you the same fairy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "tale he's planted in Potter's mind?` spat Snape. `Something about a rat,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Pettigrew being alive --` `That, indeed, is Black's story,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Dumbledore, surveying Snape closely through his half-moon spectacles. `And does my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "evidence count for nothing?` snarled Snape. `Peter Pettigrew was not in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Shrieking Shack, nor did I see any sign of him on the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "grounds.` `That was because you were knocked out, Professor!` said Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "earnestly. `You didn't arrive in time to hear `Miss Granger, HOLD","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "YOUR TONGUE!` `Now, Snape,` said Fudge, startled, `the young lady is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "disturbed in her mind, we must make allowances --` `I would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "like to speak to Harry and Hermione alone,` said Dumbledore abruptly. `Cornelius,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Severus, Poppy -- please leave us.` `Headmaster!` sputtered Madam Pomfrey. `They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "need treatment, they need rest --` `This cannot wait,` said Dumbledore.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`I must insist.` Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and strode away","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "into her office at the end of the ward, slamming the door","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "behind her. Fudge consulted the large gold pocket watch dangling from his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "waistcoat. `The dementors should have arrived by now,` he said. `I'll go","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and meet them. Dumbledore, I'll see you upstairs.` He crossed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the door and held it open for Snape, but Snape hadn't moved.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `You surely don't believe a word of Black's story?` Snape whispered,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his eyes fixed on Dumbledore's face. `I wish to speak to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry and Hermione alone,` Dumbledore repeated. Snape took a step toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Dumbledore. `Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "age of sixteen,` he breathed. `You haven't forgotten that, Headmaster? You haven't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "forgotten that he once tried to kill me?` `My memory is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "as good as it ever was, Severus,` said Dumbledore quietly. Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "turned on his heel and marched through the door Fudge was still","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "holding. It closed behind them, and Dumbledore turned to Harry and Hermione.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "They both burst into speech at the same time. `Professor, Black's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "telling the truth -- we saw Pettigrew `-- he escaped when Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Lupin turned into a werewolf --` `-- he's a rat --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `-- Pettigrew's front paw, I mean, finger, he cut it off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "--` `-- Pettigrew attacked Ron, it wasn't Sirius --` But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Dumbledore held up his hand to stem the flood of explanations. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`It is your turn to listen, and I beg you will not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "interrupt me, because there is very little time,` he said quietly. `There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "is not a shred of proof to support Black's story, except your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "word -- and the word of two thirteen-year-old wizards will not convince","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "anybody. A street full of eyewitnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Potters' Secret-Keeper.` `Professor Lupin can tell you --` Harry said, unable","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to stop himself `Professor Lupin is currently deep in the forest,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "unable to tell anyone anything. By the time he is human again,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "it will be too late, Sirius will be worse than dead. I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "might add that werewolves are so mistrusted by most of our kind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "that his support will count for very little -- and the fact","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "that he and Sirius are old friends --` `But --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Listen to me, Harry. It is too late, you understand me? You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "must see that Professor Snape's version of events is far more convincing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "than yours.` `He hates Sirius,` Hermione said desperately. `All because of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "some stupid trick Sirius played on him --` `Sirius has not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "acted like an innocent man. The attack on the Fat Lady --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife -- without Pettigrew, alive or dead,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "we have no chance of overturning Sirius's sentence.` `But you believe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "us.` `Yes, I do,` said Dumbledore quietly. `But I have no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Minister of Magic....` Harry stared up into the grave face and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "felt as though the ground beneath him were falling sharply away. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "had grown used to the idea that Dumbledore could solve anything. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "had expected Dumbledore to pull some amazing solution out of the air.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "But no ... their last hope was gone. `What we need,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "said Dumbledore slowly, and his light blue eyes moved from Harry to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione, `is more time.` `But --` Hermione began. And then her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "eyes became very round. `OH!` `Now, pay attention,` said Dumbledore, speaking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "very low, and very clearly. `Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law -- you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "know what is at stake.... You -- must -- not -- be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- seen.` Harry didn't have a clue what was going on.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Dumbledore had turned on his heel and looked back as he reached","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the door. `I am going to lock you in. It is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "--` he consulted his watch, `five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "turns should do it. Good luck.` `Good luck?` Harry repeated as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the door closed behind Dumbledore. `Three turns? What's he talking about? What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "are we supposed to do?` But Hermione was fumbling with the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "neck of her robes, pulling from beneath them a very long, very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "fine gold chain. `Harry, come here,` she said urgently. `Quick!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry moved toward her, completely bewildered. She was holding the chain out.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "He saw a tiny, sparkling hourglass hanging from it. `Here --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " She had thrown the chain around his neck too. `Ready?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "she said breathlessly. `What are we doing?` Harry said, completely lost.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " Hermione turned the hourglass over three times. The dark ward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "dissolved. Harry had the sensation that he was flying very fast, backward.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "A blur of colors and shapes rushed past him, his ears were","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "pounding, he tried to yell but couldn't hear his own voice --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " And then he felt solid ground beneath his feet, and everything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "came into focus again -- He was standing next to Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "in the deserted entrance hall and a stream of golden sunlight was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "falling across the paved floor from the open front doors. He looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "wildly around at Hermione, the chain of the hourglass cutting into his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "neck. `Hermione, what --?` `In here!` Hermione seized Harry's arm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and dragged him across the hall to the door of a broom","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "closet; she opened it, pushed him inside among the buckets and mops,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "then slammed the door behind them. `What -- how -- Hermione,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "what happened?` `We've gone back in time,` Hermione whispered, lifting the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "chain off Harry's neck in the darkness. `Three hours back...` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "found his own leg and gave it a very hard pinch. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hurt a lot, which seemed to rule out the possibility that he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "was having a very bizarre dream. `But --` `Shh! Listen!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Someone's coming! I think -- I think it might be us!` Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "had her ear pressed against the cupboard door. `Footsteps across the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hall... yes, I think it's us going down to Hagrid's!` `Are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "you telling me,` Harry whispered, `that we're here in this cupboard and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "we're out there too?` `Yes,` said Hermione, her ear still glued","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to the cupboard door. `I'm sure it's us. It doesn't sound like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "more than three people... and we're walking slowly because we're under the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Invisibility Cloak -- ` She broke off, still listening intently. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`We've gone down the front steps....` Hermione sat down on an","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "upturned bucket, looking desperately anxious, but Harry wanted a few questions answered.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `Where did you get that hourglass thing?` `It's called a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Time-Turner,` Hermione whispered, `and I got it from Professor McGonagall on our","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "first day back. I've been using it all year to get to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "all my lessons. Professor McGonagall made me swear I wouldn't tell anyone.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "She had to write all sorts of letters to the Ministry of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Magic so I could have one. She had to tell them that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I was a model student, and that I'd never, ever use it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "for anything except my studies.... I've been turning it back so I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "could do hours over again, that's how I've been doing several lessons","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "at once, see? But... `Harry, I don't understand what Dumbledore wants","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "us to do. Why did he tell us to go back three","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hours? How's that going to help Sirius?` Harry stared at her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "shadowy face. `There must be something that happened around now he wants","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "us to change,` he said slowly. `What happened? We were walking down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to Hagrid's three hours ago....` `This is three hours ago, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "we are walking down to Hagrid's,` said Hermione. `We just heard ourselves","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "leaving....` Harry frowned; he felt as though he were screwing up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his whole brain in concentration. `Dumbledore just said -- just said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "we could save more than one innocent life....` And then it hit","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "him. `Hermione, we're going to save Buckbeak!` `But -- how will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "that help Sirius?` `Dumbledore said -- he just told us where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the window is -- the window of Flitwick's office! Where they've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Sirius locked up! We've got to fly Buckbeak up to the window","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and rescue Sirius! Sirius can escape on Buckbeak -- they can escape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "together!` From what Harry could see of Hermione's face, she looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "terrified. `If we manage that without being seen, it'll be a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "miracle!` `Well, we've got to try, haven't we?` said Harry. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "stood up and pressed his ear against the door. `Doesn't sound like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "anyone's there.... Come on, let's go.` Harry pushed open the closet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "door. The entrance hall was deserted. As quietly and quickly as they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "could, they darted out of the closet and down the stone steps.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "The shadows were already lengthening, the tops of the trees in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Forbidden Forest gilded once more with gold. `If anyone's looking out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of the window --` Hermione squeaked, looking up at the castle behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "them. `We'll run for it,` said Harry determinedly. `Straight into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "forest, all right? We'll have to hide behind a tree or something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and keep a lookout --` `Okay, but we'll go around by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the greenhouses!` said Hermione breathlessly. `We need to keep out of sight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of Hagrid's front door, or we'll see us! We must be nearly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "at Hagrid's by now!` Still working out what she meant, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "set off at a sprint, Hermione behind him. They tore across the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "vegetable gardens to the greenhouses, paused for a moment behind them, then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "set off again, fast as they could, skirting around the Whomping Willow,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "tearing toward the shelter of the forest.... Safe in the shadows","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of the trees, Harry turned around; seconds later, Hermione arrived beside him,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "panting. `Right,` she gasped. `We need to sneak over to Hagrid's....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Keep out of sight, Harry....` They made their way silently through","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the trees, keeping to the very edge of the forest. Then, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "they glimpsed the front of Hagrid's house, they heard a knock upon","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his door. They moved quickly behind a wide oak trunk and peered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "out from either side. Hagrid had appeared in his doorway, shaking and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "white, looking around to see who had knocked. And Harry heard his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "own voice. `It's us. We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "in and we can take it off.` `Yeh shouldn've come!` Hagrid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "whispered. He stood back, then shut the door quickly. `This is","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the weirdest thing we've ever done,` Harry said fervently. `Let's move","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "along a bit,` Hermione whispered. `We need to get nearer to Buckbeak!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " They crept through the trees until they saw the nervous hippogriff,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "tethered to the fence around Hagrid's pumpkin patch. `Now?` Harry whispered.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `No!` said Hermione. `If we steal him now, those Committee people","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "will think Hagrid set him free! We've got to wait until they've","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "seen he's tied outside!` `That's going to give us about sixty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "seconds,` said Harry. This was starting to seem impossible. At that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "moment, there was a crash of breaking china from inside Hagrid's cabin.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `That's Hagrid breaking the milk jug,` Hermione whispered. `I'm going to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "find Scabbers in a moment --` Sure enough, a few minutes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "later, they heard Hermione's shriek of surprise. `Hermione,` said Harry suddenly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`what if we -- we just run in there and grab Pettigrew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "--` `No!` said Hermione in a terrified whisper. `Don't you understand?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "We're breaking one of the most important wizarding laws! Nobody's supposed to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "change time, nobody! You heard Dumbledore, if we're seen --` `We'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "only be seen by ourselves and Hagrid!` `Harry, what do you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "think you'd do if you saw yourself bursting into Hagrid's house?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione. `I'd -- I'd think I'd gone mad,` said Harry, `or","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I'd think there was some Dark Magic going on --` `Exactly!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "You wouldn't understand, you might even attack yourself! Don't you see? Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "McGonagall told me what awful things have happened when wizards have meddled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "with time.... Loads of them ended up killing their past or future","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "selves by mistake!` `Okay!` said Harry. `It was just an idea,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I just thought But Hermione nudged him and pointed toward the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "castle. Harry moved his head a few inches to get a clear","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "view of the distant front doors. Dumbledore, Fudge, the old Committee member,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Macnair the executioner were coming down the steps. `We're about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to come out!` Hermione breathed. And sure enough, moments later, Hagrid's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "back door opened, and Harry saw himself, Ron, and Hermione walking out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of it with Hagrid. It was, without a doubt, the strangest sensation","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of his life, standing behind the tree, and watching himself in the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "pumpkin patch. `It's Okay, Beaky, it's okay...` Hagrid said to Buckbeak.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Then he turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. `Go on. Get goin'.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `Hagrid, we can't --` `We'll tell them what really happened","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `They can't kill him --` `Go! It's bad enough without","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "you lot in trouble an' all!` Harry watched the Hermione in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the pumpkin patch throw the Invisibility Cloak over him and Ron. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Go quick. Don' listen....` There was a knock on Hagrid's front","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "door. The execution party had arrived. Hagrid turned, around and headed back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "into his cabin, leaving the back door ajar. Harry watched the grass","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "flatten in patches all around the cabin and heard three pairs of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "feet retreating. He, Ron, and Hermione had gone... but the Harry and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione hidden in the trees could now hear what was happening inside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the cabin through the back door. `Where is the beast?` came","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the cold voice of Macnair. `Out -- outside,` Hagrid croaked. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry pulled his head out of sight as Macnair's face appeared at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hagrid's window, staring out at Buckbeak. Then they heard Fudge. `We","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- er -- have to read you the official notice of execution,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hagrid. I'll make it quick. And then you and Macnair need to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "sign it. Macnair, You're supposed to listen too, that's procedure --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Macnair's face vanished from the window. It was now or never. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Wait here,` Harry whispered to Hermione. `I'll do it.` As Fudge's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "voice started again, Harry darted out from behind his tree, vaulted the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "fence into the pumpkin patch, and approached Buckbeak. `It is the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall he executed on the sixth","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of June at sundown --` Careful not to blink, Harry stared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "up into Buckbeak's fierce orange eyes once more and bowed. Buckbeak sank","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to his scaly knees and then stood up again. Harry began to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "fumble with the knot of rope tying Buckbeak to the fence. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`... sentenced to execution by beheading, to be carried out by the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Committee's appointed executioner, Walden Macnai...` `Come on, Buckbeak,` Harry murmured, `come","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "on, we're going to help you. Quietly... quietly...` `... as witnessed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "below. Hagrid, you sign here...` Harry threw all his weight onto the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "rope, but Buckbeak had dug in his front feet. `Well, let's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "get this over with,` said the reedy voice of the Committee member","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "from inside Hagrid's cabin. `Hagrid, perhaps it will be better if you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "stay inside --` `No, I -- I wan' ter be with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "him.... I don' wan' him ter be alone --` Footsteps echoed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "from within the cabin. `Buckbeak, move!` Harry hissed. Harry tugged","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "harder on the rope around Buckbeak's neck. The hippogriff began to walk,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "rustling its wings irritably. They were still ten feet away from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "forest, in plain view of Hagrid's back door. `One moment, please, Macnair,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "came Dumbledore's voice. `You need to sign too.` The footsteps stopped. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "heaved on the rope. Buckbeak snapped his beak and walked a little","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "faster. Hermione's white face was sticking out from behind a tree.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `Harry, hurry!` she mouthed. Harry could still hear Dumbledore's voice","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "talking from within the cabin. He gave the rope another wrench. Buckbeak","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "broke into a grudging trot. They had reached the trees.... `Quick!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Quick!` Hermione moaned, darting out from behind her tree, seizing the rope","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "too and adding her weight to make Buckbeak move faster. Harry looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "over his shoulder; they were now blocked from sight; they couldn't see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hagrid's garden at all. `Stop!` he whispered to Hermione. `They might","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hear us Hagrid's back door had opened with a bang. Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione, and Buckbeak stood quite still; even the hippogriff seemed to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "listening intently. Silence... then -- `Where is it?` said the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "reedy voice of the Committee member. `Where is the beast?` `It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "was tied here!` said the executioner furiously. I saw it! just here!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `How extraordinary,` said Dumbledore. There was a note of amusement in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his voice. `Beaky!` said Hagrid huskily. There was a swishing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "noise, and the thud of an axe. The executioner seemed to have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "swung it into the fence in anger. And then came the howling,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and this time they could hear Hagrid's words through his sobs. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he's gone! Musta pulled himself free!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Beaky, yeh clever boy!` Buckbeak started to strain against the rope,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "trying to get back to Hagrid. Harry and Hermione tightened their grip","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and dug their heels into the forest floor to stop him. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Someone untied him!` the executioner was snarling. `We should search the grounds,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the forest.` `Macnair, if Buckbeak has indeed been stolen, do you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "really think the thief will have led him away on foot?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Dumbledore, still sounding amused. `Search the skies, if you will.... Hagrid, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "could do with a cup of tea. Or a large brandy.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`O' -- o' course, Professor,` said Hagrid, who sounded weak with happiness.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Come in, come in....` Harry and Hermione listened closely. They heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "footsteps, the soft cursing of the executioner, the snap of the door,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and then silence once more. `Now what?` whispered Harry, looking around.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `We'll have to hide in here,` said Hermione, who looked very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "shaken. `We need to wait until they've gone back to the castle.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Then we wait until it's safe to fly Buckbeak up to Sirius's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "window. He won't be there for another couple of hours.... Oh, this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "is going to be difficult....` She looked nervously over her shoulder","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "into the depths of the forest. The sun was setting now. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`We're going to have to move,` said Harry, thinking hard. `We've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to be able to see the Whomping Willow, or we won't know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "what's going on.` `Okay,` said Hermione, getting a firmer grip on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Buckbeak's rope. `But we've got to keep out of sight, Harry, remember....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " They moved around the edge of the forest, darkness falling thickly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "around them, until they were hidden behind a clump of trees through","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "which they could make out the Willow. `There's Ron!` said Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "suddenly. A dark figure was sprinting across the lawn and its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "shout echoed through the still night air. `Get away from him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- get away -- Scabbers, come here --` And then they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "saw two more figures materialize out of nowhere. Harry watched himself and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione chasing after Ron. Then he saw Ron dive. `Gotcha! Get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "off, you stinking cat --` `There's Sirius!` said Harry. The great","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "shape of the dog had bounded out from the roots of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Willow. They saw him bowl Harry over, then seize Ron.... `Looks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "even worse from here, doesn't it?` said Harry, watching the dog pulling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Ron into the roots. `Ouch -- look, I just got walloped by","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the tree -- and so did you -- this is weird--` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "The Whomping Willow was creaking and lashing out with its lower branches;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "they could see themselves darting here and there, trying to reach the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "trunk. And then the tree froze. `That was Crookshanks pressing the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "knot,` said Hermione. `And there we go...` Harry muttered. `We're in.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " The moment they disappeared, the tree began to move again. Seconds","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "later, they heard footsteps quite close by. Dumbledore, Macnair, Fudge, and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "old Committee member were making their way up to the castle. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Right after we'd gone down into the passage!` said Hermione. `If only","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Dumbledore had come with us...` `Macnair and Fudge would've come too,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "said Harry bitterly. `I bet you anything Fudge would've told Macnair to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "murder Sirius on the spot....` They watched the four men climb","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the castle steps and disappear from view. For a few minutes the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "scene was deserted. Then -- `Here comes Lupin!` said Harry as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "they saw another figure sprinting down the stone steps and hating toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the Willow. Harry looked up at the sky. Clouds were obscuring the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "moon completely. They watched Lupin seize a broken branch from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "ground and prod the knot on the trunk. The tree stopped fighting,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Lupin, too, disappeared into the gap in its roots. `If","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "he'd only grabbed the cloak,` said Harry. `It's just lying there....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "He turned to Hermione. `If I just dashed out now and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "grabbed it, Snape'd never be able to get it and --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Harry, we mustn't be seen!` `How can you stand this?` he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "asked Hermione fiercely. `Just standing here and watching it happen?` He hesitated.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`I'm going to grab the cloak!` `Harry, no!` Hermione seized","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the back of Harry's robes not a moment too soon. just then,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "they heard a burst of song. It was Hagrid, making his way","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "up to the castle, singing at the top of his voice, and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "weaving slightly as he walked. A large bottle was swinging from his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hands. `See?` Hermione whispered. `See what would have happened? We've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to keep out of sight! No, Buckbeak!` The hippogriff was making","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "frantic attempts to get to Hagrid again; Harry seized his rope too,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "straining to hold Buckbeak back. They watched Hagrid meander tipsily up to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the castle. He was gone. Buckbeak stopped fighting to get away. His","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "head drooped sadly. Barely two minutes later, the castle doors flew","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "open yet again, and Snape came charging out of them, running toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the Willow. Harry's fists clenched as they watched Snape skid to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "a halt next to the tree, looking around. He grabbed the cloak","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and held it up. `Get your filthy hands off it,` Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "snarled under his breath. `Shh!` Snape seized the branch Lupin had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "used to freeze the tree, prodded the knot, and vanished from view","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "as he put on the cloak. `So that's it,` said Hermione quietly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`We're all down there... and now we've just got to wait until","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "we come back up again....` She took the end of Buckbeak's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "rope and tied it securely around the nearest tree, then sat down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "on the dry ground, arms around her knees. `Harry, there's something","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I don't understand.... Why didn't the dementors get Sirius? I remember them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "coming, and then I think I passed out... there were so many","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of them....` Harry sat down too. He explained what he'd seen;","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "how, as the nearest dementor had lowered its mouth to Harry's, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "large silver something had come galloping across the lake and forced the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "dementors to retreat. Hermione's mouth was slightly open by the time","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry had finished. `But what was it?` `There's only one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "thing it could have been, to make the dementors go,` said Harry.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`A real Patronus. A powerful one.` `But who conjured it?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry didn't say anything. He was thinking back to the person he'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "seen on the other bank of the lake. He knew who he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "thought it had been... but how could it have been? `Didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "you see what they looked like?` said Hermione eagerly. `Was it one","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of the teachers?` `No,` said Harry. `He wasn't a teacher.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`But it must have been a really powerful wizard, to drive all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "those dementors away... If the Patronus was shining so brightly, didn't it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "light him up? Couldn't you see --?` `Yeah, I saw him,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "said Harry slowly. `But... maybe I imagined it.... I wasn't thinking straight....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I passed out right afterward....` `Who did you think it was?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " I think --` Harry swallowed, knowing how strange this was going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to sound. I think it was my dad.` Harry glanced up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "at Hermione and saw that her mouth was fully open now. She","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "was gazing at him with a mixture of alarm and pity. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Harry, your dad's -- well -- dead,` she said quietly. `I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "know that,` said Harry quickly. `You think you saw his ghost?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `I don't know... no... he looked solid....` `But then --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `Maybe I was seeing things,` said Harry. `But... from what I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "could see... it looked like him.... I've got photos of him....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione was still looking at him as though worried about his sanity.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " I know it sounds crazy,` said Harry flatly. He turned to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "took at Buckbeak, who was digging his beak into the ground, apparently","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "searching for worms. But he wasn't really watching Buckbeak. He was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "thinking about his father and about his father's three oldest friends... Moony,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.... Had all four of them been out on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the grounds tonight? Wormtail had reappeared this evening when everyone had thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "he was dead.... Was it so impossible his father had done the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "same? Had he been seeing things across the take? The figure had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "been too far away to see distinctly... yet he had felt sure,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "for a moment, before he'd lost consciousness.... The leaves overhead rustled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "faintly in the breeze. The moon drifted in and out of sight","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "behind the shifting clouds. Hermione sat with her face turned toward the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Willow, waiting. And then, at last, after over an hour... ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Here we come!` Hermione whispered. She and Harry got to their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "feet. Buckbeak raised his head. They saw Lupin, Ron, and Pettigrew clambering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "awkwardly out of the hole in the roots. Then came Hermione... then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the unconscious Snape, drifting weirdly upward. Next came Harry and Black. They","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "all began to walk toward the castle. Harry's heart was starting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to beat very fast. He glanced up at the sky. Any moment","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "now, that cloud was going to move aside and show the moon....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `Harry,` Hermione muttered as though she knew exactly what he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "thinking, `we've got to stay put. We mustn't be seen. There's nothing","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "we can do....` `So we're just going to let Pettigrew escape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "all over again.. said Harry quietly. `How do you expect to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "find a rat in the dark?` snapped Hermione. `There's nothing we can","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "do! We came back to help Sirius; we're not supposed to be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "doing anything else!` `All right!` The moon slid out from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "behind its cloud. They saw the tiny figures across the grounds stop.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Then they saw movement -- `There goes Lupin,` Hermione whispered. `He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "transforming `Hermione!` said Harry suddenly. `We've got to move!` `We","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "mustn't, I keep telling you --` `Not to interfere! Lupin's going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to run into the forest, right at us!` Hermione gasped. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Quick!` she moaned, dashing to untie Buckbeak. `Quick! Where are we going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to go? Where are we going to hide? The dementors wilt be","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "coming any moment --` `Back to Hagrid's!` Harry said. `It's empty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "now -- come on!` They ran as fast as they could,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Buckbeak cantering along behind them. They could hear the werewolf howling behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "them.... The cabin was in sight; Harry skidded to the door,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "wrenched it open, and Hermione and Buckbeak flashed past him; Harry threw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "himself in after them and bolted the door. Fang the boarhound barked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "loudly. `Shh, Fang, it's us!` said Hermione, hurrying over and scratching","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his ears to quieten him. `That was really close!` she said to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry. `Yeah...` Harry was looking out of the window. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "was much harder to see what was going on from here. Buckbeak","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "seemed very happy to find himself back inside Hagrid's house. He lay","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "down in front of the fire, folded his wings contentedly, and seemed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "ready for a good nap. `I think I'd better go outside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "again, you know,` said Harry slowly. `I can't see what's going on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- we won't know when it's time --` Hermione looked up.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Her expression was suspicious. `I'm not going to try and interfere,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "said Harry quickly. `But if we don't see what's going on, how're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "we going to know when it's time to rescue Sirius?` `Well...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "okay, then... I'll wait here with Buckbeak... but Harry, be careful --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "there's a werewolf out there -- and the dementors Harry stepped","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "outside again and edged around the cabin. He could hear yelping in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the distance. That meant the dementors were closing in on Sirius.... He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Hermione would be running to him any moment.... Harry stared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "out toward the lake, his heart doing a kind of drumroll in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his chest.... Whoever had sent that Patronus would be appearing at any","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "moment.... For a fraction of a second he stood, irresolute, in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "front of Hagrid's door. You must not be seen. But he didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "want to be seen. He wanted to do the seeing.... He had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to know... And there were the dementors. They were emerging out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of the darkness from every direction, gliding around the edges of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "lake.... They were moving away from where Harry stood, to the opposite","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "bank.... He wouldn't have to get near them.... Harry began to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "run. He had no thought in his head except his father... If","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "it was him... if it really was him... he had to know,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "had to find out.... The lake was coming nearer and nearer,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "but there was no sign of anybody. On the opposite bank, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "could see tiny glimmers of silver -- his own attempts at a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Patronus -- There was a bush at the very edge of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the water. Harry threw himself behind it, peering desperately through the leaves.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "On the opposite bank, the glimmers of silver were suddenly extinguished. A terrified","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "excitement shot through him -- any moment now -- `Come on!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "he muttered, staring about. `Where are you? Dad, come on --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "But no one came. Harry raised his head to look at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "circle of dementors across the lake. One of them was lowering its","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hood. It was time for the rescuer to appear -- but no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "one was coming to help this time -- And then it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "hit him -- he understood. He hadn't seen his father -- he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "had seen himself -- Harry flung himself out from behind the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "bush and pulled out his wand. `EXPECTO PATRONUM! `he yelled. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "And out of the end of his wand burst, not a shapeless","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. He screwed up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his eyes, trying to see what it was. It looked like a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "horse. It was galloping silently away from him, across the black surface","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "of the lake. He saw it lower its head and charge at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the swarming dementors.... Now it was galloping around and around the black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "shapes on the ground, and the dementors were falling back, scattering, retreating","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "into the darkness.... They were gone. The Patronus turned. It was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "cantering back toward Harry across the still surface of the water. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "wasn't a horse. It wasn't a unicorn, either. It was a stag.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "It was shining brightly as the moon above ... it was coming","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "back to him.... It stopped on the bank. Its hooves made","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "no mark on the soft ground as it stared at Harry with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "its large, silver eyes. Slowly, it bowed its antlered head. And Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "realized... `Prongs, `he whispered. But as his trembling fingertips stretched toward","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the creature, it vanished. Harry stood there, hand still outstretched. Then,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "with a great leap of his heart, he heard hooves behind him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-he whirled around and saw Hermione dashing toward him, dragging Buckbeak behind","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "her. `What did you do?` she said fiercely. `You said you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "were only going to keep a lookout!` `I just saved all","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "our lives...,` said Harry. `Get behind here -- behind this bush --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I'll explain.` Hermione listened to what had just happened with her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "mouth open yet again. `Did anyone see you?` `Yes, haven't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "you been listening? I saw me but I thought I was my","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "dad! It's okay!` `Harry, I can't believe it.... You conjured up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "a Patronus that drove away all those dementors! That's very, very advanced","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "magic. I knew I could do it this time,` said Harry, `because","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "I'd already done it.... Does that make sense?` `I don't know","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- Harry, look at Snape!` Together they peered around the bush","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "at the other bank. Snape had regained consciousness. He was conjuring stretchers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and lifting the limp forms of Harry, Hermione, and Black onto them.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "A fourth stretcher, no doubt bearing Ron, was already floating at his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "side. Then, wand held out in front of him, he moved them","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "away toward the castle. `Right, it's nearly time,` said Hermione tensely,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "looking at her watch. `We've got about forty-five minutes until Dumbledore locks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the door to the hospital wing. We've got to rescue Sirius and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "get back into the ward before anybody realizes we're missing.... 11 ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "They waited, watching the moving clouds reflected in the lake, while the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "bush next to them whispered in the breeze. Buckbeak, bored, was ferreting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "for worms again. `D' you reckon he's up there yet?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry, checking his watch. He looked up at the castle and began","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "counting the windows to the right of the West Tower. `Look!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione whispered. `\Who's that? Someone's coming back out of the castle!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Harry stared through the darkness. The man was hurrying across the grounds,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "toward one of the entrances. Something shiny glinted in his belt. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`Macnair!` said Harry. `The executioner! He's gone to get the dementors! This","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "is it, Hermione --` Hermione put her hands on Buckbeak's back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Harry gave her a leg up. Then he placed his foot","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "on one of the lower branches of the bush and climbed up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "in front of her. He pulled Buckbeak's rope back over his neck","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and tied it to the other side of his collar like reins.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `Ready?` he whispered to Hermione. `YotM better hold on to me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- He nudged Buckbeak's sides with his heels. Buckbeak soared","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "straight into the dark air. Harry gripped his flanks with his knees,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "feeling the great wings rising powerfully beneath them. Hermione was holding Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "very tight around the waist; he could hear her muttering, `Oh, no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "-- I don't like this oh, I really don't like this --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " Harry urged Buckbeak forward. They were gliding quietly toward the upper","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "floors of the castle.... Harry pulled hard on the left-hand side of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the rope, and Buckbeak turned. Harry was trying to count the windows","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "flashing past -- `Whoa!` he said, pulling backward as hard as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "he could. Buckbeak slowed down and they found themselves at a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "stop, unless you counted the fact that they kept rising up and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "down several feet as the hippogriff beat his wings to remain airborne.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " `He's there!` Harry said, spotting Sirius as they rose up beside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the window. He reached out, and as Buckbeak's wings fell, was able","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to tap sharply on the glass. Black looked up. Harry saw","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "his jaw drop. He leapt from his chair, hurried to the window","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and tried to open it, but it was locked. `Stand back!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Hermione called to him, and she took out her wand, still gripping","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the back of Harry's robes with her left hand. `Alohomora!` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "The window sprang open. `How -- how --?` said Black weakly,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "staring at the hippogriff `Get on -- there's not much time,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "said Harry, gripping Buckbeak firmly on either side of his sleek neck","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to hold him steady. `You've got to get out of here -the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "dementors are coming -- Macnair's gone to get them.` Black placed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "a hand on either side of the window frame and heaved his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "head and shoulders out of it. It was very lucky he was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "so thin. In seconds, he had managed to fling one leg over","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Buckbeak's back and pull himself onto the hippogriff behind Hermione. `Okay,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "Buckbeak, up!` said Harry, shaking the rope. `Up to the tower --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "come on. The hippogriff gave one sweep of its mighty wings","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and they were soaring upward again, high as the top of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "West Tower. Buckbeak landed with a clatter on the battlements, and Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "and Hermione slid off him at once. `Sirius, you'd better go,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "quick,` Harry panted. `They'll reach Flitwick's office any moment, they'll find out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "you're gone.` Buckbeak pawed the ground, tossing his sharp head. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "`What happened to the other boy? Ron?` croaked Sirius. `He's going","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "to be okay. He's still out of it, but Madam Pomfrey says","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "she'll be able to make him better. Quick -- go --` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "But Black was still staring down at Harry. `How can I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "ever thank --` `GO!` Harry and Hermione shouted together. Black","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "wheeled Buckbeak around, facing the open sky. `We'll see each other","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "again,` he said. `You are -- truly your father's son, Harry....` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "He squeezed Buckbeak's sides with his heels. Harry and Hermione jumped back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "as the enormous wings rose once more.... The hippogriff took off into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "the air.... He and his rider became smaller and smaller as Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" "gazed after them... then a cloud drifted across the moon.... They were gone. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-21" " OWL POST AGAIN Harry!` Hermione was tugging at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "his sleeve, staring at her watch. `We've got exactly ten minutes to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "get back down to the hospital wing without anybody seeing us --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "before Dumbledore locks the door --` `Okay,` said Harry, wrenching his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "gaze from the sky, `let's go....` They slipped through the doorway","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "behind them and down a tightly spiraling stone staircase. As they reached","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the bottom of it, they heard voices. They flattened themselves against the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "wall and listened. It sounded like Fudge and Snape. They were walking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "quickly along the corridor at the foot of the staircase. `...","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "only hope Dumbledore's not going to make difficulties,` Snape was saying. `The","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Kiss will be performed immediately?` `As soon as Macnair returns with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the dementors. This whole Black affair has been highly embarrassing. I can't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "tell you how much I'm looking forward to informing the Daily Prophet","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "that we've got him at last.... I daresay they'll want to interview","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "you, Snape... and once young Harry's back in his right mind, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "expect he'll want to tell the Prophet exactly how you saved him....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Harry clenched his teeth. He caught a glimpse of Snape's smirk","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "as he and Fudge passed Harry and Hermione's hiding place. Their footsteps","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "died away. Harry and Hermione waited a few moments to make sure","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "they'd really gone, then started to run in the opposite direction. Down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "one staircase, then another, along a new ,corridor -- then they heard","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "a cackling ahead. `Peeves!` Harry muttered, grabbing Hermione's wrist. `In here!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " They tore into a deserted classroom to their left just in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "time. Peeves seemed to be bouncing along the corridor in boisterous good","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "spirits, laughing his head off. `Oh, he's horrible,` whispered Hermione, her","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "ear to the door. `I bet he's all excited because the dementors","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "are going to finish off Sirius....` She checked her watch. `Three minutes,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry!` They waited until Peeves's gloating voice had faded into the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "distance, then slid back out of the room and broke into a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "run again. `Hermione -- what'll happen -- if we don't get","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "back inside before Dumbledore locks the door?` Harry panted. I don't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "want to think about it!` Hermione moaned, checking her watch again. `One","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "minute!` They had reached the end of the corridor with the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "hospital wing entrance. `Okay -- I can hear Dumbledore,` said Hermione tensely.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`Come on, Harry!` They crept along the corridor. The door opened.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Dumbledore's back appeared. `I am going to lock you in,` they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "heard him saying. `it is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "turns should do It. Good luck.` Dumbledore backed out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "room, closed the door, and took out his wand to magically lock","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "it. Panicking, Harry and Hermione ran forward. Dumbledore looked up, and a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "wide smile appeared under the long silver mustache. `Well?` he said quietly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `We did it!` said Harry breathlessly. `Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak....`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Dumbledore beamed at them. `Well done. I think --` He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "listened intently for any sound within the hospital wing. `Yes, I think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "you've gone too -- get inside -- I'll lock you in --`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Harry and Hermione slipped back inside the dormitory. It was empty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "except for Ron, who was still lying motionless in the end bed.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "As the lock clicked behind them, Harry and Hermione crept back to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "their own beds, Hermione tucking the Time-Turner back under her robes. A","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "moment later, Madam Pomfrey came striding back out of her office. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`Did I hear the headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "my patients now?` She was in a very bad mood. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and Hermione thought it best to accept their chocolate quietly. Madam Pomfrey","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "stood over them, making sure they ate it. But Harry could hardly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "swallow. He and Hermione were waiting, listening, their nerves jangling.... And then,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "as they both took a fourth piece of chocolate from Madam Pomfrey,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "they heard a distant roar of fury echoing from somewhere above them....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `What was that?` said Madam Pomfrey in alarm. Now they","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "could hear angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey was staring","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "at the door. `Really -- they'll wake everybody up! What do","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "they think they're doing?` Harry was trying to hear what the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "voices were saying. They were drawing nearer -- `He must have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Disapparated, Severus. We should have left somebody in the room with him.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "When this gets out --` `HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!` Snape roared, now","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "very close at hand. `YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "THIS -- HAS -- SOMETHING -- TO -- DO -- WITH --","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "POTTER!` `Severus -- be reasonable -- Harry has been locked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "--` BAM. The door of the hospital wing burst open.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore came striding into the ward. Dumbledore alone looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "calm. Indeed, he looked as though he was quite enjoying himself. Fudge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "appeared angry. But Snape was beside himself. `OUT WITH IT, POTTER!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "he bellowed. `WHAT DID YOU DO?` `Professor Snape!` shrieked Madam Pomfrey.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`Control yourself!` `See here, Snape, be reasonable,` said Fudge. `This door's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "been locked, we just saw --` `THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "KNOW IT!` Snape howled, pointing at Harry and Hermione. His face was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "twisted; spit was flying from his mouth. `Calm down, man!` Fudge","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "barked. `You're talking nonsense!` `YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!` shrieked Snape. `HE","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT --` `That will do,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Severus,` said Dumbledore quietly. `Think about what you are saying. This door","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?` `Of course not!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Madam Pomfrey, bristling. `I would have heard them!` `Well, there you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "have it, Severus,` said Dumbledore calmly. `Unless you are suggesting that Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and Hermione are able to be in two places at once, I'm","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further.` Snape","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "stood there, seething, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly shocked at his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "behavior, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses. Snape whirled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the ward. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`Fellow seems quite unbalanced,` said Fudge, staring after him. `I'd watch out","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "for him if I were you, Dumbledore.` `Oh, he's not unbalanced,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "said Dumbledore quietly. `He's just suffered a severe disappointment.` `He's not","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the only one!` puffed Fudge. `The Daily Prophet's going to have a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "yet again! All it needs now is for the story of that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "hippogriff's escape to get out, and I'll be a laughingstock! Well... I'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "better go and notify the Ministry..... `And the dementors?` said Dumbledore.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`They'll be removed from the school, I trust?` `Oh yes, they'll","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "have to go,` said Fudge, running his fingers distractedly through his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "hair. `Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "boy... Completely out of control... no, I'll have them packed off back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "to Azkaban tonight.... Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "entrance....` `Hagrid would like that,` said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Hermione. As he and Fudge left the dormitory, Madam Pomfrey hurried to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the door and locked it again. Muttering angrily to herself, she headed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "back to her office. There was a low moan from the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "other end of the ward. Ron had woken up. They could see","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "him sitting up, rubbing his head, looking around. `What -- what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "happened?` he groaned. `Harry? Why are we in here? Where's Sirius? Where's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Lupin? What's going on?` Harry and Hermione looked at each other.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `You explain,` said Harry, helping himself to some more chocolate. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "When Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the hospital wing at noon the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "next day, it was to find an almost deserted castle. The sweltering,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "heat and the end of the exams meant that everyone was taking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "full advantage of another Hogsmeade visit. Neither Ron nor Hermione felt like","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "going, however, so they and Harry wandered onto the grounds, still talking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "about the extraordinary events of the previous night and wondering where Sirius","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and Buckbeak were now. Sitting near the lake, watching the giant squid","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "waving its tentacles lazily above the water, Harry lost the thread of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the conversation as he looked across to the opposite bank. The stag","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "had galloped toward him from there just last night.... A shadow","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "fell across them and they looked 'tip to see a very bleary-eyed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Hagrid, mopping his sweaty face with one of his tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "beaming down at them. `Know I shouldn' feel happy, after wha'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "happened las' night,` he said. `I mean, Black escapin' again, an, everythin'","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "-- but guess what?` `What?` they said, pretending to look curious.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `Beaky! He escaped! He's free! Bin celebratin' all night!` `That's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "wonderful!` said Hermione, giving Ron a reproving look because he looked as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "though he was close to laughing. `Yeah... can't've tied him up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "properly,` said Hagrid, gazing happily out over the grounds. `I was worried","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "this mornin', mind... thought he mighta met Professor Lupin on the grounds,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night....` `What?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry quickly. `Blimey, haven' yeh heard?` said Hagrid, his smile fading","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "a little. He lowered his voice, even though there was nobody in","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "sight. `Er -- Snape told all the Slytherins this mornin'.... Thought everyone'd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "know by now... Professor Lupin's a werewolf, see. An' he was loose","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "on the grounds las' night.... He's packin' now, o' course. `He's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "packing?` said Harry, alarmed. `Why?` `Leavin', isn' he?` said Hagrid, looking","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "surprised that Harry had to ask. `Resigned firs' thing this mornin'. Says he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "can't risk it happenin again. Harry scrambled to his feet. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`I'm going to see him,` he said to Ron and Hermione. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`But if he's resigned --` `-- doesn't sound like there's anything","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "we can do --` `I don't care. I still want to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "see him. I'll meet you back here.` Lupin's office door was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "open. He had already packed most of his things. The grindylow's empty","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "tank stood next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "nearly full. Lupin was bending over something on his desk and looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "up only when Harry knocked on the door. `I saw you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "coming,` said Lupin, smiling. He pointed to the parchment he had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "poring over. It was the Marauder's Map. `I just saw Hagrid,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "said Harry. `And he said you'd resigned. It's not true, is it?`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `I'm afraid it is,` said Lupin. He started opening his desk","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "drawers and taking out the contents. `Why?` said Harry. `The Ministry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of Magic don't think you were helping Sirius, do they?` Lupin","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "crossed to the door and closed it behind Harry. `No. Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "lives.` He sighed. `That was the final straw for Severus. I think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "-- er -- accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "morning at breakfast.` `You're not leaving just because of that!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry. Lupin smiled wryly. `This time tomorrow, the owls will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "start arriving from parents.... They will not want a werewolf teaching their","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point. I could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "have bitten any of you.... That must never happen again.` `You're","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the best Defense Against the Dark Arts- teacher we've ever had!` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry. `Don't go!` Lupin shook his head and didn't speak. He","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "carried on emptying his drawers. Then, while Harry was trying to think","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of a good argument to make him stay, Lupin said, `From what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the headmaster told me this morning, you saved a lot of lives","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "last night, Harry. if I'm proud of anything I've done this year,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "it's how much you've learned.... Tell me about your Patronus.` `How","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "d'you know about that?` said Harry, distracted. `What else could have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "driven the dementors back?` Harry told Lupin what had happened. When","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "he'd finished, Lupin was smiling again. `Yes, your father was always","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "a stag when he transformed,` he said. `You guessed right... that's why","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "we called him Prongs.` Lupin threw his last few books into","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "his case, closed the desk drawers, and turned to look at Harry.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `Here -- I brought this from the Shrieking Shack last night,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "he said, handing Harry back the Invisibility Cloak. `And...` He hesitated, then","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "held out the Marauder's Map too. `I am no longer your teacher,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "so I don't feel guilty about giving you back this as well.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "It's no use to me, and I daresay you, Ron, and Hermione","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "will find uses for it.` Harry took the map and grinned.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `You told me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs would've wanted to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "lure me out of school... you said they'd have thought it was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "funny.` `And so we would have,` said Lupin, now reaching down","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "to close his case. `I have no hesitation in saying that James","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "would have been highly disappointed if his son had never found any","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of the secret passages out of the castle.` There was a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "knock on the door. Harry hastily stuffed the Marauder's Map and the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Invisibility Cloak into his pocket. It was Professor Dumbledore. He didn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "look surprised to see Harry there. `Your carriage is at the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "gates, Remus,` he said. `Thank You, Headmaster.` Lupin picked up","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "his old suitcase and the empty grindylow tank. `Well -- good-bye,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry,` he said, smiling. `It has been a real pleasure teaching you.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "I feel sure we'll meet again sometime. Headmaster, there is no need","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "to see me to the gates, I can manage....` Harry had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the impression that Lupin wanted to leave as quickly as possible. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`Good-bye, then, Remus,` said Dumbledore soberly. Lupin shifted the grindylow tank slightly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "so that he and Dumbledore could shake hands. Then, with a final","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "nod to Harry and a swift smile, Lupin left the office. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry sat down in his vacated chair, staring glumly at the floor.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "He heard the door close and looked up. Dumbledore was still there.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `Why so miserable, Harry?` he said quietly. `You should be very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "proud of yourself after last night.` `It didn't make any difference,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "said Harry bitterly. `Pettigrew got away.` `Didn't make any difference?` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Dumbledore quietly, `It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Terrible. Something stirred in Harry's memory. Greater and more terrible than","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "ever before... Professor Trelawney's prediction! `Professor Dumbledore -- yesterday, when I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "was having my Divination exam, Professor Trelawney went very -- very strange.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `Indeed?` said Dumbledore. `Er -- stranger than usual, you mean?` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`Yes... her voice went all deep and her eyes rolled and she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "said ... she said Voldemort's servant was going to set out to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "return to him before midnight.... She said the servant would help him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "come back to power.` Harry stared up at Dumbledore. `And then she","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "sort of became normal again, and she couldn't remember anything she'd said.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Was it -- was she making a real prediction?` Dumbledore looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "mildly impressed. `Do you know, Harry, I think she might have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "been.` he said thoughtfully. `Who'd have thought it? That brings her total","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a pay","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "raise....` `But --` Harry looked at him, aghast. How could Dumbledore","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "take this so calmly? `But -- I stopped Sirius and Professor","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Lupin from killing Pettigrew! That makes it my fault if Voldemort comes","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "back!` `It does not,` said Dumbledore quietly. `Hasn't your experience with","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the Time-Turner taught you anything, Harry? The consequences of our actions are","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "difficult business indeed.... Professor Trelawney, bless her, is living proof of that....","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "You did a very noble thing, in saving Pettigrew's life.` `But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "if he helps Voldemort back to power `Pettigrew owes his life","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "debt.... When one wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "bond between them... and I'm much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "in the debt of Harry Potter.` `I don't want a connection","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "with Pettigrew!` said Harry. `He betrayed my parents!` `This is magic","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me... the time","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew's life.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Harry couldn't imagine when that would be. Dumbledore looked as though","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "he knew what Harry was thinking. `I knew your father very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "well, both at Hogwarts and later, Harry,` he said gently. `He would","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "have saved Pettigrew too, I am sure of it.` Harry looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "up at him. Dumbledore wouldn't laugh -- he could tell Dumbledore... ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`I thought it was my dad who'd conjured my Patronus. I mean,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "when I saw myself across the lake ... I thought I was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "seeing him.` `An easy mistake to make,` said Dumbledore softly. `I expect","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "you'll tire of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily like James.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Except for the eyes... you have your mother's eyes. Harry shook","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "his head. `It was stupid, thinking it was him,` he muttered.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`I mean, I knew he was dead.` `You think the dead","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus?","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Prongs rode again last night.` It took a moment for Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "to realize what Dumblefore had said. Last night Sirius told me","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "all about how they became Animagi,` said Dumbledore, smiling. `An extraordinary achievement","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "-- not least, keeping it quiet from me. And then I remembered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the most unusual form your Patronus took, when it charged Mr. Malfoy","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "down at your Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. You know, Harry, in a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "way, you did see your father last night.... You found him inside","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "yourself.` And Dumbledore left the office, leaving Harry to his very","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "confused thoughts. Nobody at Hogwarts now knew the truth of what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "had happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore. As the end of term approached,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry heard many different theories about what had really happened, but none","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of them came close to the truth. Malfoy was furious about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Buckbeak. He was convinced that Hagrid had found a way of smuggling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the hippogriff to safety, and seemed outraged that he and his father","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "had been outwitted by a gamekeeper. Percy Weasley, meanwhile, had much to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "say on the subject of Sirius's escape. `If I manage to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "get into the Ministry, I'll have a lot of proposals to make","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "about Magical Law Enforcement!` he told the only person who would listen","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "-- his girlfriend, Penelope. Though the weather was perfect, though the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "atmosphere was so cheerful, though he knew they had achieved the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "near impossible in helping Sirius to freedom, Harry had never approached the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "end of a school year in worse spirits. He certainly wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the only one who was sorry to see Professor Lupin go. The whole","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts class was miserable about his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "resignation. `Wonder what they'll give us next year?` said Seamus Finnigan","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "gloomily. `Maybe a vampire,` suggested Dean Thomas hopefully. It wasn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "only Professor Lupin's departure that was weighing on Harry's mind. He couldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "help thinking a lot about Professor Trelawney's prediction. He kept wondering where","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Pettigrew was now, whether he had sought sanctuary with Voldemort yet. But","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the thing that was lowering Harry's spirits most of all was the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "prospect of returning to the Dursleys. For maybe half an hour, a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "glorious half hour, he had believed he would be living with Sirius","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "from now on... his parents' best friend.... It would have been the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "next best thing to having his own father back. And while no","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "news of Sirius was definitely good news, because it meant he had","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "successfully gone into hiding, Harry couldn't help feeling miserable when he thought","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of the home he might have had, and the fact that it","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "was now impossible. The exam results came out on the last","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "day of term. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had passed every subject. Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "was amazed that he had got through Potions. He had a shrewd","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "suspicion that Dumbledore might have stepped in to stop Snape failing him","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "on purpose. Snape's behavior toward Harry over the past week had been","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "quite alarming. Harry wouldn't have thought it possible that Snape's dislike for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "him could increase, but it certainly had. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the corner of Snape's thin mouth every time he looked at Harry,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "them around Harry's throat. Percy had got his top-grade N.E.W.T.s; Fred","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and George had scraped a handful of O.W.L.s each. Gryffindor House, meanwhile,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the House championship for the third year running. This meant that the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "end of term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet and gold,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "everybody celebrated. Even Harry managed to forget about the journey back to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the Dursleys the next day as he ate, drank, talked, and laughed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "with the rest. As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "station the next mornIng, Hermione gave Harry and Ron some surprising news.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "I've decided to drop Muggle Studies.` `But you passed your exam","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "with three hundred and twenty percent!` said Ron. `I know,` sighed","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Hermione, `but I can't stand another year like this one. That Time-Turner,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "it was driving me mad. I've handed it in. Without Muggle Studies","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "I still can't believe you didn't tell us about it,` said Ron","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "grumpily. `We're supposed to be your friends.` `I promised I wouldn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "tell anyone,` said Hermione severely. She looked around at Harry, who was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "watching Hogwarts disappear from view behind a mountain. Two whole months before","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "he'd see it again.... `Oh, cheer up, Harry!` said Hermione sadly.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " `I'm okay,` said Harry quickly. `Just thinking about the holidays.` ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`Yeah, I've been thinking about them too,` said Ron. `Harry, you've got","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "to come and stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "fellytone now --` `A telephone, Ron,` said Hermione. `Honestly, you should","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "take Muggle Studies next year....` Ron *ignored her. `It's the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and we'll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "work.` This proposal had the effect of cheering Harry up a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "great deal. `Yeah... I bet the Dursleys'd be pleased to let","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "me come... especially after what I did to Aunt Marge....` Feeling","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "considerably more cheerful, Harry joined Ron and Hermione in several games of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Exploding Snap, and when the witch with the tea cart arrived, he","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "bought himself a very large lunch, though nothing with chocolate in it.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " But it was late in the afternoon before the thing that","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "made him truly happy turned up.... `Harry,` said Hermione suddenly, peering","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "over his shoulder. `What's that thing outside your window?` Harry turned","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "to look outside. Something very small and gray was bobbing in and","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "out of sight beyond the glass. He stood up for a better","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "look and saw that it was a tiny owl, carrying a letter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "that was much too big for it. The owl was so small,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted this","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "way and that in the train's slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "window, stretched out his arm, and caught it. It felt like a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "very fluffy Snitch. He brought it carefully inside. The owl dropped its letter","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "onto Harry's seat and began zooming around their compartment, apparently very pleased","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "with itself for accomplishing its task. Hedwig clicked her beak with a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "sort of dignified disapproval. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron, noticing this, snatched the owl","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "safely out of harm's way. Harry picked up the letter. It","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "was addressed to him. He ripped open the letter, and shouted, `It's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "from Sirius!` `What?` said Ron and Hermione excitedly. `Read it aloud!`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Dear Harry, I hope this finds you before you reach","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "post. Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "where, in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. I have","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "find, and he did seem eager for the job. I believe","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "on the castle will be lifted. There is something I never","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "who sent you the Firebolt -- `Ha!` said Hermione triumphantly. `See!","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "I told you it was from him!` `Yes, but he hadn't","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "jinxed it, had he?` said Ron. `Ouch!` The tiny owl, now hooting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "happily in his hand, had nibbled one of his fingers in what","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "it seemed to think was an affectionate way. Crookshanks took the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault. Please","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "consider it as thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you.","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable. If ever you","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "need me, send word. Your owl will find me. I'll write","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "again soon. Sirius Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "was another piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and felt suddenly as warm and contented as though he'd swallowed a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "bottle of hot butterbeer in one gulp. I, Sirius Black, Harry","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends. ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "`That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!` said Harry happily. He looked back","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "at Sirius's letter. `Hang on, there's a RS....` I thought your","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "ftiend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "he no longer has a rat. Ron's eyes widened. The minute","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "owl was still hooting excitedly. `Keep him?` he said uncertainly. He looked","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "closely at the owl for a moment; then, to Harry's and Hermione's","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff. `What","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "do you reckon?` Ron asked the cat. `Definitely an owl?` Crookshanks","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "purred. `That's good enough for me,` said Ron happily. `He's mine.`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " Harry read and reread the letter from Sirius all the way","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "back into King's Cross station. It was still clutched tightly in his","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "hand as he, Ron, and Hermione stepped back through the barrier of","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "platform nine an(' three-quarters. Harry spotted Uncle Vernon at once. He was","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "standing a good distance from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, eyeing them suspiciously,","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "and when Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry in greeting, his worst suspicions about","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "them seemed confirmed. `I'll call about the World Cup!` Ron yelled","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "after Harry as Harry bid him and Hermione good-bye, then wheeled the","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "trolley bearing his trunk and Hedwig's cage toward Uncle Vernon, who greeted","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "him in his usual fashion. `What's that?` he snarled, staring at","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand. `If it's another","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "form for me to sign, you've got another ---` `It's not,`","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "said Harry cheerfully. `It's a letter from my godfather.` `Godfather?` sputtered","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Uncle Vernon. `You haven't got a godfather!` `Yes, I have,` said","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "Harry brightly. `He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though... keep","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "up with my news... check if I'm happy...` And, grinning broadly","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon's face, Harry set off","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" "what looked like a much better summer than the last. THE END ","Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban","chap-22" " The villagers of Little Hangleron still called it `the Riddle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "House,` even though it had been many years since the Riddle family","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "had lived there. It stood on a hill overlooking the village, some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "of its windows boarded, tiles missing from its roof, and ivy spreading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "unchecked over its face. Once a fine-looking manor, and easily the largest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and grandest building for miles around, the Riddle House was now damp,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "derelict, and unoccupied. The Little Hagletons all agreed that the old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "house was `creepy.` Half a century ago, something strange and horrible had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "happened there, something that the older inhabitants of the village still liked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to discuss when topics for gossip were scarce. The story had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "been picked over so many times, and had been embroidered in so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "many places, that nobody was quite sure what the truth was anymore.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Every version of the tale, however, started in the same place: Fifty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "years before, at daybreak on a fine summer's morning when the Riddle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "House had still been well kept and impressive, a maid had entered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the drawing room to find all three Riddles dead. The maid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "had run screaming down the hill into the village and roused as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "many people as she could. `Lying there with their eyes wide","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "open! Cold as ice! Still in their dinner things!` The police","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "were summoned, and the whole of Little Hangleton had seethed with shocked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "curiosity and ill-disguised excitement. Nobody wasted their breath pretending to feel very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "sad about the Riddles, for they had been most unpopular. Elderly Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and Mrs. Riddle had been rich, snobbish, and rude, and their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "grown-up son, Tom, had been, if anything, worse. All the villagers cared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "about was the identity of their murderer -- for plainly, three apparently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "healthy people did not all drop dead of natural causes on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "same night. The Hanged Man, the village pub, did a roaring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "trade that night; the whole village seemed to have turned out to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "discuss the murders. They were rewarded for leaving their firesides when the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Riddles' cook arrived dramatically in their midst and announced to the suddenly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "silent pub that a man called Frank Bryce had just been arrested.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " `Frank!` cried several people. `Never!` Frank Bryce was the Riddles'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "gardener. He lived alone in a run-down cottage on the grounds of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the Riddle House. Frank had come back from the war with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "very stiff leg and a great dislike of crowds and loud noises,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and had been working for the Riddles ever since. There was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a rush to buy the cook drinks and hear more details. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "`Always thought he was odd,` she told the eagerly listening villagers, after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "her fourth sherry. `Unfriendly, like. I'm sure if I've offered him a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "cuppa once, I've offered it a hundred times. Never wanted to mix,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "he didn't.` `Ah, now,` said a woman at the bar, `he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "had a hard war, Frank. He likes the quiet life. That's no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "reason to --` `Who else had a key to the back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "door, then?` barked the cook. `There's been a spare key hanging in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the gardener's cottage far back as I can remember! Nobody forced the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "door last night! No broken windows! All Frank had to do was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "creep up to the big house while we was all sleeping...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "The villagers exchanged dark looks. `I always thought that he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a nasty look about him, right enough,` grunted a man at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "bar. `War turned him funny, if you ask me,` said the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "landlord. `Told you I wouldn't like to get on the wrong","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "side of Frank, didn't I, Dot?` said an excited woman in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "corner. `Horrible temper,` said Dot, nodding fervently. `I remember, when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was a kid...` By the following morning, hardly anyone in Little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Hangleton doubted that Frank Bryce had killed the Riddles. But over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "in the neighboring town of Great Hangleton, in the dark and dingy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "police station, Frank was stubbornly repeating, again and again, that he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "innocent, and that the only person he had seen near the house","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "on the day of the Riddles' deaths had been a teenage boy,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a stranger, dark-haired and pale. Nobody else in the village had seen any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "such boy, and the police were quite sure Frank had invented him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " Then, just when things were looking very serious for Frank, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "report on the Riddles' bodies came back and changed everything. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "police had never read an odder report. A team of doctors had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "examined the bodies and had concluded that none of the Riddles had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "been poisoned, stabbed, shot, strangles, suffocated, or (as far as they could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "tell) harmed at all. In fact (the report continued, in a tone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "of unmistakable bewilderment), the Riddles all appeared to be in perfet health","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "-- apart from the fact that they were all dead. The doctors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "did note (as though determined to find something wrong with the bodies)","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "that each of the Riddles had a look of terror upon his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "or her face -- but as the frustrated police said, whoever heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "of three people being frightened to death? As there was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "proof that the Riddles had been murdered at all, the police were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "forced to let Frank go. The Riddles were buried in the Little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Hangleton churchyard, and their graves remained objects of curiosity for a while.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "To everyone's surprise, and amid a cloud of suspicion, Frank Bryce returned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to his cottage on the grounds of the Riddle House. `'S","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "far as I'm concerned, he killed them, and I don't care what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the police say,` said Dot in the Hanged Man. `And if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "he had any decency, he'd leave here, knowing as how we knows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "he did it.` But Frank did not leave. He stayed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "tend the garden for the next family who lived in the Riddle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "House, and then the next -- for neither family stayed long. Perhaps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "it was partly because of Frank that the new owners said there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was a nasty feeling about the place, which, in the absence of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "inhabitants, started to fall into disrepair. The wealthy man who owned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the Riddle House these days neither lived there nor put it to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "any use; they said in the village that he kept it for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "`tax reasons,` though nobody was very clear what these might be. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "wealthy owner continued to pay Frank to do the gardening, however. Frank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was nearing his seventy-seventh birthday now, very deaf, his bad leg stiffer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "than ever, but could be seen pottering around the flower beds in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "fine weather, even though the weeds were starting to creep up on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "him, try as he might to suppress them. Weeds were not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the only things Frank had to contend with either. Boys from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "village made a habit of throwing stones through the windows of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Riddle House. They rode their bicycles over the lawns Frank worked so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "hard to keep smooth. Once or twice, they broke into the old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "house for a dare. They knew that old Frank's devotion to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "house and the grounds amounted almost to an obsession, and it amused","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "them to see him limping across the garden, brandishing his stick and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "yelling croakily at them. Frank, for his part, believed the boys tormented","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "him because they, like their parents and grandparents, though him a murderer.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "So when Frank awoke one night in August and saw something very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "odd up at the old house, he merely assumed that the boys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "had gone one step further in their attempts to punish him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "It was Frank's bad leg that woke him; it was paining him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "worse than ever in his old age. He got up and limped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "downstairs into the kitchen with the idea of refilling his hot-water bottle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to ease the stiffness in his knee. Standing at the sink, filling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the kettle, he looked up at the Riddle House and saw lights","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "glimmering in its upper windows. Frank knew at once what was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "going on. The boys had broken into the house again, and judging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "by the flickering quality of the light, they had started a fire.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " Frank had no telephone, in any case, he had deeply mistrusted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the police ever since they had taken him in for questioning about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the Riddles' deaths. He put down the kettle at once, hurried back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "upstairs as fast as his bad leg would allow, and was soon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "back in his kitchen, fully dressed and removing a rusty old key from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "its hook by the door. He picked up his walking stick, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was propped against the wall, and set off into the night. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "The front door of the Riddle House bore no sign of being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "forced, nor did any of the windows. Frank limped around to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "back of the house until he reached a door almost completely hidden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "by ivy, took out the old key, put it into the lock,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and opened the door noiselessly. He let himself into the cavernous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "kitchen. Frank had not entered it for many years; nevertheless, although it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was very dark, he remembered where the door into the hall was,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and he groped his way towards it, his nostrils full of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "smell of decay, ears pricked for any sound of footsteps or voices","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "from overhead. He reached the hall, which was a little lighter owing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to the large mullioned windows on either side of the front door,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and started to climb the stairs, blessing the dust that lay thick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "upon the stone, because it muffled the sound of his feet and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "stick. On the landing, Frank turned right, and saw at once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "where the intruders were: At the every end of the passage a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "door stood ajar, and a flickering light shone through the gap, casting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a long sliver of gold across the black floor. Frank edged closer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and closer, he was able to see a narrow slice of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "room beyond. The fire, he now saw, had been lit in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the grate. This surprised him. Then he stopped moving and listened intently,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "for a man's voice spoke within the room; it sounded timid and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "fearful. `There is a little more in the bottle, My Lord,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "if you are still hungry.` `Later,` said a second voice. This","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "too belonged to a man -- but it was strangely high-pitched, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "cold as a sudden blast of icy wind. Something about that voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "made the sparse hairs on the back of Frank's neck stand up.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "`Move me closer to the fire, Wormtail.` Frank turned his right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "ear toward the door, the better to hear. There came the clink","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "of a bottle being put down upon some hard surface, and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the dull scraping noise of a heavy chair being dragged across the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "floor. Frank caught a glimpse of a small man, his back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the door, pushing the chair into place. He was wearing a long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "black cloak, and there was a bald patch at the back of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "his head. Then he went out of sight again. `Where is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Nagini?` said the cold voice. `I -- I don't know, My","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Lord,` said the first voice nervously. `She set out to explore the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "house, I think...` `You will milk her before we retire, Wormtail,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "said the second voice. `I will need feeding in the night. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "journey has tired me greatly.` Brow furrowed, Frank inclined his good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "ear still closer to the door, listening very hard. There was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "pause, and then the man called Wormtail spoke again. `My Lord,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "may I ask how long we are going to stay here?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "`A week,` said the cold voice. `Perhapse longer. The place is moderately","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "comfortable, and the plan cannot proceed yet. It would be foolish to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "act before the Quidditch World Cup is over.` Frank inserted a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "gnarled finger into his ear and rotated it. Owing, no doubt, to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a buildup of earwax, he had heard the word `Quidditch,` which was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "not a word at all. `The -- the Quidditch World Cup,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "My Lord?` said Wormtail. (Frank dug his finger still more vigorously into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "his ear.) `Forgive me, but -- I do not understand -- why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "should we wait until the World Cup is over?` `Because, fool,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "at this very moment wizards are pouring into the country from all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "over the world, and every meddler from the Ministry of Magic will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "be on duty, on the watch for signs of ususual activity, checking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and double-checking identities. They will be obsessed with security, lest the Muggles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "notice anything. So we wait.` Frank stopped trying to clear out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "his ear. He had distinctly heard the words `Ministry of Magic,` `wizards,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and `Muggles.` Plainly, each of these expressions meant something secret, and Frank could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "think of only two sorts of people who would speak in code:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "spies and criminals. Frank tightened his hold on his walking stick once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "more, and listened more closely still. `Your Lordship is still determined,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "then?` Wormtail said quietly. `Certainly I am determined, Wormtail.` There was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a note of menace in the cold voice now. A slight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "pause followed -- and the Wormtail spoke, the words tumbling from him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "in a rush, as though he was forcing himself to say this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "before he lost his nerve. `It could be done without Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Potter, My Lord.` Another pause, more protracted, and then -- `Without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Harry Potter?` breathed the second voice softly. `I see...` `My Lord,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I do not say this out of concern for the boy!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Wormtail, his voice rising squeakily. `The boy is nothing to me, nothing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "at all! It is merely that if we were to use another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "witch or wizard -- any wizard -- the thing could be done","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "so much more quickly! If you allowed me to leave you for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a short while -- you know that I can disguise myself most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "effectively -- I could be back here in as little as two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "days with a suitable person --` `I could use another wizard,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "said the cold voice softly, `that is true...` `My Lord, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "makes sense,` said Wormtail, sounding thoroughly relieved now. `Laying hands on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Harry Potter would be so difficult, he is so well protected --`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " `And so you volunteer to go and fetch me a substitute?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I wonder...perhaps the task of nursing me has become wearisome for you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Wormtail? Could this suggestion of abandoning the plan be nothing more than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "an attempt to desert me?` `My Lord! I -- I have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "no wish to leave you, none at all --` `Do not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "lie to me!` hissed the second voice. `I can always tell, Wormtail!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "You are regretting that you ever returned to me. I revolt you.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I see you flinch when you look at me, feel you shudder","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "when you touch me...` `No! My devotion to Your Lordship --`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " `Your devotion is nothing more than cowardice. You would not be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "here if you had anywhere else to go. How am I to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "survive without you, when I need feeding every few hours? Who is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to milk Nagini?` `But you seem so much stronger, My Lord","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "--` `Liar,` breathed the second voice. `I am no stronger, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a few days alone would be enough to rob me of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "little health I have regained under your clumsy care. Silence!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Wormtail, who had been sputtering incoherently, fell silent at once. For a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "few seconds, Frank could hear nothing but the fire crackling. The the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "second man spoke once more, in a whisper that was almost a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "hiss. `I have my reasons for using the boy, as I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "have already explained to you, and I will use no other. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "have waited thirteen years. A few more months will make no difference.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "As for the protection surrounding the boy, I believe my plan will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "be effective. All that is needed is a little courage from you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Wormtail -- courage you will find, unless you wish to feel the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "full extent of Lord Voldermort's wrath --` `My Lord, I must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "speak!` said Wormtail, panic in his voice now. `All through our journey","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I have gone over the plan in my head -- My Lord,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Bertha Jorkin's disappearance will not go unnoticed for long, and if we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "proceed, if I murder --` `If?` whispered the second voice. `If?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "If you follow the plan, Wormtail, the Ministry need never know that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "anyone else has died. You will do it quietly and without fuss;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I only wish that i could do it myself, but in my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "present condition...Come, Wormtail, one more death and our path to Harry Potter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "is clear. I am not asking you to do it alone. By","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "that time, my faithful serant will have rejoined us --` `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "am a faithful servant,` said Wormtail, the merest trace of sullenness in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "his voice. `Wormtail, I need somebody with brains, somebody whose loyalty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "has never wavered, and you, unfortunately, fulfill neither requirement.` `I found you,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "said Wormtail, and there was definitely a sulky edge to his voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "now. `I was the one who found you. I brought you Bertha","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Jorkins.` `That is true,` said the second man, sounding amused. `A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "stroke of brilliance I would not have thought possible from you, Wormtail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "-- though, if truth be told, you were not aware how useful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "she would be when you caught her, were you?` `I --","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I thought she might be useful, My Lord --` `Liar,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the second voice again, the cruel amusement more pronounced than ever. `However,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I do not deny that her information was invaluable. Without it, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "could never have formed our plan, and for that, you will have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "your reward, Wormtail. I will allow you to perform an essential task","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "for me, one that many of my followers would give their right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "hands to perform...` `R-really, My Lord? What -- ?` Wormtail sounded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "terrified again. `Ah, Wormtail, you don't want me to spoil the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "surprise? Your part will come at the very end...but I promise you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "you will have the honor of being just as useful as Bertha","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Jorkins.` `You...you...` Wormtail's voice suddenly sounded hoarse, as though his mouth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "had gone very dry. `You...are going...to kill me too?` `Wormtail, Wormtail,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "said the cold voice silkily, `why would I kill you? I killed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Bertha because I had to. She was fit for nothing after my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "questioning, quite useless. In any case, awkward questions would have been asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "if she had gone back to the Ministry with the news that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "she had met you on her holidays. Wizards who are supposed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "be dead would do well not to run into Ministry of Magic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "witches at wayside inns...` Wormtail muttered something so quietly that Frank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "could not hear it, but it made the second man laugh --","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "an entirely mirthless laugh, cold as his speech. `We could have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "modified her memory? But Memory Charms can be broken by a powerful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "wizard, as I proved when I questioned her. It would be an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "insult to her memory not to use the information I extracted from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "her, Wormtail.` Out in the corridor, Frank suddenly became aware that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the hand gripping his walking stick was slippery with sweat. The man","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "with the cold voice had killed a woman. He was talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "about it without any kind of remorse -- with amusement. He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "dangerous -- a madman. And he was planning more murders -- this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "boy, Harry Potter, whoever he was -- was in danger -- Frank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "knew what he must do. Now, if ever, was the time to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "go to the police. He would creep out of the house and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "head straight for the telephone box in the village...but the cold voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was speaking again, and Frank remained where he was, frozen to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "spot, listening with all his might. `One more murder...my faithful servant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "at Hogwarts...Harry Potter is as good as mine, Wormtail. It is decided.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "There will be no more argument. But quiet...I think I hear Nagini...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " And the second man's voice changed. He started making noises such","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "as Frank had never heard before; he was hissing and spitting without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "drawing breath. Frank thought he must be having some sort of fit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "or seizure. And then Frank heard movement behind him in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "dark passageway. He turned to look, and found himself paralyzed with fright.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " Something was slithering toward him along the dark corridor floor, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "as it drew nearer to the sliver of firelight, he realized with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a thrill of terror that it was a gigantic snake, at least","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "twelve feet long. Horrified, transfixed, Frank stared as its undulating body cut","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a wide, curving track through the thick dust on the floor, coming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "closer and closer -- What was he to do? The only means","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "of escape was into the room where the two men sat plotting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "murder, yet if he stayed where he was the snake would surely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "kill him -- But before he had made his decision, the snake","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was level with him, and then, incredibly, miraculously, it was passing; it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was following the spitting, hissing noises made by the cold voice beyond","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the door, and in seconds, the tip of its diamond-patterned tail had vanished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "through the gap. There was sweat on Frank's forehead now, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the hand on the walking stick was trembling. Inside the room, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "cold voice was continuing to hiss, and Frank was visited by a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "strange idea, an impossible idea...This man could talk to snakes. Frank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "didn't understand what was going on. He wanted more than anything to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "be back in his bed with his hot-water bottle. The problem was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "that his legs didn't seem to want to move. As he stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "there shaking and trying to master himself, the cold voice switched abruptly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to English again. `Nagini has interesting news, Wormtail,` it said. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "`In-indeed, My Lord?` said Wormtail. `Indeed, yes,` said the voice, `According","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to Nagini, there is an old Muggle standing right outside this room,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "listening to every word we say.` Frank didn't have a chance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to hide himself. There were footsteps and then the door of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "room was flung wide open. A short, balding man with graying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "hair, a pointed nose, and small, watery eyes stood before Frank, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "mixture of fear and alarm in his face. `Invite him inside,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Wormtail. Where are your manners?` The cold voice was coming from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the ancient armchair before the fire, but Frank couldn't see the speaker.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the snake, on the other hand, was curled up on the rotting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "hearth rug, like some horrible travesty of a pet dog. Wormtail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "beckoned Frank into the room. Though still deeply shaken, Frank took a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " firmer grip on his walking stick and limped over the threshold.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " The fire was the only source of light in the room;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "it cast long, spidery shadows upon the walls. Frank stared at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "back of the armchair; the man inside it seemed to be even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "smaller than his servant, for Frank couldn't even see the back of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "his head. `You heard everything, Muggle?` said the cold voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "`What's that you're calling me?` said Frank defiantly, for now that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "was inside the room, now that the time had come for some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "sort of action, he felt braver; it had always been so in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "the war. `I am calling you a Muggle,` said the voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "coolly. `It means that you are not a wizard.` `I don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "know what you mean by wizard,` said Frank, his voice growing steadier.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " `All I know is I've heard enough to interest the police","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "tonight, I have. You've done murder and you're planning more! And I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "tell youthis too,` he added, on a sudden inspiration, `my wife knows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "I'm up here, and if I don't come back --` `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "have no wife,` said te cold voice, very quietly. `Nobody knows you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "are here. You told nobody that you were coming. Do not lie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "to Lord Voldemort, Muggle, for he knows...he always knows...` `Is that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "right?` said Frank roughly. `Lord, is it? Well, I don't think much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "of your manners, My Lord. Turn 'round and face me like a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "man, why don't you?` `But I am not a man, Muggle,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "said the cold voice, barely audible now over the crackling of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "flames. `I am much, much more than a man. However...why not? I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "will face you...Wormtail, come turn my chair around.` The servant gave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a whimper. `You heard me, Wormtail.` Slowly, with his face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "screwed up, as though he would rather have done anything than approach","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "his master and the hearth rug where the snake lay, the small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "man walked forward and began to turn the chair. The snake lifted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "its ugly triangular head and hissed slightly as the legs of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "chair snagged on its rug. And then the chair was facing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "Frank, and he saw what was sitting in it. His walking stick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "fell to the floor with a clatter. He opened his mouth and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "let out a scream. He was screaming so loudly that he never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "heard the words the thing in the chair spoke as it raised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "a wand. There was a flash of green light, a rushing sound,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" "and Frank Bryce crumpled. He was dead before he hit the floor.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " Two hundred miles away, the boy called Harry Potter woke with a start.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-1" " Harry lay flat on his back, breathing hard as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "he had been running. He had awoken from a vivid dream with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "his hands pressed over his face. The old scar on his forehead,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "which was shaped like a bolt of lightning, was burning beneath his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "fingers as though someone had just pressed a white-hot wire to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "skin. He sat up, one hand still on his scar, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "other hand reaching out in the darkness for his glasses, which were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "on the bedside table. He put them on and his bedroom came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "into clearer focus, lit by a faint, misty orange light that was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "filtering through the curtains from the street lamp outside the window. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry ran his fingers over the scar again. It was still painful.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "He turned on the lamp beside him, scrambled out of bed, crossed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "the room, opened his wardrobe, and peered into the mirror on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "inside of the door. A skinny boy of fourteen looked back at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "him, his bright green eyes puzzled under his untidy black hair. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "examined the lightning-bolt scar of his reflection more closely. It looked normal,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "but it was still stinging. harry tried to recall what he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had been dreaming about before he had awoken. It had seemed so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "real...There had been two people he knew and one he didn't ...He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "concentrated hard, frowning, trying to remember... The dim picture of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "darkened room came to him...There had been a snake on a hearth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "rug...a small man called Peter, nicknamed Wormtail...and a cold, high voice...the voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "of Lord Voldemort. Harry felt as though an ice cube had slipped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "down into his stomach at the very thought... He closed his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "eyes tightly and tried to remember what Voldemort had looked like, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "it was impossible...All Harry knew was that at the moment when Voldemort's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "chair had swung around, and he, Harry, had seen what was sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "in it, he had felt a spasm of horror, which had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "awoken him...or had that been the pain in his scar? And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "who had the old man been? For there had definitely been an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "old man; Harry had watched him fall to the ground. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "all becoming confused. Harry put his face into his hands, blocking out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "his bedroom, trying to hold on to the picture of that dimly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "lit room, but it was like trying to keep water in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "cupped hands; the details were now trickling away as fast as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "tried to hold on to them...Voldemort and Wormtail had been talking about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "someone they had killed, though Harry could not remember the name...and they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had been plotting to kill someone else...him! Harry took his face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "out of his hands, opened his eyes, and stared around his bedroom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "as though expecting to see something unusual there. As it happened, there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "was an extraordinary number of unusual things in this room. A large wooden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "trunk stood open at the foot of his bed, revealing a cauldron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "broomstick, black robes, and assorted spellbooks. Rolls of parchment littered that part","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "of his desk that was not taken up by the large, empty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "cage in which his snowy owl, Hedwig, usually perched. On the floor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "beside his bed a book lay open; Harry had been reading it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "before he fell asleep last night. The pictures in this book were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "all moving. Men in bright orange robes were zooming in and out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "of sight on broomsticks, throwing a red ball to one another. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry walked over to the book, picked it up, and watched on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "of the wizards score a spectacular goal by putting the ball through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "a fifty-foot-high hoop. Then he snapped the book shut. Even Quidditch --","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "in Harry's opinion, the best sport in the world -- couldn't distract","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "him at the moment. He placed Flying with the Cannons on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "bedside table, crossed to the window, and drew back the curtains to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "survey the street below. Privet Drive looked exactly as a respectable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "suburban street would be expected to look inthe early hours of Saturday","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "morning. All the curtains were closed. As far as Harry could see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "through the darkness, there wasn't a living creature in sight, not even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "a cat. And yet...and yet...Harry went restlessly back to the bed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "and sat down on it, running a finger over his scar again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "It wasn't the pain that bothered him; Harry was no stranger to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "pain and injury. He had lost all the bones from his right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "arm once and had them painfully regrown in a night. The same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "arm had been pierced by a venemous foot-long fang not long afterward.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Only last year Harry had fallen fifty feet from an airborn broomstick.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "He was used to bizarre accidents and injuries; they were unavoidable if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "you attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and had a knack","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "for attracting a lot of trouble. No, the thing that was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "bothering Harry was the last time his scar had hurt him, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had been because Voldemort had been close by...But Voldemort couldn't be here,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "now...The idea of Voldemort lurking in Privet Drive was absurd, impossible... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry listened closely to the silence around him. Was he half expecting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "to hear the creak of a stair or the swish of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "cloak? And then he jumped slightly as he heard his cousin Dudley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "give a tremendous grunting snore from the next room. Harry shook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "himself mentally; he was being stupid. There was no one in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "house with him except Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley, and they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "were plainly still asleep, their dreams untroubled and painless. Asleep was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "the way Harry liked the Dursleys best; it wasn't as though they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "were ever any help to him awake. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "were Harry's only living relatives. They were Muggles who hated and despised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "magic in any form, which meant that Harry was about as welcome","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "in their house as dry rot. They had explained away Harry's long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "absences at Hogwarts over the last three years by telling everyone that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "he went to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "knew perfectly well that, as an underage wizard, Harry wasn't allowed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "use magic outside Hogwarts, but they were still apt to blame him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "for anything that went wrong about the house. Harry had never been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "able to confide in them or tell them anything about his life","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "in the wizarding world. The very idea of going to them when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "they awoke, and telling them about his scar hurting him, and about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "his worries about Voldemort, was laughable. And yet it was because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "of Voldemort that Harry had come to live with the Dursleys in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "the first place. If it hadn't been for Voldemort, Harry would not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "have had the lightning scar on his forehead. If it hadn't been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "for Voldemort, Harry would still have had parents... Harry had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "a year old the night that Voldemort -- the most powerful Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "wizard for a century, a wizard who had been gaining power steadily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "for eleven years -- arrived at his house and killed his father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "and mother. Voldemort had then turned his wand on Harry; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had performed the curse that had disposed of many full-grown witches and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "wizards in his steady rise to power -- and, incredibly, it had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "not worked. Instead of killing the small boy, the curse had rebounded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "upon Voldemort. Harry had survived with nothing but a lightning-shaped cut on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "his forehead, and Voldemort had been reduced to something barely alive. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "powers gone, his life almost extinguished, Voldemort had fled; the terror in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "which the secret community of witches and wizards had lived for so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "long had lifted, Voldemort's followers had disbanded, and Harry Potter had become","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "famous. It had been enough of a shock for Harry to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "discover, on his eleventh birthday, that he was a wizard; it had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "been even more disconcerting to find out that everyone in the hidden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "wizarding world knew his name. Harry had arrived at Hogwarts to find","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "that heads turned and whispers followed him wherever he went. But he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "was used to it now: At the end of this summer, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "would be starting his fourth year at Hogwarts, and Harry was already","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "counting the days until he would be back at the castle again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" " But there was still a fortnight to go before he went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "back to school. He looked hopelessly around his room again, and his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "eye paused on the birthday cards his two best friends had sent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "him at the end of July. What would they say if Harry wrote","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "to them and told them about his scar hurting? At once,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Hermione Granger's voice seemed to fill his head, shrill and panicky. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "`Your scar hurt? Harry, that's really serious.... Write to Professor Dumbledore! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "And I'll go and check Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions.... Maybe there's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "something in there about curse scars. . . .` Yes, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "would be Hermione's advice: Go straight to the headmaster of Hogwarts, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "in the meantime, consult a book. Harry stared out of the window","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "at the inky blue-black sky. He doubted very much whether a book","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "could help him now. As far as he knew, he was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "only living person to have survived a curse like Voldemort's; it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "highly unlikely, therefore, that he would find his symptoms listed in Common","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Magical Ailments and Afflictions. As for informing the headmaster, Harry had no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "idea where Dumbledore went during the summer holidays. He amused himself for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "a moment, picturing Dumbledore, with his long silver beard, full length wizard's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "robes, and pointed hat, stretched out on a beach somewhere, rubbing suntan","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "lotion onto his long crooked nose. Wherever Dumbledore was, though, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "was sure that Hedwig would be able to find him; Harry's owl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had never yet failed to deliver a letter to anyone, even without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "an address. But what would he write? Dear Professor Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Sorry to bother you, but my scar hurt this morning. Yours","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "sincerely, Harry Potter. Even inside his head the words sounded stupid.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" " And so he tried to imagine his other best friend, Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Weasley's, reaction, and in a moment, Ron's red hair and long-nosed, freckled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "face seemed to swim before Harry, wearing a bemused expression. `Your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "scar hurt? But ... but You-Know-Who can't be near you now, can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "he? I mean ... you'd know, wouldn't you? He'd be trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "do you in again, wouldn't be? I dunno, Harry, maybe curse scars","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "always twinge a bit... I'll ask Dad. . . .` Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Weasley was a fully qualified wizard who worked in the Misuse of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, but he didn't have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "any particular expertise in the matter of curses, as far as Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "knew. In any case, Harry didn't like the idea of the whole","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Weasley family knowing that he, Harry, was getting jumpy about a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "moments' pain. Mrs. Weasley would fuss worse than Hermione, and Fred and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "George, Ron's sixteen-year- old twin brothers, might think Harry was losing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "nerve. The Weasleys were Harry's favorite family in the world; he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "hoping that they might invite him to stay any time now (Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had mentioned something about the Quidditch World Cup), and he somehow didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "want his visit punctuated with anxious inquiries about his scar. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "kneaded his forehead with his knuckles. What he really wanted (and it felt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "almost shameful to admit it to himself) was someone like - someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "like a parent: an adult wizard whose advice he could ask without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "feeling stupid, someone who cared about him, who had had experience with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Dark Magic.... And then the solution came to him. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "so simple, and so obvious, that he couldn't believe it had taken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "so long - Sirius. Harry leapt up from the bed, hurried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "across the room, and sat down at his desk; he pulled a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "piece of parchment toward him, loaded his eagle-feather quill with ink, wrote","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Dear Sirius, then paused, wondering how best to phrase his problem, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "marveling at the fact that he hadn't thought of Sirius straight away.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "But then, perhaps it wasn't so surprising - after all, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had only found out that Sirius was his godfather two months ago.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" " There was a simple reason for Sirius's complete absence from Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "life until then - Sirius had been in Azkaban, the terrifying wizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "jail guarded by creatures called dementors, sightless, soul-sucking fiends who had come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "to search for Sirius at Hogwarts when he had escaped. Yet Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had been innocent - the murders for which he had been convicted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had been committed by Wormtail, Voldemort's supporter, whom nearly everybody now believed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "dead. Harry, Ron, and Hermione knew otherwise, however; they had come face-to-face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "with Wormtail only the previous year, though only Professor Dumbledore had believed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "their story. For one glorious hour, Harry had believed that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "was leaving the Dursleys at last, because Sirius had offered him a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "home once his name had been cleared. But the chance had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "snatched away from him - Wormtail had escaped before they could take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "him to the Ministry of Magic, and Sirius had had to flee","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "for his life. Harry had helped him escape on the back of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "a hippogriff called Buckbeak, and since then, Sirius had been on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "run. The home Harry might have had if Wormtail had not escaped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had been haunting him all summer. It had been doubly hard to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "return to the Dursleys knowing that he had so nearly escaped them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "forever. Nevertheless, Sirius had been of some help to Harry, even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "if he couldn't be with him. It was due to Sirius that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry now had all his school things in his bedroom with him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "The Dursleys had never allowed this before; their general wish of keeping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry as miserable as possible, coupled with their fear of his powers,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had led them to lock his school trunk in the cupboard under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "the stairs every summer prior to this. But their attitude had changed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "since they had found out that Harry had a dangerous murderer for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "a godfather - for Harry had conveniently forgotten to tell them that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Sirius was innocent. Harry had received two letters from Sirius since he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "had been back at Privet Drive. Both had been delivered, not by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "owls (as was usual with wizards), but by large, brightly colored tropical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "birds. Hedwig had not approved of these flashy intruders; she had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "most reluctant to allow them to drink from her water tray before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "flying off again. Harry, on the other hand, had liked them; they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "put him in mind of palm trees and white sand, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "hoped that, wherever Sirius was (Sirius never said, in case the letters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "were intercepted), he was enjoying himself. Somehow, Harry found it hard to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "imaging dementors surviving for long in bright sunlight, perhapse that was why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Sirius had gone South. Sirius's letters, which were now hidden beneath the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "highly useful loose floorboards under Harry's bed, sounded chearful, and in both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "of them he had reminded Harry to call on him if ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry needed to. Well, he needed to right now, all right... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry's lamp seemed to grow dimmer as the cold gray light that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "precedes sunrise slowly crept into the room. Finally, when the sun had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "risen, when his bedroom walls had turned gold, and when sounds of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "movement could be heard from Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's room, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "cleared his desk of crumpled pieces of parchment and reread his finished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "letter. Dear Sirius, Thanks for your last letter. That bird was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "enormous; it could hardly get through my window. Things are the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "as usual here. Dudley's diet isn't going too well. My aunt found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "him smuggling doughnuts into his room yesterday. They told him they'd have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "to cut his pocket money if he keeps doing it, so he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "got really angry and chucked his PlayStation out of the window. That's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "a sort of computer thing you can play games on. Bit stupid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "really, now he hasn't even got Mega-Mutilation Part Three to take his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "mind off things. I'm okay, mainly because the Dursleys are terrified","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "you might turn up and turn them all into bats if I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "ask you to. A weird thing happened this morning, though. My","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "scar hurt again. Last time that happened it was because Voldemort was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "at Hogwarts. But I don't reckon he can be anywhere near me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "now, can he? Do you know if curse scars sometimes hurt years","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "afterward? I'll send this with Hedwig when she gets back; she's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "off hunting at the moment. Say hello to Buckbeak for me.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "Harry Yes, thought Harry, that looked all right. There was no point","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "putting in the dream; he didn't want it to look as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "he was too worried. He folded up the parchment and laid it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "aside on his desk, ready for when Hedwig returned. Then he got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "to his feet, stretched, and opened his wardrobe once more. Without glancing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" "at his reflection he started to get dressed before going down to breakfast.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-2" " By the time Harry arrived in the kitchen, the three","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Dursleys were already seated around the table. None of them looked up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "as he entered or sat down. Uncle Vernon's large red face was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "hidden behind the morning's Daily Mail, and Aunt Petunia was cutting a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "grapefruit into quarters, her lips pursed over her horselike teeth. Dudley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "looked furious and sulky, and somehow seemed to be taking up even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "more space than usual. This was saying something, as he always took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "up an entire side of the square table by himself. When Aunt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Petunia put a quarter of unsweetened grapefruit onto Dudley's plate with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "tremulous `There you are, Diddy darling,` Dudley glowered at her. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "life had taken a most unpleasant turn since he had come home","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "for the summer with his end-of-year report. Uncle Vernon and Aunt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Petunia had managed to find excuses for his bad marks as usual:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Aunt Petunia always insisted that Dudley was a very gifted boy whose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "teachers didn't understand him, while Uncle Vernon maintained that `he didn't want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "some swotty little nancy boy for a son anyway.` They also skated","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "over the accusations of bullying in the report - `He's a boisterous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "little boy, but he wouldn't hurt a fly!` Aunt Petunia had said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "tearfully. However, at the bottom of the report there were a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "few well-chosen comments from the school nurse that not even Uncle Vernon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "and Aunt Petunia could explain away. No matter how much Aunt Petunia","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "wailed that Dudley was big-boned, and that his poundage was really puppy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "fat, and that he was a growing boy who needed plenty of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "food, the fact remained that the school outfitters didn't stock knickerbockers big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "enough for him anymore. The school nurse had seen what Aunt Petunia's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "eyes - so sharp when it came to spotting fingerprints on her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "gleaming walls, and in observing the comings and goings of the neighbors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "- simply refused to see: that far from needing extra nourishment, Dudley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "had reached roughly the size and weight of a young killer whale.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " So - after many tantrums, after arguments that shook Harry's bedroom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "floor, and many tears from Aunt Petunia - the new regime had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "begun. The diet sheet that had been sent by the Smeltings school","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "nurse had been taped to the fridge, which had been emptied of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "all Dudley's favorite things - fizzy drinks and cakes, chocolate bars and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "burgers and filled instead with fruit and vegetables and the sorts of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "things that Uncle Vernon called `rabbit food.` To make Dudley feel better","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "about it all, Aunt Petunia had insisted that the whole family follow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the diet too. She now passed a grapefruit quarter to Harry. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "noticed that it was a lot smaller than Dudley's. Aunt Petunia seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to feet that the best way to keep up Dudley's morale was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to make sure that he did, at least, get more to eat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "than Harry. But Aunt Petunia didn't know what was hidden under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the loose floorboard upstairs. She had no idea that Harry was not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "following the diet at all. The moment he had got wind of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the fact that he was expected to survive the summer on carrot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "sticks, Harry had sent Hedwig to his friends with pleas for help,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "and they had risen to the occasion magnificently. Hedwig had returned from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Hermione's house with a large box stuffed full of sugar-free snacks. (Hermione's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "parents were dentists.) Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, had obliged with a sack","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "full of his own homemade rock cakes. (Harry hadn't touched these; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "had had too much experience of Hagrid's cooking.) Mrs. Weasley, however, had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "sent the family owl, Errol, with an enormous fruitcake and assorted meat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "pies. Poor Errol, who was elderly and feeble, had needed a full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "five days to recover from the journey. And then on Harry's birthday","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "(which the Dursleys had completely ignored) he had received four superb birthday cakes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "one each from Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, and Sirius. Harry still had two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "of them left, and so, looking forward to a real breakfast when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "he got back upstairs, he ate his grapefruit without complaint. Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Vernon laid aside his paper with a deep sniff of disapproval and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "looked down at his own grapefruit quarter. `Is this it?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "said grumpily to Aunt Petunia. Aunt Petunia gave him a severe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "look, and then nodded pointedly at Dudley, who had already finished his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "own grapefruit quarter and was eyeing Harry's with a very sour look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "in his piggy little eyes. Uncle Vernon gave a great sigh,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "which ruffled his large, bushy mustache, and picked up his spoon. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "The doorbell rang. Uncle Vernon heaved himself out of his chair and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "set off down the hall. Quick as a flash, while his mother","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "was occupied with the kettle, Dudley stole the rest of Uncle Vernon's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "grapefruit. Harry heard talking at the door, and someone laughing, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Uncle Vernon answering curtly. Then the front door closed, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "sound of ripping paper came from the hall. Aunt Petunia set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the teapot down on the table and looked curiously around to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "where Uncle Vernon had got to. She didn't have to wait long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to find out; after about a minute, he was back. He looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "livid. `You,` he barked at Harry. `In the living room. Now.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " Bewildered, wondering what on earth he was supposed to have done","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "this time, Harry got up and followed Uncle Vernon out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "kitchen and into the next room. Uncle Vernon closed the door sharply","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "behind both of them. `So,` he said, marching over to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "fireplace and turning to face Harry as though he were about to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "pronounce him under arrest. `So.` Harry would have dearly loved to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "have said, `So what?` but he didn't feel that Uncle Vernon's temper","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "should be tested this early in the morning, especially when it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "already under severe strain from lack of food. He therefore settled for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "looking politely puzzled. `This just arrived,` said Uncle Vernon. He brandished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "a piece of purple writing paper at Harry. `A letter. About you.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " Harry's confusion increased. Who would be writing to Uncle Vernon about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "him? Who did he know who sent letters by the postman? ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Uncle Vernon glared at Harry, then looked down at the letter and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "began to read aloud: Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, We have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "never been introduced, but I am sure you have heard a great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "deal from Harry about my son Ron. As Harry might have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "told you, the final of the Quidditch World Cup takes place this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Monday night, and my husband, Arthur, has just managed to get prime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "tickets through his connections at the Department of Magical Games and Sports.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " I do hope you will allow us to take Harry to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the match, as this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; Britain hasn't hosted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the cup for thirty years, and tickets are extremely hard to come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "by. We would of course be glad to have Harry stay for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the remainder of the summer holidays, and to see him safely onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the train back to school. It would be best for Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to send us your answer as quickly as possible in the normal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "way, because the Muggle postman has never delivered to our house, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "I am not sure he even knows where it is. Hoping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to see Harry soon, Yours sincerely, Molly Weasley P.S. I do hope","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "we've put enough stamps on. Uncle Vernon finished reading, put his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "hand back into his breast pocket, and drew out something else. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "`Look at this,` he growled. He held up the envelope in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "which Mrs. Weasley's letter had come, and Harry had to fight down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "a laugh. Every bit of it was covered in stamps except for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "square inch on the front, into which Mrs. Weasley had squeezed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Dursleys' address in minute writing. `She did put enough stamps on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "then,` said Harry, trying to sound as though Mrs. Weasley's was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "a mistake anyone could make. His uncle's eyes flashed. `The postman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "noticed,` he said through gritted teeth. `Very interested to know where this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "letter came from, he was. That's why he rang the doorbell. Seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to think it was funny.` Harry didn't say anything. Other people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "might not understand why Uncle Vernon was making a fuss about too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "many stamps, but Harry had lived with the Dursleys too long not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to know how touchy they were about anything even slightly out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the ordinary. Their worst fear was that someone would find out that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "they were connected (however distantly) with people like Mrs. Weasley. Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Vernon was still glaring at Harry, who tried to keep his expression","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "neutral. If he didn't do or say anything stupid, he might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "just be in for the treat of a lifetime. He waited for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Uncle Vernon to say something, but he merely continued to glare. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "decided to break the silence. `So - can I go then?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "he asked. A slight spasm crossed Uncle Vernon's large purple face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "The mustache bristled. Harry thought he knew what was going on behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the mustache: a furious battle as two of Uncle Vernon's most fundamental","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "instincts came into conflict. Allowing Harry to go would make Harry happy,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "something Uncle Vernon had struggled against for thirteen years. On the other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "hand, allowing Harry to disappear to the Weasleys' for the rest of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the summer would get rid of him two weeks earlier than anyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "could have hoped, and Uncle Vernon hated having Harry in the house.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "To give himself thinking time, it seemed, he looked down at Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Weasley's letter again. `Who is this woman?` he said, staring at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the signature with distaste. `You've seen her,` said Harry. `She's my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "friend Ron's mother, she was meeting him off the Hog - off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the school train at the end of last term.` He had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "almost said `Hogwarts Express,` and that was a sure way to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "his uncle's temper up. Nobody ever mentioned the name of Harry's school","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "aloud in the Dursley household. Uncle Vernon screwed up his enormous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "face as though trying to remember something very unpleasant. `Dumpy sort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "of woman?` he growled finally. `Load of children with red hair?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Harry frowned. He thought it was a bit rich of Uncle Vernon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to call anyone `dumpy,` when his own son, Dudley, had finally achieved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "what he'd been threatening to do since the age of three, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "become wider than he was tall. Uncle Vernon was perusing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "letter again. `Quidditch,` he muttered under his breath. `Quidditch - what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "is this rubbish?` Harry felt a second stab of annoyance. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "`It's a sport,` he said shortly. `Played on broom- ` `All","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "right, all right!` said Uncle Vernon loudly. Harry saw, with some satisfaction,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "that his uncle looked vaguely panicky. Apparently his nerves couldn't stand the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "sound of the word `broomsticks` in his living room. He took refuge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "in perusing the letter again. Harry saw his lips form the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "words `send us your answer ... in the normal way.` He scowled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " `What does she mean, 'the normal way'?` he spat. `Normal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "for us,` said Harry, and before his uncle could stop him, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "added, `you know, owl post. That's what's normal for wizards.` Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Vernon looked as outraged as if Harry had just uttered a disgusting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "swearword. Shaking with anger, he shot a nervous look through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "window, as though expecting to see some of the neighbors with their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "ears pressed against the glass. `How many times do I have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to tell you not to mention that unnaturalness under my roof?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "hissed, his face now a rich plum color. `You stand there, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the clothes Petunia and I have put on your ungrateful back -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " `Only after Dudley finished with them,` said Harry coldly, and indeed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "he was dressed in a sweatshirt so large for him that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "had had to roll back the sleeves five times so as to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "be able to use his hands, and which fell past the knees","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "of his extremely baggy jeans. `I will not be spoken to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "like that!` said Uncle Vernon, trembling with rage. But Harry wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "going to stand for this. Gone were the days when he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "been forced to take every single one of the Dursleys' stupid rules.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "He wasn't following Dudley's diet, and he wasn't going to let Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Vernon stop him from going to the Quidditch World Cup, not if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "he could help it. Harry took a deep, steadying breath and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "said, `Okay, I can't see the World Cup. Can I go now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "then? Only I've got a letter to Sirius I want to finish.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "You know - my godfather.` He had done it, he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "said the magic words. Now he watched the purple recede blotchily from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Uncle Vernon's face, making it look like badly mixed black currant ice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "cream. `You're - you're writing to him, are you?` said Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Vernon, in a would-be calm voice -but Harry had seen the pupils","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "of his tiny eyes contract with sudden fear. `Well - yeah,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "said Harry, casually. `It's been a while since he heard from me,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "and, you know, if he doesn't he might start thinking something's wrong.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " He stopped there to enjoy the effect of these words. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "could almost see the cogs working under Uncle Vernon's thick, dark, neatly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "parted hair. If he tried to stop Harry writing to Sirius, Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "would think Harry was being mistreated. If he told Harry he couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "go to the Quidditch World Cup, Harry would write and tell Sirius,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "who would know Harry was being mistreated. There was only one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "thing for Uncle Vernon to do. Harry could see the conclusion forming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "in his uncle's mind as though the great mustached face were transparent.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Harry tried not to smile, to keep his own face as blank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "as possible. And then -` Well, all right then. You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "can go to this ruddy ... this stupid ... this World Cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "thing. You write and tell these - these Weasleys they're to pick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "you up, mind. I haven't got time to go dropping you off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "all over the country. And you can spend the rest of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "summer there. And you can tell your - your godfather ... tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "him ... tell him you're going.` `Okay then,` said Harry brightly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " He turned and walked toward the living room door, fighting the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "urge to jump into the air and whoop. He was going ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "he was going to the Weasleys', he was going to watch the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Quidditch World Cup! Outside in the hall he nearly ran into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Dudley, who had been lurking behind the door, clearly hoping to overhear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Harry being told off. He looked shocked to see the broad grin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "on Harry's face. `That was an excellent breakfast, wasn't it?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Harry. `I feel really full, don't you?` Laughing at the astonished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "look on Dudley's face, Harry took the stairs three at a time,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "and hurled himself back into his bedroom. The first thing he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "saw was that Hedwig was back. She was sitting in her cage,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "staring at Harry with her enormous amber eyes, and clicking her beak","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "in the way that meant she was annoyed about something. Exactly what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "was annoying her became apparent almost at once. `OUCH!` said Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "as what appeared to be a small, gray, feathery tennis ball collided","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "with the side of his head. Harry massaged the spot furiously, looking up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to see what had hit him, and saw a minute owl, small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "enough to fit into the palm of his hand, whizzing excitedly around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the room like a loose firework. Harry then realized that the owl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "had dropped a letter at his feet. Harry bent down, recognized Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "handwriting, then tore open the envelope. Inside was a hastily scribbled note.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " Harry - DAD GOT THE TICKETS - Ireland versus Bulgaria, Monday","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "night. Mum's writing to the Muggles to ask you to stay. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "might already have the letter, I don't know how fast Muggle post","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "is. Thought I'd send this with Pig anyway. Harry stared at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the word `Pig,` then looked up at the tiny owl now zooming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "around the light fixture on the ceiling. He had never seen anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "that looked less like a pig. Maybe he couldn't read Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "writing. He went back to the letter: We're coming for you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "whether the Muggles like it or not, you can't miss the World","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Cup, only Mum and Dad reckon it's better if we pretend to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "ask their permission first. If they say yes, send Pig back with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "your answer pronto, and we'll come and get you at five o'clock","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "on Sunday. If they say no, send Pig back pronto and we'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "come and get you at five o'clock on Sunday anyway. Hermione's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "arriving this afternoon. Percy's started work - the Department of International Magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Cooperation. Don't mention anything about Abroad while you're here unless you want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the pants bored off you. See you soon - Ron `Calm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "down!` Harry said as the small owl flew low over his head,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "twittering madly with what Harry could only assume was pride at having","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "delivered the letter to the right person. `Come here, I need you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to take my answer back!` The owl fluttered down on top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "of Hedwig's cage. Hedwig looked coldly up at it, as though daring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "it to try and come any closer. Harry seized his eagle-feather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "quill once more, grabbed a fresh piece of parchment, and wrote: ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "Ron, it's all okay, the Muggles say I can come. See you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "five o'clock tomorrow. Can't wait. Harry He folded this note up very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "small, and with immense difficulty, tied it to the tiny owl's leg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "as it hopped on the spot with excitement. The moment the note","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "was secure, the owl was off again; it zoomed out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "the window and out of sight. Harry turned to Hedwig. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "`Feeling up to a long journey?` he asked her. Hedwig hooted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "in a dignified sort of a way. `Can you take this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "to Sirius for me?` he said, picking up his letter. `Hang on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "... I just want to finish it.` He unfolded the parchment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "and hastily added a postscript. If you want to contact me,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "I'll be at my friend Ron Weasley's for the rest of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "summer. His dad's got us tickets for the Quidditch World Cup!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " The letter finished, he tied it to Hedwig's leg; she kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "unusually still, as though determined to show him how a real post","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "owl should behave. `I'll be at Ron's when you get back,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "all right?` Harry told her. She nipped his finger affectionately, then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "with a soft swooshing noise, spread her enormous wings and soared out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "of the open window. Harry watched her out of sight, then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "crawled under his bed, wrenched up the loose floorboard, and pulled out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "a large chunk of birthday cake. He sat there on the floor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "eating it, savoring the happiness that was flooding through him. He had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "cake, and Dudley had nothing but grapefruit; it was a bright summer's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "day, he would be leaving Privet Drive tomorrow, his scar felt perfectly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "normal again, and he was going to watch the Quidditch World Cup.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" "It was hard, just now, to feel worried about anything - even Lord Voldemort.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-3" " By twelve o'clock the next day, Harry's school trunk was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "packed with his school things and all his most prized possessions -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "the Invisibility Cloak he had inherited from his father, the broomstick he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "had gotten from Sirius, the enchanted map of Hogwarts he had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "given by Fred and George Weasley last year. He had emptied his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "hiding place under the loose floorboard of all food, double-checked every nook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "and cranny of his bedroom for forgotten spellbooks or quills, and taken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "down the chart on the wall counting down the days to September","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "the first, on which he liked to cross off the days remaining","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "until his return to Hogwarts. The atmosphere inside number four, Privet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Drive was extremely tense. The imminent arrival at their house of an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "assortment of wizards was making the Dursleys uptight and irritable. Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Vernon had looked downright alarmed when Harry informed him that the Weasleys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "would be arriving at five o'clock the very next day. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "hope you told them to dress properly, these people,` he snarled at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "once. `I've seen the sort of stuff your lot wear. They'd better","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "have the decency to put on normal clothes, that's all.` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "felt a slight sense of foreboding. He had rarely seen Mr. or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Mrs. Weasley wearing anything that the Dursleys would call `normal.` Their children","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "might don Muggle clothing during the holidays, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "usually wore long robes in varying states of shabbiness. Harry wasn't bothered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "about what the neighbors would think, but he was anxious about how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "rude the Dursleys might be to the Weasleys if they turned up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "looking like their worst idea of wizards. Uncle Vernon had put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "on his best suit. To some people, this might have looked like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "a gesture of welcome, but Harry knew it was because Uncle Vernon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "wanted to look impressive and intimidating. Dudley, on the other hand, looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "somehow diminished. This was not because the diet was at last taking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "effect, but due to fright. Dudley had emerged from his last encounter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "with a fully grown wizard with a curly pig's tail poking out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "of the seat of his trousers, and Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "had had to pay for its removal at a private hospital in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "London. It wasn't altogether surprising, therefore, that Dudley kept running his hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "nervously over his backside, and walking sideways from room to room, so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "as not to present the same target to the enemy. Lunch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "was an almost silent meal. Dudley didn't even protest at the food","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "(cottage cheese and grated celery). Aunt Petunia wasn't, eating anything at all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Her arms were folded, her lips were pursed, and she seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "be chewing her tongue, as though biting back the furious diatribe she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "longed to throw at Harry. `They'll be driving, of course?` Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Vernon barked across the table. `Er,` said Harry. He hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "thought of that. How were the Weasleys going to pick him up?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "They didn't have a car anymore; the old Ford Anglia they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "once owned was currently running wild in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "But Mr. Weasley had borrowed a Ministry of Magic car last year;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "possibly he would do the same today? `I think so,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry. Uncle Vernon snorted into his mustache. Normally, Uncle Vernon would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "have asked what car Mr. Weasley drove; he tended to judge other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "men by how big and expensive their cars were. But Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "doubted whether Uncle Vernon would have taken to Mr. Weasley even if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "he drove a Ferrari. Harry spent most of the afternoon in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "his bedroom; he couldn't stand watching Aunt Petunia peer out through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "net curtains every few seconds, as though there had been a warning about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "an escaped rhinoceros. Finally, at a quarter to five, Harry went back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "downstairs and into the living room. Aunt Petunia was compulsively straightening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "cushions. Uncle Vernon was pretending to read the paper, but his tiny","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "eyes were not moving, and Harry was sure he was really listening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "with all his might for the sound of an approaching car. Dudley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "was crammed into an armchair, his porky hands beneath him, clamped firmly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "around his bottom. Harry couldn't take the tension; he left the room","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "and went and sat on the stairs in the hall, his eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "on his watch and his heart pumping fast from excitement and nerves.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " But five o'clock came and then went. Uncle Vernon, perspiring slightly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "in his suit, opened the front door, peered up and down the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "street, then withdrew his head quickly. `They're late!` he snarled at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry. I know,` said Harry. `Maybe - er - the traffic's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "bad, or something.` Ten past five ... then a quarter past","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "five ... Harry was starting to feel anxious himself now. At half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "past, he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia conversing in terse mutters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "in the living room. `No consideration at all.` `We might've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "had an engagement.` `Maybe they think they'll get invited to dinner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "if they're late.` `Well, they most certainly won't be,` said Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Vernon, and Harry heard him stand up and start pacing the living","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "room. `They'll take the boy and go, there'll be no hanging around.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "That's if they're coming at all. Probably mistaken the day. I daresay","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "their kind don't set much store by punctuality. Either that or they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "drive some tin-pot car that's broken d- AAAAAAAARRRRRGH!` Harry jumped up.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "From the other side of the living room door came the sounds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "of the three Dursleys scrambling, panic-stricken, across the room. Next moment Dudley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "came flying into the hall, looking terrified. `What happened?` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "`What's the matter?` But Dudley didn't seem able to speak. Hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "still clamped over his buttocks, he waddled as fast as he could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "into the kitchen. Harry hurried into the living room. Loud bangings","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "and scrapings were coming from behind the Dursleys' boarded-up fireplace, which had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "a fake coal fire plugged in front of it. `What is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "it?` gasped Aunt Petunia, who had backed into the wall and was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "staring, terrified, toward the fire. `What is it, Vernon?` But they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "were left in doubt barely a second longer. Voices could be heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "from inside the blocked fireplace. `Ouch! Fred, no - go back,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "go back, there's been some kind of mistake - tell George not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "to - OUCH! George, no, there's no room, go back quickly and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "tell Ron-` `Maybe Harry can hear us, Dad - maybe he'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "be able to let us out-` There was a loud hammering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "of fists on the boards behind the electric fire. `Harry? Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "can you hear us?` The Dursleys rounded on Harry like a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "pair of angry wolverines. `What is this?` growled Uncle Vernon. `What's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "going on?` `They - they've tried to get here by Floo","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "powder,` said Harry, fighting a mad desire to laugh. `They can travel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "by fire - only you've blocked the fireplace - hang on -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " He approached the fireplace and called through the boards. `Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Weasley? Can you hear me?` The hammering stopped. Somebody inside the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "chimney piece said, `Shh!` `Mr. Weasley, it's Harry ... the fireplace","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "has been blocked up. You won't be able to get through there.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " `Damn!` said Mr. Weasley's voice. `What on earth did they want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "to block up the fireplace for?` `They've got an electric fire,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "explained. `Really?` said Mr. Weasley's voice excitedly. `Eclectic, you say? With","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "a plug? Gracious, I must see that.... Let's think ... ouch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Ron!` Ron's voice now joined the others'. `What are we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "doing here? Has something gone wrong?` `Oh no, Ron,` came Fred's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "voice, very sarcastically. `No, this is exactly where we wanted to end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "up.` `Yeah, we're having the time of our lives here,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "George, whose voice sounded muffled, as though he was squashed against the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "wall. `Boys, boys. . .` said Mr. Weasley vaguely. `I'm trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "to think what to do.... Yes ... only way. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Stand back, Harry.` Harry retreated to the sofa. Uncle Vernon, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "moved forward. `Wait a moment!` he bellowed at the fire. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "exactly are you going to -` BANG. The electric fire","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "shot across the room as the boarded-up fireplace burst outward, expelling Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron in a cloud of rubble and loose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "chippings. Aunt Petunia shrieked and fell backward over the coffee table;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Uncle Vernon caught her before she hit the floor, and gaped, speechless,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "at the Weasleys, all of whom had bright red hair, including Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "and George, who were identical to the last freckle. `That's better,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "panted Mr. Weasley, brushing dust from his long green robes and straightening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "his glasses. `Ah - you must be Harry's aunt and uncle!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Tall, thin, and balding, he moved toward Uncle Vernon, his hand outstretched,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "but Uncle Vernon backed away several paces, dragging Aunt Petunia. Words utterly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "failed Uncle Vernon. His best suit was covered in white dust, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "had settled in his hair and mustache and made him look as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "though he had just aged thirty years. `Er - yes -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "sorry about that,` said Mr. Weasley, lowering his hand and looking over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "his shoulder at the blasted fireplace. `It's all my fault. It just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "didn't occur to me that we wouldn't be able to get out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "at the other end. I had your fireplace connected to the Floo","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Network, you see - just for an afternoon, you know, so we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "could get Harry. Muggle fireplaces aren't supposed to be connected, strictly speaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "- but I've got a useful contact at the Floo Regulation Panel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "and he fixed it for me. I can put it right in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "a jiffy, though, don't worry. I'll light a fire to send the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "boys back, and then I can repair your fireplace before I Disapparate.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " Harry was ready to bet that the Dursleys hadn't understood a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "single word of this. They were still gaping at Mr. Weasley, thunderstruck.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Aunt Petunia staggered upright again and hid behind Uncle Vernon. `Hello,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry!` said Mr. Weasley brightly. `Got your trunk ready?` `It's upstairs,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "said Harry, grinning back. `We'll get it,` said Fred at once.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Winking at Harry, he and George left the room. They knew where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry's bedroom was, having once rescued him from it in the dead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "of night. Harry suspected that Fred and George were hoping for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "a glimpse of Dudley; they had heard a lot about him from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry. `Well,` said Mr. Weasley, swinging his arms slightly, while he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "tried to find words to break the very nasty silence. `Very -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "erm - very nice place you've got here.` As the usually","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "spotless living room was now covered in dust and bits of brick,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "this remark didn't go down too well with the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "face purpled once more, and Aunt Petunia started chewing her tongue again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "However, they seemed too scared to actually say anything. Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "was looking around. He loved everything to do with Muggles. Harry could see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "him itching to go and examine the television and the video recorder.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " `They run off eckeltricity, do they?` he said knowledgeably. `Ah yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "I can see the plugs. I collect plugs,` he added to Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Vernon. `And batteries. Got a very large collection of batteries. My wife","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "thinks I'm mad, but there you are.` Uncle Vernon clearly thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Mr. Weasley was mad too. He moved ever so slightly to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "right, screening Aunt Petunia from view, as though he thought Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "might suddenly run at them and attack. Dudley suddenly reappeared in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "the room. Harry could hear the clunk of his trunk on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "stairs, and knew that the sounds had scared Dudley out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "kitchen. Dudley edged along the wall, gazing at Mr. Weasley with terrified","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "eyes, and attempted to conceal himself behind his mother and father.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Unfortunately, Uncle Vernon's bulk, while sufficient to hide bony Aunt Petunia, was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "nowhere near enough to conceal Dudley. `Ah, this is your cousin,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "is it, Harry?` said Mr. Weasley, taking another brave stab at making","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "conversation. `Yep,` said Harry, `that's Dudley.` He and Ron exchanged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "glances and then quickly looked away from each other; the temptation to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "burst out laughing was almost overwhelming. Dudley was still clutching his bottom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "as though afraid it might fall off. Mr. Weasley, however, seemed genuinely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "concerned at Dudley's peculiar behavior. Indeed, from the tone of his voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "when he next spoke, Harry was quite sure that Mr. Weasley thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Dudley was quite as mad as the Dursleys thought he was, except","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "that Mr. Weasley felt sympathy rather than fear. `Having a good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "holiday, Dudley?` he said kindly. Dudley whimpered. Harry saw his hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "tighten still harder over his massive backside. Fred and George came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "back into the room carrying Harry's school trunk. They glanced around as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "they entered and spotted Dudley. Their faces cracked into identical evil grins.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " `Ah, right,` said Mr. Weasley. `Better get cracking then.` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "pushed up the sleeves of his robes and took out his wand.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry saw the Dursleys draw back against the wall as one. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "`Incendio!` said Mr. Weasley, pointing his wand at the hole in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "wall behind him. Flames rose at once in the fireplace, crackling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "merrily as though they had been burning for hours. Mr. Weasley took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "a small drawstring bag from his pocket, untied it, took a pinch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "of the powder inside, and threw it onto the flames, which turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "emerald green and roared higher than ever. `Off you go then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Fred,` said Mr. Weasley. `Coming,` said Fred. `Oh no - hang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "on -` A bag of sweets had spilled out of Fred's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "pocket and the contents were now rolling in every direction - big,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "fat toffees in brightly colored wrappers. Fred scrambled around, cramming them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "back into his pocket, then gave the Dursleys a cheery wave, stepped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "forward, and walked right into the fire, saying `the Burrow!` Aunt Petunia","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "gave a little shuddering gasp. There was a whooshing sound, and Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "vanished. `Right then, George,` said Mr. Weasley, `you and the trunk.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " Harry helped George carry the trunk forward into the flames and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "turn it onto its end so that he could hold it better.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Then, with a second whoosh, George had cried `the Burrow!` and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "vanished too. `Ron, you next,` said Mr. Weasley. `See you,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "said Ron brightly to the Dursleys. He grinned broadly at Harry, then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "stepped into the fire, shouted `the Burrow!` and disappeared. Now Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "and Mr. Weasley alone remained. `Well . . . 'bye then,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry said to the Dursleys. They didn't say anything at all. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "moved toward the fire, but just as he reached the edge of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "the hearth, Mr. Weasley put out a hand and held him back.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "He was looking at the Dursleys in amazement. `Harry said good-bye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "to you,` he said. `Didn't you hear him?` `It doesn't matter,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Harry muttered to Mr. Weasley. `Honestly, I don't care.` Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "did not remove his hand from Harry's shoulder. `You aren't going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "to see your nephew till next summer,` he said to Uncle Vernon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "in mild indignation. `Surely you're going to say good-bye?` Uncle Vernon's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "face worked furiously. The idea of being taught consideration by a man","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "who had just blasted away half his living room wall seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "be causing him intense suffering. But Mr. Weasley's wand was still in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "his hand, and Uncle Vernon's tiny eyes darted to it once, before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "he said, very resentfully, `Good-bye, then.` `See you,` said Harry, putting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "one foot forward into the green flames, which felt pleasantly like warm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "breath. At that moment, however, a horrible gagging sound erupted behind him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "and Aunt Petunia started to scream. Harry wheeled around. Dudley was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "no longer standing behind his parents. He was kneeling beside the coffee","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "table, and he was gagging and sputtering on a foot-long, purple, slimy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "thing that was protruding from his mouth. One bewildered second later, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "realized that the foot-long thing was Dudley's tongue - and that a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "brightly colored toffee wrapper lay on the floor before him. Aunt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Petunia hurled herself onto the ground beside Dudley, seized the end of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "his swollen tongue, and attempted to wrench it out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "mouth; unsurprisingly, Dudley yelled and sputtered worse than ever, trying to fight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "her off. Uncle Vernon was bellowing and waving his arms around, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Mr. Weasley had to shout to make himself heard. `Not to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "worry, I can sort him out!` he yelled, advancing on Dudley with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "his wand outstretched, but Aunt Petunia screamed worse than ever and threw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "herself on top of Dudley, shielding him from Mr. Weasley. `No,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "really!` said Mr. Weasley desperately. `It's a simple process it was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "toffee -my son Fred - real practical joker - but it's only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "an Engorgement Charm - at least, I think it is - please,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "I can correct it -` But far from being reassured, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Dursleys became more panic- stricken; Aunt Petunia was sobbing hysterically, tugging Dudley's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "tongue as though determined to rip it out; Dudley appeared to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "suffocating under the combined pressure of his mother and his tongue; and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Uncle Vernon, who had lost control completely, seized a china figure from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "on top of the sideboard and threw it very hard at Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Weasley, who ducked, causing the ornament to shatter in the blasted fireplace.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " `Now really!` said Mr. Weasley angrily, brandishing his wand. `I'm trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "to help!` Bellowing like a wounded hippo, Uncle Vernon snatched up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "another ornament. `Harry, go! Just go!` Mr. Weasley shouted, his wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "on Uncle Vernon. `I'll sort this out!` Harry didn't want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "miss the fun, but Uncle Vernon's second ornament narrowly missed his left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "ear, and on balance he thought it best to leave the situation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "to Mr. Weasley. He stepped into the fire, looking over his shoulder","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "as he said `the Burrow!` His last fleeting glimpse of the living","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "room was of Mr. Weasley blasting a third ornament out of Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Vernon's hand with his wand, Aunt Petunia screaming and lying on top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "of Dudley, and Dudley's tongue lolling around like a great slimy python.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "But next moment Harry had begun to spin very fast, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" "Dursleys' living room was whipped out of sight in a rush of emerald-green flames.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-4" " Harry spun faster and faster, elbows tucked tightly to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "sides, blurred fireplaces flashing past him, until he started to feel sick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and closed his eyes. Then, when at last he felt himself slowing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "down, he threw out his hands and came to a halt in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "time to prevent himself from falling face forward out of the Weasleys'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "kitchen fire. `Did he eat it?` said Fred excitedly, holding out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "a hand to pull Harry to his fee `Yeah,` said Harry, straightening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "up. `What was it?` `Ton-Tongue Toffee,` said Fred brightly. `George and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "I invented them, and we've been looking for someone to test them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "on all summer. . . .` The tiny kitchen exploded with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "laughter; Harry looked around and saw that Ron and George were sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "at the scrubbed wooden table with two red-haired people Harry had never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "seen before, though he knew immediately who they must be: Bill and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Charlie, the two eldest Weasley brothers. `How're you doing, Harry?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the nearer of the two, grinning at him and holding out a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "large hand, which Harry shook, feeling calluses and blisters under his fingers.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "This had to be Charlie, who worked with dragons in Romania. Charlie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "was built like the twins, shorter and stockier than Percy and Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "who were both long and lanky. He had a broad, good-natured face,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "which was weather-beaten and so freckly that he looked almost tanned; his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "arms were muscular, and one of them had a large, shiny burn","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "on it. Bill got to his feet, smiling, and also shook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Harry's hand. Bill came as something of a surprise. Harry knew that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "he worked for the wizarding bank, Gringotts, and that Bill had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Head Boy at Hogwarts; Harry had always imagined Bill to be an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "older version of Percy: fussy about rule-breaking and fond of bossing everyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "around. However, Bill was - there was no other word for it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "- cool. He was tall, with long hair that he had tied","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "back in a ponytail. He was wearing an earring with what looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "like a fang dangling from it. Bill's clothes would not have looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "out of place at a rock concert, except that Harry recognized his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "boots to be made, not of leather, but of dragon hide. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Before any of them could say anything else, there was a faint","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "popping noise, and Mr. Weasley appeared out of thin air at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "George's shoulder. He was looking angrier than Harry had ever seen him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " `That wasn't funny Fred!` he shouted. `What on earth did you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "give that Muggle boy?` `I didn't give him anything,` said Fred,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "with another evil grin. I just dropped it.... It was his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "fault he went and ate it, I never told him to.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`You dropped it on purpose!` roared Mr. Weasley. `You knew he'd eat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "it, you knew he was on a diet -` `How big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "did his tongue get?` George asked eagerly. `It was four feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "long before his parents would let me shrink it!` Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the Weasleys roared with laughter again. `It isn't funny!` Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "shouted. `That sort of behavior seriously undermines wizard-Muggle relations! I spend half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "my life campaigning against the mistreatment of Muggles, and my own sons","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`We didn't give it to him because he's a Muggle!` said Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "indignantly. `No, we gave it to him because he's a great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "bullying git,` said George. `Isn't he, Harry?` `Yeah, he is, Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Weasley,` said Harry earnestly. `That's not the point!` raged Mr. Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`You wait until I tell your mother -` `Tell me what?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "said a voice behind them. Mrs. Weasley had just entered the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "kitchen. She was a short, plump woman with a very kind face,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "though her eyes were presently narrowed with suspicion. `Oh hello, Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "dear,` she said, spotting him and smiling. Then her eyes snapped back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "to her husband. `Tell me what, Arthur?` Mr. Weasley hesitated. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "could tell that, however angry he was with Fred and George, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "hadn't really intended to tell Mrs. Weasley what had happened. There was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "a silence, while Mr. Weasley eyed his wife nervously. Then two girls","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "appeared in the kitchen doorway behind Mrs. Weasley. One, with very bushy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "brown hair and rather large front teeth, was Harry's and Ron's friend,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Hermione Granger. The other, who was small and red-haired, was Ron's younger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "sister, Ginny. Both of them smiled at Harry, who grinned back, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "made Ginny go scarlet - she had been very taken with Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "ever since his first visit to the Burrow. `Tell me what,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Arthur?` Mrs. Weasley repeated, in a dangerous sort of voice. `It's nothing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Molly,` mumbled Mr. Weasley, `Fred and George just - but I've had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "words with them -` `What have they done this time?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Mrs. Weasley. `If it's got anything to do with Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "-` `Why don't you show Harry where he's sleeping, Ron?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Hermione from the doorway. `He knows where he's sleeping,` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`in my room, he slept there last -` `We can all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "go,` said Hermione pointedly. `Oh,` said Ron, cottoning on. `Right.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`Yeah, we'll come too,` said George. `You stay where you are!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "snarled Mrs. Weasley. Harry and Ron edged out of the kitchen,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and they, Hermione, and Ginny set off along the narrow hallway and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "up the rickety staircase that zigzagged through the house to the upper","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "stories. `What are Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?` Harry asked as they climbed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " Ron and Ginny both laughed, although Hermione didn't. `Mum found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "this stack of order forms when she was cleaning Fred and George's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "room,` said Ron quietly. `Great long price lists for stuff they've invented.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Joke stuff, you know. Fake wands and trick sweets, loads of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "stuff. It was brilliant, I never knew they'd been inventing all that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" ". . .` `We've been hearing explosions out of their room","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "for ages, but we never thought they were actually making things,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Ginny. `We thought they just liked the noise.` `Only, most of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the stuff - well, all of it, really - was a bit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "dangerous,` said Ron, `and, you know, they were planning to sell it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "at Hogwarts to make some money, and Mum went mad at them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Told them they weren't allowed to make any more of it, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "burned all the order forms.... She's furious at them anyway. They didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "get as many O.W.L.s as she expected.` O.W.L.s were Ordinary Wizarding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Levels, the examinations Hogwarts students took at the age of fifteen. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`And then there was this big row,` Ginny said, `because Mum wants","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "them to go into the Ministry of Magic like Dad, and they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "told her all they want to do is open a joke shop.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " Just then a door on the second landing opened, and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "face poked out wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a very annoyed expression. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`Hi, Percy,` said Harry. `Oh hello, Harry,` said Percy. `I was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "wondering who was making all the noise. I'm trying to work in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "here, you know I've got a report to finish for the office","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "- and it's rather difficult to concentrate when people keep thundering up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and down the stairs.` `We're not thundering, `said Ron irritably. `We're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "walking. Sorry if we've disturbed the top-secret workings of the Ministry of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Magic.` `What are you working on?` said Harry. `A report","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "for the Department of International Magical Cooperation,` said Percy smugly. `We're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "a shade too thin - leakages have been increasing at a rate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "of almost three percent a year -` `That'll change the world,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "that report will,` said Ron. `Front page of the Daily Prophet, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "expect, cauldron leaks.` Percy went slightly pink. `You might sneer,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Ron,` he said heatedly, `but unless some sort of international law is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "imposed we might well find the market flooded with flimsy, shallow-bottomed products","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "that seriously endanger -` `Yeah, yeah, all right,` said Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "he started off upstairs again. Percy slammed his bedroom door shut. As","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Harry, Hermione, and Ginny followed Ron up three more flights of stairs,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "shouts from the kitchen below echoed up to them. It sounded as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "though Mr. Weasley had told Mrs. Weasley about the toffees. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "The room at the top of the house where Ron slept looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "much as it had the last time that Harry had come to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "stay: the same posters of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "were whirling and waving on the walls and sloping ceiling, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "fish tank on the windowsill, which had previously held frog spawn, now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "contained one extremely large frog. Ron's old rat, Scabbers, was here no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "more, but instead there was the tiny gray owl that had delivered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Ron's letter to Harry in Privet Drive. It was hopping up and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "down in a small cage and twittering madly. `Shut up, Pig,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "said Ron, edging his way between two of the four beds that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "had been squeezed into the room. `Fred and George are in here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "with us, because Bill and Charlie are in their room,` he told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Harry. `Percy gets to keep his room all to himself because he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "got to work.` `Er - why are you calling that owl Pig?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Harry asked Ron. `Because he's being stupid,` said Ginny, `Its proper","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "name is Pigwidgeon.` `Yeah, and that's not a stupid name at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "all,` said Ron sarcastically. `Ginny named him,` he explained to Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`She reckons it's sweet. And I tried to change it, but it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "was too late, he won't answer to anything else. So now he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Pig. I've got to keep him up here because he annoys Errol","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and Hermes. He annoys me too, come to that. Pigwidgeon zoomed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "happily around his cage, hooting shrilly. Harry knew Ron too well to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "take him seriously. He had moaned continually about his old rat, Scabbers,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "but had been most upset when Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, appeared to have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "eaten him. `Where's Crookshanks?` Harry asked Hermione now. `Out in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the garden, I expect,` she said. `He likes chasing gnomes. He's never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "seen any before.` `Percy's enjoying work, then?` said Harry, sitting down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "on one of the beds and watching the Chudley Cannons zooming in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and out of the posters on the ceiling. `Enjoying it?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Ron darkly. `I don't reckon he'd come home if Dad didn't make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "him. He's obsessed. Just don't get him onto the subject of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "his boss. According to Mr. Crouch ... as I was saying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Mr. Crouch ... Mr. Crouch is of the opinion ... Mr. Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "was telling me ... They'll be announcing their engagement any day now.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " `Have you had a good summer, Harry?` said Hermione. `Did you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "get our food parcels and everything?` `Yeah, thanks a lot, `","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "said Harry. `They saved my life, those cakes. `And have you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "heard from -?` Ron began, but at a look from Hermione he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "fell silent. Harry knew Ron had been about to ask about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Sirius. Ron and Hermione had been so deeply involved in helping Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "escape from the Ministry of Magic that they were almost as concerned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "about Harry's godfather as he was. However, discussing him in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Ginny was a bad idea. Nobody but themselves and Professor Dumbledore knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "about how Sirius had escaped, or believed in his innocence. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "think they've stopped arguing,` said Hermione, to cover the awkward moment, because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Ginny was looking curiously from Ron to Harry. `Shall we go down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and help your mum with dinner?` `Yeah, all right,` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "The four of them left Ron's room and went back downstairs to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "find Mrs. Weasley alone in the kitchen, looking extremely bad-tempered. `We're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "eating out in the garden,` she said when they came in. `There's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "just not room for eleven people in here. Could you take the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "plates outside, girls? Bill and Charlie are setting up the tables. Knives","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and forks, please, you two,` she said to Ron and Harry, pointing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "her wand a little more vigorously than she had intended at a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "pile of potatoes in the sink, which shot out of their skins","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "so fast that they ricocheted off the walls and ceiling. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "for heaven's sake,` she snapped, now directing her wand at a dustpan,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "which hopped off the sideboard and started skating across the floor, scooping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "up the potatoes. `Those two!` she burst out savagely, now pulling pots","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and pans out of a cupboard, and Harry knew she meant Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and George. I don't know what's going to happen to them, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "really don't. No ambition, unless you count making as much trouble","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "as they possibly can....` Mrs. Weasley slammed a large copper saucepan","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "down on the kitchen table and began to wave her wand around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "inside it. A creamy sauce poured from the wand tip as she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "stirred. `It's not as though they haven't got brains, she continued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "irritably, taking the saucepan over to the stove and lighting it with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "a further poke of her wand, `but they're wasting them, and unless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "they pull themselves together soon, they'll be in real trouble. I've had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "more owls from Hogwarts about them than the rest put together. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "they carry on the way they're going, they'll end up in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "of the Improper Use of Magic Office.` Mrs. Weasley jabbed her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "wand at the cutlery drawer, which shot open. Harry and Ron both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "jumped out of the way as several knives soared out of it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "flew across the kitchen, and began chopping the potatoes, which had just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "been tipped back into the sink by the dustpan. `I don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "know where we went wrong with them,` said Mrs. Weasley, putting down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "her wand and starting to pull out still more saucepans. `It's been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the same for years, one thing after another, and they won't listen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "to - OH NOT AGAIN!` She had picked up her wand from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the table, and it had emitted a loud squeak and turned into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "a giant rubber mouse. `One of their fake wands again!` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "shouted. `How many times have I told them not to leave them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "lying around?` She grabbed her real wand and turned around to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "find that the sauce on the stove was smoking. `C'mon,` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "said hurriedly to Harry, seizing a handful of cutlery from the open","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "drawer, `let's go and help Bill and Charlie.` They left Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Weasley and headed out the back door into the yard. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "had only gone a few paces when Hermione's bandy-legged ginger cat, Crookshanks,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "came pelting out of the garden, bottle-brush tail held high in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "air, chasing what looked like a muddy potato on legs. Harry recognized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "it instantly as a gnome. Barely ten inches high, its horny little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "feet pattered very fast as it sprinted across the yard and dived","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "headlong into one of the Wellington boots that lay scattered around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "door. Harry could hear the gnome giggling madly as Crookshanks inserted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "a paw into the boot, trying to reach it. Meanwhile, a very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "loud crashing noise was coming from the other side of the house.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "The source of the commotion was revealed as they entered the garden,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and saw that Bill and Charlie both had their wands out, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "were making two battered old tables fly high above the lawn, smashing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "into each other, each attempting to knock the other's out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "air. Fred and George were cheering, Ginny was laughing, and Hermione was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "hovering near the hedge, apparently torn between amusement and anxiety. Bill's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "table caught Charlie's with a huge bang and knocked one of its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "legs off. There was a clatter from overhead, and they all looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "up to see Percy's head poking out of a window on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "second floor. `Will you keep it down?!` he bellowed. `Sorry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Perce,` said Bill, grinning. `How're the cauldron bottoms coming on?` `Very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "badly,` said Percy peevishly, and he slammed the window shut. Chuckling, Bill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and Charlie directed the tables safely onto the grass, end to end,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and then, with a flick of his wand, Bill reattached the table","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "leg and conjured tablecloths from nowhere. By seven o'clock, the two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "tables were groaning under dishes and dishes of Mrs. Weasley's excellent cooking,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and the nine Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione were settling themselves down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "eat beneath a clear, deep-blue sky. To somebody who had been living","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "on meals of increasingly stale cake all summer, this was paradise, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "at first, Harry listened rather than talked as he helped himself to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "chicken and ham pie, boiled potatoes, and salad. At the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "far end of the table, Percy was telling his father all about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "his report on cauldron bottoms. `I've told Mr. Crouch that I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "have it ready by Tuesday,` Percy was saying pompously. `That's a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "bit sooner than he expected it, but I like to keep on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "top of things. I think he'll be grateful I've done it in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "good time, I mean, its extremely busy in our department just now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "what with all the arrangements for the World Cup. We're just not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "getting the support we need from the Department of Magical Games and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Sports. Ludo Bagman -` `I like Ludo,` said Mr. Weasley mildly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`He was the one who got us such good tickets for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Cup. I did him a bit of a favor: His brother, Otto,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "got into a spot of trouble - a lawnmower with unnatural powers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "- I smoothed the whole thing over.` `Oh Bagman's likable enough,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "of course,` said Percy dismissively, `but how he ever got to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Head of Department ... when I compare him to Mr. Crouch! I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "can't see Mr. Crouch losing a member of our department and not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "trying to find out what's happened to them. You realize Bertha","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Jorkins has been missing for over a month now? Went on holiday","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "to Albania and never came back?` `Yes, I was asking Ludo","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "about that,` said Mr. Weasley, frowning. `He says Bertha's gotten lost plenty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "of times before now - though must say, if it was someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "in my department, I'd be worried. . . .` `Oh Bertha's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "hopeless, all right,` said Percy. `I hear she's been shunted from department","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "to department for years, much more trouble than she's worth ... but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "all the same, Bagman ought to be trying to find her. Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Crouch has been taking a personal interest, she worked in our department","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "at one time, you know, and I think Mr. Crouch was quite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "fond of her - but Bagman just keeps laughing and saying she probably","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "misread the map and ended up in Australia instead of Albania. However`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "- Percy heaved an impressive sigh and took a deep swig of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "elderflower wine - `we've got quite enough on our plates at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Department of International Magical Cooperation without trying to find members of other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "departments too. As you know, we've got another big event to organize","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "right after the World Cup.` Percy cleared his throat significantly and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "looked down toward the end of the table where Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Hermione were sitting. `You know the one I'm talking about, Father.` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "raised his voice slightly. `The top-secret one.` Ron rolled his eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "and muttered to Harry and Hermione, `He's been trying to get us","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "to ask what that event is ever since he started work. Probably","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "an exhibition of thick-bottomed cauldrons.` In the middle of the table,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Mrs. Weasley was arguing with Bill about his earring, which seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "be a recent acquisition. `. . . with a horrible great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "fang on it. Really, Bill, what do they say at the bank?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " `Mum,.no one at the bank gives a damn how I dress","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "as long as I bring home plenty of treasure,` said Bill patiently.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " `And your hair's getting silly, dear,` said Mrs. Weasley, fingering her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "wand lovingly.` I wish you'd let me give it a trim. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" ". .` `I like it,` said Ginny, who was sitting beside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Bill. `You're so old-fashioned, Mum. Anyway, it's nowhere near as long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "as Professor Dumbledore's....` Next to Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, and Charlie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "were all talking spiritedly about the World Cup. `It's got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "be Ireland,` said Charlie thickly, through a mouthful of potato. `They flattened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Peru in the semifinals.` `Bulgaria has got Viktor Krum, though,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Fred. `Krum's one decent player, Ireland has got seven,` said Charlie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "shortly. `I wish England had got through. That was embarrassing, that was.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " `What happened?` said Harry eagerly, regretting more than ever his isolation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "from the wizarding world when he was stuck on Privet Drive. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`Went down to Transylvania, three hundred and ninety to ten,` said Charlie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "gloomily. `Shocking performance. And Wales lost to Uganda, and Scotland was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "slaughtered by Luxembourg.` Harry had been on the Gryffindor House Quidditch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "team ever since his first year at Hogwarts and owned one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the best racing brooms in the world, a Firebolt. Flying came more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "naturally to Harry than anything else in the magical world, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "played in the position of Seeker on the Gryffindor House team. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Mr. Weasley conjured up candles to light the darkening garden before they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "had their homemade strawberry ice cream, and by the time they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "had finished, moths were fluttering low over the table, and the warm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "air was perfumed with the smells of grass and honeysuckle. Harry was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "feeling extremely well fed and at peace with the world as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "watched several gnomes sprinting through the rosebushes, laughing madly and closely pursued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "by Crookshanks. Ron looked carefully up the table to check that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "the rest of the family were all busy talking, then he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "very quietly to Harry, `So - have you heard from Sirius lately?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " Hermione looked around, listening closely. `Yeah,` said Harry softly, `twice.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "He sounds okay. I wrote to him yesterday. He might write back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "while I'm here.` He suddenly remembered the reason he had written","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "to Sirius, and for a moment was on the verge of telling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Ron and Hermione about his scar hurting again, and about the dream","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "that had awoken him ... but he really didn't want to worry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "them just now, not when he himself was feeling so happy and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "peaceful. `Look at the time,` Mrs. Weasley said suddenly, checking her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "wristwatch. `You really should be in bed, the whole lot of you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "you'll be up at the crack of dawn to get to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Cup. Harry, if you leave your school list out, I'll get your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "things for you tomorrow in Diagon Alley. I'm getting everyone else's. There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "might not be time after the World Cup, the match went on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "for five days last time.` `Wow - hope it does this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "time!` said Harry enthusiastically. `Well, I certainly don't,` said Percy sanctimoniously.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`I shudder to think what the state of my in-tray would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "if I was away from work for five days.` `Yeah, someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "might slip dragon dung in it again, eh, Perce?` said Fred. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "`That was a sample of fertilizer from Norway!` said Percy, going very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "red in the face. `It was nothing personal!` `It was,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" "Fred whispered to Harry as they got up from the table. `We sent it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-5" " Harry felt as though he had barely lain down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "steep in Ron's room when he was being shaken awake by Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Weasley. `Time to go, Harry, dear,` she whispered, moving away to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "wake Ron. Harry felt around for his glasses, put them on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "and sat up. It was still dark outside. Ron muttered indistinctly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "as his mother roused him. At the foot of Harry's mattress he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "saw two large, disheveled shapes emerging from tangles of blankets. `'S'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "time already?` said Fred groggily. They dressed in silence, too sleepy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "to talk, then, yawning and stretching, the four of them headed downstairs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was stirring the contents of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "large pot on the stove, while Mr. Weasley was sitting at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "table, checking a sheaf of large parchment tickets. He looked up as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the boys entered and spread his arms so that they could see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "his clothes more clearly. He was wearing what appeared to be a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "golfing sweater and a very old pair of jeans, slightly too big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "for him and held up with a thick leather belt. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "d'you think?` he asked anxiously. `We're supposed to go incognito - do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "I look like a Muggle, Harry?` `Yeah,` said Harry, smiling, `very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "good.` `Where're Bill and Charlie and Per-Per-Percy?` said George, failing to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "stifle a huge yawn. `Well, they're Apparating, aren't they?` said Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Weasley, heaving the large pot over to the table and starting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "ladle porridge into bowls. `So they can have a bit of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "lie-in.` Harry knew that Apparating meant disappearing from one place and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "reappearing almost instantly in another, but had never known any Hogwarts student to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "do it, and understood that it was very difficult. `So they're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "still in bed?` said Fred grumpily, pulling his bowl of porridge toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "him. `Why can't we Apparate too?` `Because you're not of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "age and you haven't passed your test,` snapped Mrs. Weasley. `And where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "have those girls got to?` She bustled out of the kitchen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "and they heard her climbing the stairs. `You have to pass","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "a test to Apparate?` Harry asked. `Oh yes,` said Mr. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "tucking the tickets safely into the back pocket of his jeans. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`The Department of Magical Transportation had to fine a couple of people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the other day for Apparating without a license. It's not easy, Apparition,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "and when it's not done property it can lead to nasty complications.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "This pair I'm talking about went and splinched themselves.` Everyone around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the table except Harry winced. `Er - splinched?` said Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`They left half of themselves behind,` said Mr. Weasley, now spooning large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "amounts of treacle onto his porridge. `So, of course, they were stuck.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Couldn't move either way. Had to wait for the Accidental Magic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Reversal Squad to sort them out. Meant a fair old bit of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "paperwork, I can tell you, what with the Muggles who spotted the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "body parts they'd left behind.....` Harry had a sudden vision of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "a pair of legs and an eyeball lying abandoned on the pavement","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "of Privet Drive. `Were they okay?` he asked, startled. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "yes,` said Mr. Weasley matter-of-factly. `But they got a heavy fine, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "I don't think they'll be trying it again in a hurry. You don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "mess around with Apparition. There are plenty of adult wizards who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "don't bother with it. Prefer brooms - slower, but safer.` `But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Bill and Charlie and Percy can all do it?` `Charlie had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "to take the test twice,` said Fred, grinning. `He failed the first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "time. Apparated five miles south of where he meant to, right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "on top of some poor old dear doing her shopping, remember?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`Yes, well, he passed the second time,` said Mrs. Weasley, marching back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "into the kitchen amid hearty sniggers. `Percy only passed two weeks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "ago,` said George. `He's been Apparating downstairs every morning since, just to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "prove he can.` There were footsteps down the passageway and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "and Ginny came into the kitchen, both looking pale and drowsy. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`Why do we have to be up so early?` Ginny said, rubbing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "her eyes and sitting down at the table. `We've got a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "bit of a walk,` said Mr. Weasley. `Walk?` said Harry. `What,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "are we walking to the World Cup?` `No, no, that's miles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "away,` said Mr. Weasley, smiling. `We only need to walk a short","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "way. It's just that it's very difficult for a large number of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "wizards to congregate without attracting Muggle attention. We have to be very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "careful about how we travel at the best of times, and on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "a huge occasion like the Quidditch World Cup...` `George!` said Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Weasley sharply, and they all jumped. `What?` said George, in an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "innocent tone that deceived nobody. `What is that in your pocket?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " `Nothing!` `Don't you lie to me!` Mrs. Weasley pointed her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "wand at George's pocket and said, `Accio!` Several small, brightly colored","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "objects zoomed out of George's pocket; he made a grab for them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "but missed, and they sped right into Mrs. Weasley's outstretched hand. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`We told you to destroy them!` said Mrs. Weasley furiously, holding up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "what were unmistakably more Ton-Tongue Toffees. `We told you to get rid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "of the lot! Empty your pockets, go on, both of you!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "It was an unpleasant scene; the twins had evidently been trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "smuggle as many toffees out of the house as possible, and it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "was only by using her Summoning Charm that Mrs. Weasley managed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "find them all. `Accio! Accio! Accio!` she shouted, and toffees zoomed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "from all sorts of unlikely places, including the lining of George's jacket","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "and the turn-ups of Fred's jeans. `We spent six months developing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "those!` Fred shouted at his mother as she threw the toffees away.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " `Oh a fine way to spend six months!` she shrieked. `No","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "wonder you didn't get more O.W.L.s!` All in all, the atmosphere","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "was not very friendly as they took their departure. Mrs. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "was still glowering as she kissed Mr. Weasley on the cheek, though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "not nearly as much as the twins, who had each hoisted their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "rucksacks onto their backs and walked out without a word to her.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " `Well, have a lovely time,` said Mrs. Weasley, `and behave yourselves,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "she called after the twins' retreating backs, but they did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "look back or answer. `I'll send Bill, Charlie, and Percy along around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "midday,` Mrs. Weasley said to Mr. Weasley, as he, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Ginny set off across the dark yard after Fred and George. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "It was chilly and the moon was still out. Only a dull,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "greenish tinge along the horizon to their right showed that daybreak was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "drawing closer. Harry, having been thinking about thousands of wizards speeding toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the Quidditch World Cup, sped up to walk with Mr. Weasley. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`So how does everyone get there without all the Muggles noticing?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "asked. `It's been a massive organizational problem,` sighed Mr. Weasley. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "trouble is, about a hundred thousand wizards turn up at the World","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Cup, and of course, we just haven't got a magical site big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "enough to accommodate them all. There are places Muggles can't penetrate, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "imagine trying to pack a hundred thousand wizards into Diagon Alley or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "platform nine and three-quarters. So we had to find a nice deserted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "moor, and set up as many anti-Muggle precautions as possible. The whole","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Ministry's been working on it for months. First, of course, we have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "to stagger the arrivals. People with cheaper tickets have to arrive two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "weeks beforehand. A limited number use Muggle transport, but we can't have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "too many clogging up their buses and trains - remember, wizards are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "coming from all over the world. Some Apparate, of course, but we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "have to set up safe points for them to appear, well away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "from Muggles. I believe there's a handy wood they're using as the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Apparition point. For those who don't want to Apparate, or can't, we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "use Portkeys. They're objects that are used to transport wizards from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "one spot to another at a prearranged time. You can do large groups","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "at a time if you need to. There have been two hundred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Portkeys placed at strategic points around Britain, and the nearest one to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "us is up at the top of Stoatshead Hill, so that's where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "we're headed.` Mr. Weasley pointed ahead of them, where a large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "black mass rose beyond the village of Ottery St. Catchpole. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "sort of objects are Portkeys?` said Harry curiously. `Well, they can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "be anything,` said Mr. Weasley. `Unobtrusive things, obviously, so Muggles don't go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "picking them up and playing with them ... stuff they'll just think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "is litter....` They trudged down the dark, dank lane toward the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "village, the silence broken only by their footsteps. The sky lightened very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "slowly as they made their way through the village, its inky blackness","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "diluting to deepest blue. Harry's hands and feet were freezing. Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "kept checking his watch. They didn't have breath to spare for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "talking as they began to climb Stoatshead Hill, stumbling occasionally in hidden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "rabbit holes, slipping on thick black tuffets of grass. Each breath","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Harry took was sharp in his chest and his legs were starting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "to seize up when, at last, his feet found level ground. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`Whew,` panted Mr. Weasley, taking off his glasses and wiping them on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "his sweater. `Well, we've made good time - we've got ten minutes.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " Hermione came over the crest of the hill last, clutching a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "stitch in her side. `Now we just need the Portkey,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Mr. Weasley, replacing his glasses and squinting around at the ground. `It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "won't be big.... Come on...` They spread out, searching. They had only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "been at it for a couple of minutes, however, when a shout","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "rent the still air. `Over here, Arthur! Over here, son, we've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "got it.` Two tall figures were silhouetted against the starry sky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "on the other side of the hilltop. `Amos!` said Mr. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "smiling as he strode over to the man who had shouted. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "rest of them followed. Mr. Weasley was shaking hands with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "ruddy-faced wizard with a scrubby brown beard, who was holding a moldy-looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "old boot in his other hand. `This is Amos Diggory, everyone,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "said Mr. Weasley. `He works for the Department for the Regulation and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son, Cedric?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " Cedric Diggory was an extremely handsome boy of around seventeen. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "was Captain and Seeker of the Hufflepuff House Quidditch team at Hogwarts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " `Hi,` said Cedric, looking around at them all. Everybody said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "hi back except Fred and George, who merely nodded. They had never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "quite forgiven Cedric for beating their team, Gryffindor, in the first Quidditch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "match of the previous year. `Long walk, Arthur?` Cedric's father asked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "`Not too bad,` said Mr. Weasley. `We live just on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "other side of the village there. You?` `Had to get up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "at two, didn't we, Ced? I tell you, I'll be glad when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "he's got his Apparition test. Still ... not complaining ... Quidditch World","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Cup, wouldn't miss it for a sackful of Galleons - and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "tickets cost about that. Mind you, looks like I got off easy.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" ". . .` Amos Diggory peered good-naturedly around at the three Weasley boys,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Harry, Hermione, and Ginny. `All these yours, Arthur?` `Oh no, only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the redheads,` said Mr. Weasley, pointing out his children. `This is Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "friend of Ron's - and Harry, another friend -` `Merlin's beard,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "said Amos Diggory, his eyes widening. `Harry? Harry Potter?` `Er -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "yeah,` said Harry. Harry was used to people looking curiously at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "him when they met him, used to the way their eyes moved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "at once to the lightning scar on his forehead, but it always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "made him feel uncomfortable. `Ced's talked about you, of course,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Amos Diggory. `Told us all about playing against you last year... I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "said to him, I said - Ced, that'll be something to tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "your grandchildren, that will.... You beat Harry Potter!` Harry couldn't think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "of any reply to this, so he remained silent. Fred and George","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "were both scowling again. Cedric looked slightly embarrassed. `Harry fell off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "his broom, Dad,` he muttered. I told you ... it was an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "accident....` `Yes, but you didn't fall off, did you?` roared Amos","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "genially, slapping his son on his back. `Always modest, our Ced, always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the gentleman ... but the best man won, I'm sure Harry'd say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the same, wouldn't you, eh? One falls off his broom, one stays","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "on, you don't need to be a genius to tell which one's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "the better flier!` `Must be nearly time,` said Mr. Weasley quickly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "pulling out his watch again. `Do you know whether we're waiting for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "any more, Amos?` `No, the Lovegoods have been there for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "week already and the Fawcetts couldn't get tickets,` said Mr. Diggory. `There aren't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "any more of us in this area, are there?` `Not that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "I know of,` said Mr. Weasley. `Yes, it's a minute off ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "We'd better get ready....` He looked around at Harry and Hermione.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " `You just need to touch the Portkey, that's all, a finger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "will do -` With difficulty, owing to their bulky backpacks, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "nine of them crowded around the old boot held out by Amos","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Diggory. They all stood there, in a tight circle, as a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "chill breeze swept over the hilltop. Nobody spoke. It suddenly occurred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "to Harry how odd this would look if a Muggle were to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "walk up here now ... nine people, two of them grown men,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "clutching this manky old boot in the semidarkness, waiting.... `Three. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" ".` muttered Mr. Weasley, one eye still on his watch, two. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" ". one. . .` It happened immediately: Harry felt as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "a hook just behind his navel had been suddenly jerked irresistibly forward.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "His feet left the ground; he could feel Ron and Hermione on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "either side of him, their shoulders banging into his; they were all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "speeding forward in a howl of wind and swirling color; his forefinger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "was stuck to the boot as though it was pulling him magnetically","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "onward and then -His feet slammed into the ground; Ron staggered into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "him and he fell over; the Portkey hit the ground near his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "head with a heavy thud. Harry looked up. Mr. Weasley, Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "Diggory, and Cedric were still standing, though looking very windswept; everybody else","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" "was on the ground. `Seven past five from Stoatshead Hill,` said a voice.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-6" " Harry disentangled himself from Ron and got to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "feet. They had arrived on what appeared to be a deserted stretch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of misty moor. In front of them was a pair of tired","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and grumpy-looking wizards, one of whom was holding a large gold watch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the other a thick roll of parchment and a quill. Both were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "dressed as Muggles, though very inexpertly: The man with the watch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "wore a tweed suit with thigh-length galoshes; his colleague, a kilt and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a poncho. `Morning, Basil,` said Mr. Weasley, picking up the boot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and handing it to the kilted wizard, who threw it into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "large box of used Portkeys beside him; Harry could see an old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "newspaper, an empty drinks can, and a punctured football. `Hello there,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Arthur,` said Basil wearily. `Not on duty, eh? It's all right for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " some.... We've been here all night.... You'd better get out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the way, we've got a big party coming in from the Black","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Forest at five fifteen. Hang on, I'll find your campsite.... Weasley ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Weasley....` He consulted his parchment list. `About a quarter of a mile's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "walk over there, first field you come to. Site manager's called Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Roberts. Diggory ... second field ... ask for Mr. Payne.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Thanks, Basil,` said Mr. Weasley, and he beckoned everyone to follow him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " They set off across the deserted moor, unable to make out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "much through the mist. After about twenty minutes, a small stone cottage","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "next to a gate swam into view. Beyond it, Harry could just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "make out the ghostly shapes of hundreds and hundreds of tents, rising","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "up the gentle slope of a large field toward a dark wood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "on the horizon. They said good-bye to the Diggorys and approached the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "cottage door. A man was standing in the doorway, looking out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "at the tents. Harry knew at a glance that this was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "only real Muggle for several acres. When he heard their footsteps, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "turned his head to look at them. `Morning!` said Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "brightly. `Morning,` said the Muggle. `Would you be Mr. Roberts?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " `Aye, I would,` said Mr. Roberts. `And who're you?` `Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "- two tents, booked a couple of days ago?` `Aye,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Roberts, consulting a list tacked to the door. `You've got a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "space up by the wood there. Just the one night?` `That's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "it,` said Mr. Weasley. `You'll be paying now, then?` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Roberts. `Ah - right - certainly -` said Mr. Weasley. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "retreated a short distance from the cottage and beckoned Harry toward him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Help me, Harry,` he muttered, pulling a roll of Muggle money from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his pocket and starting to peel the notes apart. `This one's a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "- a - a ten? Ah yes, I see the little number","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "on it now... So this is a five?` `A twenty,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "corrected him in an undertone, uncomfortably aware of Mr. Roberts trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "catch every word. `Ah yes, so it is.... I don't know,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "these little bits of paper...` `You foreign?` said Mr. Roberts as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Weasley returned with the correct notes. `Foreign?` repeated Mr. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "puzzled. `You're not the first one who's had trouble with money,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "said Mr. Roberts, scrutinizing Mr. Weasley closely. `I had two try and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "pay me with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "ago.` `Did you really?` said Mr. Weasley nervously. Mr. Roberts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "rummaged around in a tin for some change. `Never been this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "crowded,` he said suddenly, looking out over the misty field again. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Hundreds of pre-bookings. People usually just turn up....` `Is that right?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "said Mr. Weasley, his hand held out for his change, but Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Roberts didn't give it to him. `Aye,` he said thoughtfully. `People","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "from all over. Loads of foreigners. And not just foreigners. Weirdos, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "know? There's a bloke walking 'round in a kilt and a poncho.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " `Shouldn't he?` said Mr. Weasley anxiously `It's like some sort of...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "I dunno ... like some sort of rally,` said Mr. Roberts. `They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "all seem to know each other. Like a big party.` At","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that moment, a wizard in plus-fours appeared out of thin air next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "to Mr. Roberts's front door. `Obliviate!` he said sharply, pointing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "wand at Mr. Roberts. Instantly, Mr. Roberts's eyes slid out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "focus, his brows unknitted, and a took of dreamy unconcern fell over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his face. Harry recognized the symptoms of one who had just had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his memory modified. `A map of the campsite for you,` Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Roberts said placidly to Mr. Weasley. `And your change.` `Thanks very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "much,` said Mr. Weasley. The wizard in plus-fours accompanied them toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the gate to the campsite. He looked exhausted: His chin was blue","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "with stubble and there were deep purple shadows under his eyes. Once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "out of earshot of Mr. Roberts, he muttered to Mr. Weasley, `Been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "having a lot of trouble with him. Needs a Memory Charm ten","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "times a day to keep him happy. And Ludo Bagman's not helping.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Trotting around talking about Bludgers and Quaffles at the top of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "voice, not a worry about anti-Muggle security Blimey, I'll be glad when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "this is over. See you later, Arthur.` He Disapparated. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`I thought Mr. Bagman was Head of Magical Games and Sports,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Ginny, looking surprised. `He should know better than to talk about Bludgers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "near Muggles, shouldn't he?` `He should,` said Mr. Weasley, smiling, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "leading them through the gates into the campsite, `but Ludo's always been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a bit ... well . . . lax about security. You couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "wish for a more enthusiastic head of the sports department though. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "played Quidditch for England himself, you know. And he was the best","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Beater the Wimbourne Wasps ever had.` They trudged up the misty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "field between long rows of tents. Most looked almost ordinary; their owners","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "had clearly tried to make them as Muggle-like as possible, but had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "slipped up by adding chimneys, or bellpulls, or weather vanes. However, here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and there was a tent so obviously magical that Harry could hardly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "be surprised that Mr. Roberts was getting suspicious. Halfway up the field","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "stood an extravagant confection of striped silk like a miniature palace, with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "several live peacocks tethered at the entrance. A little farther on they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "passed a tent that had three floors and several turrets; and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "short way beyond that was a tent that had a front garden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "attached, complete with birdbath, sundial, and fountain. `Always the same,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Weasley, smiling. `We can't resist showing off when we get together.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Ah, here we are, look, this is us.` They had reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the very edge of the wood at the top of the field,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and here was an empty space, with a small sign hammered into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the ground that read WEEZLY. `Couldn't have a better spot!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Weasley happily. `The field is just on the other side of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the wood there, we're as close as we could be.` He hoisted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his backpack from his shoulders. `Right,` he said excitedly, `no magic allowed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "strictly speaking, not when we're out in these numbers on Muggle land.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "We'll be putting these tents up by hand! Shouldn't be too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "difficult.... Muggles do it all the time.... Here, Harry, where do you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "reckon we should start?` Harry had never been camping in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "life; the Dursleys had never taken him on any kind of holiday,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "preferring to leave him with Mrs. Figg, an old neighbor. However, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and Hermione worked out where most of the poles and pegs should","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "go, and though Mr. Weasley was more of a hindrance than a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "help, because he got thoroughly overexcited when it came to using the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "mallet, they finally managed to erect a pair of shabby two-man tents.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " All of them stood back to admire their handiwork. Nobody looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "at these tents would guess they belonged to wizards, Harry thought, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the trouble was that once Bill, Charlie, and Percy arrived, they would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "be a party of ten. Hermione seemed to have spotted this problem","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "too; she gave Harry a quizzical look as Mr. Weasley dropped to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his hands and knees and entered the first tent. `We'll be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a bit cramped,` he called, `but I think we'll all squeeze in.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Come and have a look.` Harry bent down, ducked under the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "tent flap, and felt his jaw drop. He had walked into what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "looked like an old-fashioned, three room flat, complete with bathroom and kitchen.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " Oddly enough, it was furnished in exactly the same sort of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "style as Mrs. Figg's house: There were crocheted covers on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "mismatched chairs and a strong smell of cats. `Well, it's not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "for long,` said Mr. Weasley, mopping his bald patch with a handkerchief","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and peering in at the four bunk beds that stood in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "bedroom. I borrowed this from Perkins at the office. Doesn't camp much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "anymore, poor fellow, he's got lumbago.` He picked up the dusty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "kettle and peered inside it. `We'll need water.... `There's a tap","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "marked on this map the Muggle gave us,` said Ron, who had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "followed Harry inside the tent and seemed completely unimpressed by its extraordinary","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "inner proportions. `It's on the other side of the field.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Well, why don't you, Harry, and Hermione go and get us some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "water then` - Mr. Weasley handed over the kettle and a couple","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of saucepans - `and the rest of us will get some wood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "for a fire?` `But we've got an oven,` said Ron. `Why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "can't we just -` `Ron, anti-Muggle security!` said Mr. Weasley, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "face shining with anticipation. `When real Muggles camp, they cook on fires","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "outdoors. I've seen them at it!` After a quick tour of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the girls' tent, which was slightly smaller than the boys', though without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the smell of cats, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off across the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "campsite with the kettle and saucepans. Now, with the sun newly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "risen and the mist lifting, they could see the city of tents","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that stretched in every direction. They made their way slowly through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the rows, staring eagerly around. It was only just dawning on Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "how many witches and wizards there must be in the world; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "had never really thought much about those in other countries. Their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "fellow campers were starting to wake up. First to stir were the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "families with small children; Harry had never seen witches and wizards this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "young before. A tiny boy no older than two was crouched outside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a large pyramid-shaped tent, holding a wand and poking happily at a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "slug in the grass, which was swelling slowly to the size of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a salami. As they drew level with him, his mother came hurrying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "out of the tent. `How many times, Kevin? You don't -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "touch - Daddy's - wand - yecchh! ` She had trodden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "on the giant slug, which burst. Her scolding carried after them on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the still air, mingling with the little boy's yells - `You bust","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "slug! You bust slug!` A short way farther on, they saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "two little witches, barely older than Kevin, who were riding toy broomsticks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that rose only high enough for the girls' toes to skim the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "dewy grass. A Ministry wizard had already spotted them; as he hurried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "past Harry, Ron, and Hermione he muttered distractedly, `In broad daylight! Parents","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "having a lie-in, I suppose -` Here and there adult wizards","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and witches were emerging from their tents and starting to cook breakfast.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Some, with furtive looks around them, conjured fires with their wands; others","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "were striking matches with dubious looks on their faces, as though sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "this couldn't work. Three African wizards sat in serious conversation, all of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "them wearing long white robes and roasting what looked like a rabbit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "on a bright purple fire, while a group of middle-aged American witches","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "sat gossiping happily beneath a spangled banner stretched between their tents that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "read: THE SALEM WITCHES' INSTITUTE. Harry caught snatches of conversation in strange","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "languages from the inside of tents they passed, and though he couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "understand a word, the tone of every single voice was excited. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Er - is it my eyes, or has everything gone green?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Ron. It wasn't just Ron's eyes. They had walked into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "patch of tents that were all covered with a thick growth of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "shamrocks, so that it looked as though small, oddly shaped hillocks had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "sprouted out of the earth. Grinning faces could be seen under those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that had their flaps open. Then, from behind them, they heard their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "names. `Harry! Ron! Hermione!` It was Seamus Finnigan, their fellow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Gryffindor fourth year. He was sitting in front of his own shamrock-covered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "tent, with a sandy-haired woman who had to be his mother, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his best friend, Dean Thomas, also of Gryffindor. `Like the decorations?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "said Seamus, grinning. `The Ministry's not too happy.` `Ah, why shouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "we show our colors?` said Mrs. Finnigan. `You should see what the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Bulgarians have got dangling all over their tents. You'll be supporting Ireland,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of course?` she added, eyeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione beadily. When they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "had assured her that they were indeed supporting Ireland, they set off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "again, though, as Ron said, `Like we'd say anything else surrounded by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that lot.` I wonder what the Bulgarians have got dangling all over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "their tents?` said Hermione. `Let's go and have a look,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Harry, pointing to a large patch of tents upfield, where the Bulgarian","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "flag - white, green, and red - was fluttering in the breeze.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " The tents here had not been bedecked with plant life, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "each and every one of them had the same poster attached to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "it, a poster of a very surly face with heavy black eyebrows.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " The picture was, of course, moving, but all it did was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "blink and scowl. `Krum,` said Ron quietly. `What?` said Hermione.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " `Krum!` said Ron. `Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker!` `He looks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "really grumpy,` said Hermione, looking around at the many Krums blinking and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "scowling at them. `'Really grumpy?` Ron raised his eyes to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "heavens. `Who cares what he looks like? He's unbelievable. He's really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "young too. Only just eighteen or something. He's a genius, you wait","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "until tonight, you'll see.` There was already a small queue for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the tap in the corner of the field. Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "joined it, right behind a pair of men who were having a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "heated argument. One of them was a very old wizard who was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "wearing a long flowery nightgown. The other was clearly a Ministry wizard;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "he was holding out a pair of pinstriped trousers and almost crying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "with exasperation. `Just put them on, Archie, there's a good chap.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "You can't walk around like that, the Muggle at the gate's already","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "getting suspicious - I bought this in a Muggle shop,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the old wizard stubbornly. `Muggles wear them.` `Muggle women wear them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Archie, not the men, they wear these,` said the Ministry wizard, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "he brandished the pinstriped trousers. `I'm not putting them on,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "old Archie in indignation. `I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "thanks.` Hermione was overcome with such a strong fit of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "giggles at this point that she had to duck out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "queue and only returned when Archie had collected his water and moved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "away. Walking more slowly now, because of the weight of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "water, they made their way back through the campsite. Here and there,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "they saw more familiar faces: other Hogwarts students with their families. Oliver","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Wood, the old captain of Harry's House Quidditch team, who had just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "left Hogwarts, dragged Harry over to his parents' tent to introduce him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and told him excitedly that he had just been signed to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Puddlemere United reserve team. Next they were hailed by Ernie Macmillan, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Hufflepuff fourth year, and a little farther on they saw Cho Chang,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a very pretty girl who played Seeker on the Ravenclaw team. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "waved and smiled at Harry, who slopped quite a lot of water","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "down his front as he waved back. More to stop Ron from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "smirking than anything, Harry hurriedly pointed out a large group of teenagers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "whom he had never seen before. `Who d'you reckon they are?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "he said. `They don't go to Hogwarts, do they?` `'Spect they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "go to some foreign school,` said Ron. `I know there are others.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Never met anyone who went to one, though. Bill had a penfriend","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "at a school in Brazil ... this was years and years ago","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "... and he wanted to go on an exchange trip but Mum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and Dad couldn't afford it. His penfriend got all offended when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "said he wasn't going and sent him a cursed hat. It made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his ears shrivel up.` Harry laughed but didn't voice the amazement","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "he felt at hearing about other wizarding schools. He supposed, now that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "he saw representatives of so many nationalities in the campsite, that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "had been stupid never to realize that Hogwarts couldn't be the only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "one. He glanced at Hermione, who looked utterly unsurprised by the information.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "No doubt she had run across the news about other wizarding schools","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "in some book or other. `You've been ages,` said George when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "they finally got back to the Weasleys' tents. `Met a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "people,` said Ron, setting the water down. `You've not got that fire","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "started yet?` `Dad's having fun with the matches,` said Fred. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Weasley was having no success at all in lighting the fire,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "but it wasn't for lack of trying. Splintered matches littered the ground","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "around him, but he looked as though he was having the time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of his life. `Oops!` he said as he managed to light","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a match and promptly dropped it in surprise. `Come here, Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Weasley,` said Hermione kindly, taking the box from him, and showing him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "how to do it properly. At last they got the fire","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "lit, though it was at least another hour before it was hot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "enough to cook anything. There was plenty to watch while they waited,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "however. Their tent seemed to be pitched right alongside a kind of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "thoroughfare to the field, and Ministry members kept hurrying up and down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "it, greeting Mr. Weasley cordially as they passed. Mr. Weasley kept up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a running commentary, mainly for Harry's and Hermione's benefit; his own children","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "knew too much about the Ministry to be greatly interested. `That","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "was Cuthbert Mockridge, Head of the Goblin Liaison Office.... Here comes Gilbert","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Wimple; he's with the Committee on Experimental Charms; he's had those horns","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "for a while now... Hello, Arnie ... Arnold Peasegood, he's an Obliviator","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "- member of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, you know... and that's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Bode and Croaker ... they're Unspeakables....` `They're what?` `From the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Department of Mysteries, top secret, no idea what they get up to....`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " At last, the fire was ready, and they had just started","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "cooking eggs and sausages when Bill, Charlie, and Percy came strolling out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of the woods toward them. `Just Apparated, Dad,` said Percy loudly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Ah, excellent, lunch!` They were halfway through their plates of eggs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and sausages when Mr. Weasley jumped to his feet, waving and grinning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "at a man who was striding toward them. `Aha!` he said. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`The man of the moment! Ludo!` Ludo Bagman was easily the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "most noticeable person Harry had seen so far, even including old Archie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "in his flowered nightdress. He was wearing long Quidditch robes in thick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "horizontal stripes of bright yellow and black. An enormous picture of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "wasp was splashed across his chest. He had the look of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a powerfully built man gone slightly to seed; the robes were stretched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "tightly across a large belly he surely had not had in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "days when he had played Quidditch for England. His nose was squashed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "(probably broken by a stray Bludger, Harry thought), but his round blue","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "eyes, short blond hair, and rosy complexion made him look like a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "very overgrown schoolboy. `Ahoy there!` Bagman called happily. He was walking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "as though he had springs attached to the balls of his feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and was plainly in a state of wild excitement. `Arthur, old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "man,` he puffed as he reached the campfire, `what a day, eh?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "What a day! Could we have asked for more perfect weather?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "A cloudless night coming ... and hardly a hiccough in the arrangements....","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Not much for me to do!` Behind him, a group of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "haggard-looking Ministry wizards rushed past, pointing at the distant evidence of some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "sort of a magical fire that was sending violet sparks twenty feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "into the air. Percy hurried forward with his hand outstretched. Apparently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his disapproval of the way Ludo Bagman ran his department did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "prevent him from wanting to make a good impression. `Ah -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "yes,` said Mr. Weasley, grinning, `this is my son Percy. He's just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "started at the Ministry - and this is Fred - no, George,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "sorry - that's Fred - Bill, Charlie, Ron - my daughter, Ginny","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and Ron's friends, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter.` Bagman did the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "smallest of double takes when he heard Harry's name, and his eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "performed the familiar flick upward to the scar on Harry's forehead. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Everyone,` Mr. Weasley continued, `this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "is, it's thanks to him we've got such good tickets -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Bagman beamed and waved his hand as if to say it had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "nothing. `Fancy a flutter on the match, Arthur?` he said eagerly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "jingling what seemed to be a large amount of gold in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "pockets of his yellow-and-black robes. `I've already got Roddy Pontner betting me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Bulgaria will score first - I offered him nice odds, considering Ireland's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "front three are the strongest I've seen in years - and little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Agatha Timms has put up half shares in her eel farm on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "a weeklong match.` `Oh ... go on then,` said Mr. Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Let's see ... a Galleon on Ireland to win?` `A Galleon?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Ludo Bagman looked slightly disappointed, but recovered himself. `Very well, very well","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "... any other takers?` `They're a bit young to be gambling,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "said Mr. Weasley. `Molly wouldn't like -` `We'll bet thirty-seven Galleons,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "fifteen Sickles, three Knuts,` said Fred as he and George quickly pooled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "all their money, `that Ireland wins - but Viktor Krum gets the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Snitch. Oh and we'll throw in a fake wand.` `You don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "want to go showing Mr. Bagman rubbish like that,` Percy hissed, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Bagman didn't seem to think the wand was rubbish at all; on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the contrary, his boyish face shone with excitement as he took it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "from Fred, and when the wand gave a loud squawk and turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "into a rubber chicken, Bagman roared with laughter. `Excellent! I haven't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "seen one that convincing in years! I'd pay five Galleons for that!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " Percy froze in an attitude of stunned disapproval. `Boys,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Weasley under his breath, `I don't want you betting.... That's all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "your savings .... Your mother -` `Don't be a spoilsport, Arthur!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "boomed Ludo Bagman, rattling his pockets excitedly. `They're old enough to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "know what they want! You reckon Ireland will win but Krum'll get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the Snitch? Not a chance, boys, not a chance.... I'll give you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "excellent odds on that one .... We'll add five Galleons for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "funny wand, then, shall we....` Mr. Weasley looked on helplessly as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Ludo Bagman whipped out a notebook and quill and began jotting down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the twins' names. `Cheers,` said George, taking the slip of parchment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Bagman handed him and tucking it away into the front of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "robes. Bagman turned most cheerfully back to Mr. Weasley. `Couldn't do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "me a brew, I suppose? I'm keeping an eye out for Barty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Crouch. My Bulgarian opposite number's making difficulties, and I can't understand a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "word he's saying. Barty'll be able to sort it out. He speaks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "about a hundred and fifty languages.` `Mr. Crouch?` said Percy, suddenly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "abandoning his look of poker-stiff disapproval and positively writhing with excitement. `He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "speaks over two hundred! Mermish and Gobbledegook and Troll. . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Anyone can speak Troll,` said Fred dismissively. `All you have to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "is point and grunt.` Percy threw Fred an extremely nasty look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and stoked the fire vigorously to bring the kettle back to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "boil. `Any news of Bertha Jorkins yet, Ludo?` Mr. Weasley asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "as Bagman settled himself down on the grass beside them all. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`Not a dicky bird,` said Bagman comfortably. `But she'll turn up. Poor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "old Bertha ... memory like a leaky cauldron and no sense","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of direction. Lost, you take my word for it. She'll wander","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "back into the office sometime in October, thinking it's still July.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`You don't think it might be time to send someone to look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "for her?` Mr. Weasley suggested tentatively as Percy handed Bagman his tea.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " `Barty Crouch keeps saying that,` said Bagman, his round eyes widening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "innocently, `but we really can't spare anyone at the moment. Oh -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "talk of the devil! Barty!` A wizard had just Apparated at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "their fireside, and he could not have made more of a contrast","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "with Ludo Bagman, sprawled on the grass in his old Wasp robes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Barty Crouch was a stiff, upright, elderly man, dressed in an impeccably","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "crisp suit and tie. The parting in his short gray hair was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "almost unnaturally straight, and his narrow toothbrush mustache looked as though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "trimmed it using a slide rule. His shoes were very highly polished.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Harry could see at once why Percy idolized him. Percy was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "great believer in rigidly following rules, and Mr. Crouch had complied with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the rule about Muggle dressing so thoroughly that he could have passed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "for a bank manager; Harry doubted even Uncle Vernon would have spotted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "him for what he really was. `Pull up a bit of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "grass, Barry,` said Ludo brightly, patting the ground beside him. `No","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "thank you, Ludo,` said Crouch, and there was a bite of impatience","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "in his voice. `I've been looking for you everywhere. The Bulgarians are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "insisting we add another twelve seats to the Top Box.` `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "is that what they're after?` said Bagman. I thought the chap was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "asking to borrow a pair of tweezers. Bit of a strong accent.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " `Mr. Crouch!` said Percy breathlessly, sunk into a kind of halfbow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that made him look like a hunchback. `Would you like a cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of tea?` `Oh,` said Mr. Crouch, looking over at Percy in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "mild surprise. `Yes - thank you, Weatherby.` Fred and George choked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "into their own cups. Percy, very pink around the ears, busied himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "with the kettle. `Oh and I've been wanting a word with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "you too, Arthur,` said Mr. Crouch, his sharp eyes falling upon Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Weasley. `Ali Bashir's on the warpath. He wants a word with you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "about your embargo on flying carpets.` Mr. Weasley heaved a deep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "sigh. `I sent him an owl about that just last week.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "If I've told him once I've told him a hundred times: Carpets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "are defined as a Muggle Artifact by the Registry of Proscribed Charmable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Objects, but will he listen?` `I doubt it,` said Mr. Crouch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "accepting a cup from Percy. `He's desperate to export here.` `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "they'll never replace brooms in Britain, will they?` said Bagman. `Ali","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "thinks there's a niche in the market for a family vehicle, said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Crouch. `I remember my grandfather had an Axminster that could seat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "twelve - but that was before carpets were banned, of course.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "He spoke as though he wanted to leave nobody in any doubt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that all his ancestors had abided strictly by the law. `So,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "been keeping busy, Barty?` said Bagman breezily. `Fairly,` said Mr. Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "dryly. `Organizing Portkeys across five continents is no mean feat, Ludo.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`I expect you'll both be glad when this is over?` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Weasley. Ludo Bagman looked shocked. `Glad! Don't know when I've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "had more fun.... Still, it's not as though we haven't got anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "to took forward to, eh, Barty? Eh? Plenty left to organize, eh?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " Mr. Crouch raised his eyebrows at Bagman. `We agreed not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "to make the announcement until all the details -` `Oh details!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "said Bagman, waving the word away like a cloud of midges. `They've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "signed, haven't they? They've agreed, haven't they? I bet you anything these","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "kids'll know soon enough anyway. I mean, it's happening at Hogwarts -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " `Ludo, we need to meet the Bulgarians, you know,` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Crouch sharply, cutting Bagman's remarks short. `Thank you for the tea, Weatherby.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " He pushed his undrunk tea back at Percy and waited for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Ludo to rise; Bagman struggled to his feet, swigging down the last","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of his tea, the gold in his pockets chinking merrily. `See","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "you all later!` he said. `You'll be up in the Top Box","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "with me - I'm commentating!` He waved, Barty Crouch nodded curtly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and both of them Disapparated. `What's happening at Hogwarts, Dad?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Fred at once. `What were they talking about?` `You'll find out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "soon enough,` said Mr.Weasley, smiling. `It's classified information, until such time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "as the Ministry decides to release it,` said Percy stiffly. `Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Crouch was quite right not to disclose it.` `Oh shut up,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Weatherby,` said Fred. A sense of excitement rose like a palpable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "cloud over the campsite as the afternoon wore on. By dusk, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "still summer air itself seemed to be quivering with anticipation, and as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "darkness spread like a curtain over the thousands of waiting wizards, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "last vestiges of pretence disappeared: the Ministry seemed to have bowed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the inevitable and stopped fighting the signs of blatant magic now breaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "out everywhere. Salesmen were Apparating every few feet, carrying trays and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "pushing carts full of extraordinary merchandise. There were luminous rosettes - green","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "for Ireland, red for Bulgaria - which were squealing the names of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the players, pointed green hats bedecked with dancing shamrocks, Bulgarian scarves adorned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "with lions that really roared, flags from both countries that played their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "national anthems as they were waved; there were tiny models of Firebolts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "that really flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the palm of your hand, preening themselves. `Been saving my pocket","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "money all summer for this,` Ron told Harry as they and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "strolled through the salesmen, buying souvenirs. Though Ron purchased a dancing shamrock","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "hat and a large green rosette, he also bought a small figure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "of Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker. The miniature Krum walked backward and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "forward over Ron's hand, scowling up at the green rosette above him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " `Wow, look at these!` said Harry, hurrying over to a cart","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "piled high with what looked like brass binoculars, except that they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "covered with all sorts of weird knobs and dials. `Omnioculars,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the saleswizard eagerly. `You can replay action ... slow everything down ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and they flash up a play-by- play breakdown if you need it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Bargain - ten Galleons each.` `Wish I hadn't bought this now,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "said Ron, gesturing at his dancing shamrock hat and gazing longingly at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the Omnioculars. `Three pairs,` said Harry firmly to the wizard. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "`No - don't bother,` said Ron, going red. He was always touchy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "about the fact that Harry, who had inherited a small fortune from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "his parents, had much more money than he did. `You won't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "be getting anything for Christmas,` Harry told him, thrusting Omnioculars into his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and Hermione's hands. `For about ten years, mind.` `Fair enough,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Ron, grinning. `Oooh, thanks, Harry,` said Hermione. `And I'll get us","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "some programs, look -` Their money bags considerably lighter, they went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "back to the tents. Bill, Charlie, and Ginny were all sporting green","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "rosettes too, and Mr. Weasley was carrying an Irish flag. Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "and George had no souvenirs as they had given Bagman all their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "gold. And then a deep, booming gong sounded somewhere beyond the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "woods, and at once, green and red lanterns blazed into life in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "the trees, lighting a path to the field. `It's time!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" "Mr. Weasley, looking as excited as any of them. `Come on, let's go!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-7" " Clutching their purchases, Mr. Weasley in the lead, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "all hurried into the wood, following the lantern-lit trail. They could hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the sounds of thousands of people moving around them, shouts and laughter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "snatches of singing. The atmosphere of feverish excitement was highly infectious; Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "couldn't stop grinning. They walked through the wood for twenty minutes, talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and joking loudly, until at last they emerged on the other side","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and found themselves in the shadow of a gigantic stadium. Though Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "could see only a fraction of the immense gold walls surrounding the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "field, he could tell that ten cathedrals would fit comfortably inside it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `Seats a hundred thousand,` said Mr. Weasley, spotting the awestruck look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on Harry's face. `Ministry task force of five hundred have been working","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on it all year. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "it. Every time Muggles have got anywhere near here all year, they've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again ... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "bless them,` he added fondly, leading the way toward the nearest entrance,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "which was already surrounded by a swarm of shouting witches and wizards.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `Prime seats!` said the Ministry witch at the entrance when she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "checked their tickets. `Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "as you can go.` The stairs into the stadium were carpeted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in rich purple. They clambered upward with the rest of the crowd,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "which slowly filtered away through doors into the stands to their left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and right. Mr. Weasley's party kept climbing, and at last they reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the top of the staircase and found themselves in a small box,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "set at the highest point of the stadium and situated exactly halfway","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "between the golden goal posts. About twenty purple-and-gilt chairs stood in two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "rows here, and Harry, filing into the front seats with the Weasleys,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "looked down upon a scene the likes of which he could never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "have imagined. A hundred thousand witches and wizards were taking their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "places in the seats, which rose in levels around the long oval","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "field. Everything was suffused with a mysterious golden light, which seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "come from the stadium itself. The field looked smooth as velvet from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "their lofty position. At either end of the field stood three goal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "hoops, fifty feet high; right opposite them, almost at Harry's eye level,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was a gigantic blackboard. Gold writing kept dashing across it as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "an invisible giant's hand were scrawling upon the blackboard and then wiping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "it off again; watching it, Harry saw that it was flashing advertisements","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "across the field. The Bluebottle: A Broom for All the Family","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "- safe, reliable, and with Built-in Anti-Burgler Buzzer ... Mrs. Shower's All","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Purpose Magical Mess Remover: No Pain, No Stain! ... Gladrags Wizardwear -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "London, Paris, Hogsmeade... Harry tore his eyes away from the sign","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and looked over his shoulder to see who else was sharing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "box with them. So far it was empty, except for a tiny","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "creature sitting in the second from last seat at the end of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the row behind them. The creature, whose legs were so short they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "stuck out in front of it on the chair, was wearing a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "tea towel draped like a toga, and it had its face hidden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in its hands. Yet those long, batlike ears were oddly familiar.... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`Dobby?` said Harry incredulously. The tiny creature looked up and stretched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "its fingers, revealing enormous brown eyes and a nose the exact size","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and shape of a large tomato. It wasn't Dobby - it was,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "however, unmistakably a house-elf, as Harry's friend Dobby had been. Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "set Dobby free from his old owners, the Malfoy family. `Did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "sir just call me Dobby?` squeaked the elf curiously from between its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "fingers. Its voice was higher even than Dobby's had been, a teeny,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "quivering squeak of a voice, and Harry suspected though it was very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "hard to tell with a house-elf - that this one might just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "be female. Ron and Hermione spun around in their seats to look.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Though they had heard a lot about Dobby from Harry, they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "never actually met him. Even Mr. Weasley looked around in interest. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`Sorry,` Harry told the elf, `I just thought you were someone I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "knew.` `But I knows Dobby too, sir!` squeaked the elf. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was shielding her face, as though blinded by light, though the Top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Box was not brightly lit. `My name is Winky, sir - and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "you, sir -` Her dark brown eyes widened to the size of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "side plates as they rested upon Harry's scar. `You is surely Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Potter!` `Yeah, I am,` said Harry. `But Dobby talks of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "you all the time, sir!` s he said, lowering her hands very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "slightly and looking awestruck. `How is he?` said Harry. `How's freedom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "suiting him?` `Ah, sir,` said Winky, shaking her head, `ah sir,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "meaning no disrespect, sir, but I is not sure you did Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a favor, sir, when you is setting him free.` `Why?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Harry, taken aback. `What's wrong with him?` `Freedom is going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Dobby's head, sir, ` said Winky sadly. `Ideas above his station, sir.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Can't get another position, sir.` `Why not?` said Harry. Winky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "lowered her voice by a half-octave and whispered, `He is wanting paying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "for his work, sir.` `Paying?` said Harry blankly. `Well - why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "shouldn't he be paid?` Winky looked quite horrified at the idea","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and closed her fingers slightly so that her face was half-hidden again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `House-elves is not paid, sir!` she said in a muffled squeak.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`No, no, no. I says to Dobby, I says, go find yourself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a nice family and settle down, Dobby. He is getting up to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "all sorts of high jinks, sir, what is unbecoming to a house-elf.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "You goes racketing around like this, Dobby, I says, and next thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "I hear you's up in front of the Department for the Regulation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and Control of Magical Creatures, like some common goblin.` `Well, it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "about time he had a bit of fun,` said Harry. `House-elves","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "is not supposed to have fun, Harry Potter,` said Winky firmly, from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "behind her hands. `House-elves does what they is told. I is not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "liking heights at all, Harry Potter` - she glanced toward the edge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of the box and gulped - `but my master sends me to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the Top Box and I comes, sir.` `Why's he sent you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "up here, if he knows you don't like heights?` said Harry, frowning.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `Master - master wants me to save him a seat, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Potter. He is very busy,` said Winky, tilting her head toward the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "empty space beside her. `Winky is wishing she is back in master's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "tent, Harry Potter, but Winky does what she is told. Winky is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a good house-elf.` She gave the edge of the box another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "frightened look and hid her eyes completely again. Harry turned back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to the others. `So that's a house-elf?` Ron muttered. `Weird things,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "aren't they?` `Dobby was weirder,` said Harry fervently. Ron pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "out his Omnioculars and started testing them, staring down into the crowd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on the other side of the stadium. `Wild!` he said, twiddling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the replay knob on the side. I can make that old bloke","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "down there pick his nose again ... and again ... and again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" ". .` Hermione, meanwhile, was skimming eagerly through her velvetcovered, tasseled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "program. `'A display from the team mascots will precede the match,`'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "she read aloud. `Oh that's always worth watching,` said Mr. Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`National teams bring creatures from their native land, you know, to put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on a bit of a show.` The box filled gradually around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "them over the next half hour. Mr. Weasley kept shaking hands with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "people who were obviously very important wizards. Percy jumped to his feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "so often that he looked as though he were trying to sit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on a hedgehog. When Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself, arrived,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Percy bowed so low that his glasses fell off and shattered. Highly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "embarrassed, he repaired them with his wand and thereafter remained in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "seat, throwing jealous looks at Harry, whom Cornelius Fudge had greeted like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "an old friend. They had met before, and Fudge shook Harry's hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in a fatherly fashion, asked how he was, and introduced him to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the wizards on either side of him. `Harry Potter, you know,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "he told the Bulgarian minister loudly, who was wearing splendid robes of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "black velvet trimmed with gold and didn't seem to understand a word","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of English. `Harry Potter ... oh come on now, you know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "who he is ... the boy who survived You-Know-Who ... you do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "know who he is -` The Bulgarian wizard suddenly spotted Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "scar and started gabbling loudly and excitedly, pointing at it. `Knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "we'd get there in the end,` said Fudge wearily to Harry. `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "no great shakes at languages; I need Barty Crouch for this sort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of thing. Ah, I see his house-elf's saving him a seat.... Good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "job too, these Bulgarian blighters have been trying to cadge all the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "best places ... ah, and here's Lucius!` Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "turned quickly. Edging along the second row to three still-empty seats right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "behind Mr. Weasley were none other than Dobby the house-elf's former owners:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Lucius Malfoy; his son, Draco; and a woman Harry supposed must be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Draco's mother. Harry and Draco Malfoy had been enemies ever since","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "their very first journey to Hogwarts. A pale boy with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "pointed face and white-blond hair, Draco greatly resembled his father. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "mother was blonde too; tall and slim, she would have been nice-looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "if she hadn't been wearing a look that suggested there was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "nasty smell under her nose. `Ah, Fudge,` said Mr. Malfoy, holding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "out his hand as he reached the Minister of Magic. `How","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "are you? I don't think you've met my wife, Narcissa? Or our","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "son, Draco?` `How do you do, how do you do?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Fudge, smiling and bowing to Mrs. Malfoy. `And allow me to introduce","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "you to Mr. Oblansk - Obalonsk - Mr. - well, he's the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Bulgarian Minister of Magic, and he can't understand a word I'm saying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "anyway, so never mind. And let's see who else - you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "know Arthur Weasley, I daresay?` It was a tense moment. Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Weasley and Mr. Malfoy looked at each other and Harry vividly recalled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the last time they had come face-to-face: It had been in Flourish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and Blotts' bookshop, and they had had a fight. Mr. Malfoy's cold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "gray eyes swept over Mr. Weasley, and then up and down the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "row. `Good lord, Arthur,` he said softly. `What did you have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "wouldn't have fetched this much?` Fudge, who wasn't listening, said, `Lucius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "has just given a very generous contribution to St. Mungo's Hospital for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Magical Maladies and Injuries, Arthur. He's here as my guest.` `How","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "- how nice,` said Mr. Weasley, with a very strained smile. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Mr. Malfoy's eyes had returned to Hermione, who went slightly pink, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "stared determinedly back at him. Harry knew exactly what was making Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Malfoy's lip curl like that. The Malfoys prided themselves on being purebloods;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in other words, they considered anyone of Muggle descent, like Hermione, second-class.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "However, under the gaze of the Minister of Magic, Mr. Malfoy didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "dare say anything. He nodded sneeringly to Mr. Weasley and continued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "down the line to his seats. Draco shot Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "one contemptuous look, then settled himself between his mother and father. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`Slimy gits,` Ron muttered as he, Harry, and Hermione turned to face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the field again. Next moment, Ludo Bagman charged into the box.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `Everyone ready?` he said, his round face gleaming like a great,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "excited Edam. `Minister - ready to go?` `Ready when you are,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Ludo,` said Fudge comfortably. Ludo whipped out his wand, directed it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "at his own throat, and said `Sonorus!` and then spoke over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "roar of sound that was now filling the packed stadium; his voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "echoed over them, booming into every corner of the stands. `Ladies","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and gentlemen. . . welcome! Welcome to the final of the four","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!` The spectators screamed and clapped.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Thousands of flags waved, adding their discordant national anthems to the racket.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "The huge blackboard opposite them was wiped clear of its last message","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "(Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans - A Risk With Every Mouthful!) and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "now showed BULGARIA: 0, IRELAND: 0. `And now, without further ado,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "allow me to introduce. . . the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "The right-hand side of the stands, which was a solid block of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "scarlet, roared its approval. `I wonder what they've brought,` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Weasley, leaning forward in his seat. `Aaah!` He suddenly whipped off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his glasses and polished them hurriedly on his robes. `Veela!` `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "are veel -?` But a hundred veela were now gliding out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "onto the field, and Harry's question was answered for him. Veela were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "women. . . the most beautiful women Harry had ever seen. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " . except that they weren't - they couldn't be - human.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "This puzzled Harry for a moment while he tried to guess what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "exactly they could be; what could make their skin shine moon-bright like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "that, or their white-gold hair fan out behind them without wind.. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "but then the music started, and Harry stopped worrying about them not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "being human - in fact, he stopped worrying about anything at all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " The veela had started to dance, and Harry's mind had gone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "completely and blissfully blank. All that mattered in the world was that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "he kept watching the veela, because if they stopped dancing, terrible things","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "would happen. And as the veela danced faster and faster, wild,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "half-formed thoughts started chasing through Harry's dazed mind. He wanted to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "something very impressive, right now. Jumping from the box into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "stadium seemed a good idea. . . but would it be good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "enough? `Harry, what are you doing?` said Hermione's voice from a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "long way off. The music stopped. Harry blinked. He was standing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "up, and one of his legs was resting on the wall of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the box. Next to him, Ron was frozen in an attitude that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "looked as though he were about to dive from a springboard. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Angry yells were filling the stadium. The crowd didn't want the veela","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to go. Harry was with them; he would, of course, be supporting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Bulgaria, and he wondered vaguely why he had a large green shamrock","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "pinned to his chest. Ron, meanwhile, was absentmindedly shredding the shamrocks on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his hat. Mr. Weasley, smiling slightly, leaned over to Ron and tugged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the hat out of his hands. `You'll be wanting that,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "said, `once Ireland have had their say.` `Huh?` said Ron, staring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "openmouthed at the veela, who had now lined up along one side","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of the field. Hermione made a loud tutting noise. She reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "up and pulled Harry back into his seat. `Honestly!` she said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `And now,` roared Ludo Bagman's voice, `kindly put your wands in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the air. . . for the Irish National Team Mascots!` Next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "moment, what seemed to be a great green-and-gold comet came zooming into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the stadium. It did one circuit of the stadium, then split into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "two smaller comets, each hurtling toward the goal posts. A rainbow arced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "suddenly across the field, connecting the two balls of light. The crowd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "oooohed and aaaaahed, as though at a fireworks display. Now the rainbow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "faded and the balls of light reunited and merged; they had formed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a great shimmering shamrock, which rose up into the sky and began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to soar over the stands. Something like golden rain seemed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "falling from it - `Excellent!` yelled Ron as the shamrock soared over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "them, and heavy gold coins rained from it, bouncing off their heads","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and seats. Squinting up at the shamrock, Harry realized that it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "actually comprised of thousands of tiny little bearded men with red vests,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "each carrying a minute lamp of gold or green. `Leprechauns!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Mr. Weasley over the tumultuous applause of the crowd, many of whom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "were still fighting and rummaging around under their chairs to retrieve the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "gold. `There you go,` Ron yelled happily, stuffing a fistful of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "gold coins into Harry's hand, `for the Omnioculars! Now you've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "buy me a Christmas present, ha!` The great shamrock dissolved, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "leprechauns drifted down onto the field on the opposite side from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "veela, and settled themselves cross-legged to watch the match. `And now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "ladies and gentlemen, kindly welcome - the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "I give you - Dimitrov!` A scarlet-clad figure on a broomstick,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "moving so fast it was blurred, shot out onto the field from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "an entrance far below, to wild applause from the Bulgarian supporters. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`Ivanova!` A second scarlet-robed player zoomed out. `Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Volkov! Aaaaaaand - Krum!` `That's him, that's him!` yelled Ron, following","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Krum with his Omnioculars. Harry quickly focused his own. Viktor Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was thin, dark, and sallow-skinned, with a large curved nose and thick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "black eyebrows. He looked like an overgrown bird of prey. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "hard to believe he was only eighteen. `And now, please greet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "- the Irish National Quidditch Team!` yelled Bagman. `Presenting - Connolly! Ryan!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! Aaaaaand - Lynch!` Seven green blurs swept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "onto the field; Harry spun a small dial on the side of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his Omnioculars and slowed the players down enough to read the word","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`Firebolt` on each of their brooms and see their names, embroidered in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "silver, upon their backs. `And here, all the way from Egypt,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "our referee, acclaimed Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch, Hassan Mostafa!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " A small and skinny wizard, completely bald but with a mustache to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "rival Uncle Vernon's, wearing robes of pure gold to match the stadium,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "strode out onto the field. A silver whistle was protruding from under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the mustache, and he was carrying a large wooden crate under one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "arm, his broomstick under the other. Harry spun the speed dial on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his Omnioculars back to normal, watching closely as Mostafa mounted his broomstick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "and kicked the crate open - four balls burst into the air:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the scarlet Quaffle, the two black Bludgers, and (Harry saw it for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the briefest moment, before it sped out of sight) the minuscule, winged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Golden Snitch. With a sharp blast on his whistle, Mostafa shot into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the air after the balls. `Theeeeeeeey're OFF!` screamed Bagman. `And it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Mullet! Troy! Moran! Dimitrov! Back to Mullet! Troy! Levski! Moran!` It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was Quidditch as Harry had never seen it played before. He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "pressing his Omnioculars so hard to his glasses that they were cutting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "into the bridge of his nose. The speed of the players","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was incredible - the Chasers were throwing the Quaffle to one another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "so fast that Bagman only had time to say their names. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "spun the slow dial on the right of his Omnioculars again, pressed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the play-by-play button on the top, and he was immediately watching in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "slow motion, while glittering purple lettering flashed across the lenses and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "noise of the crowd pounded against his eardrums. HAWKSHEAD ATTACKING FORMATION,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "he read as he watched the three Irish Chasers zoom closely together,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Troy in the center, slightly ahead of Mullet and Moran, bearing down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "upon the Bulgarians. PORSKOFF PLOY flashed up next, as Troy made as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "though to dart upward with the Quaffle, drawing away the Bulgarian Chaser","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Ivanova and dropping the Quaffle to Moran. One of the Bulgarian","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Beaters, Volkov, swung hard at a passing Bludger with his small club,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "knocking it into Moran's path; Moran ducked to avoid the Bludger and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "dropped the Quaffle; and Levski, soaring beneath, caught it - `TROY SCORES!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "roared Bagman, and the stadium shuddered with a roar of applause and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "cheers. `Ten zero to Ireland!` `What?` Harry yelled, looking wildly around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "through his Omnioculars. `But Levski's got the Quaffle!` `Harry, if you're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "not going to watch at normal speed, you're going to miss things!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " shouted Hermione, who was dancing up and down, waving her arms","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in the air while Troy did a lap of honor around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "field. Harry looked quickly over the top of his Omnioculars and saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "that the leprechauns watching from the sidelines had all risen into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "air again and formed the great, glittering shamrock. Across the field, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "veela were watching them sulkily. Furious with himself, Harry spun his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "speed dial back to normal as play resumed. Harry knew enough","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "about Quidditch to see that the Irish Chasers were superb. They worked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "as a seamless team, their movements so well coordinated that they appeared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to be reading one another's minds as they positioned themselves, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "rosette on Harry's chest kept squeaking their names: `Troy - Mullet -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Mo ran!` And within ten minutes, Ireland had scored twice more, bringing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "their lead to thirty-zero and causing a thunderous tide of roars and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "applause from the green-clad supporters. The match became still faster, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "more brutal. Volkov and Vulchanov, the Bulgarian Beaters, were whacking the Bludgers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "as fiercely as possible at the Irish Chasers, and were starting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "prevent them from using some of their best moves; twice they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "forced to scatter, and then, finally, Ivanova managed to break through their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "ranks; dodge the Keeper, Ryan; and score Bulgaria's first goal. `Fingers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in your ears!` bellowed Mr. Weasley as the veela started to dance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in celebration. Harry screwed up his eyes too; he wanted to keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his mind on the game. After a few seconds, he chanced a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "glance at the field. The veela had stopped dancing, and Bulgaria was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "again in possession of the Quaffle. `Dimitrov! Levski! Dimitrov! Ivanova -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "oh I say!` roared Bagman. One hundred thousand wizards gasped as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the two Seekers, Krum and Lynch, plummeted through the center of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Chasers, so fast that it looked as though they had just jumped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "from airplanes without parachutes. Harry followed their descent through his Omnioculars, squinting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to see where the Snitch was - `They're going to crash!` screamed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Hermione next to Harry. She was half right - at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "very last second, Viktor Krum pulled out of the dive and spiraled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "off. Lynch, however, hit the ground with a dull thud that could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "be heard throughout the stadium. A huge groan rose from the Irish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "seats. `Fool!` moaned Mr. Weasley. `Krum was feinting!` `It's time-out!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "yelled Bagman's voice, `as trained mediwizards hurry onto the field to examine","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Aidan Lynch!` `He'll be okay, he only got ploughed!` Charlie said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "reassuringly to Ginny, who was hanging over the side of the box,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "looking horror-struck. `Which is what Krum was after, of course... .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Harry hastily pressed the replay and play-by-play buttons on his Omnioculars, twiddled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the speed dial, and put them back up to his eyes. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "He watched as Krum and Lynch dived again in slow motion. WRONSKI","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "DEFENSIVE FEINT -DANGEROUS SEEKER DIVERSION read the shining purple lettering across his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "lenses. He saw Krum's face contorted with concentration as he pulled out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of the dive just in time, while Lynch was flattened, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "understood - Krum hadn't seen the Snitch at all, he was just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "making Lynch copy him. Harry had never seen anyone fly like that;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Krum hardly looked as though he was using a broomstick at all;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "he moved so easily through the air that he looked unsupported and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "weightless. Harry turned his Omnioculars back to normal and focused them on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Krum. He was now circling high above Lynch, who was being revived","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "by mediwizards with cups of potion. Harry, focusing still more closely upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Krum's face, saw his dark eyes darting all over the ground a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "hundred feet below. He was using the time while Lynch was revived","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to look for the Snitch without interference. Lynch got to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "feet at last, to loud cheers from the green-clad supporters, mounted his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " Firebolt, and kicked back off into the air. His revival seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to give Ireland new heart. When Mostafa blew his whistle again, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Chasers moved into action with a skill unrivaled by anything Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "seen so far. After fifteen more fast and furious minutes, Ireland","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "had pulled ahead by ten more goals. They were now leading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "by one hundred and thirty points to ten, and the game was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "starting to get dirtier. As Mullet shot toward the goal posts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "yet again, clutching the Quaffle tightly under her arm, the Bulgarian Keeper,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Zograf, flew out to meet her. Whatever happened was over so quickly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Harry didn't catch it, but a scream of rage from the Irish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "crowd, and Mostafa's long, shrill whistle blast, told him it had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a foul. `And Mostafa takes the Bulgarian Keeper to task for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "cobbing -- excessive use of elbows!` Bagman informed the roaring spectators.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`And - yes, it's a penalty to Ireland!` The leprechauns, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "had risen angrily into the air like a swarm of glittering hornets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "when Mullet had been fouled, now darted together to form the words","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`HA, HA, HA!` The veela on the other side of the field","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "leapt to their feet, tossed their hair angrily, and started to dance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "again. As one, the Weasley boys and Harry stuffed their fingers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "into their ears, but Hermione, who hadn't bothered, was soon tugging on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Harry's arm. He turned to look at her, and she pulled his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "fingers impatiently out of his ears. `Look at the referee!` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "said, giggling. Harry looked down at the field. Hassan Mostafa had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "landed right in front of the dancing veela, and was acting very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "oddly indeed. He was flexing his muscles and smoothing his mustache excitedly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `Now, we can't have that!` said Ludo Bagman, though he sounded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "highly amused. `Somebody slap the referee!` A mediwizard came tearing across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the field, his fingers stuffed into his own ears, and kicked Mostafa","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "hard in the shins. Mostafa seemed to come to himself; Harry, watching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "through the Omnioculars again, saw that he looked exceptionally embarrassed and had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "started shouting at the veela, who had stopped dancing and were looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "mutinous. `And unless I'm much mistaken, Mostafa is actually attempting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "send off the Bulgarian team mascots!` said Bagman's voice. `Now there's something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "we haven't seen before. . . . Oh this could turn","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "nasty. . . It did: The Bulgarian Beaters, Volkov and Vulchanov,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "landed on either side of Mostafa and began arguing furiously with him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "gesticulating toward the leprechauns, who had now gleefully formed the words `HEE,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "HEE, HEE.` Mostafa was not impressed by the Bulgarians' arguments, however; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was jabbing his finger into the air, clearly telling them to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "flying again, and when they refused, he gave two short blasts on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his whistle. `Two penalties for Ireland!` shouted Bagman, and the Bulgarian","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "crowd howled with anger. `And Volkov and Vulchanov had better get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "back on those brooms. . . yes. . . there they go.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" ". . and Troy takes the Quaffle. . Play now reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a level of ferocity beyond anything they had yet seen. The Beaters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on both sides were acting without mercy: Volkov and Vulchanov in particular","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "seemed not to care whether their clubs made contact with Bludger or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "human as they swung them violently through the air. Dimitrov shot straight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "at Moran, who had the Quaffle, nearly knocking her off her broom.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " `Foul!` roared the Irish supporters as one, all standing up in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a great wave of green. `Foul!` echoed Ludo Bagman's magically magnified","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "voice. `Dimitrov skins Moran -deliberately flying to collide there - and it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "got to be another penalty - yes, there's the whistle!` The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "leprechauns had risen into the air again, and this time, they formed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a giant hand, which was making a very rude sign indeed at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the veela across the field. At this, the veela lost control. Instead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of dancing, they launched themselves across the field and began throwing what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "seemed to be handfuls of fire at the leprechauns. Watching through his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Omnioculars, Harry saw that they didn't look remotely beautiful now. On the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "contrary, their faces were elongating into sharp, cruel-beaked bird heads, and long,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "scaly wings were bursting from their shoulders -` And that, boys,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "yelled Mr. Weasley over the tumult of the crowd below, `is why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "you should never go for looks alone!` Ministry wizards were flooding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "onto the field to separate the veela and the leprechauns, but with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "little success; meanwhile, the pitched battle below was nothing to the one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "taking place above. Harry turned this way and that, staring through his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Omnioculars, as the Quaffie changed hands with the speed of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "bullet. `Levski - Dimitrov - Moran - Troy - Mullet -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Ivanova - Moran again - Moran - MORAN SCORES!` But the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "cheers of the Irish supporters were barely heard over the shrieks of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the veela, the blasts now issuing from the Ministry members' wands, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the furious roars of the Bulgarians. The game recommenced immediately; now Levski","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "had the Quaffle, now Dimitrov -The Irish Beater Quigley swung heavily at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a passing Bludger, and hit it as hard as possible toward Krum,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "who did not duck quickly enough. It hit him full in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "face. There was a deafening groan from the crowd; Krum's nose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "looked broken, there was blood everywhere, but Hassan Mostafa didn't blow his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "whistle. He had become distracted, and Harry couldn't blame him; one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the veela had thrown a handful of fire and set his broom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "tail alight. Harry wanted someone to realize that Krum was injured;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "even though he was supporting Ireland, Krum was the most exciting player","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on the field. Ron obviously felt the same. `Time-out! Ah, come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "on, he can't play like that, look at him -` `Look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "at Lynch!` Harry yelled. For the Irish Seeker had suddenly gone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "into a dive, and Harry was quite sure that this was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Wronski Feint; this was the real thing... `He's seen the Snitch!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Harry shouted. `He's seen it! Look at him go!` Half the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "crowd seemed to have realized what was happening; the Irish supporters rose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in another great wave of green, screaming their Seeker on. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "but Krum was on his tail. How he could see where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "he was going, Harry had no idea; there were flecks of blood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "flying through the air behind him, but he was drawing level with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Lynch now as the pair of them hurtled toward the ground again","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "-` They're going to crash!` shrieked Hermione. `They're not!` roared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Ron. `Lynch is!` yelled Harry. And he was right -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "for the second time, Lynch hit the ground with tremendous force and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was immediately stampeded by a horde of angry veela. `The Snitch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "where's the Snitch?` bellowed Charlie, along the row. `He's got it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "- Krum's got it - it's all over!` shouted Harry. Krum,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his red robes shining with blood from his nose, was rising gently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "into the air, his fist held high, a glint of gold in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "his hand. The scoreboard was flashing BULGARIA: 160, IRELAND: 170 across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the crowd, who didn't seem to have realized what had happened. Then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "slowly, as though a great jumbo jet were revving up, the rumbling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "from the Ireland supporters grew louder and louder and erupted into screams","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of delight. `IRELAND WINS!` Bagman shouted, who like the Irish, seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to be taken aback by the sudden end of the match. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`KRUM GETS THE SNITCH - BUT IRELAND WINS -- good lord, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "don't think any of us were expecting that!` `What did he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "catch the Snitch for?` Ron bellowed, even as he jumped up and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "down, applauding with his hands over his head. `He ended it when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Ireland were a hundred and sixty points ahead, the idiot!` `He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "knew they were never going to catch up!` Harry shouted back over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "all the noise, also applauding loudly. `The Irish Chasers were too good.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" ". . . He wanted to end it on his terms, that's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "all. . . `He was very brave, wasn't he?` Hermione said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "leaning forward to watch Krum land as a swarm of mediwizards blasted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "a path through the battling leprechauns and veela to get to him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`He looks a terrible mess. . .` Harry put his Omnioculars","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "to his eyes again. It was hard to see what was happening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "below, because leprechauns were zooming delightedly all over the field, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "could just make out Krum, surrounded by mediwizards. He looked surlier than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "ever and refused to let them mop him up. His team members","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "were around him, shaking their heads and looking dejected; a short way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "away, the Irish players were dancing gleefully in a shower of gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "descending from their mascots. Flags were waving all over the stadium, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Irish national anthem blared from all sides; the veela were shrinking back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "into their usual, beautiful selves now, though looking dispirited and forlorn. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "`Vell, ve fought bravely,` said a gloomy voice behind Harry. He looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "around; it was the Bulgarian Minister of Magic. `You can speak","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "English!` said Fudge, sounding outraged. `And you've been letting me mime ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "everything all day!` `Veil, it vos very funny,` said the Bulgarian","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "minister, shrugging. `And as the Irish team performs a lap of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "honor, flanked by their mascots, the Quidditch World Cup itself is brought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "into the Top Box!` roared Bagman. Harry's eyes were suddenly dazzled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "by a blinding white light, as the Top Box was magically illuminated","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "so that everyone in the stands could see the inside. Squinting toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "the entrance, he saw two panting wizards carrying a vast golden cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "into the box, which they handed to Cornelius Fudge, who was still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "looking very disgruntled that he'd been using sign language all day for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "nothing. `Let's have a really loud hand for the gallant losers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "- Bulgaria!` Bagman shouted. And up the stairs into the box","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "came the seven defeated Bulgarian players. The crowd below was applauding appreciatively;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "Harry could see thousands and thousands of Omniocular lenses flashing and winking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "in their direction. One by one, the Bulgarians filed between the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "rows of seats in the box, and Bagman called out the name","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of each as they shook hands with their own minister and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "with Fudge. Krum, who was last in line, looked a real","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "mess. Two black eyes were blooming spectacularly on his bloody face. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "was still holding the Snitch. Harry noticed that he seemed much less","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "coordinated on the ground. He was slightly duck-footed and distinctly round-shouldered. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "when Krum's name was announced, the whole stadium gave him a resounding,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "earsplitting roar. And then came the Irish team. Aidan Lynch was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "being supported by Moran and Connolly; the second crash seemed to have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "dazed him and his eyes looked strangely unfocused. But he grinned happily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "as Troy and Quigley lifted the Cup into the air and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "crowd below thundered its approval. Harry's hands were numb with clapping. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "At last, when the Irish team had left the box to perform","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "another lap of honor on their brooms (Aidan Lynch on the back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "of Confolly's, clutching hard around his waist and still grinning in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "bemused sort of way), Bagman pointed his wand at his throat and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "muttered, `Quietus.` `They'll be talking about this one for years,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "said hoarsely, `a really unexpected twist, that. . . . shame it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "couldn't have lasted longer. . . . Ah yes... . yes, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "owe you. . . how much?` For Fred and George had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "just scrambled over the backs of their seats and were standing in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" "front of Ludo Bagman with broad grins on their faces, their hands outstretched. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-8" " Don't tell your mother you've been gambling,` Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "implored Fred and George as they all made their way slowly down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the purple-carpeted stairs. `Don't worry, Dad,` said Fred gleefully, `we've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "big plans for this money. We don't want it confiscated.` Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Weasley looked for a moment as though he was going to ask","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "what these big plans were, but seemed to decide, upon reflection, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "he didn't want to know. They were soon caught up in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "campsites. Raucous singing was borne toward them on the night air as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "they retraced their steps along the lantern-lit path, and leprechauns kept shooting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "over their heads, cackling and waving their lanterns. When they finally reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the tents, nobody felt like sleeping at all, and given the level","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of noise around them, Mr. Weasley agreed that they could all have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "one last cup of cocoa together before turning in. They were soon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "arguing enjoyably about the match; Mr. Weasley got drawn into a disagreement","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "about cobbing with Charlie, and it was only when Ginny fell asleep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "right at the tiny table and spilled hot chocolate all over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "floor that Mr. Weasley called a halt to the verbal replays and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "insisted that everyone go to bed. Hermione and Ginny went into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "next tent, and Harry and the rest of the Weasleys changed into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "pajamas and clambered into their bunks. From the other side of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "campsite they could still hear much singing and the odd echoing bang.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Oh I am glad I'm not on duty,` muttered Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "sleepily. `I wouldn't fancy having to go and tell the Irish they've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "got to stop celebrating.` Harry, who was on a top bunk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "above Ron, lay staring up at the canvas ceiling of the tent,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "watching the glow of an occasional leprechaun lantern flying overhead, and picturing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "again some of Krum's more spectacular moves. He was itching to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "back on his own Firebolt and try out the Wronski Feint. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". . Somehow Oliver Wood had never managed to convey with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "all his wriggling diagrams what that move was supposed to look like..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". . Harry saw himself in robes that had his name","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "on the back, and imagined the sensation of hearing a hundred-thousand-strong crowd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "roar, as Ludo Bagman's voice echoed throughout the stadium, `I give you.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". . Potter!` Harry never knew whether or not he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "actually dropped off to sleep - his fantasies of flying like Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "might well have slipped into actual dreams - all he knew was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "that, quite suddenly, Mr. Weasley was shouting. `Get up! Ron -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry - come on now, get up, this is urgent!` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "sat up quickly and the top of his head hit canvas. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`S' matter?` he said. Dimly, he could tell that something was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wrong. The noises in the campsite had changed. The singing had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "stopped. He could hear screams, and the sound of people running. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "slipped down from the bunk and reached for his clothes, but Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Weasley, who had pulled on his jeans over his own pajamas, said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`No time, Harry - just grab a jacket and get outside -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "quickly!` Harry did as he was told and hurried out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the tent, Ron at his heels. By the light of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "few fires that were still burning, he could see people running away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "into the woods, fleeing something that was moving across the field toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "them, something that was emitting odd flashes of light and noises like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "gunfire. Loud jeering, roars of laughter, and drunken yells were drifting toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "them; then came a burst of strong green light, which illuminated the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "scene. A crowd of wizards, tightly packed and moving together with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wands pointing straight upward, was marching slowly across the field. Harry squinted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "at them. . . . They didn't seem to have faces. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". . Then he realized that their heads were hooded and their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "faces masked. High above them, floating along in midair, four struggling figures","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "were being contorted into grotesque shapes. It was as though the masked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wizards on the ground were puppeteers, and the people above them were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "marionettes operated by invisible strings that rose from the wands into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "air. Two of the figures were very small. More wizards were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "joining the marching group, laughing and pointing up at the floating bodies.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Tents crumpled and fell as the marching crowd swelled. Once or twice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry saw one of the marchers blast a tent out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "way with his wand. Several caught fire. The screaming grew louder. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "The floating people were suddenly illuminated as they passed over a burning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "tent and Harry recognized one of them: Mr. Roberts, the campsite manager.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "The other three looked as though they might be his wife and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "children. One of the marchers below flipped Mrs. Roberts upside down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with his wand; her nightdress fell down to reveal voluminous drawers and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "she struggled to cover herself up as the crowd below her screeched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and hooted with glee. `That's sick,` Ron muttered, watching the smallest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Muggle child, who had begun to spin like a top, sixty feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "above the ground, his head flopping limply from side to side. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`That is really sick. . . .` Hermione and Ginny came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "hurrying toward them, pulling coats over their nightdresses, with Mr. Weasley right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "behind them. At the same moment, Bill, Charlie, and Percy emerged from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the boys' tent, fully dressed, with their sleeves rolled up and their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wands out. `We're going to help the Ministry!` Mr. Weasley shouted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "over all the noise, rolling up his own sleeves. `You lot -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "get into the woods, and stick together. I'll come and fetch you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "when we've sorted this out!` Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "sprinting away toward the oncoming marchers; Mr. Weasley tore after them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Ministry wizards were dashing from every direction toward the source of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "trouble. The crowd beneath the Roberts family was coming ever closer. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`C'mon,` said Fred, grabbing Ginny's hand and starting to pull her toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the wood. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and George followed. They all looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "back as they reached the trees. The crowd beneath the Roberts family","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "was larger than ever; they could see the Ministry wizards trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "get through it to the hooded wizards in the center, but they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "were having great difficulty. It looked as though they were scared to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "perform any spell that might make the Roberts family fall. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "colored lanterns that had lit the path to the stadium had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "extinguished. Dark figures were blundering through the trees; children were crying; anxious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "shouts and panicked voices were reverberating around them in the cold night","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "air. Harry felt himself being pushed hither and thither by people whose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "faces he could not see. Then he heard Ron yell with pain.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `What happened?` said Hermione anxiously, stopping so abruptly that Harry walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "into her. `Ron, where are you? Oh this is stupid - lumos!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " She illuminated her wand and directed its narrow beam across the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "path. Ron was lying sprawled on the ground. `Tripped over a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "tree root,` he said angrily, getting to his feet again. `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with feet that size, hard not to,` said a drawling voice from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "behind them. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned sharply. Draco Malfoy was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "standing alone nearby, leaning against a tree, looking utterly relaxed. His arms","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "folded, he seemed to have been watching the scene at the campsite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "through a gap in the trees. Ron told Malfoy to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "something that Harry knew he would never have dared say in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of Mrs. Weasley. `Language, Weasley,` said Malfoy, his pale eyes glittering.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Hadn't you better be hurrying along, now? You wouldn't like her spotted,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "would you?` He nodded at Hermione, and at the same moment,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a blast like a bomb sounded from the campsite, and a flash","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of green light momentarily lit the trees around them. `What's that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "supposed to mean?` said Hermione defiantly. `Granger, they're after Muggles, `said Malfoy.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`D'you want to be showing off your knickers in midair? Because if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you do, hang around. . . they're moving this way, and it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "would give us all a laugh.` `Hermione's a witch,` Harry snarled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Have it your own way, Potter,` said Malfoy, grinning maliciously. `If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`You watch your mouth!` shouted Ron. Everybody present knew that `Mudblood` was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a very offensive term for a witch or wizard of Muggle parentage.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Never mind, Ron,` said Hermione quickly, seizing Ron's arm to restrain","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "him as he took a step toward Malfoy. There came a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "bang from the other side of the trees that was louder than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "anything they had heard. Several people nearby screamed. Malfoy chuckled softly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Scare easily, don't they?` he said lazily. `I suppose your daddy told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you all to hide? What's he up to - trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "rescue the Muggles?` `Where're your parents?` said Harry, his temper rising.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Out there wearing masks, are they?` Malfoy turned his face to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry, still smiling. `Well. . . if they were, I wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "be likely to tell you, would I, Potter?` `Oh come on,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Hermione, with a disgusted look at Malfoy, `let's go and find","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the others.` `Keep that big bushy head down, Granger,` sneered Malfoy.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Come on,` Hermione repeated, and she pulled Harry and Ron up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the path again. `I'll bet you anything his dad is one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of that masked lot!` said Ron hotly. `Well, with any luck,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the Ministry will catch him!` said Hermione fervently. `Oh I can't believe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "this. Where have the others got to?` Fred, George, and Ginny","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "were nowhere to be seen, though the path was packed with plenty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of other people, all looking nervously over their shoulders toward the commotion","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "back at the campsite. A huddle of teenagers in pajamas was arguing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "vociferously a little way along the path. When they saw Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and Hermione, a girl with thick curly hair turned and said quickly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`O? est Madame Maxime? Nous l'avons perdue -` `Er - what?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Ron. `Oh. . .` The girl who had spoken turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "her back on him, and as they walked on they distinctly heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "her say, `Ogwarts.` `Beauxbatons,` muttered Hermione. `Sorry?` said Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`They must go to Beauxbatons,` said Hermione. `You know... Beauxbatons Academy of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Magic. . . I read about it in An Appraisal ofMagical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Education in Europe.` `Oh. . . yeah. . . right,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry. `Fred and George can't have gone that far,` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "pulling out his wand, lighting it like Hermione's, and squinting up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "path. Harry dug in the pockets of his jacket for his own","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wand - but it wasn't there. The only thing he could find","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "was his Omnioculars. `Ah, no, I don't believe it. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "I've lost my wand!` `You're kidding!` Ron and Hermione raised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "their wands high enough to spread the narrow beams of light farther","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "on the ground; Harry looked all around him, but his wand was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "nowhere to be seen. `Maybe it's back in the tent,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Ron. `Maybe it fell out of your pocket when we were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "running?` Hermione suggested anxiously. `Yeah,` said Harry, `maybe. . He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "usually kept his wand with him at all times in the wizarding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "world, and finding himself without it in the midst of a scene","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "like this made him feel very vulnerable. A rustling noise nearby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "made all three of them jump. Winky the house-elf was fighting her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "way out of a clump of bushes nearby. She was moving in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a most peculiar fashion, apparently with great difficulty; it was as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "someone invisible were trying to hold her back. `There is bad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wizards about!` she squeaked distractedly as she leaned forward and labored to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "keep running. `People high - high in the air! Winky is getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "out of the way!` And she disappeared into the trees on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the other side of the path, panting and squeaking as she fought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the force that was restraining her. `What's up with her?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Ron, looking curiously after Winky. `Why can't she run properly?` `Bet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "she didn't ask permission to hide,` said Harry. He was thinking of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Dobby: Every time he had tried to do something the Malfoys wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "like, the house-elf had been forced to start beating himself up. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`You know, house-elves get a very raw deal!` said Hermione indignantly. `It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "slavery, that's what it is! That Mr. Crouch made her go up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to the top of the stadium, and she was terrified, and he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "got her bewitched so she can't even run when they start trampling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "tents! Why doesn't anyone do something about it?` `Well, the elves","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "are happy, aren't they?` Ron said. `You heard old Winky back at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the match.. . 'House-elves is not supposed to have fun'. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "that's what she likes, being bossed around. . . .` `It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "people like you, Ron,` Hermione began hotly, `who prop up rotten and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "unjust systems, just because they're too lazy to -` Another loud","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "bang echoed from the edge of the wood. `Let's just keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "moving, shall we?` said Ron, and Harry saw him glance edgily at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Hermione. Perhaps there was truth in what Malfoy had said; perhaps Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "was in more danger than they were. They set off again, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "still searching his pockets, even though he knew his wand wasn't there.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " They followed the dark path deeper into the wood, still keeping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "an eye out for Fred, George, and Ginny. They passed a group","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of goblins who were cackling over a sack of gold that they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "had undoubtedly won betting on the match, and who seemed quite unperturbed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "by the trouble at the campsite. Farther still along the path, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "walked into a patch of silvery light, and when they looked through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the trees, they saw three tall and beautiful veela standing in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "clearing, surrounded by a gaggle of young wizards, all of whom were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "talking very loudly. `I pull down about a hundred sacks of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Galleons a year!` one of them shouted. `I'm a dragon killer for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.` `No, you're not!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "yelled his friend. `You're a dishwasher at the Leaky Cauldron. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". but I'm a vampire hunter, I've killed about ninety so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "far -` A third young wizard, whose pimples were visible even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "by the dim, silvery light of the veela, now cut in, `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "about to become the youngest ever Minister of Magic, I am.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry snorted with laughter. He recognized the pimply wizard: His name was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Stan Shunpike, and he was in fact a conductor on the triple-decker","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Knight Bus. He turned to tell Ron this, but Ron's face had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "gone oddly slack, and next second Ron was yelling, `Did I tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you I've invented a broomstick that'll reach Jupiter?` `Honestly!` said Hermione, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "she and Harry grabbed Ron firmly by the arms, wheeled him around,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and marched him away. By the time the sounds of the veela","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and their admirers had faded completely, they were in the very heart","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of the wood. They seemed to be alone now; everything was much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "quieter. Harry looked around. `I reckon we can just wait here,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you know. We'll hear anyone coming a mile off.` The words","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "were hardly out of his mouth, when Ludo Bagman emerged from behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a tree right ahead of them. Even by the feeble light","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of the two wands, Harry could see that a great change had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "come over Bagman. He no longer looked buoyant and rosy-faced; there was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "no more spring in his step. He looked very white and strained.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Who's that?` he said, blinking down at them, trying to make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "out their faces. `What are you doing in here, all alone?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "They looked at one another, surprised. `Well - there's a sort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of riot going on,` said Ron. Bagman stared at him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`What?` `At the campsite. . . some people have got hold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of a family of Muggles. . . Bagman swore loudly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Damn them!` he said, looking quite distracted, and without another word, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Disapparated with a small pop! `Not exactly on top of things,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mr. Bagman, is he?` said Hermione, frowning. `He was a great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Beater, though,` said Ron, leading the way off the path into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "small clearing, and sitting down on a patch of dry grass at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the foot of a tree. `The Wimbourne Wasps won the league three","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "times in a row while he was with them.` He took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his small figure of Krum out of his pocket, set it down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "on the ground, and watched it walk around. Like the real Krum,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the model was slightly duck-footed and round-shouldered, much less impressive on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "splayed feet than on his broomstick. Harry was listening for noise from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the campsite. Everything seemed much quieter; perhaps the riot was over. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`I hope the others are okay,` said Hermione after a while. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`They'll be fine,` said Ron. `Imagine if your dad catches Lucius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Malfoy,` said Harry, sitting down next to Ron and watching the small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "figure of Krum slouching over the fallen leaves. `He's always said he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "like to get something on him.` `That'd wipe the smirk off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "old Draco's face, all right,` said Ron. `Those poor Muggles, though,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Hermione nervously. `What if they can't get them down?` `They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "will,` said Ron reassuringly. `They'll find a way.` `Mad, though, to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "do something like that when the whole Ministry of Magic's out here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "tonight!` said Hermione. `I mean, how do they expect to get away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with it? Do you think they've been drinking, or are they just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "-` But she broke off abruptly and looked over her shoulder.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry and Ron looked quickly around too. It sounded as though someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "was staggering toward their clearing. They waited, listening to the sounds of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the uneven steps behind the dark trees. But the footsteps came to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a sudden halt. `Hello?` called Harry. There was silence. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "got to his feet and peered around the tree. It was too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "dark to see very far, but he could sense somebody standing just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "beyond the range of his vision. `Who's there?` he said. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "And then, without warning, the silence was rent by a voice unlike","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "any they had heard in the wood; and it uttered, not a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "panicked shout, but what sounded like a spell. `MORSMORDRE!` And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "something vast, green, and glittering erupted from the patch of darkness Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "eyes had been struggling to penetrate; it flew up over the treetops","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and into the sky. `What the - ?` gasped Ron as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "he sprang to his feet again, staring up at the thing that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "had appeared. For a split second, Harry thought it was another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "leprechaun formation. Then he realized that it was a colossal skull, comprised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "like a new constellation. Suddenly, the wood all around them erupted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with screams. Harry didn't understand why, but the only possible cause was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the sudden appearance of the skull, which had now risen high enough","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to illuminate the entire wood like some grisly neon sign. He scanned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the darkness for the person who had conjured the skull, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "couldn't see anyone. `Who's there?` he called again. `Harry, come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "on, move!` Hermione had seized the collar of his jacket and was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "tugging him backward. `What's the matter?` Harry said, startled to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "her face so white and terrified. `It's the Dark Mark, Harry!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Hermione moaned, pulling him as hard as she could. `You-Know-Who's sign!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Voldemort's - `Harry, come on!` Harry turned - Ron was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "hurriedly scooping up his miniature Krum - the three of them ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "started across the clearing - but before they had taken a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "hurried steps, a series of popping noises announced the arrival of twenty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wizards, appearing from thin air, surrounding them. Harry whirled around, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "in an instant, he registered one fact: Each of these wizards had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his wand out, and every wand was pointing right at himself, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and Hermione. Without pausing to think, he yelled, `DUCK!` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "seized the other two and pulled them down onto the ground. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`STUPEFY!` roared twenty voices - there was a blinding series of flashes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and Harry felt the hair on his head ripple as though a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "powerful wind had swept the clearing. Raising his head a fraction of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "an inch he saw jets of fiery red light flying over them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "from the wizards' wands, crossing one another, bouncing off tree trunks, rebounding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "into the darkness-- `Stop!` yelled a voice he recognized. `STOP! That's my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "son!` Harry's hair stopped blowing about. He raised his head a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "little higher. The wizard in front of him had lowered his wand.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "He rolled over and saw Mr. Weasley striding toward them, looking terrified.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Ron - Harry` - his voice sounded shaky - `Hermione -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "are you all right?` `Out of the way, Arthur,` said a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "cold, curt voice. It was Mr. Crouch. He and the other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Ministry wizards were closing in on them. Harry got to his feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to face them. Mr. Crouch's face was taut with rage. `Which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of you did it?` he snapped, his sharp eyes darting between them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Which of you conjured the Dark Mark?` `We didn't do that!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Harry, gesturing up at the skull. `We didn't do anything!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Ron, who was rubbing his elbow and looking indignantly at his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "father. `What did you want to attack us for?` `Do not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "lie, sir!` shouted Mr. Crouch. His wand was still pointing directly at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Ron, and his eyes were popping - he looked slightly mad. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "have been discovered at the scene of the crime!` `Barty,` whispered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a witch in a long woolen dressing gown, `they're kids, Barty, they'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "never have been able to `Where did the Mark come from, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "three?` said Mr. Weasley quickly. `Over there,` said Hermione shakily, pointing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "at the place where they had heard the voice. `There was someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "behind the trees. . . they shouted words - an incantation -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Oh, stood over there, did they?` said Mr. Crouch, turning his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "popping eyes on Hermione now, disbelief etched all over his face. `Said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "an incantation, did they? You seem very well informed about how that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mark is summoned, missy -` But none of the Ministry wizards","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "apart from Mr. Crouch seemed to think it remotely likely that Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Ron, or Hermione had conjured the skull; on the contrary, at Hermione's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "words, they had all raised their wands again and were pointing in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the direction she had indicated, squinting through the dark trees. `We're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "too late,` said the witch in the woolen dressing gown, shaking her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "head. `They'll have Disapparated.` `I don't think so,` said a wizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with a scrubby brown beard. It was Amos Diggory, Cedric's father. `Our","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Stunners went right through those trees. . . . There's a good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "chance we got them. . . `Amos, be careful!` said a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "few of the wizards warningly as Mr. Diggory squared his shoulders, raised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his wand, marched across the clearing, and disappeared into the darkness. Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "watched him vanish with her hands over her mouth. A few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "seconds later, they heard Mr. Diggory shout. `Yes! We got them!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "There's someone here! Unconscious! It's - but - blimey. . `You've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "got someone?` shouted Mr. Crouch, sounding highly disbelieving. `Who? Who is it?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " They heard snapping twigs, the rustling of leaves, and then crunching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "footsteps as Mr. Diggory reemerged from behind the trees. He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "carrying a tiny, limp figure in his arms. Harry recognized the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "tea towel at once. It was Winky. Mr. Crouch did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "move or speak as Mr. Diggory deposited his elf on the ground","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "at his feet. The other Ministry wizards were all staring at Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Crouch. For a few seconds Crouch remained transfixed, his eyes blazing in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his white face as he stared down at Winky. Then he appeared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to come to life again. `This - cannot - be,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said jerkily. `No -` He moved quickly around Mr. Diggory and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "strode off toward the place where he had found Winky. `No","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "point, Mr. Crouch,` Mr. Diggory called after him. `There's no one else","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "there.` But Mr. Crouch did not seem prepared to take his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "word for it. They could hear him moving around and the rustling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of leaves as he pushed the bushes aside, searching. `Bit embarrassing,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mr. Diggory said grimly, looking down at Winky's unconscious form. `Barty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Crouch's house-elf. . . I mean to say...` `Come off it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Amos,` said Mr. Weasley quietly, `you don't seriously think it was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "elf? The Dark Mark's a wizard's sign. It requires a wand.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Yeah,` said Mr. Diggory, `and she had a wand.` `What?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Mr. Weasley. `Here, look.` Mr. Diggory held up a wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and showed it to Mr. Weasley. `Had it in her hand. So","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "that's clause three of the Code of Wand Use broken, for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "start. No non-human creature is permitted to carry or use a wand.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " Just then there was another pop, and Ludo Bagman Apparated right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "next to Mr. Weasley. Looking breathless and disorientated, he spun on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the spot, goggling upward at the emerald-green skull. `The Dark Mark!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "he panted, almost trampling Winky as he turned inquiringly to his colleagues.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Who did it? Did you get them? Barry! What's going on?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mr. Crouch had returned empty-handed. His face was still ghostly white, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his hands and his toothbrush mustache were both twitching. `Where have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you been, Barty?` said Bagman. `Why weren't you at the match? Your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "elf was saving you a seat too - gulping gargoyles!` Bagman had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "just noticed Winky lying at his feet. `What happened to her?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`I have been busy, Ludo,` said Mr. Crouch, still talking in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "same jerky fashion, barely moving his lips. `And my elf has been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "stunned.` `Stunned? By you lot, you mean? But why - ?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " Comprehension dawned suddenly on Bagman's round, shiny face; he looked up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "at the skull, down at Winky, and then at Mr. Crouch. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`No!` he said. `Winky? Conjure the Dark Mark? She wouldn't know how!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "She'd need a wand, for a start!` `And she had one,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Mr. Diggory. `I found her holding one, Ludo. If it's all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "right with you, Mr. Crouch, I think we should hear what she's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "got to say for herself.` Crouch gave no sign that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "had heard Mr. Diggory, but Mr. Diggory seemed to take his silence","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "for assent. He raised his own wand, pointed it at Winky, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said, `Ennervate!` Winky stirred feebly. Her great brown eyes opened and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "she blinked several times in a bemused sort of way. Watched by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the silent wizards, she raised herself shakily into a sitting position. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "She caught sight of Mr. Diggory's feet, and slowly, tremulously, raised her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "eyes to stare up into his face; then, more slowly still, she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "looked up into the sky. Harry could see the floating skull reflected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "twice in her enormous, glassy eyes. She gave a gasp, looked wildly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "around the crowded clearing, and burst into terrified sobs. `Elf!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mr. Diggory sternly. `Do you know who I am? I'm a member","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Winky began to rock backward and forward on the ground, her breath","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "coming in sharp bursts. Harry was reminded forcibly of Dobby in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "moments of terrified disobedience. `As you see, elf, the Dark Mark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "was conjured here a short while ago,` said Mr. Diggory. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you were discovered moments later, right beneath it! An explanation, if you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "please!` `I - I - I is not doing it, sir!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Winky gasped. `I is not knowing how, sir!` `You were found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with a wand in your hand!` barked Mr. Diggory, brandishing it in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "front of her. And as the wand caught the green light that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "was filling the clearing from the skull above, Harry recognized it `Hey","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "- that's mine!` he said Everyone in the clearing looked at him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Excuse me?` said Mr. Diggory, incredulously. `That's my wand!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry. `I dropped it!` `You dropped it?` repeated Mr. Diggory in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "disbelief. `Is this a confession? You threw it aside after you conjured","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the Mark?` `Amos, think who you're talking to!` said Mr. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "very angrily. `Is Harry Potter likely to conjure the Dark Mark?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Er - of course not,` mumbled Mr. Diggory. `Sorry. . . carried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "away. . `I didn't drop it there, anyway,` said Harry, jerking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his thumb toward the trees beneath the skull. `I missed it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "right after we got into the wood.` `So,` said Mr. Diggory,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his eyes hardening as he turned to look at Winky again, cowering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "at his feet. `You found this wand, eh, elf? And you picked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "it up and thought you'd have some fun with it, did you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `I is not doing magic with it, sir!` squealed Winky, tears","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "streaming down the sides of her squashed and bulbous nose. `I is.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". . I is. . . I is just picking it up,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "sir! i is not making the Dark Mark, sir, i is not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "knowing how!` `It wasn't her!` said Hermione. She looked very nervous,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "speaking up in front of all these Ministry wizards, yet determined all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the same. `Winky's got a squeaky little voice, and the voice we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "heard doing the incantation was much deeper!` She looked around at Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and Ron, appealing for their support. `It didn't sound anything like Winky,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "did it?` `No,` said Harry, shaking his head. `It definitely didn't sound","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "like an elf.` `Yeah, it was a human voice,` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Well, we'll soon see,` growled Mr. Diggory, looking unimpressed. `There's a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "simple way of discovering the last spell a wand performed, elf, did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you know that?` Winky trembled and shook her head frantically, her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "ears flapping, as Mr. Diggory raised his own wand again and placed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "it tip to tip with Harry's. `Prior Incantato!` roared Mr. Diggory.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " Harry heard Hermione gasp, horrified, as a gigantic serpent-tongued skull erupted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "from the point where the two wands met, but it was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "mere shadow of the green skull high above them; it looked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "though it were made of thick gray smoke: the ghost of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "spell. `Deletrius!` Mr. Diggory shouted, and the smoky skull vanished in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a wisp of smoke. `So,` said Mr. Diggory with a kind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of savage triumph, looking down upon Winky, who was still shaking convulsively.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `I is not doing it!` she squealed, her eyes rolling in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "terror. `I is not, I is not, I is not knowing how!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "I is a good elf, I isn't using wands, I isn't knowing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "how!` `You've been caught red-handed, elf!` Mr. Diggory roared. `Caught with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the guilty wand in your hand!` `Amos,` said Mr. Weasley loudly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`think about it. . . precious few wizards know how to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "that spell. . . . Where would she have learned it?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Perhaps Amos is suggesting,` said Mr. Crouch, cold anger in every syllable,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`that I routinely teach my servants to conjure the Dark Mark?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "There was a deeply unpleasant silence. Amos Diggory looked horrified. `Mr. Crouch..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". not. . . not at all. `You have now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "come very close to accusing the two people in this clearing who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "are least likely to conjure that Mark!` barked Mr. Crouch. `Harry Potter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "- and myself. I suppose you are familiar with the boy's story,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Amos?` `Of course - everyone knows -` muttered Mr. Diggory, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "highly discomforted. `And I trust you remember the many proofs I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "have given, over a long career, that I despise and detest the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Dark Arts and those who practice them?` Mr. Crouch shouted, his eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "bulging again. `Mr. Crouch, I - I never suggested you had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "anything to do with it!` Amos Diggory muttered again, now reddening behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "his scrubby brown beard. `If you accuse my elf, you accuse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "me, Diggory!` shouted Mr. Crouch. `Where else would she have learned to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "conjure it?` `She - she might've picked it up anywhere -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Precisely, Amos,` said Mr. Weasley. `She might have picked it up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "anywhere.. . . Winky?` he said kindly, turning to the elf,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "but she flinched as though he too was shouting at her. `Where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "exactly did you find Harry's wand?` Winky was twisting the hem","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of her tea towel so violently that it was fraying beneath her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "fingers. `I - I is finding it. . . finding it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "there, sir. . . .` she whispered, `there . . . in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the trees, sir. `You see, Amos?` said Mr. Weasley. `Whoever conjured","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the Mark could have Disapparated right after they'd done it, leaving Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wand behind. A clever thing to do, not using their own wand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "which could have betrayed them. And Winky here had the misfortune to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "come across the wand moments later and pick it up.` `But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "then, she'd have been only a few feet away from the real","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "culprit!` said Mr. Diggory impatiently. `Elf? Did you see anyone?` Winky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "began to tremble worse than ever. Her giant eyes flickered from Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Diggory, to Ludo Bagman, and onto Mr. Crouch. Then she gulped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and said, `I is seeing no one, sir. . . no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "one. . `Amos,` said Mr. Crouch curtly, `I am fully aware","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "that, in the ordinary course of events, you would want to take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Winky into your department for questioning. I ask you, however, to allow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "me to deal with her.` Mr. Diggory looked as though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "didn't think much of this suggestion at all, but it was clear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to Harry that Mr. Crouch was such an important member of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Ministry that he did not dare refuse him. `You may rest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "assured that she will be punished,` Mr. Crouch added coldly. `M-m-master.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". .` Winky stammered, looking up at Mr. Crouch, her eyes brimming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with tears. `M-m-master, p-p-please. . .` Mr. Crouch stared back, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "face somehow sharpened, each line upon it more deeply etched. There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "was no pity in his gaze. `Winky has behaved tonight in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a manner I would not have believed possible,` he said slowly. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "told her to remain in the tent. I told her to stay","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "there while I went to sort out the trouble. And I find","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "that she disobeyed me. This means clothes.` `No!` shrieked Winky, prostrating","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "herself at Mr. Crouch's feet. `No, master! Not clothes, not clothes!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry knew that the only way to turn a house-elf free was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to present it with proper garments. It was pitiful to see the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "way Winky clutched at her tea towel as she sobbed over Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Crouch's feet. `But she was frightened!` Hermione burst out angrily, glaring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "at Mr. Crouch. `Your elf's scared of heights, and those wizards in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "masks were levitating people! You can't blame her for wanting to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "out of their way!` Mr. Crouch took a step backward, freeing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "himself from contact with the elf, whom he was surveying as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "she were something filthy and rotten that was contaminating his over-shined shoes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `I have no use for a house-elf who disobeys me,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said coldly, looking over at Hermione. `I have no use for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "servant who forgets what is due to her master, and to her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "master's reputation.` Winky was crying so hard that her sobs echoed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "around the clearing. There was a very nasty silence, which was ended","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "by Mr. Weasley, who said quietly, `Well, I think I'll take my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "lot back to the tent, if nobody's got any objections. Amos, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "wand's told us all it can - if Harry could have it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "back, please -` Mr. Diggory handed Harry his wand and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "pocketed it. `Come on, you three,` Mr. Weasley said quietly. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Hermione didn't seem to want to move; her eyes were still upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the sobbing elf. `Hermione!` Mr. Weasley said, more urgently. She turned and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "followed Harry and Ron out of the clearing and off through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "trees. `What's going to happen to Winky?` said Hermione, the moment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "they had left the clearing. `I don't know,` said Mr. Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `The way they were treating her!` said Hermione furiously. `Mr. Diggory,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "calling her 'elf' all the time. . . and Mr. Crouch! He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "knows she didn't do it and he's still going to sack her!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "He didn't care how frightened she'd been, or how upset she was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "- it was like she wasn't even human!` `Well, she's not,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Ron. Hermione rounded on him. `That doesn't mean she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "hasn't got feelings, Ron. It's disgusting the way -` `Hermione, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "agree with you,` said Mr. Weasley quickly, beckoning her on, `but now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "is not the time to discuss elf rights. I want to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "back to the tent as fast as we can. What happened to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the others?` `We lost them in the dark,` said Ron. `Dad,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "why was everyone so uptight about that skull thing?` `I'll explain","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "everything back at the tent,` said Mr. Weasley tensely. But when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "they reached the edge of the wood, their progress was impeded. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "large crowd of frightened-looking witches and wizards was congregated there, and when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "they saw Mr. Weasley coming toward them, many of them surged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "forward. `What's going on in there?` `Who conjured it?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Arthur - it's not - Him?` `Of course it's not Him,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Mr. Weasley impatiently. `We don't know who it was; it ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "looks like they Disapparated. Now excuse me, please, I want to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to bed.` He led Harry, Ron, and Hermione through the crowd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "and back into the campsite. All was quiet now; there was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "sign of the masked wizards, though several ruined tents were still smoking.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " Charlie's head was poking out of the boys' tent. `Dad,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "what's going on?` he called through the dark. `Fred, George, and Ginny","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "got back okay, but the others -` `I've got them here,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Mr. Weasley, bending down and entering the tent. Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Hermione entered after him. Bill was sitting at the small kitchen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "table, holding a bedsheet to his arm, which was bleeding profusely. Charlie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "had a large rip in his shirt, and Percy was sporting a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "bloody nose. Fred, George, and Ginny looked unhurt, though shaken. `Did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you get them, Dad?` said Bill sharply. `The person who conjured the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mark?` `No,` said Mr. Weasley. `We found Barry Crouch's elf holding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry's wand, but we're none the wiser about who actually conured the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mark.` `What?` said Bill, Charlie, and Percy together. `Harry's wand?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Fred. `Mr. Crouch's elf` said Percy, sounding thunderstruck. With some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "assistance from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Mr. Weasley explained what had happened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "in the woods. When they had finished their story, Percy swelled indignantly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " `Well, Mr. Crouch is quite right to get rid of an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "elf like that!` he said. `Running away when he'd expressly told her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "not to. . . embarrassing him in front of the whole Ministry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". . how would that have looked, if she'd been brought up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "in front of the Department for the Regulation and Control -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`She didn't do anything - she was just in the wrong place","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "at the wrong time!` Hermione snapped at Percy, who looked very taken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "aback. Hermione had always got on fairly well with Percy - better,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "indeed, than any of the others. `Hermione, a wizard in Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Crouch's position can't afford a house-elf who's going to run amok with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "a wand!` said Percy pompously, recovering himself. `She didn't run amok!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "shouted Hermione. `She just picked it up off the ground!` `Look,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "can someone just explain what that skull thing was?` said Ron impatiently.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`It wasn't hurting anyone. . . . Why's it such a big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "deal?` `I told you, it's You-Know-Who's symbol, Ron,` said Hermione, before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "anyone else could answer. `I read about it in The Rise and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Fall of the Dark Arts.` `And it hasn't been seen for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "thirteen years,` said Mr. Weasley quietly. `Of course people panicked. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "it was almost like seeing You-Know-Who back again.` `I don't get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "it,` said Ron, frowning. `I mean. . . it's still only a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "shape in the sky. . . `Ron, You-Know-Who and his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mr. Weasley. `The terror it inspired. . . you have no idea,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "you're too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "hovering over your house, and knowing what you're about to find inside.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" ". . .` Mr. Weasley winced. `Everyone's worst fear. . . the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "very worst.. There was silence for a moment. Then Bill, removing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the sheet from his arm to check on his cut, said, `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "it didn't help us tonight, whoever conjured it. It scared the Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Eaters away the moment they saw it. They all Disapparated before we'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "got near enough to unmask any of them. We caught the Robertses","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "before they hit the ground, though. They're having their memories modified right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "now.` `Death Eaters?` said Harry. `What are Death Eaters?` `It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "what You-Know-Who's supporters called themselves,` said Bill. `I think we saw what's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "left of them tonight - the ones who managed to keep themselves","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "out of Azkaban, anyway.` `We can't prove it was them, Bill,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "said Mr. Weasley. `Though it probably was,` he added hopelessly. `Yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "I bet it was!` said Ron suddenly . `Dad, we met Draco","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Malfoy in the woods, and he as good as told us his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "dad was one of those nutters in masks! And we all know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the Malfoys were right in with You-Know-Who!` `But what were Voldemort's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "supporters -` Harry began. Everybody flinched - like most of the wizarding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "world, the Weasleys always avoided saying Voldemort's name. `Sorry,` said Harry quickly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`What were You-Know-Who's supporters up to, levitating Muggles? I mean, what was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the point?` `The point?` said Mr. Weasley with a hollow laugh.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`Harry, that's their idea of fun. Half the Muggle killings back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "when You-Know-Who was in power were done for fun. I suppose they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "had a few drinks tonight and couldn't resist reminding us all that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "lots of them are still at large. A nice little reunion for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "them,` he finished disgustedly. `But if they were the Death Eaters,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "why did they Disapparate when they saw the Dark Mark?` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "`They'd have been pleased to see it, wouldn't they?` `Use your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "brains, Ron,` said Bill. `If they really were Death Eaters, they worked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "very hard to keep out of Azkaban when You-Know-Who lost power, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "told all sorts of lies about him forcing them to kill and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "torture people. I bet they'd be even more frightened than the rest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of us to see him come back. They denied they'd ever been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "involved with him when he lost his powers, and went back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "their daily lives. . . . I don't reckon he'd be over-pleased","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "with them, do you?` `So. . . whoever conjured the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Mark. . .` said Hermione slowly, `were they doing it to show","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "support for the Death Eaters, or to scare them away?` `Your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "guess is as good as ours, Hermione,` said Mr. Weasley. `But I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "tell you this. . . it was only the Death Eaters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "who ever knew how to conjure it. I'd be very surprised if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "the person who did it hadn't been a Death Eater once, even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "if they're not now. . Listen, it's very late, and if your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "mother hears what's happened she'll be worried sick. We'll get a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "more hours sleep and then try and get an early Portkey out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "of here.` Harry got back into his bunk with his head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "buzzing. He knew he ought to feel exhausted: It was nearly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "three in the morning, but he felt wide-awake - wide-awake, and worried.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " Three days ago - it felt like much longer, but it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "had only been three days - he had awoken with his scar","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "burning. And tonight, for the first time in thirteen years, Lord Voldemort's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "mark had appeared in the sky. What did these things mean? ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "He thought of the letter he had written to Sirius before leaving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Privet Drive. Would Sirius have gotten it yet? When would he reply?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "Harry lay looking up at the canvas, but no flying fantasies came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "to him now to ease him to sleep, and it was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" "long time after Charlie's snores filled the tent that Harry finally dozed off. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-9" " Mr. Weasley woke them after only a few hours","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "sleep. He used magic to pack up the tents, and they left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the campsite as quickly as possible, passing Mr. Roberts at the door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of his cottage. Mr. Roberts had a strange, dazed look about him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "and he waved them off with a vague `Merry Christmas.` `He'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "be all right,` said Mr. Weasley quietly as they marched off onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the moor. `Sometimes, when a person's memory's modified, it makes him a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "bit disorientated for a while...and that was a big thing they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "to make him forget.` They heard urgent voices as they approached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the spot where the Portkeys lay, and when they reached it, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "found a great number of witches and wizards gathered around Basil, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "keeper of the Portkeys, all clamoring to get away from the campsite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "as quickly as possible. Mr. Weasley had a hurried discussion with Basil;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "they joined the queue, and were able to take an old rubber","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "tire back to Stoatshead Hill before the sun had really risen. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "walked back through Ottery St. Catchpole and up the damp lane toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the Burrow in the dawn light, talking very little because they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "so exhausted, and thinking longingly of their breakfast. As they rounded the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "corner and the Burrow came into view, a cry echoed along the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "lane. `Oh thank goodness, thank goodness!` Mrs. Weasley, who had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "evidently been waiting for them in the front yard, came running toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "them, still wearing her bedroom slippers, her face pale and strained, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "rolled-up copy of the Daily Prophet clutched in her hand. `Arthur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "- I've been so worried - so worried-` She flung her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "arms around Mr. Weasley's neck, and the Daily Prophet fell out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "her limp hand onto the ground. Looking down, Harry saw the headline:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP, complete with a twinkling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "black-and-white photograph of the Dark Mark over the treetops. `You're all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "right,` Mrs. Weasley muttered distractedly, releasing Mr. Weasley and staring around at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "them all with red eyes, `you're alive. . . . Oh boys.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" ". And to everybody's surprise, she seized Fred and George and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "pulled them both into such a tight hug that their heads banged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "together. `Ouch! Mum - you're strangling us -` `I shouted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "at you before you left!` Mrs. Weasley said, starting to sob. `It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "all I've been thinking about! What if You-Know-Who had got you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "and the last thing I ever said to you was that you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "didn't get enough OW.L.s? Oh Fred. . . George. .` `Come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "on, now, Molly, we're all perfectly okay,` said Mr. Weasley soothingly, prising","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "her off the twins and leading her back toward the house. `Bill,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "he added in an undertone, `pick up that paper, I want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "see what it says. . .` When they were all crammed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "into the tiny kitchen, and Hermione had made Mrs. Weasley a cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of very strong tea, into which Mr. Weasley insisted on pouring a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "shot of Ogdens Old Firewhiskey, Bill handed his father the newspaper. Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Weasley scanned the front page while Percy looked over his shoulder. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`I knew it,` said Mr. Weasley heavily. `Ministry blunders. . . culprits","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "not apprehended. . . lax security. . . Dark wizards running","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "unchecked... national disgrace. . . Who wrote this? Ah. . . of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "course. . . Rita Skeeter.` `That woman's got it in for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the Ministry of Magic!` said Percy furiously. `Last week she was saying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "we're wasting our time quibbling about cauldron thickness, when we should be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "stamping out vampires! As if it wasn't specifically stated in paragraph twelve","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of the Guidelines for the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans --` `Do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "us a favor, Perce,` said Bill, yawning, `and shut up.` `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "mentioned,` said Mr. Weasley, his eyes widening behind his glasses as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "reached the bottom of the Daily Prophet article. `Where?` spluttered Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Weasley, choking on her tea and whiskey. `If I'd seen that, I'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "have known you were alive!` `Not by name,` said Mr. Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`Listen to this: 'If the terrified wizards and witches who waited breathlessly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "for news at the edge of the wood expected reassurance from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Ministry ofMagic, they were sadly disappointed. A Ministry official emerged some time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "after the appearance of the Dark Mark alleging that nobody had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "hurt, but reflising to give any more information. Whether this statement will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "be enough to quash the rumors that several bodies were removed from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the woods an hour later, remains to be seen.' Oh really,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Mr. Weasley in exasperation, handing the paper to Percy. `Nobody was hurt.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" " What was I supposed to say? Rumors that several bodies were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "removed from the woods. . . well, there certainly will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "rumors now she's printed that.` He heaved a deep sigh. `Molly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "I'm going to have to go into the office; this is going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "to take some smoothing over.` `I'll come with you, Father,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Percy importantly. `Mr. Crouch will need all hands on deck. And I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "can give him my cauldron report in person.` He bustled out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley looked most upset. `Arthur, you're supposed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "be on holiday! This hasn't got anything to do with your office;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "surely they can handle this without you?` `I've got to go,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Molly,` said Mr. Weasley. `I've made things worse. I'll just change into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "my robes and I'll be off. . . .` `Mrs. Weasley,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "said Harry suddenly, unable to contain himself, `Hedwig hasn't arrived with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "letter for me, has she?` `Hedwig, dear?` said Mrs. Weasley distractedly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`No. . . no, there hasn't been any post at all.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Ron and Hermione looked curiously at Harry. With a meaningful look at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "both of them he said, `All right if I go and dump","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "my stuff in your room, Ron?` `Yeah. . . think I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "will too,` said Ron at once. `Hermione?` `Yes,` she said quickly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "and the three of them marched out of the kitchen and up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the stairs. `What's up, Harry?` said Ron, the moment they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "closed the door of the attic room behind them. `There's something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "I haven't told you,` Harry said. `On Saturday morning, I woke up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "with my scar hurting again.` Ron's and Hermione's reactions were almost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "exactly as Harry had imagined them back in his bedroom on Privet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Drive. Hermione gasped and started making suggestions at once, mentioning a number","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of reference books, and everybody from Albus Dumbledore to Madam Pomfrey, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Hogwarts nurse. Ron simply looked dumbstruck. `But - he wasn't there, was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "he? You-Know-Who? I mean - last time your scar kept hurting, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "was at Hogwarts, wasn't he?` `I'm sure he wasn't on Privet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Drive,` said Harry. `But I was dreaming about him.. . him and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Peter - you know, Wormtail. I can't remember all of it now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "but they were plotting to kill...someone.` He had teetered for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "moment on the verge of saying `me,` but couldn't bring himself to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "make Hermione look any more horrified than she already did. `It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "was only a dream,` said Ron bracingly. `Just a nightmare.` `Yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "but was it, though?` said Harry, turning to look out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "window at the brightening sky. `It's weird, isn't it?. . . My","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "scar hurts, and three days later the Death Eaters are on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "march, and Voldemort's sign's up in the sky again.` `Don't -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "say - his - name!` Ron hissed through gritted teeth. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "remember what Professor Trelawney said?` Harry went on, ignoring Ron. `At the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "end of last year?` Professor Trelawney was their Divination teacher at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Hogwarts. Hermione's terrified look vanished as she let out a derisive snort.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" " `Oh Harry, you aren't going to pay attention to anything that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "old fraud says?` `You weren't there,` said Harry. `You didn't hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "her. This time was different. I told you, she went into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "trance - a real one. And she said the Dark Lord would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "rise again. . . greater and more terrible than ever before.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" ". . and he'd manage it because his servant was going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "go back to him. . . and that night Wormtail escaped.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "There was a silence in which Ron fidgeted absentmindedly with a hole","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "in his Chudley Cannons bedspread. `Why were you asking if Hedwig","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "had come, Harry?` Hermione asked. `Are you expecting a letter?` `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "told Sirius about my scar,` said Harry, shrugging. `I'm waiting for his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "answer.` `Good thinking!` said Ron, his expression clearing. `I bet Sirius'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "know what to do!` `I hoped he'd get back to me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "quickly,` said Harry. `But we don't know where Sirius is. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" ". he could be in Africa or somewhere, couldn't he?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Hermione reasonably. `Hedwig's not going to manage that journey in a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "days.` `Yeah, I know,` said Harry, but there was a leaden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "feeling in his stomach as he looked out of the window at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the Hedwig-free sky. `Come and have a game of Quidditch in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the orchard, Harry` said Ron. `Come on - three on three, Bill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "and Charlie and Fred and George will play. .. . You can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "try out the Wronski Feint... .` `Ron,` said Hermione, in an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "I-don't-think-you're-being-very-sensitive sort of voice, `Harry doesn't want to play Quidditch right now...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" ". He's worried, and he's tired. . . . We all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "need to go to bed...` `Yeah, I want to play Quidditch,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "said Harry suddenly. `Hang on, I'll get my Firebolt.` Hermione left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the room, muttering something that sounded very much like `Boys.` Neither","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Mr. Weasley nor Percy was at home much over the following week.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Both left the house each morning before the rest of the family","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "got up, and returned well after dinner every night. `It's been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "an absolute uproar,` Percy told them importantly the Sunday evening before they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "were due to return to Hogwarts. `I've been putting out fires all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "week. People keep sending Howlers, and of course, if you don't open","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "a Howler straight away, it explodes. Scorch marks all over my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "desk and my best quill reduced to cinders.` `Why are they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "all sending Howlers?` asked Ginny, who was mending her copy of One","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi with Spellotape on the rug in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of the living room fire. `Complaining about security at the World","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Cup,` said Percy. `They want compensation for their ruined property. Mundungus Fletcher's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "put in a claim for a twelve-bedroomed tent with en-suite Jacuzzi, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "I've got his number. I know for a fact he was sleeping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "under a cloak propped on sticks.` Mrs. Weasley glanced at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "grandfather clock in the corner. Harry liked this clock. It was completely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "useless if you wanted to know the time, but otherwise very informative.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" " It had nine golden hands, and each of them was engraved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "with one of the Weasley family's names. There were no numerals around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the face, but descriptions of where each family member might be. `Home,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`school,` and `work` were there, but there was also `traveling,` `lost,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`hospital,` `prison,` and, in the position where the number twelve would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "on a normal clock, `mortal peril.` Eight of the hands were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "currently pointing to the `home` position, but Mr. Weasley's, which was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "longest, was still pointing to `work.` Mrs. Weasley sighed. `Your father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "hasn't had to go into the office on weekends since the days","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of You-Know-Who,` she said. `They're working him far too hard. His dinner's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "going to be ruined if he doesn't come home soon.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`Well, Father feels he's got to make up for his mistake at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "the match, doesn't he?` said Percy. `If truth be told, he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "a tad unwise to make a public statement without clearing it with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "his Head of Department first -` `Don't you dare blame your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "father for what that wretched Skeeter woman wrote!` said Mrs. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "flaring up at once. `If Dad hadn't said anything, old Rita","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "would just have said it was disgraceful that nobody from the Ministry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "had commented,` said Bill, who was playing chess with Ron. `Rita","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Skeeter never makes anyone look good. Remember, she interviewed all the Gringotts'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Charm Breakers once, and called me 'a long-haired pillock'?` `Well, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "is a bit long, dear,` said Mrs. Weasley gently. `If you'd just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "let me -` `No, Mum.` Rain lashed against the living","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "room window. Hermione was immersed in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "4, copies of which Mrs. Weasley had bought for her, Harry, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Ron in Diagon Alley. Charlie was darning a fireproof balaclava. Harry was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "polishing his Firebolt, the broomstick servicing kit Hermione had given him for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "his thirteenth birthday open at his feet. Fred and George were sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "in a far corner, quills out, talking in whispers, their heads bent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "over a piece of parchment. `What are you two up to?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "said Mrs. Weasley sharply, her eyes on the twins. `Homework,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Fred vaguely. `Don't be ridiculous, you're still on holiday,` said Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Weasley. `Yeah, we've left it a bit late,` said George. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`You're not by any chance writing out a new order form, are you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "said Mrs. Weasley shrewdly. `You wouldn't be thinking of restarting Weasleys' Wizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Wheezes, by any chance?` `Now, Mum,` said Fred, looking up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "her, a pained look on his face. `If the Hogwarts Express crashed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "tomorrow, and George and I died, how would you feel to know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "that the last thing we ever heard from you was an unfounded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "accusation?` Everyone laughed, even Mrs. Weasley. `Oh your father's coming!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "she said suddenly, looking up at the clock again. Mr. Weasley's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "hand had suddenly spun from `work` to `traveling`; a second later it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "had shuddered to a halt on `home` with the others, and they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "heard him calling from the kitchen. `Coming, Arthur!` called Mrs. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "hurrying out of the room. A few moments later, Mr. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "came into the warm living room carrying his dinner on a tray.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "He looked completely exhausted. `Well, the fat's really in the fire","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "now,` he told Mrs. Weasley as he sat down in an armchair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "near the hearth and toyed unenthusiastically with his somewhat shriveled cauliflower. `Rita","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Skeeter's been ferreting around all week, looking for more Ministry mess-ups to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "report. And now she's found out about poor old Bertha going missing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "so that'll be the headline in the Prophet tomorrow. I told Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "he should have sent someone to look for her ages ago.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`Mr. Crouch has been saying it for weeks and weeks,` said Percy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "swiftly. `Crouch is very lucky Rita hasn't found out about Winky,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "said Mr. Weasley irritably. `There'd be a week's worth of headlines","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "in his house-elf being caught holding the wand that conjured the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Mark.` `I thought we were all agreed that that elf, while","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "irresponsible, did not conjure the Mark?` said Percy hotly. `If you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "ask me, Mr. Crouch is very lucky no one at the Daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Prophet knows how mean he is to elves!` said Hermione angrily. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`Now look here, Hermione!` said Percy. `A high-ranking Ministry official like Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Crouch deserves unswerving obedience from his servants -` `His slave, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "mean!` said Hermione, her voice rising passionately, `because he didn't pay Winky,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "did he?` `I think you'd all better go upstairs and check","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "that you've packed properly!` said Mrs. Weasley, breaking up the argument.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`Come on now, all of you. . . .` Harry repacked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "his broomstick servicing kit, put his Firebolt over his shoulder, and went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "back upstairs with Ron. The rain sounded even louder at the top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of the house, accompanied by loud whistlings and moans from the wind,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "not to mention sporadic howls from the ghoul who lived in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "attic. Pigwidgeon began twittering and zooming around his cage when they entered.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "The sight of the half-packed trunks seemed to have sent him ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "into a frenzy of excitement. `Bung him some Owl Treats,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Ron, throwing a packet across to Harry. `It might shut him up.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" " Harry poked a few Owl Treats through the bars of Pigwidgeon's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "cage, then turned to his trunk. Hedwig's cage stood next to it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "still empty. `It's been over a week,` Harry said, looking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Hedwig's deserted perch. `Ron, you don't reckon Sirius has been caught, do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "you?` `Nah, it would've been in the Daily Prophet,` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`The Ministry would want to show they'd caught someone, wouldn't they?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`Yeah, I suppose. . . .` `Look, here's the stuff Mum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "got for you in Diagon Alley. And she's got some gold out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of your vault for you. . . and she's washed all your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "socks.` He heaved a pile of parcels onto Harry's camp bed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "and dropped the money bag and a load of socks next to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "it. Harry started unwrapping the shopping. Apart from The Standard Book of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Spells, Grade 4, by Miranda Goshawk, he had a handful of new","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "quills, a dozen rolls of parchment, and refills for his potion-making kit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "- he had been running low on spine of lionfish and essence","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of belladonna. He was just piling underwear into his cauldron when Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "made a loud noise of disgust behind him. `What is that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "supposed to be?` He was holding up something that looked to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Harry like a long, maroon velvet dress. It had a moldy-looking lace","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "frill at the collar and matching lace cuffs. There was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "knock on the door, and Mrs. Weasley entered, carrying an armful of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "freshly laundered Hogwarts robes. `Here you are,` she said, sorting them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "into two piles. `Now, mind you pack them properly so they don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "crease.` `Mum, you've given me Ginny's new dress,` said Ron, handing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "it out to her. `Of course I haven't,` said Mrs. Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`That's for you. Dress robes.` `What?` said Ron, looking horror-struck. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`Dress robes!` repeated Mrs. Weasley. `It says on your school list that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "you're supposed to have dress robes this year. . . robes for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "formal occasions.` `You've got to be kidding,` said Ron in disbelief.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "`I'm not wearing that, no way.` `Everyone wears them, Ron!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Mrs. Weasley crossly. `They're all like that! Your father's got some for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "smart parties!` `I'll go starkers before I put that on,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Ron stubbornly. `Don't be so silly,` said Mrs. Weasley. `You've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "to have dress robes, they're on your list! I got some for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Harry too. . . show him, Harry... .` In some trepidation,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "Harry opened the last parcel on his camp bed. It wasn't as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "bad as he had expected, however; his dress robes didn't have any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "lace on them at all - in fact, they were more or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "less the same as his school ones, except that they were bottle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "green instead of black. `I thought they'd bring out the color","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "of your eyes, dear,` said Mrs. Weasley fondly. `Well, they're okay!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "said Ron angrily, looking at Harry's robes. `Why couldn't I have some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "like that?` `Because. . . well, I had to get yours","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "secondhand, and there wasn't a lot of choice!` said Mrs. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "flushing. Harry looked away. He would willingly have split all the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "money in his Gringotts vault with the Weasleys, but he knew they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "would never take it. `I'm never wearing them,` Ron was saying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "stubbornly. `Never.` `Fine,` snapped Mrs. Weasley. `Go naked. And, Harry, make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "sure you get a picture of him. Goodness knows I could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "do with a laugh.` She left the room, slamming the door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "behind her. There was a funny spluttering noise from behind them. Pigwidgeon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "was choking on an overlarge Owl Treat. `Why is everything I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" "own rubbish?` said Ron furiously, striding across the room to unstick Pigwidgeon's beak. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-10" " There was a definite end-of-the-holidays gloom in the air","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "when Harry awoke next morning. Heavy rain was still splattering against the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "window as he got dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt; they would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "change into their school robes on the Hogwarts Express. He, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Fred, and George had just reached the first-floor landing on their way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "down to breakfast, when Mrs. Weasley appeared at the foot of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "stairs, looking harassed. `Arthur!` she called up the staircase. `Arthur! Urgent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "message from the Ministry!` Harry flattened himself against the wall as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Mr. Weasley came clattering past with his robes on back-to-front and hurtled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "out of sight. When Harry and the others entered the kitchen, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "saw Mrs. Weasley rummaging anxiously in the drawers - `I've got a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "quill here somewhere!` - and Mr. Weasley bending over the fire, talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "to -Harry shut his eyes hard and opened them again to make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "sure that they were working properly. Amos Diggory's head was sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "in the middle of the flames like a large, bearded egg. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "was talking very fast, completely unperturbed by the sparks flying around it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and the flames licking its ears. `. . . Muggle neighbors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "heard bangs and shouting, so they went and called those what-d'you-call-'ems -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "please-men. Arthur, you've got to get over there --` `Here!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Mrs. Weasley breathlessly, pushing a piece of parchment, a bottle of ink,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and a crumpled quill into Mr. Weasley's hands. `- it's a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "real stroke of luck I heard about it,` said Mr. Diggory's head.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`I had to come into the office early to send a couple","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "of owls, and I found the Improper Use of Magic lot all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "setting off -- if Rita Skeeter gets hold of this one, Arthur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "--` `What does Mad-Eye say happened?` asked Mr. Weasley, unscrewing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "ink bottle, loading up his quill, and preparing to take notes. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Mr. Diggory's head rolled its eyes. `Says he heard an intruder in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "his yard. Says he was creeping toward the house, but was ambushed by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "his dustbins.` `What did the dustbins do?` asked Mr. Weasley, scribbling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "frantically. `Made one hell of a noise and fired rubbish everywhere,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "as far as I can tell,` said Mr. Diggory. `Apparently one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "of them was still rocketing around when the please-men turned up -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " Mr. Weasley groaned. `And what about the intruder?` `Arthur,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "you know Mad-Eye,` said Mr. Diggory's head, rolling its eyes again. `Someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "creeping into his yard in the dead of night? More likely there's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "a very shell-shocked cat wandering around somewhere, covered in potato peelings. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "if the Improper Use of Magic lot get their hands on Mad-Eye,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he's had it -- think of his record -- we've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "get him off on a minor charge, something in your department --","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "what are exploding dustbins worth?` `Might be a caution,` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Weasley, still writing very fast, his brow furrowed. `Mad-Eye didn't use","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "his wand? He didn't actually attack anyone?` `I'll bet he leapt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "out of bed and started jinxing everything he could reach through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "window,` said Mr. Diggory, `but they'll have a job proving it, there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "aren't any casualties.` `All right, I'm off,` Mr. Weasley said, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he stuffed the parchment with his notes on it into his pocket","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and dashed out of the kitchen again. Mr. Diggory's head looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "around at Mrs. Weasley. `Sorry about this, Molly,` it said, more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "calmly, `bothering you so early and everything...but Arthur's the only one who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "can get Mad-Eye off, and Mad-Eye's supposed to be starting his new","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "job today. Why he had to choose last night. .` `Never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "mind, Amos,` said Mrs. Weasley. `Sure you won't have a bit of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "toast or anything before you go?` `Oh go on, then,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Mr. Diggory. Mrs. Weasley took a piece of buttered toast from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "a stack on the kitchen table, put it into the fire tongs,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and transferred it into Mr. Diggory's mouth. `Fanks,` he said in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "a muffled voice, and then, with a small pop, vanished. Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "hear Mr. Weasley calling hurried good-byes to Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "girls. Within five minutes, he was back in the kitchen, his robes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "on the right way now, dragging a comb through his hair. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`I'd better hurry - you have a good term, boys, said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Weasley to Harry, Ron, and the twins, fastening a cloak over his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "shoulders and preparing to Disapparate. `Molly, are you going to be all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "right taking the kids to King's Cross?` `Of course I will,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "she said. `You just look after Mad-Eye, we'll be fine.` As","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Mr. Weasley vanished, Bill and Charlie entered the kitchen. `Did someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "say Mad-Eye?` Bill asked. `What's he been up to now.` `He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "says someone tried to break into his house last night,` said Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Weasley. `Mad-Eye Moody?` said George thoughtfully, spreading marmalade on his toast.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`Isn't he that nutter -` `Your father thinks very highly of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Mad-Eye Moody,` said Mrs. Weasley sternly. `Yeah, well, Dad collects plugs,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "doesn't he?` said Fred quietly as Mrs. Weasley left the room. `Birds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "of a feather. . .` `Moody was a great wizard in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "his time,` said Bill. `He's an old friend of Dumbledore's, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he?` said Charlie. `Dumbledore's not what you'd call normal, though, is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he?` said Fred. `I mean, I know he's a genius and everything..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" ".` `Who is Mad-Eye?` asked Harry. `He's retired, used to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "work at the Ministry,` said Charlie. `I met him once when Dad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "took me into work with him. He was an Auror - one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "of the best. . . a Dark wizard catcher,` he added, seeing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Harry's blank look `Half the cells in Azkaban are full because of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "him. He made himself loads of enemies, though. . . the families","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "of people he caught, mainly. . . and I heard he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "been getting really paranoid in his old age. Doesn't trust anyone anymore.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Sees Dark wizards everywhere.` Bill and Charlie decided to come and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "see everyone off at King's Cross station, but Percy, apologizing most profusely, said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "that he really needed to get to work. `I just can't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "justify taking more time off at the moment,` he told them. `Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Crouch is really starting to rely on me.` `Yeah, you know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "what, Percy?` said George seriously. `I reckon he'll know your name soon.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " Mrs. Weasley had braved the telephone in the village post office","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "to order three ordinary Muggle taxis to take them into London. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`Arthur tried to borrow Ministry cars for us,` Mrs. Weasley whispered to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Harry as they stood in the rain-washed yard, watching the taxi drivers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "heaving six heavy Hogwarts trunks into their cars. `But there weren't any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "to spare. . . . Oh dear, they don't look happy, do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "they?` Harry didn't like to tell Mrs. Weasley that Muggle taxi","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "drivers rarely transported overexcited owls, and Pigwidgeon was making an earsplitting racket.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Nor did it help that a number of Filibuster's Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Fireworks went off unexpectedly when Fred's trunk sprang open, causing the driver","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "carrying it to yell with fright and pain as Crookshanks clawed his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "way up the man's leg. The journey was uncomfortable, owing to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "the fact that they were jammed in the back of the taxis","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "with their trunks. Crookshanks took quite a while to recover from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "fireworks, and by the time they entered London, Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "were all severely scratched. They were very relieved to get out at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "King's Cross, even though the rain was coming down harder than ever,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and they got soaked carrying their trunks across the busy road and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "into the station. Harry was used to getting onto platform nine","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and three-quarters by now. It was a simple matter of walking straight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "through the apparently solid barrier dividing platforms nine and ten. The only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "tricky part was doing this in an unobtrusive way, so as to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "avoid attracting Muggle attention. They did it in groups today; Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and Hermione (the most conspicuous, since they were accompanied by Pigwidgeon and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Crookshanks) went first; they leaned casually against the barrier, chatting unconcernedly, and slid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "sideways through it. . . and as they did so, platform nine","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and three-quarters materialized in front of them. The Hogwarts Express, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "gleaming scarlet steam engine, was already there, clouds of steam billowing from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "appeared like dark ghosts. Pigwidgeon became noisier than ever in response to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "the hooting of many owls through the mist. Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "set off to find seats, and were soon stowing their luggage in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "a compartment halfway along the train. They then hopped back down onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "the platform to say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`I might be seeing you all sooner than you think,` said Charlie,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "grinning, as he hugged Ginny good-bye. `Why?` said Fred keenly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`You'll see,` said Charlie. `Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it.. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "it's 'classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "release it,' after all.` `Yeah, I sort of wish I were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "back at Hogwarts this year,` said Bill, hands in his pockets, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "almost wistfully at the train. `Why?` said George impatiently. `You're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "going to have an interesting year,` said Bill, his eyes twinkling. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "might even get time off to come and watch a bit of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "it.` `A bit of what?` said Ron. But at that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "moment, the whistle blew, and Mrs. Weasley chivvied them toward the train","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "doors. `Thanks for having us to stay, Mrs. Weasley,` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "as they climbed on board, closed the door, and leaned out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "the window to talk to her. `Yeah, thanks for everything, Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Weasley,` said Harry. `Oh it was my pleasure, dears,` said Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Weasley. `I'd invite you for Christmas, but...well, I expect you're all going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with. . . one thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and another.` `Mum!` said Ron irritably. `What d'you three know that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "we don't?` `You'll find out this evening, I expect,` said Mrs. Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "smiling. `It's going to be very exciting - mind you, I'm very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "glad they've changed the rules -` `What rules?` said Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Fred, and George together. `I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" ". . . Now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "George?` The pistons hissed loudly and the train began to move.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " `Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!` Fred bellowed out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "window as Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie sped away from them. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "rules are they changing?` But Mrs. Weasley only smiled and waved.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Before the train had rounded the corner, she, Bill, and Charlie had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Disapparated. Harry, Ron, and Hermione went back to their compartment. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "thick rain splattering the windows made it very difficult to see out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "of them. Ron undid his trunk, pulled out his maroon dress robes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and flung them over Pigwidgeon's cage to muffle his hooting. `Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts,` he said grumpily, sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "down next to Harry. `At the World Cup, remember? But my own","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "mother won't say. Wonder what --` `Shh!` Hermione whispered suddenly, pressing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "her finger to her lips and pointing toward the compartment next to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "theirs. Harry and Ron listened, and heard a familiar drawling voice drifting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "in through the open door. `. . . Father actually considered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore - the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "man's such a Mudblood-lover - and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "just the defense rubbish we do. . . .` Hermione got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "up, tiptoed to the compartment door, and slid it shut, blocking out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Malfoy's voice. `So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he?` she said angrily. `I wish he had gone, then we wouldn't have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "to put up with him.` `Durmstrang's another wizarding school?` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " `Yes,` said Hermione sniffily, `and it's got a horrible reputation. According","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "to An Appraisal ofMagical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "emphasis on the Dark Arts.` `I think I've heard of it,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "said Ron vaguely. `Where is it? What country?` `Well, nobody knows,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "do they?` said Hermione, raising her eyebrows. `Er - why not?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "said Harry. `There's traditionally been a lot of rivalry between all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "the magic schools. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons like to conceal their whereabouts so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "nobody can steal their secrets,` said Hermione matter-of-factly. `Come off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "it,` said Ron, starting to laugh. `Durmstrang's got to be about the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "same size as Hogwarts -- how are you going to hide a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "great big castle?` `But Hogwarts is hidden,` said Hermione, in surprise.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`Everyone knows that.. . well, everyone who's read Hogwarts, A History, anyway.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " `Just you, then,` said Ron. `So go on - how d'you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "hide a place like Hogwarts?` `It's bewitched,` said Hermione. `If a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Muggle looks at it, all they see is a moldering old ruin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "with a sign over the entrance saying DANGER, DO NOT ENTER, UNSAFE.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " `So Durmstrang'll just look like a ruin to an outsider too?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " `Maybe,` said Hermione, shrugging, `or it might have Muggle-repelling charms on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "it, like the World Cup stadium. And to keep foreign wizards from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "finding it, they'll have made it Unplottable -` `Come again?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`Well, you can enchant a building so it's impossible to plot on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "a map, can't you?` `Er. . . if you say so,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "said Harry. `But I think Durmstrang must be somewhere in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "far north,` said Hermione thoughtfully. `Somewhere very cold, because they've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "fur capes as part of their uniforms.` `Ah, think of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "possibilities,` said Ron dreamily. `It would've been so easy to push Malfoy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "off a glacier and make it look like an accident... . Shame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "his mother likes him. . . .` The rain became heavier","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and heavier as the train moved farther north. The sky was so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "dark and the windows so steamy that the lanterns were lit by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "midday. The lunch trolley came rattling along the corridor, and Harry bought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "a large stack of Cauldron Cakes for them to share. Several","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "of their friends looked in on them as the afternoon progressed, including","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom, a round-faced, extremely forgetful boy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "who had been brought up by his formidable witch of a grandmother.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Seamus was still wearing his Ireland rosette. Some of its magic seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "to be wearing off now; it was still squeaking `Troy - Mullet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "- Moran!` but in a very feeble and exhausted sort of way.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " After half an hour or so, Hermione, growing tired of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "endless Quidditch talk, buried herself once more in The Standard Book of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Spells, Grade 4, and started trying to learn a Summoning Charm. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Neville listened jealously to the others' conversation as they relived the Cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "match. `Gran didn't want to go,` he said miserably. `Wouldn't buy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "tickets. It sounded amazing though.` `It was,` said Ron. `Look at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "this, Neville. . . He rummaged in his trunk up in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "the luggage rack and pulled out the miniature figure of Viktor Krum.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " `Oh wow,` said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "pudgy hand. `We saw him right up close, as well,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Ron. `We were in the Top Box -` `For the first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and last time in your life, Weasley.` Draco Malfoy had appeared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "in the doorway. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, his enormous, thuggish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "cronies, both of whom appeared to have grown at least a foot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "during the summer. Evidently they had overheard the conversation through the compartment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "door, which Dean and Seamus had left ajar. `Don't remember asking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "you to join us, Malfoy,` said Harry coolly. `Weasley. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "what is that?` said Malfoy, pointing at Pigwidgeon's cage. A sleeve of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Ron's dress robes was dangling from it, swaying with the motion of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "train, the moldy lace cuff very obvious. Ron made to stuff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "the robes out of sight, but Malfoy was too quick for him;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he seized the sleeve and pulled. `Look at this!` said Malfoy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "in ecstasy, holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle, `Weasley,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean - they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety. . . `Eat dung,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Malfoy!` said Ron, the same color as the dress robes as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "snatched them back out of Malfoy's grip. Malfoy howled with derisive laughter;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly. `So. . . going to enter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "family name? There's money involved as well, you know. . . you'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "be able to afford some decent robes if you won. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" ".` `What are you talking about?` snapped Ron. 'Are you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "going to enter?' Malfoy repeated. `I suppose you will, Potter? You never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "miss a chance to show off, do you?` `Either explain what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "you're on about or go away, Malfoy,` said Hermione testily, over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "top of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4. A gleeful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "smile spread across Malfoy's pale face `Don't tell me you don't know?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he said delightedly. `You've got a father and brother at the Ministry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "it ages ago. . . heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" ". . Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" ". . yes. . . they probably don't talk about important","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "stuff in front of him. . . .` Laughing once more,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Malfoy beckoned to Crabbe and Goyle, and the three of them disappeared.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " Ron got to his feet and slammed the sliding compartment door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "so hard behind them that the glass shattered. `Ron!` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "reproachfully, and she pulled out her wand, muttered `Reparo!` and the glass shards","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "flew back into a single pane and back into the door. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "`Well.. . making it look like he knows everything and we don't..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" ". .` Ron snarled. `Father's always associated with the top peopie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "at the Ministry.'. . . Dad could've got a promotion any time...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "he just likes it where he is. . . .` `Of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "course he does,` said Hermione quietly. `Don't let Malfoy get to you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Ron -` `Him! Get to me!? As if!` said Ron, picking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "up one of the remaining Cauldron Cakes and squashing it into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "pulp. Ron's bad mood continued for the rest of the journey.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "He didn't talk much as they changed into their school robes, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "was still glowering when the Hogwarts Express slowed down at last and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "finally stopped in the pitch-darkness of Hogsmeade station. As the train","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "doors opened, there was a rumble of thunder overhead. Hermione bundled up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "Crookshanks in her cloak and Ron left his dress robes over Pigwidgeon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "as they left the train, heads bent and eyes narrowed against the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "downpour. The rain was now coming down so thick and fast that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "it was as though buckets of ice-cold water were being emptied repeatedly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "over their heads. `Hi, Hagrid!` Harry yelled, seeing a gigantic silhouette","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "at the far end of the platform. `All righ', Harry?` Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "bellowed back, waving. `See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " First years traditionally reached Hogwarts Castle by sailing across the lake","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "with Hagrid. `Oooh, I wouldn't fancy crossing the lake in this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "weather,` said Hermione fervently, shivering as they inched slowly along the dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "platform with the rest of the crowd. A hundred horseless carriages stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "waiting for them outside the station. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville climbed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "gratefully into one of them, the door shut with a snap, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "a few moments later, with a great lurch, the long procession of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" "carriages was rumbling and splashing its way up the track toward Hogwarts Castle. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-11" " Through the gates, flanked with statues of winged boars,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and up the sweeping drive the carriages trundled, swaying dangerously in what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was fast becoming a gale. Leaning against the window, Harry could see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hogwarts coming nearer, its many lighted windows blurred and shimmering behind the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "thick curtain of rain. Lightning flashed across the sky as their carriage","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "came to a halt before the great oak front doors, which stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "at the top of a flight of stone steps. People who had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "occupied the carriages in front were already hurrying up the stone steps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "into the castle. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville jumped down from their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "carriage and dashed up the steps too, looking up only when they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "were safely inside the cavernous, torch-lit entrance hall, with its magnificent marble","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "staircase. `Blimey,` said Ron, shaking his head and sending water everywhere,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soak -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "ARRGH!` A large, red, water-filled balloon had dropped from out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the ceiling onto Ron's head and exploded. Drenched and sputtering, Ron staggered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "sideways into Harry, just as a second water bomb dropped - narrowly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "missing Hermione, it burst at Harry's feet, sending a wave of cold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "water over his sneakers into his socks. People all around them shrieked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and started pushing one another in their efforts to get out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the line of fire. Harry looked up and saw, floating twenty feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "above them, Peeves the Poltergeist, a little man in a bell-covered hat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and orange bow tie, his wide, malicious face contorted with concentration as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he took aim again. `PEEVES!` yelled an angry voice. `Peeves, come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "down here at ONCE!` Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and head of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Gryffindor House, had come dashing out of the Great Hall; she skidded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "on the wet floor and grabbed Hermione around the neck to stop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "herself from falling. `Ouch - sorry, Miss Granger -` `That's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "all right, Professor!` Hermione gasped, massaging her throat. `Peeves, get down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "here NOW!` barked Professor McGonagall, straightening her pointed hat and glaring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "upward through her square-rimmed spectacles. `Not doing nothing!` cackled Peeves, lobbing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "a water bomb at several fifth-year girls, who screamed and dived into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the Great Hall. `Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeeeeeee!` And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he aimed another bomb at a group of second years who had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "just arrived. `I shall call the headmaster!` shouted Professor McGonagall. `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "warning you, Peeves -` Peeves stuck out his tongue, threw the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "last of his water bombs into the air, and zoomed off up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the marble staircase, cackling insanely. `Well, move along, then!` said Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "McGonagall sharply to the bedraggled crowd. `Into the Great Hall, come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "on!` Harry, Ron, and Hermione slipped and slid across the entrance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hall and through the double doors on the right, Ron muttering furiously","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "under his breath as he pushed his sopping hair off his face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " The Great Hall looked its usual splendid self, decorated for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "start-of-term feast. Golden plates and goblets gleamed by the light of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hundreds and hundreds of candles, floating over the tables in midair. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "four long House tables were packed with chattering students; at the top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of the Hall, the staff sat along one side of a fifth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "table, facing their pupils. It was much warmer in here. Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and Hermione walked past the Slytherins, the Ravenclaws, and the Hufflepuffs, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "sat down with the rest of the Gryffindors at the far side","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of the Hall, next to Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost. Pearly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "white and semitransparent, Nick was dressed tonight in his usual doublet, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "with a particularly large ruff, which served the dual purpose of looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "extra-festive, and insuring that his head didn't wobble too much on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "partially severed neck. `Good evening,` he said, beaming at them. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`Says who?` said Harry, taking off his sneakers and emptying them of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "water. `Hope they hurry up with the Sorting. I'm starving.` The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Sorting of the new students into Houses took place at the start","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of every school year, but by an unlucky combination of circumstances, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hadn't been present at one since his own. He was quite looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "forward to it. Just then, a highly excited, breathless voice called down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the table. `Hiya, Harry!` It was Colin Creevey, a third","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "year to whom Harry was something of a hero. `Hi, Colin,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "said Harry warily. `Harry, guess what? Guess what, Harry? My brother's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "starting! My brother Dennis!` `Er - good,` said Harry. `He's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "really excited!` said Colin, practically bouncing up and down in his seat.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`I just hope he's in Gryffindor! Keep your fingers crossed, eh, Harry?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `Er - yeah, all right,` said Harry. He turned back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hermione, Ron, and Nearly Headless Nick. `Brothers and sisters usually go in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the same Houses, don't they?` he said. He was judging by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Weasleys, all seven of whom had been put into Gryffindor. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "no, not necessarily,` said Hermione. `Parvati Patil's twin's in Ravenclaw, and they're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "identical. You'd think they'd be together, wouldn't you?` Harry looked up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "at the staff table. There seemed to be rather more empty seats","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "there than usual. Hagrid, of course, was still fighting his way across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the lake with the first years; Professor McGonagall was presumably supervising the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "drying of the entrance hall floor, but there was another empty chair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "too, and Harry couldn't think who else was missing. `Where's the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?` said Hermione, who was also","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "looking up at the teachers. They had never yet had a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who had lasted more than three","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "terms. Harry's favorite by far had been Professor Lupin, who had resigned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "last year. He looked up and down the staff table. There was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "definitely no new face there. `Maybe they couldn't get anyone!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hermione, looking anxious. Harry scanned the table more carefully. Tiny little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was sitting on a large pile of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "cushions beside Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, whose hat was askew over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "her flyaway gray hair. She was talking to Professor Sinistra of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Astronomy department. On Professor Sinistra's other side was the sallow-faced, hook-nosed, greasy-haired","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Potions master, Snape - Harry's least favorite person at Hogwarts. Harry's loathing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of Snape was matched only by Snape's hatred of him, a hatred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "which had, if possible, intensified last year, when Harry had helped Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " escape right under Snape's overlarge nose - Snape and Sirius had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "been enemies since their own school days. On Snape's other side","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was an empty seat, which Harry guessed was Professor McGonagall's. Next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to it, and in the very center of the table, sat Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Dumbledore, the headmaster, his sweeping silver hair and beard shining in the candlelight,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "his magnificent deep green robes embroidered with many stars and moons. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "tips of Dumbledore's long, thin fingers were together and he was resting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "his chin upon them, staring up at the ceiling through his half-moon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "spectacles as though lost in thought. Harry glanced up at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "ceiling too. It was enchanted to look like the sky outside, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he had never seen it look this stormy. Black and purple clouds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "were swirling across it, and as another thunderclap sounded outside, a fork","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of lightning flashed across it. `Oh hurry up,` Ron moaned, beside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Harry, `I could eat a hippogriff.` The words were no sooner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "out of his mouth than the doors of the Great Hall opened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and silence fell. Professor McGonagall was leading a long line of first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "years up to the top of the Hall. If Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hermione were wet, it was nothing to how these first years looked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "They appeared to have swum across the lake rather than sailed. All","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of them were shivering with a combination of cold and nerves as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "they filed along the staff table and came to a halt in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "a line facing the rest of the school - all of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "except the smallest of the lot, a boy with mousy hair, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was wrapped in what Harry recognized as Hagrid's moleskin overcoat. The coat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was so big for him that it hooked as though he were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "draped in a furry black circus tent. His small face protruded from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "over the collar, looking almost painfully excited. When he had lined up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "with his terrified-looking peers, he caught Colin Creevey's eye, gave a double","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "thumbs-up, and mouthed, I fell in the lake! He looked positively","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "delighted about it. Professor McGonagall now placed a three-legged stool on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the ground before the first years and, on top of it, an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "extremely old, dirty patched wizard's hat. The first years stared at it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "So did everyone else. For a moment, there was silence. Then a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "long tear near the brim opened wide like a mouth, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hat broke into song: A thousand years or more ago, When","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "I was newly sewn, There lived four wizards of renown, Whose names","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "are still well known: Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin, from fin. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "plan To educate young sorcerers Thus Hogwarts School began. Now each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "different virtues In the ones they had to teach. By Gryffindor,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest; For Ravenclaw, the cleverest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Would always be the best; For Hufflepuff, hard workers were Most worthy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of admission; And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition. While","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "still alive they did divide Their favorites from the throng, Yet how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone? ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, He whipped me off his head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "The founders put some brains in me So I could choose instead!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "wrong, I'll have a look inside your mind And tell where you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "belong! The Great Hall rang with applause as the Sorting Hat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "finished. `That's not the song it sang when it Sorted us,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "said Harry, clapping along with everyone else. `Sings a different one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "every year,` said Ron. `It's got to be a pretty boring life,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hasn't it, being a hat? I suppose it spends all year making","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "up the next one.` Professor McGonagall was now unrolling a large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "scroll of parchment. `When I call out your name, you will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "put on the hat and sit on the stool,` she told the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "first years. `When the hat announces your House, you will go and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "sit at the appropriate table. `Ackerley, Stewart!` A boy walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "forward, visibly trembling from head to foot, picked up the Sorting Hat,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "put it on, and sat down on the stool. `RAVENCLAW!` shouted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the hat. Stewart Ackerley took off the hat and hurried into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "a seat at the Ravenclaw table, where everyone was applauding him. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "caught a glimpse of Cho, the Ravenclaw Seeker, cheering Stewart Ackerley as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he sat down. For a fleeting second, Harry had a strange desire","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to join the Ravenclaw table too. `Baddock, Malcolm!` `SLYTHERIN!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "The table on the other side of the hall erupted with cheers;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Harry could see Malfoy clapping as Baddock joined the Slytherins. Harry wondered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "whether Baddock knew that Slytherin House had turned out more Dark witches","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and wizards than any other. Fred and George hissed Malcolm Baddock as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he sat down. `Branstone, Eleanor!` `HUFFLEPUFF!` `Cauldwell, Owen!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`HUFFLEPUFF!` `Creevey, Dennis!` Tiny Dennis Creevey staggered forward, tripping over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hagrid's moleskin, just as Hagrid himself sidled into the Hall through a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "door behind the teachers' table. About twice as tall as a normal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "man, and at least three times as broad, Hagrid, with his long,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "wild, tangled black hair and beard, looked slightly alarming - a misleading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "impression, for Harry, Ron, and Hermione knew Hagrid to possess a very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "kind nature. He winked at them as he sat down at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "end of the staff table and watched Dennis Creevey putting on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Sorting Hat. The rip at the brim opened wide-- - `GRYFFINDOR!` the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hat shouted. Hagrid clapped along with the Gryffindors as Dennis Creevey,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "beaming widely, took off the hat, placed it back on the stool,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and hurried over to join his brother. `Colin, I fell in!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he said shrilly, throwing himself into an empty seat. `It was brilliant!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "And something in the water grabbed me and pushed me back in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the boat!` `Cool!` said Colin, just as excitedly. `It was probably","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the giant squid, Dennis!` `Wow!` said Dennis, as though nobody in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "their wildest dreams could hope for more than being thrown into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "storm-tossed, fathoms-deep lake, and pushed out of it again by a giant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "sea monster. `Dennis! Dennis! See that boy down there? The one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "with the black hair and glasses? See him? Know who he is,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Dennis?` Harry looked away, staring very hard at the Sorting Hat,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "now Sorting Emma Dobbs. The Sorting continued; boys and girls with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "varying degrees of fright on their faces moving one by one to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the three-legged stool, the line dwindling slowly as Professor McGonagall passed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "L's. `Oh hurry up,` Ron moaned, massaging his stomach. `Now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Ron, the Sorting's much more important than food,` said Nearly Headless Nick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "as `Madley, Laura!` became a Hufflepuff. `Course it is, if you're dead,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "snapped Ron. `I do hope this year's batch of Gryffindors are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "up to scratch,` said Nearly Headless Nick, applauding as `McDonald, Natalie!` joined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the Gryffindor table. `We don't want to break our winning streak,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "do we?` Gryffindor had won the Inter-House Championship for the last","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "three years in a row. `Pritchard, Graham!` `SLYTHERIN!` `Quirke,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Orla!` `RAVENCLAW!` And finally, with `Whitby, Kevin!` (`HUFFLEPUFF!`), the Sorting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "ended. Professor McGonagall picked up the hat and the stool and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "carried them away. `About time,` said Ron, seizing his knife and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "fork and looking expectantly at his golden plate. Professor Dumbledore had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "gotten to his feet. He was smiling around at the students, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "arms opened wide in welcome. `I have only two words to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "say to you,` he told them, his deep voice echoing around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hall. `Tuck in.` `Hear, hear!` said Harry and Ron loudly as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the empty dishes filled magically before their eyes. Nearly Headless Nick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "watched mournfully as Harry, Ron, and Hermione loaded their own plates. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`Aaah, 'at's be'er,` said Ron, with his mouth full of mashed potato.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `You're lucky there's a feast at all tonight, you know,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Nearly Headless Nick. `There was trouble in the kitchens earlier.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`Why? Wha' 'appened?` said Harry, through a sizable chunk of steak. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`Peeves, of course,` said Nearly Headless Nick, shaking his head, which wobbled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "dangerously. He pulled his ruff a little higher up on his neck.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`The usual argument, you know. He wanted to attend the feast -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "well, it's quite out of the question, you know what he's like,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "utterly uncivilized, can't see a plate of food without throwing it. We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "held a ghost's council - the Fat Friar was all for giving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "him the chance - but most wisely, in my opinion, the Bloody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Baron put his foot down.` The Bloody Baron was the Slytherin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "ghost, a gaunt and silent specter covered in silver bloodstains. He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the only person at Hogwarts who could really control Peeves. `Yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "we thought Peeves seemed hacked off about something,` said Ron darkly. `So","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "what did he do in the kitchens?` `Oh the usual,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Nearly Headless Nick, shrugging. `Wreaked havoc and mayhem. Pots and pans everywhere.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Place swimming in soup. Terrified the house-elves out of their wits--` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Clang. Hermione had knocked over her golden goblet. Pumpkin juice spread","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "steadily over the tablecloth, staining several feet of white linen orange, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hermione paid no attention. `There are house-elves here?` she said, staring,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "horror-struck, at Nearly Headless Nick. `Here at Hogwarts?` `Certainly,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Nearly Headless Nick, looking surprised at her reaction. `The largest number in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "any dwelling in Britain, I believe. Over a hundred.` `I've never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "seen one!` said Hermione. `Well, they hardly ever leave the kitchen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "by day, do they?` said Nearly Headless Nick. `They come out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "at night to do a bit of cleaning.. . see to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "fires and so on.. . . I mean, you're not supposed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "see them, are you? That's the mark of a good house-elf, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "it, that you don't know it's there?` Hermione stared at him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `But they get paid?` she said. `They get holidays, don't they?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "And - and sick leave, and pensions, and everything?` Nearly Headless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Nick chortled so much that his ruff slipped and his head flopped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "off, dangling on the inch or so of ghostly skin and muscle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "that still attached it to his neck. `Sick leave and pensions?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he said, pushing his head back onto his shoulders and securing it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "once more with his ruff. `House-elves don't want sick leave and pensions!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " Hermione looked down at her hardly touched plate of food, then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "put her knife and fork down upon it and pushed it away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "from her. `Oh c'mon, 'Er-my-knee,` said Ron, accidentally spraying Harry with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "bits of Yorkshire pudding. `Oops -- sorry, 'Arry --` He swallowed. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "won't get them sick leave by starving yourself!` `Slave labor,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hermione, breathing hard through her nose. `That's what made this dinner. Slave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "labor.` And she refused to eat another bite. The rain","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was still drumming heavily against the high, dark glass. Another clap of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "thunder shook the windows, and the stormy ceiling flashed, illuminating the golden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "plates as the remains of the first course vanished and were replaced,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "instantly, with puddings. `Treacle tart, Hermione!` said Ron, deliberately wafting its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "smell toward her. `Spotted dick, look! Chocolate gateau!` But Hermione gave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "him a look so reminiscent of Professor McGonagall that he gave up.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " When the puddings too had been demolished, and the last crumbs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "had faded off the plates, leaving them sparkling clean, Albus Dumbledore got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to his feet again. The buzz of chatter filling the Hall ceased","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "almost at once, so that only the howling wind and pounding rain","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "could be heard. `So!` said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`Now that we are all fed and watered,` (`Hmph!` said Hermione) `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "few notices. `Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to check it.` The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hogsmeade to all below third year. `It is also my painful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "place this year.` `What?` Harry gasped. He looked around at Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and George, his fellow members of the Quidditch team. They were mouthing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "soundlessly at Dumbledore, apparently too appalled to speak. Dumbhedore went on, `This","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "is due to an event that will be starting in October, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and energy - but I am sure you will all enjoy it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "-` But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "grizzled, dark gray hair, then began to walk up toward the teachers'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "table. A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and limped heavily toward Dumbledore. Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Hermione gasped. The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "relief, and it was a face unlike any Harry had ever seen.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "are supposed to look like, and was none too skilled with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "chisel. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "side to side, quite independently of the normal eye - and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "so that all they could see was whiteness. The stranger reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Dumbledore. He stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "his face, and Dumbhedore shook it, muttering words Harry couldn't hear. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "seemed to be making some inquiry of the stranger, who shook his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "head unsmilingly and replied in an undertone. Dumbledore nodded and gestured the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "man to the empty seat on his right-hand side. The stranger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "sat down, shook his mane of dark gray hair out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "face, pulled a plate of sausages toward him, raised it to what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was left of his nose, and sniffed it. He then took a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "small knife out of his pocket, speared a sausage on the end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of it, and began to eat. His normal eye was fixed upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the sausages, but the blue eye was still darting restlessly around in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "its socket, taking in the Hall and the students. `May I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?` said Dumbledore brightly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "into the silence. `Professor Moody.` It was usual for new staff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "members to be greeted with applause, but none of the staff or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "students chapped except Dumbledore and Hagrid, who both put their hands together","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and applauded, but the sound echoed dismally into the silence, and they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "stopped fairly quickly. Everyone else seemed too transfixed by Moody's bizarre appearance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to do more than stare at him. `Moody?` Harry muttered to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Ron. `Mad-Eye Moody? The one your dad went to help this morning?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `Must be,` said Ron in a low, awed voice. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "happened to him?` Hermione whispered. `What happened to his face?` `Dunno,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Ron whispered back, watching Moody with fascination. Moody seemed totally indifferent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to his less-than-warm welcome. Ignoring the jug of pumpkin juice in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of him, he reached again into his traveling cloak, pulled out a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hip flask, and took a long draught from it. As he lifted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "his arm to drink, his cloak was pulled a few inches from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the ground, and Harry saw, below the table, several inches of carved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "wooden leg, ending in a clawed foot. Dumbledore cleared his throat.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `As I was saying,` he said, smiling at the sea of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Moody, `we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "event over the coming months, an event that has not been held","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "year.` `You're JOKING!` said Fred Weasley loudly. The tension that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively. `I am not joking, Mr. Weasley,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he said, `though now that you mention it, I did hear an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "leprechaun who all go into a bar. Professor McGonagall cleared her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "throat loudly. `Er - but maybe this is not the time..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" ". no. . .` said Dumbledore, `where was I? Ah yes, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Triwizard Tournament. . . well, some of you will not know what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "freely. `The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities -until, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `Death toll?` Hermione whispered, looking alarmed. But her anxiety did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "seem to be shared by the majority of students in the Hall;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "many of them were whispering excitedly to one another, and Harry himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was far more interested in hearing about the tournament than in worrying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "about deaths that had happened hundreds of years ago. `There have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament,` Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "continued, `none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "herself in mortal danger. `The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `I'm going for it!` Fred Weasley hissed down the table, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "face lit with enthusiasm at the prospect of such glory and riches.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "He was not the only person who seemed to be visualizing himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "as the Hogwarts champion. At every House table, Harry could see people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "either gazing raptly at Dumbledore, or else whispering fervently to their neighbors.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "But then Dumbledore spoke again, and the Hall quieted once more. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "`Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts,` he said, `the heads of the participating schools,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "that is to say, seventeen years or older - will be allowed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to put forward their names for consideration. This` -- Dumbledore raised his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "words, and the Weasley twins were suddenly looking furious - `is a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hog-warts champion.` His light blue","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "eyes twinkled as they flickered over Fred's and George's mutinous faces. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "are under seventeen. `The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "And now, it is late, and I know how important it is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!` Dumbledore sat down again and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "turned to talk to Mad-Eye Moody. There was a great scraping and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "banging as all the students got to their feet and swarmed toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the double doors into the entrance hall. `They can't do that!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "said George Weasley, who had not joined the crowd moving toward the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "door, but was standing up and glaring at Dumbledore. `We're seventeen in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "April, why can't we have a shot?` `They're not stopping me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "entering,` said Fred stubbornly, also scowling at the top table. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "champions'll get to do all sorts of stuff you'd never be allowed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to do normally. And a thousand Galleons prize money!` `Yeah,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "said Ron, a faraway look on his face. `Yeah, a thousand Galleons.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" ". .` `Come on,` said Hermione, `we'll be the only ones","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "left here if you don't move.` Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "George set off for the entrance hall, Fred and George debating the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "ways in which Dumbledore might stop those who were under seventeen from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "entering the tournament. `Who's this impartial judge who's going to decide","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "who the champions are?` said Harry. `Dunno,` said Fred, `but it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "them we'll have to fool. I reckon a couple of drops of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Aging Potion might do it, George.. .` `Dumbledore knows you're not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "of age, though,` said Ron. `Yeah, but he's not the one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "who decides who the champion is, is he?` said Fred shrewdly. `Sounds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to me like once this judge knows who wants to enter, he'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "choose the best from each school and never mind how old they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "are. Dumbledore's trying to stop us giving our names.` `People have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "died, though!` said Hermione in a worried voice as they walked through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "a door concealed behind a tapestry and started up another, narrower staircase.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `Yeah,` said Fred airily, `but that was years ago, wasn't it?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Anyway, where's the fun without a bit of risk? Hey, Ron, what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "if we find out how to get 'round Dumbledore? Fancy entering?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `What d'you reckon?` Ron asked Harry. `Be cool to enter, wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "it? But I s'pose they might want someone older.... Dunno if we've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "learned enough.. . `I definitely haven't,` came Nevihle's gloomy voice from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "behind Fred and George. `I expect my gran'd want me to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "try, though. She's always going on about how I should be upholding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the family honor. I'll just have to -- oops. . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Neville's foot had sunk right through a step halfway up the staircase.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "There were many of these trick stairs at Hogwarts; it was second","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "nature to most of the older students to jump this particular step,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "but Neville's memory was notoriously poor. Harry and Ron seized him under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the armpits and pulled him out, while a suit of armor at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the top of the stairs creaked and clanked, laughing wheezily. `Shut","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "it, you,` said Ron, banging down its visor as they passed. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "made their way up to the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, which was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "concealed behind a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "silk dress. `Password?` she said as they approached. `Balderdash,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "George, `a prefect downstairs told me.` The portrait swung forward to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "reveal a hole in the wall through which they all climbed. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "A crackling fire warmed the circular common room, which was full of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "squashy armchairs and tables. Hermione cast the merrily dancing flames a dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "look, and Harry distinctly heard her mutter `Slave labor` before bidding them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "good night and disappearing through the doorway to the girls' dormitory. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "Harry, Ron, and Neville climbed up the last, spiral staircase until they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "reached their own dormitory, which was situated at the top of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "tower. Five four-poster beds with deep crimson hangings stood against the walls,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "each with its owner's trunk at the foot. Dean and Seamus","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "were already getting into bed; Seamus had pinned his Ireland rosette to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "his headboard, and Dean had tacked up a poster of Viktor Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "over his bedside table. His old poster of the West Ham","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "football team was pinned right next to it. `Mental,` Ron sighed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "shaking his head at the completely stationary soccer players. Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "and Neville got into their pajamas and into bed. Someone - a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "house-elf, no doubt - had placed warming pans between the sheets. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "was extremely comfortable, lying there in bed and listening to the storm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "raging outside. `I might go in for it, you know,` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "said sleepily through the darkness, `if Fred and George find out how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "to. . . the tournament. . . you never know, do you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " `S'pose not. .. .` Harry rolled over in bed, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "series of dazzling new pictures forming in his mind's eye. . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" ". . He had hoodwinked the impartial judge into believing he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "seventeen. . . he had become Hogwarts champion. . . he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "standing on the grounds, his arms raised in triumph in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "the whole school, all of whom were applauding and screaming. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "he had just won the Triwizard Tournament. Cho's face stood out particularly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "clearly in the blurred crowd, her face glowing with admiration.... Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" "grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-12" " The storm had blown itself out by the following","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "morning, though the ceiling in the Great Hall was still gloomy; heavy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "clouds of pewter gray swirled overhead as Harry, Ron, and Hermione examined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "their new course schedules at breakfast. A few seats along, Fred, George,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and Lee Jordan were discussing magical methods of aging themselves and bluffing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "their way into the Triwizard Tournament. `Today's not bad.. . outside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "all morning,` said Ron, who was running his finger down the Monday","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "column of his schedule. `Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and Care of Magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Creatures... damn it, we're still with the Slytherins. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`Double Divination this afternoon,` Harry groaned, looking down. Divination was his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "least favorite subject, apart from Potions. Professor Trelawney kept predicting Harry's death,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "which he found extremely annoying. `You should have given it up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "like me, shouldn't you?` said Hermione briskly, buttering herself some toast. `Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "you'd be doing something sensible like Arithmancy.` `You're eating again, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "notice,` said Ron, watching Hermione adding liberal amounts of jam to her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "toast too. `I've decided there are better ways of making a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "stand about elf rights,` said Hermione haughtily. `Yeah. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and you were hungry,` said Ron, grinning. There was a sudden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "rustling noise above them, and a hundred owls came soaring through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "open windows carrying the morning mail. Instinctively, Harry looked up, but there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was no sign of white among the mass of brown and gray.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "The owls circled the tables, looking for the people to whom their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "letters and packages were addressed. A large tawny owl soared down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Neville Longbottom and deposited a parcel into his lap -Neville almost always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "forgot to pack something. On the other side of the Hall Draco","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Malfoy's eagle owl had landed on his shoulder, carrying what looked like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "his usual supply of sweets and cakes from home. Trying to ignore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the sinking feeling of disappointment in his stomach, Harry returned to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "porridge. Was it possible that something had happened to Hedwig, and that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Sirius hadn't even got his letter? His preoccupation lasted all the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "way across the sodden vegetable patch until they arrived in greenhouse three,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "but here he was distracted by Professor Sprout showing the class the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "ugliest plants Harry had ever seen. Indeed, they looked less like plants","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "than thick, black, giant slugs, protruding vertically out of the soil. Each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was squirming slightly and had a number of large, shiny swellings upon it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "which appeared to be full of liquid. `Bubotubers,` Professor Sprout","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "told them briskly. `They need squeezing. You will collect the pus","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "-` `The what?` said Seamus Finnigan, sounding revolted. `Pus, Finnigan,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "pus,` said Professor Sprout, `and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles. Wear your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "bubotuber pus.` Squeezing the bubotubers was disgusting, but oddly satisfying. As","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "each swelling was popped, a large amount of thick yellowish-green liquid burst","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "forth, which smelled strongly of petrol. They caught it in the bottles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "as Professor Sprout had indicated, and by the end of the lesson","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "had collected several pints. `This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy,` said Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Sprout, stoppering the last bottle with a cork. `An excellent remedy for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the more stubborn forms of acne, bubotuber pus. Should stop students resorting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples.` `Like poor Eloise","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Midgen,` said Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff, in a hushed voice. `She tried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "to curse hers off.` `Silly girl,` said Professor Sprout, shaking her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "head. `But Madam Pomfrey fixed her nose back on in the end.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " A booming bell echoed from the castle across the wet grounds,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "signaling the end of the lesson, and the class separated; the Hufflepuffs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "climbing the stone steps for Transfiguration, and the Gryffindors heading in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "other direction, down the sloping lawn toward Hagrid's small wooden cabin, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "stood on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid was standing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "outside his hut, one hand on the collar of his enormous black","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "boarhound, Fang. There were several open wooden crates on the ground at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "his feet, and Fang was whimpering and straining at his collar, apparently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "keen to investigate the contents more closely. As they drew nearer, an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "odd rattling noise reached their ears, punctuated by what sounded like minor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "explosions. `Mornin'!` Hagrid said, grinning at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. `Be'er","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "wait fer the Slytherins, they won' want ter miss this - Blast-Ended","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Skrewts!` `Come again?` said Ron. Hagrid pointed down into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "crates. `Eurgh!` squealed Lavender Brown, jumping backward. `Eurgh` just about summed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "up the Blast-Ended Skrewts in Harry's opinion. They looked like deformed, shell-less","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "lobsters, horribly pale and slimy-looking, with legs sticking out in very odd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "places and no visible heads. There were about a hundred of them in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "each crate, each about six inches long, crawling over one another, bumping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "blindly into the sides of the boxes. They were giving off a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "very powerful smell of rotting fish. Every now and then, sparks would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "fly out of the end of a skrewt, and with a small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "phut, it would be propelled forward several inches. `On'y jus' hatched,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said Hagrid proudly, `so yeh'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Thought we'd make a bit of a project of it!` `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "why would we want to raise them?` said a cold voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "The Slytherins had arrived. The speaker was Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "were chuckling appreciatively at his words. Hagrid looked stumped at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "question. `I mean, what do they do?` asked Malfoy. `What is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the point of them?` Hagrid opened his mouth, apparently thinking hard;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "there was a few seconds' pause, then he said roughly, `Tha's next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "lesson, Malfoy. Yer jus' feedin' 'em today. Now, yeh'll wan' ter try","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "'em on a few diff'rent things - I've never had 'em before,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "not sure what they'll go fer - I got ant eggs an'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "frog livers an' a bit o' grass snake - just try 'em","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "out with a bit of each.` `First pus and now this,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "muttered Seamus. Nothing but deep affection for Hagrid could have made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione pick up squelchy handfuls of frog liver and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "lower them into the crates to tempt the Blast-Ended Skrewts. Harry couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "suppress the suspicion that the whole thing was entirely pointless, because the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "skrewts didn't seem to have mouths. `Ouch!` yelled Dean Thomas after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "about ten minutes. `It got me.` Hagrid hurried over to him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "looking anxious. `Its end exploded!` said Dean angrily, showing Hagrid a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "burn on his hand. `Ah, yeah, that can happen when they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "blast off,` said Hagrid, nodding. `Eurgh!` said Lavender Brown again. `Eurgh,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Hagrid, what's that pointy thing on it?` `Ah, some of 'em","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "have got stings,` said Hagrid enthusiastically (Lavender quickly withdrew her hand from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the box). `I reckon they're the males. . . . The females've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "got sorta sucker things on their bellies. . . . I think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "they might be ter suck blood.` `Well, I can certainly see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "why we're trying to keep them alive,` said Malfoy sarcastically. `Who wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "want pets that can burn, sting, and bite all at once?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`Just because they're not very pretty, it doesn't mean they're not useful,` Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "snapped. `Dragon blood's amazingly magical, but you wouldn't want a dragon for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "a pet, would you?` Harry and Ron grinned at Hagrid, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "gave them a furtive smile from behind his bushy beard. Hagrid would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "have liked nothing better than a pet dragon, as Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Hermione knew only too well - he had owned one for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "brief period during their first year, a vicious Norwegian Ridgeback by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "name of Norbert. Hagrid simply loved monstrous creatures, the more lethal, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "better. `Well, at least the skrewts are small,` said Ron as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "they made their way back up to the castle for lunch an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "hour later. `They are now,` said Hermione in an exasperated voice,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`but once Hagrid's found out what they eat, I expect they'll be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "six feet long.` `Well, that won't matter if they turn out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "to cure seasickness or something, will it?` said Ron, grinning slyly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "at her. `You know perfectly well I only said that to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "shut Malfoy up,` said Hermione. `As a matter of fact I think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "he's right. The best thing to do would be to stamp on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the lot of them before they start attacking us all.` They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "sat down at the Gryffindor table and helped themselves to lamb chops","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and potatoes. Hermione began to eat so fast that Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Ron stared at her. `Er - is this the new stand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "on elf rights?` said Ron. `You're going to make yourself puke instead?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " `No,` said Hermione, with as much dignity as she could muster","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "with her mouth bulging with sprouts. `I just want to get to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the library.` `What?` said Ron in disbelief. `Hermione - it's the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "first day back! We haven't even got homework yet!` Hermione shrugged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and continued to shovel down her food as though she had not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "eaten for days. Then she leapt to her feet, said, `See you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "at dinner!` and departed at high speed. When the bell rang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "to signal the start of afternoon lessons, Harry and Ron set off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "for North Tower where, at the top of a tightly spiraling staircase,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "a silver stepladder led to a circular trapdoor in the ceiling, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the room where Professor Trelawney lived. The familiar sweet perfume spreading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "from the fire met their nostrils as they emerged at the top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "of the stepladder. As ever, the curtains were all closed; the circular room","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was bathed in a dim reddish light cast by the many lamps,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "which were all draped with scarves and shawls. Harry and Ron walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "through the mass of occupied chintz chairs and poufs that cluttered the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "room, and sat down at the same small circular table. `Good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "day,` said the misty voice of Professor Trelawney right behind Harry, making","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "him jump. A very thin woman with enormous glasses that made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "her eyes appear far too large for her face, Professor Trelawney was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "peering down at Harry with the tragic expression she always wore whenever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "she saw him. The usual large amount of beads, chains, and bangles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "glittered upon her person in the firelight. `You are preoccupied, my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "dear,` she said mournfully to Harry. `My inner eye sees past your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "you, alas. . . most difficult.. . I fear the thing you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "dread will indeed come to pass. . . and perhaps sooner than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "you think...` Her voice dropped almost to a whisper. Ron rolled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "his eyes at Harry, who looked stonily back. Professor Trelawney swept past","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "them and seated herself in a large winged armchair before the fire,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "facing the class. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, who deeply admired Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Trelawney, were sitting on poufs very close to her. `My dears,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "it is time for us to consider the stars,` she said. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "movements of the planets and the mysterious portents they reveal only to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "those who understand the steps of the celestial dance. Human destiny may","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "be deciphered by the planetary rays, which intermingle. . .` But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Harry's thoughts had drifted. The perfumed fire always made him feel sleepy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and dull-witted, and Professor Trelawney's rambling talks on fortune-telling never held","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "him exactly spellbound - though he couldn't help thinking about what she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "had just said to him. `I fear the thing you dread will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "indeed come to pass...'` But Hermione was right, Harry thought irritably,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Professor Trelawney really was an old fraud. He wasn't dreading anything at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the moment at all. . . well, unless you counted his fears","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "that Sirius had been caught. . . but what did Professor Trelawney","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "know? He had long since come to the conclusion that her brand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "of fortunetelling was really no more than lucky guesswork and a spooky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "manner. Except, of course, for that time at the end of last","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "term, when she had made the prediction about Voldemort rising again. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" ". and Dumbledore himself had said that he thought that trance had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "been genuine, when Harry had described it to him. `Harry!` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "muttered. `What?` Harry looked around; the whole class was staring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "at him. He sat up straight; he had been almost dozing off,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "lost in the heat and his thoughts. `I was saying, my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "dear, that you were clearly born under the baleful influence of Saturn,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said Professor Trelawney, a faint note of resentment in her voice at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the fact that he had obviously not been hanging on her words.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " `Born under - what, sorry?` said Harry. `Saturn, dear, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "planet Saturn!` said Professor Trelawney, sounding definitely irritated that he wasn't riveted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "by this news. `I was saying that Saturn was surely in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "position of power in the heavens at the moment of your birth.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" ". . . Your dark hair. . . your mean stature...tragic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "losses so young in life. . . I think I am right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?` `No,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said Harry, `I was born in July.` Ron hastily turned his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "laugh into a hacking cough. Half an hour later, each of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "them had been given a complicated circular chart, and was attempting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "fill in the position of the planets at their moment of birth.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "It was dull work, requiring much consultation of timetables and calculation of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "angles. `I've got two Neptunes here,` said Harry after a while,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "frowning down at his piece of parchment, `that can't be right, can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "it?` `Aaaaah,` said Ron, imitating Professor Trelawney's mystical whisper, `when two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Neptunes appear in the sky, it is a sure sign that a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "midget in glasses is being born, Harry. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Seamus and Dean, who were working nearby, sniggered loudly, though not loudly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "enough to mask the excited squeals from Lavender Brown - `Oh Professor,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "look! I think I've got an unaspected planet! Oooh, which one's that,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Professor?` `It is Uranus, my dear,` said Professor Trelawney, peering down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "at the chart. `Can I have a look at Uranus too,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Lavender?` said Ron. Most unfortunately, Professor Trelawney heard him, and it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was this, perhaps, that made her give them so much homework at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the end of the class. `A detailed analysis of the way the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "your personal chart,` she snapped, sounding much more like Professor McGonagall than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "her usual airy-fairy self. `I want it ready to hand in next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Monday, and no excuses!` `Miserable old bat,` said Ron bitterly as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "they joined the crowds descending the staircases back to the Great Hall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and dinner. `That'll take all weekend, that will. . .` `Lots","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "of homework?` said Hermione brightly, catching up with them. `Professor Vector didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "give us any at all!` `Well, bully for Professor Vector,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Ron moodily. They reached the entrance hall, which was packed with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "people queuing for dinner. They had just joined the end of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "line, when a loud voice rang out behind them. `Weasley! Hey,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Weasley!` Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something. `What?` said Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "shortly. `Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!` said Malfoy, brandishing a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking very loudly, so that everyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "in the packed entrance hall could hear. `Listen to this! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC It seems as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Muggle Artifacts Office.` Malfoy looked up. `Imagine them not even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "nonentity, isn't it?` he crowed. Everyone in the entrance hall was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "listening now. Malfoy straightened the paper with a flourish and read on:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "law-keepers (`policemen`) over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "to have rushed to the aid of `Mad-Eye` Moody, the aged ex-Auror","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "undignified and potentially embarrassing scene. `And there's a picture, Weasley!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Malfoy, flipping the paper over and holding it up. `A picture of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "your parents outside their house - if you can call it a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "she?` Ron was shaking with fury. Everyone was staring at him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " `Get stuffed, Malfoy,` said Harry. `C'mon, Ron. . .` `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter?` sneered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Malfoy. `So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "is it just the picture?` `You know your mother, Malfoy?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Harry - both he and Hermione had grabbed the back of Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "robes to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy - `that expression","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " Malfoy's pale face went slightly pink. `Don't you dare insult","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "my mother, Potter.` `Keep your fat mouth shut, then,` said Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "turning away. BANG! Several people screamed - Harry felt something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "white-hot graze the side of his face - he plunged his hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "into his robes for his wand, but before he'd even touched it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "he heard a second loud BANG, and a roar that echoed through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the entrance hall. `OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!` Harry spun","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "around. Professor Moody was limping down the marble staircase. His wand was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "out and it was pointing right at a pure white ferret, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was shivering on the stone-flagged floor, exactly where Malfoy had been standing.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " There was a terrified silence in the entrance hall. Nobody but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Moody was moving a muscle. Moody turned to look at Harry --","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "at least, his normal eye was looking at Harry; the other one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was pointing into the back of his head. `Did he get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "you?` Moody growled. His voice was low and gravelly. `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Harry, `missed.` `LEAVE IT!` Moody shouted. `Leave - what?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said, bewildered. `Not you - him!` Moody growled, jerking his thumb","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "over his shoulder at Crabbe, who had just frozen, about to pick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "up the white ferret. It seemed that Moody's rolling eye was magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and could see out of the back of his head. Moody started","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "to limp toward Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret, which gave a terrified","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "squeak and took off, streaking toward the dungeons. `I don't think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "so!` roared Moody, pointing his wand at the ferret again - it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "floor, and then bounced upward once more. `I don't like people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "who attack when their opponent's back's turned,` growled Moody as the ferret","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. `Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "to do...` The ferret flew through the air, its legs and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "tail flailing helplessly. `Never - do - that - again -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said Moody, speaking each word as the ferret hit the stone floor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and bounced upward again. `Professor Moody!` said a shocked voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Professor McGonagall was coming down the marble staircase with her arms full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "of books. `Hello, Professor McGonagall,` said Moody calmly, bouncing the ferret","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "still higher. `What - what are you doing?` said Professor McGonagall,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "her eyes following the bouncing ferret's progress through the air. `Teaching,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said Moody. `Teach - Moody, is that a student?` shrieked Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "McGonagall, the books spilling out of her arms. `Yep,` said Moody.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " `No!` cried Professor McGonagall, running down the stairs and pulling out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "had reappeared, lying in a heap on the floor with his sleek","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "blond hair all over his now brilliantly pink face. He got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "his feet, wincing. `Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said Professor McGonagall wealdy. `Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`He might've mentioned it, yeah,` said Moody, scratching his chin unconcernedly, `but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "I thought a good sharp shock -` `We give detentions, Moody!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Or speak to the offender's Head of House!` `I'll do that,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "then,` said Moody, staring at Malfoy with great dislike. Malfoy, whose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "pale eyes were still watering with pain and humiliation, looked malevolently up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "at Moody and muttered something in which the words `my father` were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "distinguishable. `Oh yeah?` said Moody quietly, limping forward a few steps,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the dull clunk of his wooden leg echoing around the hall. `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "I know your father of old, boy... . You tell him Moody's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "keeping a close eye on his son. . . you tell him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "that from me. . . . Now, your Head of House'll be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Snape, will it?` `Yes,` said Malfoy resentfully. `Another old friend,` growled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Moody. `I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" ". . . Come on, you. . .` And he seized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Malfoy's upper arm and marched him off toward the dungeons. Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "McGonagall stared anxiously after them for a few moments, then waved her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "wand at her fallen books, causing them to soar up into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "air and back into her arms. `Don't talk to me,` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said quietly to Harry and Hermione as they sat down at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Gryffindor table a few minutes later, surrounded by excited talk on all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "sides about what had just happened. `Why not?` said Hermione in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "surprise. `Because I want to fix that in my memory forever,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "said Ron, his eyes closed and an uplifted expression on his face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret.` Harry and Hermione both laughed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "and Hermione began doling beef casserole onto each of their plates. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`He could have really hurt Malfoy, though,` she said. `It was good,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "really, that Professor McGonagall stopped it -` `Hermione!` said Ron furiously,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "his eyes snapping open again, `you're ruining the best moment of my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "life!` Hermione made an impatient noise and began to eat at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "top speed again. `Don't tell me you're going back to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "library this evening?` said Harry, watching her. `Got to,` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "thickly. `Loads to do.` `But you told us Professor Vector -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " `It's not schoolwork,` she said. Within five minutes, she had cleared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "her plate and departed. No sooner had she gone than her seat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was taken by Fred Weasley. `Moody!` he said. `How cool is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "he?` `Beyond cool,` said George, sitting down opposite Fred. `Supercool,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "the twins' best friend, Lee Jordan, sliding into the seat beside George.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`We had him this afternoon,` he told Harry and Ron. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "was it like?` said Harry eagerly. Fred, George, and Lee exchanged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "looks full of meaning. `Never had a lesson like it,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Fred. `He knows, man,` said Lee. `Knows what?` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "leaning forward. `Knows what it's like to be out there doing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "it,` said George impressively. `Doing what?` said Harry. `Fighting the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "Dark Arts,` said Fred. `He's seen it all,` said George. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" "`Mazing,` said Lee. Ron dived into his bag for his schedule.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " `We haven't got him till Thursday!` he said in a disappointed voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-13" " The next two days passed without great incident, unless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "you counted Neville melting his sixth cauldron in Potions. Professor Snape, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "seemed to have attained new levels of vindictiveness over the summer, gave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Nevihle detention, and Neville returned from it in a state of nervous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "collapse, having been made to disembowel a barrel full of horned toads.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `You know why Snape's in such a foul mood, don't you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "said Ron to Harry as they watched Hermione teaching Neville a Scouring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Charm to remove the frog guts from under his fingernails. `Yeah,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "said Harry. `Moody.` It was common knowledge that Snape really wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the Dark Arts job, and he had now failed to get it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "for the fourth year running. Snape had disliked all of their previous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Dark Arts teachers, and shown it - but he seemed strangely wary","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of displaying overt animosity to Mad-Eye Moody. Indeed, whenever Harry saw the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "two of them together -at mealtimes, or when they passed in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "corridors - he had the distinct impression that Snape was avoiding Moody's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "eye, whether magical or normal. `I reckon Snape's a bit scared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of him, you know,` Harry said thoughtfully. `Imagine if Moody turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Snape into a horned toad,` said Ron, his eyes misting over, `and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "bounced him all around his dungeon...` The Gryffindor fourth years were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "looking forward to Moody's first lesson so much that they arrived early","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "on Thursday lunchtime and queued up outside his classroom before the bell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "had even rung. The only person missing was Hermione, who turned up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "just in time for the lesson. `Been in the -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`Library.` Harry finished her sentence for her. `C'mon, quick, or we won't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "get decent seats.` They hurried into three chairs right in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of the teacher's desk, took out their copies of The Dark Forces:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "A Guide to Self-Protection, and waited, unusually quiet. Soon they heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Moody's distinctive clunking footsteps coming down the corridor, and he entered the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "room, looking as strange and frightening as ever. They could just see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "his clawed, wooden foot protruding from underneath his robes. `You can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "put those away,` he growled, stumping over to his desk and sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "down, `those books. You won't need them.` They returned the books","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to their bags, Ron looking excited. Moody took out a register,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "shook his long mane of grizzled gray hair out of his twisted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and scarred face, and began to call out names, his normal eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "moving steadily down the list while his magical eye swiveled around, fixing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "upon each student as he or she answered. `Right then,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "said, when the last person had declared themselves present, `I've had a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "letter from Professor Lupin about this class. Seems you've had a pretty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures - you've covered boggarts, Red Caps,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, is that right?` There was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "general murmur of assent. `But you're behind - very behind -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "on dealing with curses,` said Moody. `So I'm here to bring you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `What, aren't you staying?` Ron blurted out. Moody's magical eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "spun around to stare at Ron; Ron looked extremely apprehensive, but after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "a moment Moody smiled - the first time Harry had seen him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "do so. The effect was to make his heavily scarred face look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "more twisted and contorted than ever, but it was nevertheless good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to know that he ever did anything as friendly as smile. Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "looked deeply relieved. `You'll be Arthur Weasley's son, eh?` Moody said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`Your father got me out of a very tight corner a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "days ago. .. . Yeah, I'm staying just the one year. Special","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "favor to Dumbledore. . . . One year, and then back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "my quiet retirement.` He gave a harsh laugh, and then clapped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "his gnarled hands together. `So - straight into it. Curses. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "come in many strengths and forms. Now, according to the Ministry of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Magic, I'm supposed to teach you countercurses and leave it at that.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " I'm not supposed to show you what illegal Dark curses look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "like until you're in the sixth year. You're not supposed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "old enough to deal with it till then. But Professor Dumbledore's got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "a higher opinion of your nerves, he reckons you can cope, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "I say, the sooner you know what you're up against, the better.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "How are you supposed to defend yourself against something you've never seen?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "A wizard who's about to put an illegal curse on you isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "going to tell you what he's about to do. He's not going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to do it nice and polite to your face. You need to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful. You need","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to put that away, Miss Brown, when I'm talking.` Lavender jumped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and blushed. She had been showing Parvati her completed horoscope under the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "desk. Apparently Moody's magical eye could see through solid wood, as well","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "as out of the back of his head. `So. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "wizarding law?` Several hands rose tentatively into the air, including Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and Hermione's. Moody pointed at Ron, though his magical eye was still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "fixed on Lavender. `Er,` said Ron tentatively, `my dad told me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "about one.. . . Is it called the Imperius Curse, or something?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `Ah, yes,` said Moody appreciatively. `Your father would know that one.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Gave the Ministry a lot of trouble at one time, the Imperius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Curse.` Moody got heavily to his mismatched feet, opened his desk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "drawer, and took out a glass jar. Three large black spiders were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "scuttling around inside it. Harry felt Ron recoil slightly next to him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "- Ron hated spiders. Moody reached into the jar, caught one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of the spiders, and held it in the palm of his hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "so that they could all see it. He then pointed his wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "at it and muttered, `Imperio!` The spider leapt from Moody's hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "on a fine thread of silk and began to swing backward and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "forward as though on a trapeze. It stretched out its legs rigidly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "then did a back flip, breaking the thread and landing on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "desk, where it began to cartwheel in circles. Moody jerked his wand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and the spider rose onto two of its hind legs and went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "into what was unmistakably a tap dance. Everyone was laughing -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "everyone except Moody. `Think it's funny, do you?` he growled. `You'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "like it, would you, if I did it to you?` The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "laughter died away almost instantly. `Total control,` said Moody quietly as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the spider balled itself up and began to roll over and over.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "itself down one of your throats. . .` Ron gave an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "involuntary shudder. `Years back, there were a lot of witches and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "wizards being controlled by the Imperius Curse,` said Moody, and Harry knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "he was talking about the days in which Voldemort had been all-powerful.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`Some job for the Ministry, trying to sort out who was being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "forced to act, and who was acting of their own free will.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `The Imperius Curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "it. Better avoid being hit with it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "he barked, and everyone jumped. Moody picked up the somersaulting spider and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "threw it back into the jar. `Anyone else know one? Another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "illegal curse?` Hermione's hand flew into the air again and so,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to Harry's slight surprise, did Neville's. The only class in which Neville","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "usually volunteered information was Herbology which was easily his best subject. Neville","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "looked surprised at his own daring. `Yes?` said Moody, his magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "eye rolling right over to fix on Neville. `There's one -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the Cruciatus Curse,` said Neville in a small but distinct voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Moody was looking very intently at Neville, this time with both eyes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `Your name's Longbottom?` he said, his magical eye swooping down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "check the register again. Neville nodded nervously, but Moody made no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "further inquiries. Turning back to the class at large, he reached into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the jar for the next spider and placed it upon the desktop,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "where it remained motionless, apparently too scared to move. `The Cruciatus","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Curse,` said Moody. `Needs to be a bit bigger for you to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "get the idea,` he said, pointing his wand at the spider.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`Engorgio!` The spider swelled. It was now larger than a tarantula.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Abandoning all pretense, Ron pushed his chair backward, as far away from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Moody's desk as possible. Moody raised his wand again, pointed it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "at the spider, and muttered, `Crucio!` At once, the spider's legs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "bent in upon its body; it rolled over and began to twitch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "horribly, rocking from side to side. No sound came from it, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Harry was sure that if it could have given voice, it would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "have been screaming. Moody did not remove his wand, and the spider","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "started to shudder and jerk more violently - `Stop it!` Hermione said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "shrilly.` Harry looked around at her. She was looking, not at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the spider, but at Neville, and Harry, following her gaze, saw that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Neville's hands were clenched upon the desk in front of him, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "knuckles white, his eyes wide and horrified. Moody raised his wand.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "The spider's legs relaxed, but it continued to twitch. `Reducio,` Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "muttered, and the spider shrank back to its proper size. He put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "it back into the jar. `Pain,` said Moody softly. `You don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "need thumbscrews or knives to torture someone if you can perform the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Cruciatus Curse. . . . That one was very popular once too.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `Right. . . anyone know any others?` Harry looked around.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "From the looks on everyone's faces, he guessed they were all wondering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "what was going to happen to the last spider. Hermione's hand shook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "slightly as, for the third time, she raised it into the air.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `Yes?` said Moody, looking at her. `Avada Kedavra,` Hermione whispered.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " Several people looked uneasily around at her, including Ron. `Ah,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "said Moody, another slight smile twisting his lopsided mouth. `Yes, the last","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and worst. Avada Kedavra. .. the Killing Curse.` He put his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "hand into the glass jar, and almost as though it knew what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "was coming, the third spider scuttled frantically around the bottom of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "jar, trying to evade Moody's fingers, but he trapped it, and placed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "it upon the desktop. It started to scuttle frantically across the wooden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "surface. Moody raised his wand, and Harry felt a sudden thrill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of foreboding. `Avada Kedavra!` Moody roared. There was a flash","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of blinding green light and a rushing sound, as though a vast,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "invisible something was soaring through the air - instantaneously the spider rolled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "over onto its back, unmarked, but unmistakably dead. Several of the students","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "stifled cries; Ron had thrown himself backward and almost toppled off his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "seat as the spider skidded toward him. Moody swept the dead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "spider off the desk onto the floor. `Not nice,` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "calmly. `Not pleasant. And there's no countercurse. There's no blocking it. Only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "front of me.` Harry felt his face redden as Moody's eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "(both of them) looked into his own. He could feel everyone else","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "looking around at him too. Harry stared at the blank blackboard as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "though fascinated by it, but not really seeing it at all.... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "So that was how his parents had died. . . exactly like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "that spider. Had they been unblemished and unmarked too? Had they simply","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "seen the flash of green light and heard the rush of speeding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "death, before life was wiped from their bodies? Harry had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "picturing his parents' deaths over and over again for three years now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "ever since he'd found out they had been murdered, ever since he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "found out what had happened that night: Wormtail had betrayed his parents'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "whereabouts to Voldemort, who had come to find them at their cottage.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "How Voldemort had killed Harry's father first. How James Potter had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "tried to hold him off, while he shouted at his wife to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "take Harry and run. . . Voldemort had advanced on Lily Potter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "told her to move aside so that he could kill Harry.. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "how she had begged him to kill her instead, refused to stop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "shielding her son.. . and so Voldemort had murdered her too, before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "turning his wand on Harry. Harry knew these details because he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "had heard his parents' voices when he had fought the dementors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "last year - for that was the terrible power of the dementors:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to force their victims to relive the worst memories of their lives,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and drown, powerless, in their own despair. Moody was speaking again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "from a great distance, it seemed to Harry. With a massive effort,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "he pulled himself back to the present and listened to what Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "was saying. `Avada Kedavra's a curse that needs a powerful bit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of magic behind it - you could all get your wands out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "now and point them at me and say the words, and I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed. But that doesn't matter.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "I'm not here to teach you how to do it. `Now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "if there's no countercurse, why am I showing you? Because you've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to know. You've got to appreciate what the worst is. You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "don't want to find yourself in a situation where you're facing it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!` he roared, and the whole class jumped again. `Now.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" ". . those three curses - Avada Kedavra, Imperius, and Cruciatus -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "are known as the Unforgivable Curses. The use of any one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "sentence in Azkaban. That's what you're up against. That's what I've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to teach you to fight. You need preparing. You need arming. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "most of all, you need to practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Get out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "your quills. . . copy this down. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "They spent the rest of the lesson taking notes on each of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the Unforgivable Curses. No one spoke until the bell rang - but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "when Moody had dismissed them and they had left the classroom, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "torrent of talk burst forth. Most people were discussing the curses in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "awed voices - `Did you see it twitch?` `- and when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "killed it - just like that!` They were talking about the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "lesson, Harry thought, as though it had been some sort of spectacular","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "show, but he hadn't found it very entertaining - and nor, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "seemed, had Hermione. `Hurry up,` she said tensely to Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Ron. `Not the ruddy library again?` said Ron. `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Hermione curtly, pointing up a side passage. `Neville.` Neville was standing alone, halfway","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "up the passage, staring at the stone wall opposite him with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "same horrified, wide-eyed look he had worn when Moody had demonstrated the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Cruciatus Curse. `Neville?` Hermione said gently. Neville looked around. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`Oh hello,` he said, his voice much higher than usual. `Interesting lesson,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "wasn't it? I wonder what's for dinner, I'm - I'm starving,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "aren't you?` `Neville, are you all right?` said Hermione. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "yes, I'm fine,` Neville gabbled in the same unnaturally high voice. `Very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "interesting dinner - I mean lesson - what's for eating?` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "gave Harry a startled look. `Neville, what - ?` But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "an odd clunking noise sounded behind them, and they turned to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Professor Moody limping toward them. All four of them fell silent, watching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "him apprehensively, but when he spoke, it was in a much lower","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and gentler growl than they had yet heard. `It's all right,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "sonny,` he said to Neville. `Why don't you come up to my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "office? Come on. . . we can have a cup of tea.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" ". . .` Neville looked even more frightened at the prospect","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of tea with Moody. He neither moved nor spoke. Moody turned his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "magical eye upon Harry. `You all right, are you, Potter?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`Yes,` said Harry, almost defiantly. Moody's blue eye quivered slightly in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "its socket as it surveyed Harry. Then he said, `You've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "know. It seems harsh, maybe, but you've got to know. No point","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "pretending. . . well.. . come on, Longbottom, I've got some books","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "that might interest you.` Neville looked pleadingly at Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Hermione, but they didn't say anything, so Neville had no choice but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to allow himself to be steered away, one of Moody's gnarled hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "on his shoulder. `What was that about?` said Ron, watching Neville","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and Moody turn the corner. `I don't know,` said Hermione, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "pensive. `Some lesson, though, eh?` said Ron to Harry as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "set off for the Great Hall. `Fred and George were right, weren't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "they? He really knows his stuff, Moody, doesn't he? When he did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Avada Kedavra, the way that spider just died, just snuffed it right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "-` But Ron fell suddenly silent at the look on Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "face and didn't speak again until they reached the Great Hall,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "when he said he supposed they had better make a start on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Professor Trelawney's predictions tonight, since they would take hours. Hermione did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "not join in with Harry and Ron's conversation during dinner, but ate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "furiously fast, and then left for the library again. Harry and Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "walked back to Gryffindor Tower, and Harry, who had been thinking of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "nothing else all through dinner, now raised the subject of the Unforgivable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Curses himself. `Wouldn't Moody and Dumbledore be in trouble with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Ministry if they knew we'd seen the curses?` Harry asked as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "approached the Fat Lady. `Yeah, probably,` said Ron. `But Dumbledore's always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "done things his way, hasn't he, and Moody's been getting in trouble","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "for years, I reckon. Attacks first and asks questions later - look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "at his dustbins. Balderdash.` The Fat Lady swung forward to reveal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the entrance hole, and they climbed into the Gryffindor common room, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "was crowded and noisy. `Shall we get our Divination stuff, then?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "said Harry. `I s'pose,` Ron groaned. They went up to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the dormitory to fetch their books and charts, to find Neville there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "alone, sitting on his bed, reading. He looked a good deal calmer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "than at the end of Moody's lesson, though still not entirely normal.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "His eyes were rather red. `You all right, Neville?` Harry asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "him. `Oh yes,` said Neville, `I'm fine, thanks. Just reading this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "book Professor Moody lent me. . .` He held up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "book: Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean. `Apparently, Professor Sprout told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Professor Moody I'm really good at Herbology,` Neville said. There was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "faint note of pride in his voice that Harry had rarely heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "there before. `He thought I'd like this.` Telling Neville what Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Sprout had said, Harry thought, had been a very tactful way of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "cheering Neville up, for Neville very rarely heard that he was good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "at anything. It was the sort of thing Professor Lupin would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "have done. Harry and Ron took their copies of Unfogging the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Future back down to the common room, found a table, and set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to work on their predictions for the coming month. An hour later,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "they had made very little progress, though their table was littered with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "bits of parchment bearing sums and symbols, and Harry's brain was as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "fogged as though it had been filled with the fumes from Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Trelawney's fire. `I haven't got a clue what this lot's supposed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to mean,` he said, staring down at a long list of calculations.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `You know,` said Ron, whose hair was on end because of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "all the times he had run his fingers through it in frustration,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`I think it's back to the old Divination standby.` `What -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "make it up?` `Yeah,` said Ron, sweeping the jumble of scrawled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "notes off the table, dipping his pen into some ink, and starting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to write. `Next Monday,` he said as he scribbled, `I am","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "likely to develop a cough, owing to the unlucky conjunction of Mars","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and Jupiter.` He looked up at Harry. `You know her - just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "put in loads of misery, she'll lap it up.` `Right,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Harry, crumpling up his first attempt and lobbing it over the heads","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of a group of chattering first years into the fire. `Okay. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" ". on Monday, I will be in danger of- er - burns.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `Yeah, you will be,` said Ron darkly, `we're seeing the skrewts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "again on Monday. Okay, Tuesday, I'll. . . erm. . `Lose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "a treasured possession,` said Harry, who was flicking through Unfogging the Future","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "for ideas. `Good one,` said Ron, copying it down. `Because of...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "erm. . . Mercury. Why don't you get stabbed in the back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "by someone you thought was a friend?` `Yeah. . . cool.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" ". .` said Harry, scribbling it down, `because... Venus is in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "twelfth house.` `And on Wednesday, I think I'll come off worst","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "in a fight.` `Aaah, I was going to have a fight.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Okay, I'll lose a bet.` `Yeah, you'll be betting I'll win","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "my fight. .. They continued to make up predictions (which grew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "steadily more tragic) for another hour, while the common room around them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "slowly emptied as people went up to bed. Crookshanks wandered over to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "them, leapt lightly into an empty chair, and stared inscrutably at Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "rather as Hermione might look if she knew they weren't doing their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "homework properly. Staring around the room, trying to think of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "a kind of misfortune he hadn't yet used, Harry saw Fred and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "George sitting together against the opposite wall, heads together, quills out, poring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "over a single piece of parchment. It was most unusual to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Fred and George hidden away in a corner and working silently; they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "usually liked to be in the thick of things and the noisy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "center of attention. There was something secretive about the way they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "working on the piece of parchment, and Harry was reminded of how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "they had sat together writing something back at the Burrow. He had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "thought then that it was another order form for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "but it didn't look like that this time; if it had been, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "would surely have let Lee Jordan in on the joke. He wondered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "whether it had anything to do with entering the Triwizard Tournament. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "As Harry watched, George shook his head at Fred, scratched out something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "with his quill, and said, in a very quiet voice that nevertheless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "carried across the almost deserted room, `No - that sounds like we're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "accusing him. Got to be careful. . .` Then George looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "over and saw Harry watching him. Harry grinned and quickly returned to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "his predictions - he didn't want George to think he was eavesdropping.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Shortly after that, the twins rolled up their parchment, said good night,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and went off to bed. Fred and George had been gone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "ten minutes or so when the portrait hole opened and Hermione climbed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "into the common room carrying a sheaf of parchment in one hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and a box whose contents rattled as she walked in the other.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Crookshanks arched his back, purring. `Hello,` she said, `I've just finished!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `So have I!` said Ron triumphantly, throwing down his quill. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Hermione sat down, laid the things she was carrying in an empty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "armchair, and pulled Ron's predictions toward her. `Not going to have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "a very good month, are you?` she said sardonically as Crookshanks curled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "up in her lap. `Ah well, at least I'm forewarned,` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "yawned. `You seem to be drowning twice,` said Hermione. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "am I?` said Ron, peering down at his predictions. `I'd better change","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "one of them to getting trampled by a rampaging hippogriff.` `Don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "you think it's a bit obvious you've made these up?` said Hermione.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `How dare you!` said Ron, in mock outrage. `We've been working","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "like house-elves here!` Hermione raised her eyebrows. `It's just an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "expression,` said Ron hastily. Harry laid down his quill too, having","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "just finished predicting his own death by decapitation. `What's in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "box?` he asked, pointing at it. `Funny you should ask,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Hermione, with a nasty look at Ron. She took off the lid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "and showed them the contents. Inside were about fifty badges, all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of different colors, but all bearing the same letters: S. P. E","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" ".W. `Spew?` said Harry, picking up a badge and looking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "it. `What's this about?` `Not spew,` said Hermione impatiently. `It's S-P-E-W.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.` `Never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "heard of it,` said Ron. `Well, of course you haven't,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Hermione briskly, `I've only just started it.` `Yeah?` said Ron in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "mild surprise. `How many members have you got?` `Well - if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "you two join - three,` said Hermione. `And you think we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "want to walk around wearing badges saying 'spew,' do you?` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `S-P-E-W!` said Hermione hotly. `I was going to put Stop the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "in Their Legal Status - but it wouldn't fit. So that's the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "heading of our manifesto.` She brandished the sheaf of parchment at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "them. `I've been researching it thoroughly in the library. Elf enslavement","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "goes back centuries. I can't believe no one's done anything about it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "before now.` `Hermione - open your ears,` said Ron loudly. `They.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Like. It. They like being enslaved!` `Our short-term aims,` said Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "speaking even more loudly than Ron, and acting as though she hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "heard a word, `are to secure house-elves fair wages and working conditions.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Our long-term aims include changing the law about non-wand use, and trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "to get an elf into the Department for the Regulation and Control","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of Magical Creatures, because they're shockingly underrepresented.` `And how do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "we do all this?` Harry asked. `We start by recruiting members,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "said Hermione happily. `I thought two Sickles to join -that buys a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "badge - and the proceeds can fund our leaflet campaign. You're treasurer,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Ron - I've got you a collecting tin upstairs - and Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "you're secretary, so you might want to write down everything I'm saying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "now, as a record of our first meeting.` There was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "pause in which Hermione beamed at the pair of them, and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "sat, torn between exasperation at Hermione and amusement at the look on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Ron's face. The silence was broken, not by Ron, who in any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "case looked as though he was temporarily dumbstruck, but by a soft","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "tap, tap on the window. Harry looked across the now empty common","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "room and saw, illuminated by the moonlight, a snowy owl perched on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "the windowsill. `Hedwig!` he shouted, and he launched himself out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "his chair and across the room to pull open the window. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Hedwig flew inside, soared across the room, and landed on the table","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "on top of Harry's predictions. `About time!` said Harry, hurrying after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "her. `She's got an answer!` said Ron excitedly, pointing at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "grubby piece of parchment tied to Hedwig's leg. Harry hastily untied","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "it and sat down to read, whereupon Hedwig fluttered onto his knee,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "hooting softly. `What does it say?` Hermione asked breathlessly. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "letter was very short, and looked as though it had been scrawled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "in a great hurry. Harry read it aloud: Harry -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "I'm flying north immediately. This news about your scar is the latest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "in a series of strange rumors that have reached me here. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "it hurts again, go straight to Dumbledore -they're saying he's got Mad-Eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "out of retirement, which means he's reading the signs, even if no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "one else is. I'll be in touch soon. My best to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Ron and Hermione. Keep your eyes open, Harry. Sirius Harry looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "up at Ron and Hermione, who stared back at him. `He's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "flying north?` Hermione whispered. `He's coming back?` `Dumbledore's reading what signs?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "said Ron, looking perplexed. `Harry - what's up?` For Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "just hit himself in the forehead with his fist, jolting Hedwig out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "of his lap. `I shouldn't've told him!` Harry said furiously. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "`What are you on about?` said Ron in surprise. `It's made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "him think he's got to come back!` said Harry, now slamming his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "fist on the table so that Hedwig landed on the back of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Ron's chair, hooting indignantly. `Coming back, because he thinks I'm in trouble!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "And there's nothing wrong with me! And I haven't got anything for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "you,` Harry snapped at Hedwig, who was clicking her beak expectantly, `you'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "have to go up to the Owlery if you want food.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Hedwig gave him an extremely offended look and took off for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "open window, cuffing him around the head with her outstretched wing as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "she went. `Harry,` Hermione began, in a pacifying sort of voice.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " `I'm going to bed,` said Harry shortly. `See you in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "morning.` Upstairs in the dormitory he pulled on his pajamas and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "got into his four-poster, but he didn't feel remotely tired. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Sirius came back and got caught, it would be his, Harry's, fault.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Why hadn't he kept his mouth shut? A few seconds' pain and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "he'd had to blab. . . . If he'd just had the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "sense to keep it to himself. He heard Ron come up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "into the dormitory a short while later, but did not speak to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "him. For a long time, Harry lay staring up at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "dark canopy of his bed. The dormitory was completely silent, and, had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "he been less preoccupied, Harry would have realized that the absence of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" "Neville's usual snores meant that he was not the only one lying awake. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-14" " Early next morning, Harry woke with a plan fully","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "formed in his mind, as though his sleeping brain had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "working on it all night. He got up, dressed in the pale","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "dawn light, left the dormitory without waking Ron, and went back down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to the deserted common room. Here he took a piece of parchment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "from the table upon which his Divination homework still lay and wrote","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the following letter: Dear Sirius, I reckon I just imagined my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "scar hurting, I was half asleep when I wrote to you last","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "time. There's no point coming back, everything's fine here. Don't worry about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "me, my head feels completely normal. Harry He then climbed out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of the portrait hole, up through the silent castle (held up only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "briefly by Peeves, who tried to overturn a large vase on him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "halfway along the fourth-floor corridor), finally arriving at the Owlery, which was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "situated at the top of West Tower. The Owlery was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "circular stone room, rather cold and drafty, because none of the windows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "had glass in them. The floor was entirely covered in straw, owl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "droppings, and the regurgitated skeletons of mice and voles. Hundreds upon hundreds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of owls of every breed imaginable were nestled here on perches that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "rose right up to the top of the tower, nearly all of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "them asleep, though here and there a round amber eye glared at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Harry. He spotted Hedwig nestled between a barn owl and a tawny,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and hurried over to her, sliding a little on the dropping-strewn floor.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " It took him a while to persuade her to wake up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and then to look at him, as she kept shuffling around on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "her perch, showing him her tail. She was evidently still furious about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "his lack of gratitude the previous night. In the end, it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Harry suggesting she might be too tired, and that perhaps he would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "ask Ron to borrow Pigwidgeon, that made her stick out her leg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and allow him to tie the letter to it. `Just find","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "him, all right?` Harry said, stroking her back as he carried her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "on his arm to one of the holes in the wall. `Before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the dementors do.` She nipped his finger, perhaps rather harder than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "she would ordinarily have done, but hooted softly in a reassuring sort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of way all the same. Then she spread her wings and took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "off into the sunrise. Harry watched her fly out of sight with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the familiar feeling of unease back in his stomach. He had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "so sure that Sirius's reply would alleviate his worries rather than increasing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "them. `That was a lie, Harry,` said Hermione sharply over breakfast,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "when he told her and Ron what he had done. `You didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "imagine your scar hurting and you know it.` `So what?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Harry. `He's not going back to Azkaban because of me.` `Drop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "it,` said Ron sharply to Hermione as she opened her mouth to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "argue some more, and for once, Hermione heeded him, and fell silent.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " Harry did his best not to worry about Sirius over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "next couple of weeks. True, he could not stop himself from looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "anxiously around every morning when the post owls arrived, nor, late at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "night before he went to sleep, prevent himself from seeing horrible visions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of Sirius, cornered by dementors down some dark London street, but betweentimes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "he tried to keep his mind off his godfather. He wished he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "still had Quidditch to distract him; nothing worked so well on a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "troubled mind as a good, hard training session. On the other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "hand, their lessons were becoming more difficult and demanding than ever before,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "particularly Moody's Defense Against the Dark Arts. To their surprise, Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Moody had announced that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "each of them in turn, to demonstrate its power and to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "whether they could resist its effects. `But - but you said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "it's illegal, Professor,` said Hermione uncertainly as Moody cleared away the desks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "with a sweep of his wand, leaving a large clear space in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the middle of the room. `You said - to use it against","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "another human was -` `Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "like,` said Moody, his magical eye swiveling onto Hermione and fixing her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "with an eerie, unblinking stare. `If you'd rather learn the hard way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "- when someone's putting it on you so they can control you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "completely - fine by me. You're excused. Off you go.` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "pointed one gnarled finger toward the door. Hermione went very pink and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "muttered something about not meaning that she wanted to leave. Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Ron grinned at each other. They knew Hermione would rather eat bubotuber","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "pus than miss such an important lesson. Moody began to beckon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "students forward in turn and put the Imperius Curse upon them. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Harry watched as, one by one, his classmates did the most extraordinary","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "things under its influence. Dean Thomas hopped three times around the room,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "singing the national anthem. Lavender Brown imitated a squirrel. Neville performed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a series of quite astonishing gymnastics he would certainly not have been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "capable of in his normal state. Not one of them seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "be able to fight off the curse, and each of them recovered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "only when Moody had removed it. `Potter,` Moody growled, `you next.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " Harry moved forward into the middle of the classroom, into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "space that Moody had cleared of desks. Moody raised his wand, pointed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "it at Harry, and said, '1mperio!` It was the most wonderful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "feeling. Harry felt a floating sensation as every thought and worry in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "his head was wiped gently away, leaving nothing but a vague, untraceable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "happiness. He stood there feeling immensely relaxed, only dimly aware of everyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "watching him. And then he heard Mad-Eye Moody's voice, echoing in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "some distant chamber of his empty brain: Jump onto the desk. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" ". jump onto the desk. . . Harry bent his knees","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "obediently, preparing to spring. Jump onto the desk.... Why, though?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Another voice had awoken in the back of his brain. Stupid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "thing to do, really, said the voice. Jump onto the desk....","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " No, I don't think I will, thanks, said the other voice,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a little more firmly. . . no, I don't really want to.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " Jump! NOW! The next thing Harry felt was considerable pain.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "He had both jumped and tried to prevent himself from jumping -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the result was that he'd smashed headlong into the desk knocking it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "over, and, by the feeling in his legs, fractured both his kneecaps.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `Now, that's more like it!` growled Moody's voice, and suddenly, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "felt the empty, echoing feeling in his head disappear. He remembered exactly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "what was happening, and the pain in his knees seemed to double.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `Look at that, you lot. . . Potter fought! He fought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "it, and he damn near beat it! We'll try that again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Potter, and the rest of you, pay attention - watch his eyes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "that's where you see it - very good, Potter, very good indeed!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "They'll have trouble controlling you!` `The way he talks,` Harry muttered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "as he hobbled out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "an hour later (Moody had insisted on putting Harry through his paces","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "four times in a row, until Harry could throw off the curse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "entirely), `you'd think we were all going to be attacked any second.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `Yeah, I know,` said Ron, who was skipping on every alternate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "step. He had had much more difficulty with the curse than Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "though Moody assured him the effects would wear off by lunchtime. `Talk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "about paranoid. . .` Ron glanced nervously over his shoulder to check","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "that Moody was definitely out of earshot and went on. `No wonder","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "they were glad to get shot of him at the Ministry. Did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "you hear him telling Seamus what he did to that witch who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "shouted 'Boo' behind him on April Fools' Day? And when are we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "supposed to read up on resisting the Imperius Curse with everything else","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "we've got to do?` All the fourth years had noticed a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "definite increase in the amount of work they were required to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "this term. Professor McGonagall explained why, when the class gave a particularly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "loud groan at the amount of Transfiguration homework she had assigned. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`You are now entering a most important phase of your magical education!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "she told them, her eyes glinting dangerously behind her square spectacles. `Your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Ordinary Wizarding Levels are drawing closer --` `We don't take O.W.L.s","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "till fifth year!` s aid Dean Thomas indignantly. `Maybe not, Thomas,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "but believe me, you need all the preparation you can get! Miss","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Granger remains the only person in this class who has managed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "turn a hedgehog into a satisfactory pincushion. I might remind you that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "your pincushion, Thomas, still curls up in fright if anyone approaches it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "with a pin!` Hermione, who had turned rather pink again, seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to be trying not to look too pleased with herself. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and Ron were deeply amused when Professor Trelawney told them that they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "had received top marks for their homework in their next Divination class.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "She read out large portions of their predictions, commending them for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "their unflinching acceptance of the horrors in store for them - but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "they were less amused when she asked them to do the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "thing for the month after next; both of them were running out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of ideas for catastrophes. Meanwhile Professor Binns, the ghost who taught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "History of Magic, had them writing weekly essays on the goblin rebellions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of the eighteenth century. Professor Snape was forcing them to research antidotes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "They took this one seriously, as he had hinted that he might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "be poisoning one of them before Christmas to see if their antidote","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "worked. Professor Flitwick had asked them to read three extra books in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "preparation for their lesson on Summoning Charms. Even Hagrid was adding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to their workload. The Blast-Ended Skrewts were growing at a remarkable pace","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "given that nobody had yet discovered what they ate. Hagrid was delighted,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and as part of their `project,` suggested that they come down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "his hut on alternate evenings to observe the skrewts and make notes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "on their extraordinary behavior. `I will not,` said Draco Malfoy flatly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "when Hagrid had proposed this with the air of Father Christmas pulling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "an extra-large toy out of his sack. `I see enough of these","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "foul things during lessons, thanks.` Hagrid's smile faded off his face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `Yeh'll do wha' yer told,` he growled, `or I'll be takin'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a leaf outta Professor Moody's book. . . . I hear yeh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "made a good ferret, Malfoy.` The Gryffindors roared with laughter. Malfoy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "flushed with anger, but apparently the memory of Moody's punishment was still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "sufficiently painful to stop him from retorting. Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "returned to the castle at the end of the lesson in high","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "spirits; seeing Hagrid put down Malfoy was particularly satisfying, especially because Malfoy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "had done his very best to get Hagrid sacked the previous year.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " When they arrived in the entrance hall, they found themselves unable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to proceed owing to the large crowd of students congregated there, all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "milling around a large sign that had been erected at the foot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of the marble staircase. Ron, the tallest of the three, stood on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "tiptoe to see over the heads in front of them and read","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the sign aloud to the other two: TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT THE DELEGATIONS","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "THE 30TH OF OCTOBER. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY --","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`Brilliant!` said Harry. `It's Potions last thing on Friday! Snape won't have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "time to poison us all!` STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST. `Only a week away!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "said Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff, emerging from the crowd, his eyes gleaming.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`I wonder if Cedric knows? Think I'll go and tell him. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" ". .` `Cedric?` said Ron blankly as Ernie hurried off. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`Diggory,` said Harry. `He must be entering the tournament.` `That idiot,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Hogwarts champion?` said Ron as they pushed their way through the chattering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "crowd toward the staircase. `He's not an idiot. You just don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "like him because he beat Gryffindor at Quidditch,` said Hermione. `I've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "heard he's a really good student - and he's a prefect.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "She spoke as though this settled the matter. `You only like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "him because he's handsome,` said Ron scathingly. `Excuse me, I don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "like people just because they're handsome!` said Hermione indignantly. Ron gave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a loud false cough, which sounded oddly like `Lockhart!` The appearance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of the sign in the entrance hall had a marked effect upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the inhabitants of the castle. During the following week, there seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "be only one topic of conversation, no matter where Harry went: the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Triwizard Tournament. Rumors were flying from student to student like highly contagious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "germs: who was going to try for Hogwarts champion, what the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "tournament would involve, how the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang differed from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "themselves. Harry noticed too that the castle seemed to be undergoing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "an extra-thorough cleaning. Several grimy portraits had been scrubbed, much to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the displeasure of their subjects, who sat huddled in their frames muttering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "darkly and wincing as they felt their raw pink faces. The suits","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of armor were suddenly gleaming and moving without squeaking, and Argus Filch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the caretaker, was behaving so ferociously to any students who forgot to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "wipe their shoes that he terrified a pair of first-year girls into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "hysterics. Other members of the staff seemed oddly tense too. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`Longbottom, kindly do not reveal that you can't even perform a simple","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Switching Spell in front of anyone from Durmstrang!` Professor McGonagall barked at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the end of one particularly difficult lesson, during which Neville had accidentally","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "transplanted his own ears onto a cactus. When they went down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to breakfast on the morning of the thirtieth of October, they found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "that the Great Hall had been decorated overnight. Enormous silk banners hung","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "from the walls, each of them representing a Hogwarts House: red with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a gold lion for Gryffiindor, blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "yellow with a black badger for Hufflepuff, and green with a silver","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "serpent for Slytherin. Behind the teachers' table, the largest banner of all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "bore the Hogwarts coat of arms: lion, eagle, badger, and snake united","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "around a large letter H. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "beside Fred and George at the Gryffindor table. Once again, and most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "unusually, they were sitting apart from everyone else and conversing in low","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "voices. Ron led the way over to them. `It's a bummer,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "all right,` George was saying gloomily to Fred. `But if he won't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "talk to us in person, we'll have to send him the letter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "after all. Or we'll stuff it into his hand. He can't avoid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "us forrever. `Who's avoiding you?` said Ron, sitting down next to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "them. `Wish you would,` said Fred, looking irritated at the interruption.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `What's a bummer?` Ron asked George. `Having a nosy git","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "like you for a brother,` said George. `You two got any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "ideas on the Triwizard Tournament yet?` Harry asked. `Thought any more about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "trying to enter?` `I asked McGonagall how the champions are chosen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "but she wasn't telling,` said George bitterly. `She just told me to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "shut up and get on with transfiguring my raccoon.` `Wonder what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the tasks are going to be?` said Ron thoughtfully. `You know, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "bet we could do them, Harry. We've done dangerous stuff before. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" ". .` `Not in front of a panel of judges, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "haven't,` said Fred. `McGonagall says the champions get awarded points according to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "how well they've done the tasks.` `Who are the judges?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "asked. `Well, the Heads of the participating schools are always on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the panel,` said Hermione, and everyone looked around at her, rather surprised,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`because all three of them were injured during the Tournament of 1792,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "when a cockatrice the champions were supposed to be catching went on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the rampage.` She noticed them all looking at her and said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "with her usual air of impatience that nobody else had read all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the books she had, `It's all in Hogwarts, A History. Though, of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "course, that book's not entirely reliable. A Revised History of Hogwarts would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "be a more accurate title. Or A Highly Biased and Selective History","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of Hogwarts, Which Glosses Over the Nastier Aspects of the School.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`What are you on about?` said Ron, though Harry thought he knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "what was coming. `House-elves!` said Hermione, her eyes flashing. `Not once,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "in over a thousand pages, does Hogwarts, A History mention that we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "are all colluding in the oppression of a hundred slaves!` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "shook his head and applied himself to his scrambled eggs. His and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Ron's lack of enthusiasm had done nothing whatsoever to curb Hermione's determination","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to pursue justice for house-elves. True, both of them had paid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "two Sickles for a S.P.E.W. badge, but they had only done it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to keep her quiet. Their Sickles had been wasted, however; if anything,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "they seemed to have made Hermione more vociferous. She had been badgering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Harry and Ron ever since, first to wear the badges, then to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "persuade others to do the same, and she had also taken to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "rattling around the Gryffindor common room every evening, cornering people and shaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the collecting tin under their noses. `You do realize that your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "sheets are changed, your fires lit, your classrooms cleaned, and your food","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "cooked by a group of magical creatures who are unpaid and enslaved?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "she kept saying fiercely. Some people, like Neville, had paid up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "just to stop Hermione from glowering at them. A few seemed mildly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "interested in what she had to say, but were reluctant to take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a more active role in campaigning. Many regarded the whole thing as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a joke. Ron now rolled his eyes at the ceiling, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "was flooding them all in autumn sunlight, and Fred became extremely interested","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "in his bacon (both twins had refused to buy a S.P.E.W. badge).","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "George, however, leaned in toward Hermione. `Listen, have you ever been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "down in the kitchens, Hermione?` `No, of course not,` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "curtly, `I hardly think students are supposed to -` `Well, we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "have,` said George, indicating Fred, `loads of times, to nick food. And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "we've met them, and they're happy. They think they've got the best","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "job in the world -` `That's because they're uneducated and brainwashed!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Hermione began hotly, but her next few words were drowned out by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the sudden whooshing noise from overhead, which announced the arrival of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "post owls. Harry looked up at once, and saw Hedwig soaring toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "him. Hermione stopped talking abruptly; she and Ron watched Hedwig anxiously as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "she fluttered down onto Harry's shoulder, folded her wings, and held out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "her leg wearily. Harry pulled off Sirius's reply and offered Hedwig","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "his bacon rinds, which she ate gratefully. Then, checking that Fred and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "George were safely immersed in further discussions about the Triwizard Tournament, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "read out Sirius's letter in a whisper to Ron and Hermione. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Nice try, Harry. I'm back in the country and well hidden.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "I want you to keep me posted on everything that's going on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "at Hogwarts. Don't use Hedwig, keep changing owls, and don't worry about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "me, just watch out for yourself Don't forget what I said about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "your scar. Sirius `Why d'you have to keep changing owls?` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "asked in a low voice. `Hedwig'll attract too much attention,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Hermione at once. `She stands out. A snowy owl that keeps returning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to wherever he's hiding. . . I mean, they're not native birds,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "are they?` Harry rolled up the letter and slipped it inside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "his robes, wondering whether he felt more or less worried than before.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "He supposed that Sirius managing to get back without being caught was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "something. He couldn't deny either that the idea that Sirius was much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "nearer was reassuring; at least he wouldn't have to wait so long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "for a response every time he wrote. `Thanks, Hedwig,` he said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "stroking her. She hooted sleepily, dipped her beak briefly into his goblet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of orange juice, then took off again, clearly desperate for a good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "long sleep in the Owlery. There was a pleasant feeling of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "anticipation in the air that day. Nobody was very attentive in lessons,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "being much more interested in the arrival that evening of the people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang; even Potions was more bearable than usual, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "it was half an hour shorter. When the bell rang early, Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Ron, and Hermione hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, deposited their bags and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "books as they had been instructed, pulled on their cloaks, and rushed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "back downstairs into the entrance hall. The Heads of Houses were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "ordering their students into lines. `Weasley, straighten your hat,` Professor McGonagall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "snapped at Ron. `Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "hair.` Parvati scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "end of her plait. `Follow me, please,` said Professor McGonagall. `First","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "years in front. . . no pushing.. . They filed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "was a cold, clear evening; dusk was falling and a pale, transparent-looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "moon was already shining over the Forbidden Forest. Harry, standing between Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and Hermione in the fourth row from the front, saw Dennis Creevey","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "positively shivering with anticipation among the other first years. `Nearly six,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "said Ron, checking his watch and then staring down the drive that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "led to the front gates. `How d'you reckon they're coming? The train?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `I doubt it,` said Hermione. `How, then? Broomsticks?` Harry suggested,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "looking up at the starry sky. `I don't think so. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" ". not from that far away.. . `A Portkey?` Ron suggested.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`Or they could Apparate - maybe you're allowed to do it under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "seventeen wherever they come from?` `You can't Apparate inside the Hogwarts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "grounds, how often do I have to tell you?` said Hermione impatiently.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " They scanned the darkening grounds excitedly, but nothing was moving; everything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "was still, silent, and quite as usual. Harry was starting to feel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "cold. He wished they'd hurry up. .. . Maybe the foreign students","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "were preparing a dramatic entrance. . . . He remembered what Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Weasley had said back at the campsite before the Quidditch World Cup:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `always the same - we can't resist showing off when we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "get together. ..` And then Dumbledore called out from the back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "row where he stood with the other teachers -` Aha! Unless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!` `Where?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "said many students eagerly, all looking in different directions. `There!` yelled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a sixth year, pointing over the forest. Something large, much larger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "than a broomstick - or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks - was hurtling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "across the deep blue sky toward the castle, growing larger all the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "time. `It's a dragon!` shrieked one of the first years, losing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "her head completely. `Don't be stupid. . . it's a flying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "house!` said Dennis Creevey. Dennis's guess was closer. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "saw a gigantic, powderblue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "all palominos, and each the size of an elephant. The front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "three rows of students drew backward as the carriage hurtled ever lower,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "coming in to land at a tremendous speed - then, with an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "almighty crash that made Neville jump backward onto a Slytherin fifth year's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "foot, the horses' hooves, larger than dinner plates, hit the ground. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "second later, the carriage landed too, bouncing upon its vast wheels, while","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the golden horses tossed their enormous heads and rolled large, fiery red","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "eyes. Harry just had time to see that the door of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the carriage bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "emitting three stars) before it opened. A boy in pale blue","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "robes jumped down from the carriage, bent forward, fumbled for a moment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "with something on the carriage floor, and unfolded a set of golden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "steps. He sprang back respectfully. Then Harry saw a shining, high-heeled black","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "shoe emerging from the inside of the carriage - a shoe the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "size of a child's sled - followed, almost immediately, by the largest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "woman he had ever seen in his life. The size of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "carriage, and of the horses, was immediately explained. A few people gasped.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " Harry had only ever seen one person as large as this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "woman in his life, and that was Hagrid; he doubted whether there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "was an inch difference in their heights. Yet somehow -maybe simply because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "he was used to Hagrid - this woman (now at the foot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of the steps, and looking around at the waiting, wide-eyed crowd) seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "even more unnaturally large. As she stepped into the light flooding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "from the entrance hall, she was revealed to have a handsome, olive-skinned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "face; large, black, liquid-looking eyes; and a rather beaky nose. Her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "fingers. Dumbledore started to clap; the students, following his lead, broke","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "into applause too, many of them standing on tiptoe, the better to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "look at this woman. Her face relaxed into a gracious smile","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and she walked forward toward Dumbledore, extending a glittering hand. Dumbledore, though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "tall himself, had barely to bend to kiss it. `My dear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Madame Maxime,` he said. `Welcome to Hogwarts.` `Dumbly-dort,` said Madame Maxime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "in a deep voice. `I 'ope I find you well?` `In","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "excellent form, I thank you,` said Dumbledore. `My pupils,` said Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Maxime, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her. Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "whose attention had been focused completely upon Madame Maxime, now noticed that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "about a dozen boys and girls, all, by the look of them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "in their late teens, had emerged from the carriage and were now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "standing behind Madame Maxime. They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "them were wearing cloaks. A few had wrapped scarves and shawls around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "their heads. From what Harry could see of them (they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "standing in Madame Maxime's enormous shadow), they were staring up at Hogwarts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "with apprehensive looks on their faces. `As Karkaroff arrived yet?` Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Maxime asked. `He should be here any moment,` said Dumbledore. `Would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "you like to wait here and greet him or would you prefer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to step inside and warm up a trifle?` `Warm up, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "think,` said Madame Maxime. `But ze 'orses -` `Our Care of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Magical Creatures teacher will be delighted to take care of them,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Dumbledore, `the moment he has returned from dealing with a slight situation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "that has arisen with some of his other - er - charges.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `Skrewts,` Ron muttered to Harry, grinning. `My steeds require -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "er - forceful 'andling,` said Madame Maxime, looking as though she doubted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "whether any Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts could be up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to the job. `Zey are very strong. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "said Dumbledore, smiling. `Very well,` said Madame Maxime, bowing slightly. `Will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single-malt whiskey?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `It will be attended to,` said Dumbledore, also bowing. `Come,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "said Madame Maxime imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `How big d'you reckon Durmstrang's horses are going to be?` Seamus","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "Finnigan said, leaning around Lavender and Parvati to address Harry and Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " `Well, if they're any bigger than this lot, even Hagrid won't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "be able to handle them,` said Harry. `That's if he hasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "been attacked by his skrewts. Wonder what's up with them?` `Maybe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "they've escaped,` said Ron hopefully. `Oh don't say that,` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "with a shudder. `Imagine that lot loose on the grounds. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" ".` They stood, shivering slightly now, waiting for the Durmstrang party","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "to arrive. Most people were gazing hopefully up at the sky. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "For a few minutes, the silence was broken only by Madame Maxime's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "huge horses snorting and stamping. But then - `Can you hear something?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "said Ron suddenly. Harry listened; a loud and oddly eerie noise","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "was drifting toward them from out of the darkness: a muffled rumbling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and sucking sound, as though an immense vacuum cleaner were moving along","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a riverbed. `The lake!` yelled Lee Jordan, pointing down at it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "`Look at the lake!` From their position at the top of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "smooth black surface of the water - except that the surface was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "suddenly not smooth at all. Some disturbance was taking place deep in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the center; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "washing over the muddy banks - and then, out in the very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "had just been pulled out of the lake's floor. . What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "seemed to be a long, black pole began to rise slowly out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of the heart of the whirlpool. . . and then Harry saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the rigging.... `It's a mast!` he said to Ron and Hermione.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "glide toward the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of a plank being lowered onto the bank. People were disembarking;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "they could see their silhouettes passing the lights in the ship's portholes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "All of them, Harry noticed, seemed to be built along the lines","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "of Crabbe and Goyle... but then, as they drew nearer, walking up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "the lawns into the light streaming from the entrance hall, he saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "that their bulk was really due to the fact that they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "wearing cloaks of some kind of shaggy, matted fur. But the man","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "who was leading them up to the castle was wearing furs of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a different sort: sleek and silver, like his hair. `Dumbledore!` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "called heartily as he walked up the slope. `How are you, my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "dear fellow, how are you?` `Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff,` Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "replied. Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice; when he stepped into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "light pouring from the front doors of the castle they saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "that he was tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "was short, and his goatee (finishing in a small curl) did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "entirely hide his rather weak chin. When he reached Dumbledore, he shook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "hands with both of his own. `Dear old Hogwarts,` he said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "looking up at the castle and smiling; his teeth were rather yellow,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "and Harry noticed that his smile did not extend to his eyes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "which remained cold and shrewd. `How good it is to be here,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "how good.. . . Viktor, come along, into the warmth. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "you don't mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold...` Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "beckoned forward one of his students. As the boy passed, Harry caught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "a glimpse of a prominent curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "didn't need the punch on the arm Ron gave him, or the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" "hiss in his ear, to recognize that profile. `Harry - it's Krum!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-15" " I don't believe it!` Ron said, in a stunned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "voice, as the Hogwarts students filed back up the steps behind the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "party from Durmstrang. `Krum, Harry! Viktor Krum!` `For heaven's sake, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "he's only a Quidditch player,` said Hermione. `Only a Quidditch player?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Ron said, looking at her as though he couldn't believe his ears.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`Hermione - he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "had no idea he was still at school!` As they recrossed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the entrance hall with the rest of the Hogwarts students heading for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Great Hall, Harry saw Lee Jordan jumping up and down on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the soles of his feet to get a better look at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "back of Krum's head. Several sixth-year girls were frantically searching their pockets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "as they walked - `Oh I don't believe it, I haven't got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a single quill on me -` `D'you think he'd sign my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hat in lipstick?` `Really,` Hermione said loftily as they passed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "girls, now squabbling over the lipstick. `I'm getting his autograph if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "I can,` said Ron. `You haven't got a quill, have you, Harry?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `Nope, they're upstairs in my bag,` said Harry. They walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "over to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Ron took care to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "sit on the side facing the doorway, because Krum and his fellow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Durmstrang students were still gathered around it, apparently unsure about where they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "should sit. The students from Beauxbatons had chosen seats at the Ravenclaw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "table. They were looking around the Great Hall with glum expressions on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "their faces. Three of them were still clutching scarves and shawls around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "their heads. `It's not that cold,` said Hermione defensively. `Why didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "they bring cloaks?` `Over here! Come and sit over here!` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hissed. `Over here! Hermione, budge up, make a space -` `What?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `Too late,` said Ron bitterly. Viktor Krum and his fellow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Durmstrang students had settled themselves at the Slytherin table. Harry could see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle looking very smug about this. As he watched,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Malfoy bent forward to speak to Krum. `Yeah, that's right, smarm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "up to him, Malfoy,` said Ron scathingly. `I bet Krum can see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "right through him, though. . . bet he gets people fawning over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "him all the time.. . . Where d'you reckon they're going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to sleep? We could offer him a space in our dormitory, Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" ". . I wouldn't mind giving him my bed, I could kip","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "on a camp bed.` Hermione snorted. `They look a lot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "happier than the Beauxbatons lot,` said Harry. The Durmstrang students were pulling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "off their heavy furs and looking up at the starry black ceiling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "with expressions of interest; a couple of them were picking up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "golden plates and goblets and examining them, apparently impressed. Up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the staff table, Filch, the caretaker, was adding chairs. He was wearing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "his moldy old tailcoat in honor of the occasion. Harry was surprised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to see that he added four chairs, two on either side of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dumbledore's. `But there are only two extra people,` Harry said. `Why's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Filch putting out four chairs, who else is coming?` `Eh?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Ron vaguely. He was still staring avidly at Krum. When all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the students had entered the Hall and settled down at their House","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "tables, the staff entered, filing up to the top table and taking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "their seats. Last in line were Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Maxime. When their headmistress appeared, the pupils from Beauxbatons leapt to their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laughed. The Beauxbatons party appeared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "quite unembarrassed, however, and did not resume their seats until Madame Maxime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "had sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side. Dumbledore remained standing, and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "silence fell over the Great Hall. `Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "ghosts and - most particularly - guests,` said Dumbledore, beaming around at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the foreign students. `I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "comfortable and enjoyable.` One of the Beauxbatons girls still clutching a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "muffler around her head gave what was unmistakably a derisive laugh. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`No one's making you stay!` Hermione whispered, bristling at her. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dumbledore. `I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "at home!` He sat down, and Harry saw Karkaroff lean forward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "at once and engage him in conversation. The plates in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of them filled with food as usual. The house-elves in the kitchen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "seemed to have pulled out all the stops; there was a greater","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "variety of dishes in front of them than Harry had ever seen,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "including several that were definitely foreign. `What's that?` said Ron, pointing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew that stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding. `Bouillabaisse,` said Hermione. `Bless you,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Ron. `It's French,` said Hermione, `I had it on holiday","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "summer before last. It's very nice.` `I'll take your word for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "it,` said Ron, helping himself to black pudding. The Great Hall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "seemed somehow much more crowded than usual, even though there were barely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "twenty additional students there; perhaps it was because their differently colored uniforms","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "stood out so clearly against the black of the Hogwarts' robes. Now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "that they had removed their furs, the Durmstrang students were revealed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "be wearing robes of a deep bloodred. Hagrid sidled into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hall through a door behind the staff table twenty minutes after the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "start of the feast. He slid into his seat at the end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "and waved at Harry, Ron, and Hermione with a very heavily bandaged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hand. `Skrewts doing all right, Hagrid?` Harry called. `Thrivin',` Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "called back happily. `Yeah, I'll just bet they are,` said Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "quietly. `Looks like they've finally found a food they like, doesn't it?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hagrid's fingers.` At that moment, a voice said, `Excuse me, are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "you wanting ze bouillabaisse?` It was the girl from Beauxbatons who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "had laughed during Dumbledore's speech. She had finally removed her muffler. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "long sheet of silvery-blonde hair fell almost to her waist. She had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "large, deep blue eyes, and very white, even teeth. Ron went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "purple. He stared up at her, opened his mouth to reply, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "nothing came out except a faint gurgling noise. `Yeah, have it,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Harry, pushing the dish toward the girl. `You 'ave finished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "wiz it?` `Yeah,` Ron said breathlessly. `Yeah, it was excellent.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "The girl picked up the dish and carried it carefully off to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Ravenclaw table. Ron was still goggling at the girl as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "he had never seen one before. Harry started to laugh. The sound","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "seemed to jog Ron back to his senses. `She's a veela!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "he said hoarsely to Harry. `Of course she isn't!` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "tartly. `I don't see anyone else gaping at her like an idiot!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " But she wasn't entirely right about that. As the girl crossed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Hall, many boys' heads turned, and some of them seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "have become temporarily speechless, just like Ron. `I'm telling you, that's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "not a normal girl!` said Ron, leaning sideways so he could keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a clear view of her. `They don't make them like that at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hogwarts!` `They make them okay at Hogwarts,` said Harry without thinking.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Cho happened to be sitting only a few places away from the girl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "with the silvery hair. `When you've both put your eyes back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "in,` said Hermione briskly, `you'll be able to see who's just arrived.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " She was pointing up at the staff table. The two remaining","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "empty seats had just been filled. Ludo Bagman was now sitting on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Professor Karkaroff's other side, while Mr. Crouch, Percy's boss, was next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to Madame Maxime. `What are they doing here?` said Harry in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "surprise. `They organized the Triwizard Tournament, didn't they?` said Hermione. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "suppose they wanted to be here to see it start.` When","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the second course arrived they noticed a number of unfamiliar desserts too.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Ron examined an odd sort of pale blancmange closely, then moved it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "carefully a few inches to his right, so that it would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "clearly visible from the Ravenclaw table. The girl who looked like a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "veela appeared to have eaten enough, however, and did not come over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to get it. Once the golden plates had been wiped clean,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dumbledore stood up again. A pleasant sort of tension seemed to fill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Hall now. Harry felt a slight thrill of excitement, wondering what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "was coming. Several seats down from them, Fred and George were leaning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "forward, staring at Dumbledore with great concentration. `The moment has come,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Dumbledore, smiling around at the sea of upturned faces. `The Triwizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "words of explanation before we bring in the casket --` `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "what?` Harry muttered. Ron shrugged. `- just to clarify the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "procedure that we will be following this year. But first, let me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch, Head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of the Department of International Magical Cooperation` - there was a smattering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of polite applause - `and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of Magical Games and Sports.` There was a much louder round","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of applause for Bagman than for Crouch, perhaps because of his fame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "as a Beater, or simply because he looked so much more likable.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "He acknowledged it with a jovial wave of his hand. Bartemius Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "did not smile or wave when his name was announced. Remembering him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "in his neat suit at the Quidditch World Cup, Harry thought he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "looked strange in wizard's robes. His toothbrush mustache and severe parting looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "very odd next to Dumbledore's long white hair and beard. `Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament,` Dumbledore continued, `and they will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime on the panel that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "will judge the champions' efforts.` At the mention of the word","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`champions,` the attentiveness of the listening students seemed to sharpen. Perhaps Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "had noticed their sudden stillness, for he smiled as he said, `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "casket, then, if you please, Mr. Filch.` Filch, who had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "lurking unnoticed in a far corner of the Hall, now approached Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "carrying a great wooden chest encrusted with jewels. It looked extremely old.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " A murmur of excited interest rose from the watching students; Dennis","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Creevey actually stood on his chair to see it properly, but, being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "so tiny, his head hardly rose above anyone else's. `The instructions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "examined by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman,` said Dumbledore as Filch placed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the chest carefully on the table before him, `and they have made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "different ways.. their magical prowess - their daring -their powers of deduction","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "- and, of course, their ability to cope with danger.` At this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "last word, the Hall was filled with a silence so absolute that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "nobody seemed to be breathing. `As you know, three champions compete","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "in the tournament,` Dumbledore went on calmly, `one from each of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire.` Dumbledore now took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "out his wand and tapped three times upon the top of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "casket. The lid creaked slowly open. Dumbledore reached inside it and pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "out a large, roughly hewn wooden cup. It would have been entirely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "unremarkable had it not been full to the brim with dancing blue-white","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "flames. Dumbledore closed the casket and placed the goblet carefully on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "top of it, where it would be clearly visible to everyone in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Hall. `Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "it into the goblet,` said Dumbledore. `Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the goblet will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "compete. `To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dumbledore, `I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the age of seventeen will be able to cross this line. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "can be no change of heart once you have become a champion.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "before you drop your name into the goblet. Now, I think it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "is time for bed. Good night to you all.` `An Age","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Line!` Fred Weasley said, his eyes glinting, as they all made their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "way across the Hall to the doors into the entrance hall. `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "that should be fooled by an Aging Potion, shouldn't it? And once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "your name's in that goblet, you're laughing - it can't tell whether","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "you're seventeen or not!` `But I don't think anyone under seventeen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "will stand a chance,` said Hermione, `we just haven't learned enough. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" ".` `Speak for yourself,` said George shortly. `You'll try and get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "in, won't you, Harry?` Harry thought briefly of Dumbledore's insistence that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "nobody under seventeen should submit their name, but then the wonderful picture","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of himself winning the Triwizard Tournament filled his mind again. .. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "He wondered how angry Dumbledore would be if someone younger than seventeen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "did find a way to get over the Age Line. `Where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "is he?` said Ron, who wasn't listening to a word of this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "conversation, but looking through the crowd to see what had become of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Krum. `Dumbledore didn't say where the Durmstrang people are sleeping, did he?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " But this query was answered almost instantly; they were level with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Slytherin table now, and Karkaroff had just bustled up to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "students. `Back to the ship, then,` he was saying. `Viktor, how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "are you feeling? Did you eat enough? Should I send for some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "mulled wine from the kitchens?` Harry saw Krum shake his head as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "he pulled his furs back on. `Professor, Ivood like some vine,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "one of the other Durmstrang boys hopefully. `I wasn't offering it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to you, Poliakoff,` snapped Karkaroff, his warmly paternal air vanishing in an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "instant. `I notice you have dribbled food all down the front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "your robes again, disgusting boy -` Karkaroff turned and led his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "students toward the doors, reaching them at exactly the same moment as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry stopped to let him walk through first.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `Thank you,` said Karkaroff carelessly, glancing at him. And then Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "froze. He turned his head back to Harry and stared at him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "as though he couldn't believe his eyes. Behind their headmaster, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "students from Durmstrang came to a halt too. Karkaroff's eyes moved slowly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "up Harry's face and fixed upon his scar. The Durmstrang students were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "staring curiously at Harry too. Out of the corner of his eye,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Harry saw comprehension dawn on a few of their faces. The boy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "with food all down his front nudged the girl next to him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "and pointed openly at Harry's forehead. `Yeah, that's Harry Potter,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a growling voice from behind them. Professor Karkaroff spun around. Mad-Eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Moody was standing there, leaning heavily on his staff, his magical eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "glaring unblinkingly at the Durmstrang headmaster. The color drained from Karkaroff's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "face as Harry watched. A terrible look of mingled fury and fear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "came over him. `You!` he said, staring at Moody as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "unsure he was really seeing him. `Me,` said Moody grimly. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "unless you've got anything to say to Potter, Karkaroff, you might want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to move. You're blocking the doorway.` It was true; half the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "students in the Hall were now waiting behind them, looking over one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "another's shoulders to see what was causing the holdup. Without another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "word, Professor Karkaroff swept his students away with him. Moody watched him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "until he was out of sight, his magical eye fixed upon his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "back, a look of intense dislike upon his mutilated face. As","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the next day was Saturday, most students would normally have breakfasted late.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were not alone in rising much earlier","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "than they usually did on weekends. When they went down into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "entrance hall, they saw about twenty people milling around it, some of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "them eating toast, all examining the Goblet of Fire. It had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "placed in the center of the hall on the stool that normally","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "bore the Sorting Hat. A thin golden line had been traced on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the floor, forming a circle ten feet around it in every direction.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `Anyone put their name in yet?` Ron asked a third-year girl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "eagerly. `All the Durmstrang lot,` she replied. `But I haven't seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "anyone from Hogwarts yet.` `Bet some of them put it in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "last night after we'd all gone to bed,` said Harry. `I would've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "if it had been me. . . wouldn't have wanted everyone watching.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "What if the goblet just gobbed you right back out again?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Someone laughed behind Harry. Turning, he saw Fred, George, and Lee Jordan","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hurrying down the staircase, all three of them looking extremely excited. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`Done it,` Fred said in a triumphant whisper to Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hermione. `Just taken it.` `What?` said Ron. `The Aging Potion,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "dung brains,` said Fred. `One drop each,` said George, rubbing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hands together with glee. `We only need to be a few months","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "older.` `We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of us if one of us wins,` said Lee, grinning broadly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `I'm not sure this is going to work, you know,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hermione warningly. `I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this.` Fred, George,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "and Lee ignored her. `Ready?` Fred said to the other two,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "quivering with excitement. `C'mon, then - I'll go first -` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "watched, fascinated, as Fred pulled a slip of parchment out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "pocket bearing the words Fred Weasley - Hogwarts. Fred walked right up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to the edge of the line and stood there, rocking on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "toes like a diver preparing for a fifty-foot drop. Then, with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "eyes of every person in the entrance hall upon him, he took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a great breath and stepped over the line. For a split","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "second Harry thought it had worked - George certainly thought so, for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "he let out a yell of triumph and leapt after Fred -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "but next moment, there was a loud sizzling sound, and both twins","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "were hurled out of the golden circle as though they had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "thrown by an invisible shot-putter. They landed painfully, ten feet away on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the cold stone floor, and to add insult to injury, there was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a loud popping noise, and both of them sprouted identical long white","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "beards. The entrance hall rang with laughter. Even Fred and George","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "joined in, once they had gotten to their feet and taken a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "good look at each other's beards. `I did warn you,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a deep, amused voice, and everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore coming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "out of the Great Hall. He surveyed Fred and George, his eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "twinkling. `I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "I must say, neither of their beards is anything like as fine","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "as yours.` Fred and George set off for the hospital wing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "accompanied by Lee, who was howling with laughter, and Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hermione, also chortling, went in to breakfast. The decorations in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Great Hall had changed this morning. As it was Halloween, a cloud","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of live bats was fluttering around the enchanted ceiling, while hundreds of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "carved pumpkins leered from every corner. Harry led the way over to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dean and Seamus, who were discussing those Hogwarts students of seventeen or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "over who might be entering. `There's a rumor going around that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Warrington got up early and put his name in,` Dean told Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`That big bloke from Slytherin who looks like a sloth.` Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "who had played Quidditch against Warrington, shook his head in disgust. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`We can't have a Slytherin champion!` `And all the Hufflepuffs are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "talking about Diggory,` said Seamus contemptuously. `But I wouldn't have thought he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "have wanted to risk his good looks.` `Listen!` said Hermione suddenly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " People were cheering out in the entrance hall. They all swiveled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "around in their seats and saw Angelina Johnson coming into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hall, grinning in an embarrassed sort of way. A tall black girl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "who played Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Angelina came over to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "them, sat down, and said, `Well, I've done it! Just put my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "name in!` `You're kidding!` said Ron, looking impressed. `Are you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "seventeen, then?` asked Harry. `Course she is, can't see a beard,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "can you?` said Ron. `I had my birthday last week,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Angelina. `Well, I'm glad someone from Gryffindor's entering,` said Hermione. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "really hope you get it, Angelina!` `Thanks, Hermione,` said Angelina, smiling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "at her. Yeah, better you than Pretty-Boy Diggory, said Seamus, causing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "several Hufflepuffs passing their table to scowl heavily at him. `What're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "we going to do today, then?` Ron asked Harry and Hermione when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "they had finished breakfast and were leaving the Great Hall. `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "haven't been down to visit Hagrid yet,` said Harry. `Okay,` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`just as long as he doesn't ask us to donate a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "fingers to the skrewts.` A look of great excitement suddenly dawned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "on Hermione's face. `I've just realized - I haven't asked Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to join S.P.E.W. yet!` she said brightly. `Wait for me, will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "you, while I nip upstairs and get the badges?` `What is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "it with her?` said Ron, exasperated, as Hermione ran away up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "marble staircase. `Hey, Ron,` said Harry suddenly. `It's your friend. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" ".` The students from Beauxbatons were coming through the front doors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "from the grounds, among them, the veela-girl. Those gathered around the Goblet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of Fire stood back to let them pass, watching eagerly. Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Maxime entered the hall behind her students and organized them into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "line. One by one, the Beauxbatons students stepped across the Age Line","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "and dropped their slips of parchment into the blue-white flames. As each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "name entered the fire, it turned briefly red and emitted sparks. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`What d'you reckon'll happen to the ones who aren't chosen?` Ron muttered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to Harry as the veela-girl dropped her parchment into the Goblet of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Fire. `Reckon they'll go back to school, or hang around to watch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the tournament?` `Dunno,` said Harry. `Hang around, I suppose... . Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Maxime's staying to judge, isn't she?` When all the Beauxbatons students","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "had submitted their names, Madame Maxime led them back out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hall and out onto the grounds again. `Where are they sleeping,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "then?` said Ron, moving toward the front doors and staring after them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " A loud rattling noise behind them announced Hermione's reappearance with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "box of S. P. E.W. badges. `Oh good, hurry up,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Ron, and he jumped down the stone steps, keeping his eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "on the back of the veela-girl, who was now halfway across the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "lawn with Madame Maxime. As they neared Hagrid's cabin on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "edge of the Forbidden Forest, the mystery of the Beauxbatons' sleeping quarters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "was solved. The gigantic powder-blue carriage in which they had arrived had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "been parked two hundred yards from Hagrid's front door, and the students","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "were climbing back inside it. The elephantine flying horses that had pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the carriage were now grazing in a makeshift paddock alongside it. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Harry knocked on Hagrid's door, and Fang's booming barks answered instantly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`Bout time!` said Hagrid, when he'd flung open the door. `Thought you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "lot'd forgotten where I live!` `We've been really busy, Hag -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hermione started to say, but then she stopped dead, looking up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hagrid, apparently lost for words. Hagrid was wearing his best (and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "very horrible) hairy brown suit, plus a checked yellow-and-orange tie. This wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the worst of it, though; he had evidently tried to tame his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hair, using large quantities of what appeared to be axle grease. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "was now slicked down into two bunches - perhaps he had tried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a ponytail like Bill's, but found he had too much hair. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "look didn't really suit Hagrid at all. For a moment, Hermione goggled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "at him, then, obviously deciding not to comment, she said, `Erm -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "where are the skrewts.` `Out by the pumpkin patch,` said Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "happily. `They're get-tin' massive, mus' be nearly three foot long now.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "On'y trouble is, they've started killin' each other.` `Oh no, really?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Hermione, shooting a repressive look at Ron, who, staring at Hagrid's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "odd hairstyle, had just opened his mouth to say something about it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `Yeah,` said Hagrid sadly. `S' okay, though, I've got 'em in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "separate boxes now. Still got abou' twenty.` `Well, that's lucky,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Ron. Hagrid missed the sarcasm. Hagrid's cabin comprised a single room,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "in one corner of which was a gigantic bed covered in a patchwork","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "quilt. A similarly enormous wooden table and chairs stood in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the fire beneath the quantity of cured hams and dead birds hanging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "from the ceiling. They sat down at the table while Hagrid started","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to make tea, and were soon immersed in yet more discussion of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Triwizard Tournament. Hagrid seemed quite as excited about it as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "were. `You wait,` he said, grinning. `You jus' wait. Yer going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "ter see some stuff yeh've never seen before. Firs' task. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "ah, but I'm not supposed ter say.` `Go on, Hagrid!` Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Ron, and Hermione urged him, but he just shook his head, grinning.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `I don' want ter spoil it fer yeh,` said Hagrid. `But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "it's gonna be spectacular, I'll tell yeh that. Them champions're going ter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "have their work cut out. Never thought I'd live ter see the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Triwizard Tournament played again!` They ended up having lunch with Hagrid,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "though they didn't eat much - Hagrid had made what he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "was a beef casserole, but after Hermione unearthed a large talon in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hers, she, Harry, and Ron rather lost their appetites. However, they enjoyed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "themselves trying to make Hagrid tell them what the tasks in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "tournament were going to be, speculating which of the entrants were likely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "to be selected as champions, and wondering whether Fred and George were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "beardless yet. A light rain had started to fall by midafternoon;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "it was very cozy sitting by the fire, listening to the gentle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "patter of the drops on the window, watching Hagrid darning his socks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "and arguing with Hermione about house-elves - for he flatly refused to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "join S.P.E.W. when she showed him her badges. `It'd be doin'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "'em an unkindness, Hermione,` he said gravely, threading a massive bone needle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "with thick yellow yarn. `It's in their nature ter look after humans,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "that's what they like, see? Yeh'd be makin' 'em unhappy ter take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "away their work, an' insutin' 'em if yeh tried ter pay 'em.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `But Harry set Dobby free, and he was over the moon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "about it!` said Hermione. `And we heard he's asking for wages now!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " `Yeah, well, yeh get weirdos in every breed. I'm not sayin'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "there isn't the odd elf who'd take freedom, but yeh'll never persuade","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "most of 'em ter do it - no, nothin' doin', Hermione.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hermione looked very cross indeed and stuffed her box of badges back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "into her cloak pocket. By half past five it was growing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "dark, and Ron, Harry, and Hermione decided it was time to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "back up to the castle for the Halloween feast - and, more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "important, the announcement of the school champions. `I'll come with yeh,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Hagrid, putting away his darning. `Jus' give us a sec.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hagrid got up, went across to the chest of drawers beside his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "bed, and began searching for something inside it. They didn't pay too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "much attention until a truly horrible smell reached their nostrils. Coughing, Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said, `Hagrid, what's that?` `Eh?` said Hagrid, turning around with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "large bottle in his hand. `Don' yeh like it?` `Is that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "aftershave?` said Hermione in a slightly choked voice. `Er - eau","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "de cologne,` Hagrid muttered. He was blushing. `Maybe it's a bit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "much,` he said gruffly. `I'll go take it off, hang on...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "He stumped out of the cabin, and they saw him washing himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "vigorously in the water barrel outside the window. `Eau de cologne?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Hermione in amazement. `Hagrid?` `And what's with the hair and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the suit?` said Harry in an undertone. `Look!` said Ron suddenly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "pointing out of the window. Hagrid had just straightened up and turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "'round. If he had been blushing before, it was nothing to what he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "was doing now. Getting to their feet very cautiously, so that Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "wouldn't spot them, Harry, Ron, and Hermione peered through the window and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "saw that Madame Maxime and the Beauxbatons students had just emerged from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "their carriage, clearly about to set off for the feast too. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "couldn't hear what Hagrid was saying, but he was talking to Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " Maxime with a rapt, misty-eyed expression Harry had only ever seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "him wear once before -when he had been looking at the baby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "dragon, Norbert. `He's going up to the castle with her!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hermione indignantly. `I thought he was waiting for us!` Without so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "much as a backward glance at his cabin, Hagrid was trudging off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "up the grounds with Madame Maxime, the Beaux-batons students following in their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "wake, jogging to keep up with their enormous strides. `He fancies","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "her!` said Ron incredulously. `Well, if they end up having children, they'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "be setting a world record - bet any baby of theirs would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "weigh about a ton.` They let themselves out of the cabin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "and shut the door behind them. It was surprisingly dark outside. Drawing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "their cloaks more closely around themselves, they set off up the sloping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "lawns. `Ooh it's them, look!` Hermione whispered. The Durmstrang party","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "was walking up toward the castle from the lake. Viktor Krum was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "walking side by side with Karkaroff, and the other Durmstrang students were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "straggling along behind them. Ron watched Krum excitedly, but Krum did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "look around as he reached the front doors a little ahead of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hermione, Ron, and Harry and proceeded through them. When they entered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the candlelit Great Hall it was almost full. The Goblet of Fire","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "had been moved; it was now standing in front of Dumbledore's empty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "chair at the teachers' table. Fred and George - clean-shaven again -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "seemed to have taken their disappointment fairly well. `Hope it's Angelina,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "said Fred as Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down. `So do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "I!` said Hermione breathlessly. `Well, we'll soon know!` The Halloween feast","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "seemed to take much longer than usual. Perhaps because it was their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "second feast in two days, Harry didn't seem to fancy the extravagantly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "prepared food as much as he would have normally. Like everyone else","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "in the Hall, judging by the constantly craning necks, the impatient expressions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "on every face, the fidgeting, and the standing up to see whether","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dumbledore had finished eating yet, Harry simply wanted the plates to clear,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "and to hear who had been selected as champions. At long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state; there was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "a sharp upswing in the level of noise within the Hall, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "died away almost instantly as Dumbledore got to his feet. On either","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "expectant as anyone. Ludo Bagman was beaming and winking at various students.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Mr. Crouch, however, looked quite uninterested, almost bored. `Well, the goblet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "is almost ready to make its decision,` said Dumbledore. `I estimate that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "I would ask them please to come up to the top of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "next chamber` - he indicated the door behind the staff table -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`where they will be receiving their first instructions.` He took out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it; at once,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "them into a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "more brightly than anything in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of the flames almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" ". . A few people kept checking their watches. . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`Any second,` Lee Jordan whispered, two seats away from Harry. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red again. Sparks began to fly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it - the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "whole room gasped. Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "champion for Durmstrang,` he read, in a strong, clear voice, `will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Viktor Krum.` `No surprises there!` yelled Ron as a storm of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "applause and cheering swept the Hall. Harry saw Viktor Krum rise","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "from the Slytherin table and slouch up toward Dumbledore; he turned right,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "next chamber. `Bravo, Viktor!` boomed Karkaroff, so loudly that everyone could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "hear him, even over all the applause. `Knew you had it in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "you!` The clapping and chatting died down. Now everyone's attention was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "A second piece of parchment shot out of it, propelled by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "flames. `The champion for Beauxbatons,` said Dumbledore, `is Fleur Delacour!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`It's her, Ron!` Harry shouted as the girl who so resembled a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "veela got gracefully to her feet, shook back her sheet of silvery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "blonde hair, and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "`Oh look, they're all disappointed,` Hermione said over the noise, nodding toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the remainder of the Beauxbatons party. `Disappointed` was a bit of an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "understatement, Harry thought. Two of the girls who had not been selected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "had dissolved into tears and were sobbing with their heads on their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "arms. When Fleur Delacour too had vanished into the side chamber,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion next... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of it; the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Hogwarts champion,` he called, `is Cedric Diggory!` `No! ` said Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "loudly, but nobody heard him except Harry; the uproar from the next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "table was too great. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to his or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "her feet, screaming and stamping, as Cedric made his way past them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "grinning broadly, and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers' table.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Indeed, the applause for Cedric went on so long that it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "some time before Dumbledore could make himself heard again. `Excellent!` Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "called happily as at last the tumult died down. `Well, we now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "champion on, you will contribute in a very real --` But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking, and it was apparent to everybody what had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "distracted him. The fire in the goblet had just turned red","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "again. Sparks were flying out of it. A long flame shot suddenly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " Automatically, it seemed, Dumbledore reached out a long hand and seized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "upon it. There was a long pause, during which Dumbledore stared at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "the slip in his hands, and everyone in the room stared at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" "Dumbledore. And then Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out - `Harry Potter.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-16" " Harry sat there, aware that every head in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Great Hall had turned to look at him. He was stunned. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "felt numb. He was surely dreaming. He had not heard correctly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "There was no applause. A buzzing, as though of angry bees, was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "starting to fill the Hall; some students were standing up to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "a better look at Harry as he sat, frozen, in his seat.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " Up at the top table, Professor McGonagall had got to her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "feet and swept past Ludo Bagman and Professor Karkaroff to whisper urgently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "to Professor Dumbledore, who bent his ear toward her, frowning slightly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Harry turned to Ron and Hermione; beyond them, he saw the long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Gryffindor table all watching him, openmouthed. `I didn't put my name","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "in,` Harry said blankly. `You know I didn't.` Both of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "stared just as blankly back. At the top table, Professor Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "had straightened up, nodding to Professor McGonagall. `Harry Potter!` he called","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "again. `Harry! Up here, if you please!` `Go on,` Hermione whispered,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "giving Harry a slight push. Harry got to his feet, trod","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "on the hem of his robes, and stumbled slightly. He set off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. It felt like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "an immensely long walk; the top table didn't seem to be getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "any nearer at all, and he could feel hundreds and hundreds of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "eyes upon him, as though each were a searchlight. The buzzing grew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "louder and louder. After what seemed like an hour, he was right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "in front of Dumbledore, feeling the stares of all the teachers upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "him. `Well.. . through the door, Harry,` said Dumbledore. He wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "smiling. Harry moved off along the teachers' table. Hagrid was seated","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "right at the end. He did not wink at Harry, or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "wave, or give any of his usual signs of greeting. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "looked completely astonished and stared at Harry as he passed like everyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "else. Harry went through the door out of the Great Hall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "and found himself in a smaller room, lined with paintings of witches","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " The faces in the portraits turned to look at him as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he entered. He saw a wizened witch flit out of the frame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of her picture and into the one next to it, which contained","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "a wizard with a walrus mustache. The wizened witch started whispering in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "his ear. Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "around the fire. They looked strangely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "hunched-up and brooding, was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "other two. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "into the fire. Fleur Delacour looked around when Harry walked in and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair. `What is it?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "she said. `Do zey want us back in ze Hall?` She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "thought he had come to deliver a message. Harry didn't know how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "to explain what had just happened. He just stood there, looking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the three champions. It struck him how very tall all of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "were. There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Harry by the arm and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "led him forward. `Extraordinary!` he muttered, squeezing Harry's arm. `Absolutely extraordinary!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " Gentlemen. . . lady,` he added, approaching the fireside and addressing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the other three. `May I introduce - incredible though it may","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "seem - the fourth Triwizard champion?` Viktor Krum straightened up. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "from Bagman to Harry and back again as though sure he must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "smiling, and said, `Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman.` `Joke?` Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "repeated, bewildered. `No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of the Goblet of Fire!` Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned. `But evidently zair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "'as been a mistake,` she said contemptuously to Bagman. `E cannot compete.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "'E is too young.` `Well. . . it is amazing,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. `But, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "extra safety measure. And as his name's come out of the goblet..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" ". I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "at this stage. . . . It's down in the rules, you're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "obliged. . . Harry will just have to do the best","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he --` The door behind them opened again, and a large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door. `Madame Maxime!` said Fleur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "at once, striding over to her headmistress. `Zey are saying zat zis","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "little boy is to compete also!` Somewhere under Harry's numb disbelief","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he felt a ripple of anger. Little boy? Madame Maxime had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "her handsome head brushed the candle-filled chandelier, and her gigantic black-satin bosom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "swelled. `What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?` she said imperiously.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore,` said Professor Karkaroff. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of ice. `Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "host school is allowed two champions - or have I not read","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the rules carefully enough?` He gave a short and nasty laugh.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `C'est impossible,` said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. `Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "It is most injust.` `We were under the impression that your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore,` said Karkaroff, his steely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. `Otherwise,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "from our own schools.` `It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. `Don't go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "lines ever since he arrived here -` `Thank you, Severus,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "through his curtain of greasy black hair. Professor Dumbledore was now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "looking down at Harry, who looked right back at him, trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "discern the expression of the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles. `Did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?` he asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "calmly. `No,` said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "him closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "shadows. `Did you ask an older student to put it into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the Goblet of Fire for you?` said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`No,` said Harry vehemently. `Ah, but of course 'e is lying!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `He could not have crossed the Age Line,` said Professor McGonagall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "sharply. `I am sure we are all agreed on that -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line,` said Madame Maxime,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "shrugging. `It is possible, of course,` said Dumbledore politely. `Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!` said Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "McGonagall angrily. `Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "good enough for everybody else!` She shot a very angry look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "at Professor Snape. `Mr. Crouch.. . Mr. Bagman,` said Karkaroff, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "voice unctuous once more, `you are our -er - objective judges. Surely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you will agree that this is most irregular?` Bagman wiped his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "round, boyish face with his handkerchief and looked at Mr. Crouch, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "it was in his usual curt voice. `We must follow the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "tournament.` `Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the matter was now closed. `I insist upon resubmitting the names","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of the rest of my students,` said Karkaroff. He had dropped his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "unctuous tone and his smile now. His face wore a very ugly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "look indeed. `You will set up the Goblet of Fire once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore.` `But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "that,` said Bagman. `The Goblet of Fire's just gone out - it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "won't reignite until the start of the next tournament -` `-","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!` exploded Karkaroff. `After","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `Empty threat, Karkaroff,` growled a voice from near the door. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?` Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "had just entered the room. He limped toward the fire, and with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "every right step he took, there was a loud clunk. `Convenient?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "said Karkaroff. `I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody.` Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "tell he was trying to sound disdainful, as though what Moody was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "saying was barely worth his notice, but his hands gave him away;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "they had balled themselves into fists. `Don't you?` said Moody quietly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter's name in that goblet knowing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he'd have to compete if it came out.` `Evidently, someone 'oo","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!` said Madame Maxime.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `I quite agree, Madame Maxime,` said Karkaroff, bowing to her. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Confederation of Wizards -` `If anyone's got reason to complain, it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Potter,` growled Moody, `but. . . funny thing. . . I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "don't hear him saying a word. . . `Why should 'e","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "complain?` burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. `E 'as ze chance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Galleons in prize money - zis is a chance many would die","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "for!` `Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl. An extremely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "tense silence followed these words. Ludo Bagman, who was looking very anxious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "indeed, bounced nervously up and down on his feet and said, `Moody,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "old man. . . what a thing to say!` `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "six plots to murder him before lunchtime,` said Karkaroff loudly. `Apparently he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "in a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you had your reasons. `Imagining things, am I?` growled Moody. `Seeing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "boy's name in that goblet. . . `Ah, what evidence is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "zere of zat?` said Madame Maxime, throwing up her huge hands. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!` said Moody. `It would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament.. . . I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "guessing they submitted Potter's name under a fourth school, to make sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he was the only one in his category.. . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "said Karkaroff coldly, `and a very ingenious theory it is - though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of course, I heard you recently got it into your head that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised basilisk egg, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you'll understand if we don't take you entirely seriously. . . .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage,` Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "retorted in a menacing voice. `It's my job to think the way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Dark wizards do, Karkaroff - as you ought to remember... `Alastor!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "said Dumbledore warningly. Harry wondered for a moment whom he was speaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "to, but then realized `Mad-Eye` could hardly be Moody's real first name.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Moody fell silent, though still surveying Karkaroff with satisfaction - Karkaroff's face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "was burning. `How this situation arose, we do not know,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Dumbledore, speaking to everyone gathered in the room. `It seems to me,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Cedric and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "therefore, they will do. . . `Ah, but Dumbly-dorr -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "delighted to hear it.` Dumbledore waited, but Madame Maxime did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "speak, she merely glared. She wasn't the only one either. Snape looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "furious; Karkaroff livid; Bagman, however, looked rather excited. `Well, shall we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "crack on, then?` he said, rubbing his hands together and smiling around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the room. `Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "want to do the honors?` Mr. Crouch seemed to come out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of a deep reverie. `Yes,` he said, `instructions. Yes . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" ". the first task . . .` He moved forward into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the firelight. Close up, Harry thought he looked ill. There were dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "shadows beneath his eyes and a thin, papery look about his wrinkled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "skin that had not been there at the Quidditch World Cup. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`The first task is designed to test your daring,` he told Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, `so we are not going to be telling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "an important quality in a wizard. . . very important. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the other students and the panel of judges. `The champions are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "from end-of-year tests.` Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`I think that's all, is it, Albus?` `I think so,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Dumbledore, who was looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern. `Are you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?` `No,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry,` said Mr. Crouch. `It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment.... I've left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "young Weatherby in charge.. . . Very enthusiastic. . . a little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "overenthusiastic, if truth be told. . . `You'll come and have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "a drink before you go, at least?` said Dumbledore. `Come on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Barry, I'm staying!` said Bagman brightly. `It's all happening at Hogwarts now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you know, much more exciting here than at the office!` `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "think not, Ludo,` said Crouch with a touch of his old impatience.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `Professor Karkaroff - Madame Maxime - a nightcap?` said Dumbledore. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "But Madame Maxime had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "was leading her swiftly out of the room. Harry could hear them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "both talking very fast in French as they went off into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Great Hall. Karkaroff beckoned to Krum, and they, too, exited, though in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "silence. `Harry, Cedric, I suggest you go up to bed,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Dumbledore, smiling at both of them. `I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of mess and noise.` Harry glanced at Cedric, who nodded, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "they left together. The Great Hall was deserted now; the candles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "had burned low, giving the jagged smiles of the pumpkins an eerie,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "flickering quality. `So,` said Cedric, with a slight smile. `We're playing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "against each other again!` `I s'pose,` said Harry. He really couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "think of anything to say. The inside of his head seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "be in complete disarray, as though his brain had been ransacked. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`So. . . tell me. . .` said Cedric as they reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the entrance hall, which was now lit only by torches in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "absence of the Goblet of Fire. `How did you get your name","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "in?` `I didn't,` said Harry, staring up at him. `I didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "put it in. I was telling the truth.` `Ah. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "okay,` said Cedric. Harry could tell Cedric didn't believe him. `Well .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" ". . see you, then.` Instead of going up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "marble staircase, Cedric headed for a door to its right. Harry stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "listening to him going down the stone steps beyond it, then, slowly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he started to climb the marble ones. Was anyone except Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "and Hermione going to believe him, or would they all think he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "put himself in for the tournament? Yet how could anyone think that,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "when he was facing competitors who'd had three years' more magical education","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "than he had - when he was now facing tasks that not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "only sounded very dangerous, but which were to be performed in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of hundreds of people? Yes, he'd thought about it. . . he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "fantasized about it.. . but it had been a joke, really,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "an idle sort of dream. . . he'd never really, seriously considered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "entering. . But someone else had considered it. . . someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "else had wanted him in the tournament, and had made sure he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "was entered. Why? To give him a treat? He didn't think so,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "somehow... To see him make a fool of himself? Well, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "were likely to get their wish. . But to get him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "killed? Was Moody just being his usual paranoid self? Couldn't someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "have put Harry's name in the goblet as a trick, a practical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "joke? Did anyone really want him dead? Harry was able to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "answer that at once. Yes, someone wanted him dead, someone had wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "him dead ever since he had been a year old. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Lord Voldemort. But how could Voldemort have ensured that Harry's name got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "into the Goblet of Fire? Voldemort was supposed to be far away,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "in some distant country, in hiding, alone. . . feeble and powerless....","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " Yet in that dream he had had, just before he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "awoken with his scar hurting, Voldemort had not been alone. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he had been talking to Wormtail.. . plotting Harry's murder. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "got a shock to find himself facing the Fat Lady already. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "had barely noticed where his feet were carrying him. It was also","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "a surprise to see that she was not alone in her frame.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "The wizened witch who had flitted into her neighbor's painting when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "had joined the champions downstairs was now sitting smugly beside the Fat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Lady. She must have dashed through every picture lining seven staircases to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "reach here before him. Both she and the Fat Lady were looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "down at him with the keenest interest. `Well, well, well,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the Fat Lady, `Violet's just told me everything. Who's just been chosen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "as school champion, then?` `Balderdash,` said Harry dully. `It most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "certainly isn't!` said the pale witch indignantly. `No, no, Vi, it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the password,` said the Fat Lady soothingly, and she swung forward on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "her hinges to let Harry into the common room. The blast","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of noise that met Harry's ears when the portrait opened almost knocked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "him backward. Next thing he knew, he was being wrenched inside the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "common room by about a dozen pairs of hands, and was facing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "the whole of Gryffindor House, all of whom were screaming, applauding, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "whistling. `You should've told us you'd entered!` bellowed Fred; he looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "half annoyed, half deeply impressed. `How did you do it without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "getting a beard? Brilliant!` roared George. `I didn't,` Harry said. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "don't know how -` But Angelina had now swooped down upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "him; `Oh if it couldn't be me, at least it's a Gryffindor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "-` `You'll be able to pay back Diggory for that last","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Quidditch match, Harry!` shrieked Katie Bell, another of the Gryffindor Chasers. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`We've got food, Harry, come and have some -` `I'm not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "hungry, I had enough at the feast -` But nobody wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "to hear that he wasn't hungry; nobody wanted to hear that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "hadn't put his name in the goblet; not one single person seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "to have noticed that he wasn't at all in the mood to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "celebrate. . . . Lee Jordan had unearthed a Gryffindor banner from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "somewhere, and he insisted on draping it around Harry like a cloak.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Harry couldn't get away; whenever he tried to sidle over to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "staircase up to the dormitories, the crowd around him closed ranks, forcing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "another butterbeer on him, stuffing crisps and peanuts into his hands. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" ". . Everyone wanted to know how he had done it, how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he had tricked Dumbledore's Age Line and managed to get his name","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "into the goblet.... `I didn't,` he said, over and over again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`I don't know how it happened.` But for all the notice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "anyone took, he might just as well not have answered at all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `I'm tired!` he bellowed finally, after nearly half an hour. `No,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "seriously, George -I'm going to bed -` He wanted more than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "anything to find Ron and Hermione, to find a bit of sanity,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "but neither of them seemed to be in the common room. Insisting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "that he needed to sleep, and almost flattening the little Creevey brothers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "as they attempted to waylay him at the foot of the stairs,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Harry managed to shake everyone off and climb up to the dormitory","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "as fast as he could. To his great relief, he found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Ron was lying on his bed in the otherwise empty dormitory, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "fully dressed. He looked up when Harry slammed the door behind him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " `Where've you been?` Harry said. `Oh hello,` said Ron. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "He was grinning, but it was a very odd, strained sort of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "grin. Harry suddenly became aware that he was still wearing the scarlet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Gryffindor banner that Lee had tied around him. He hastened to take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "it off, but it was knotted very tightly. Ron lay on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "bed without moving, watching Harry struggle to remove it. `So,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "said, when Harry had finally removed the banner and thrown it into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "a corner. `Congratulations.` `What d'you mean, congratulations?` said Harry, staring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "at Ron. There was definitely something wrong with the way Ron was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "smiling: It was more like a grimace. `Well. . . no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "one else got across the Age Line,` said Ron. `Not even Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "and George. What did you use - the Invisibility Cloak?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`The Invisibility Cloak wouldn't have got me over that line,` said Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "slowly. `Oh right,` said Ron. `I thought you might've told me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "if it was the cloak. . . because it would've covered both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "of us, wouldn't it? But you found another way, did you?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "`Listen,` said Harry, `I didn't put my name in that goblet. Someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "else must've done it.` Ron raised his eyebrows. `What would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "they do that for?` `I dunno,` said Harry. He felt it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "would sound very melodramatic to say, `To kill me.` Ron's eyebrows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "rose so high that they were in danger of disappearing into his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "hair. `It's okay, you know, you can tell me the truth,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "he said. `If you don't want everyone else to know, fine, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "I don't know why you're bothering to lie, you didn't get into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "trouble for it, did you? That friend of the Fat Lady's, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Violet, she's already told us all Dumbledore's letting you enter. A thousand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "Galleons prize money, eh? And you don't have to do end-of-year tests","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "either. . .` `I didn't put my name in that goblet!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "said Harry, starting to feel angry. `Yeah, okay,` said Ron, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "exactly the same sceptical tone as Cedric. `Only you said this morning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "you'd have done it last night, and no one would've seen you..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" ". . I'm not stupid, you know.` `You're doing a really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "good impression of it,` Harry snapped. `Yeah?` said Ron, and there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "was no trace of a grin, forced or otherwise, on his face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "now. `You want to get to bed, Harry. I expect you'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "need to be up early tomorrow for a photo-call or something.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "He wrenched the hangings shut around his four-poster, leaving Harry standing there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "by the door, staring at the dark red velvet curtains, now hiding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" "one of the few people he had been sure would believe him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-17" " When Harry woke up on Sunday morning, it took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "him a moment to remember why he felt so miserable and worried.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Then the memory of the previous night rolled over him. He sat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "up and ripped back the curtains of his own four-poster, intending to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "talk to Ron, to force Ron to believe him - only to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "find that Ron's bed was empty; he had obviously gone down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "breakfast. Harry dressed and went down the spiral staircase into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "common room. The moment he appeared, the people who had already","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "finished breakfast broke into applause again. The prospect of going down into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the Great Hall and facing the rest of the Gryffindors, all treating","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "him like some sort of hero, was not inviting; it was that,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "however, or stay here and allow himself to be cornered by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Creevey brothers, who were both beckoning frantically to him to join them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "He walked resolutely over to the portrait hole, pushed it open, climbed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "out of it, and found himself face-to-face with Hermione. `Hello,` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said, holding up a stack of toast, which she was carrying in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a napkin. `I brought you this. . . . Want to go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "for a walk?` `Good idea,` said Harry gratefully. They went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "downstairs, crossed the entrance hall quickly without looking in at the Great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Hall, and were soon striding across the lawn toward the lake, where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the Durmstrang ship was moored, reflected blackly in the water. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a chilly morning, and they kept moving, munching their toast, as Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "told Hermione exactly what had happened after he had left the Gryffindor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "table the night before. To his immense relief, Hermione accepted his story","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "without question. `Well, of course I knew you hadn't entered yourself,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "she said when he'd finished telling her about the scene in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "chamber off the Hall. `The look on your face when Dumbledore read","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "out your name! But the question is, who did put it in?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Because Moody's right, Harry... I don't think any student could have done","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "it. . . they'd never be able to fool the Goblet, or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "get over Dumbledore's -` `Have you seen Ron?` Harry interrupted. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Hermione hesitated. `Erm. . . yes. . . he was at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "breakfast,` she said. `Does he still think I entered myself?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Well. . . no, I don't think so . . . not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "really,` said Hermione awkwardly. `What's that supposed to mean, 'not really'?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `Oh Harry, isn't it obvious?` Hermione said despairingly. `He's jealous!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Jealous?` Harry said incredulously. `Jealous of what? He wants to make a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "prat of himself in front of the whole school, does he?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Look,` said Hermione patiently, `it's always you who gets all the attention,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "you know it is. I know it's not your fault,` she added","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "quickly, seeing Harry open his mouth furiously. `I know you don't ask","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "for it.. . but - well - you know, Ron's got all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "those brothers to compete against at home, and you're his best friend,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and you're really famous - he's always shunted to one side whenever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "people see you, and he puts up with it, and he never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "mentions it, but I suppose this is just one time too many.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". . `Great,` said Harry bitterly. `Really great. Tell him from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "me I'll swap any time he wants. Tell him from me he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "welcome to it.... People gawping at my forehead everywhere I go. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ".` `I'm not teiling him anything,` Hermione said shortly. `Tell him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "yourself. It's the only way to sort this out.` `I'm not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "running around after him trying to make him grow up!` Harry said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "so loudly that several owls in a nearby tree took flight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "in alarm. `Maybe he'll believe I'm not enjoying myself once I've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "my neck broken or -` `That's not funny,` said Hermione quietly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`That's not funny at all.` She looked extremely anxious. `Harry, I've been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "thinking - you know what we've got to do, don't you? Straight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "away, the moment we get back to the castle?` `Yeah, give","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Ron a good kick up the -` `Write to Sirius. You've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "got to tell him what's happened. He asked you to keep him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "posted on everything that's going on at Hogwarts. . . . It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "almost as if he expected something like this to happen. I brought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "some parchment and a quill out with me -` `Come off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "it,` said Harry, looking around to check that they couldn't be overheard,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "but the grounds were quite deserted. `He came back to the country","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "just because my scar twinged. He'll probably come bursting right into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "castle if I tell him someone's entered me in the Triwizard Tournament","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "-` `He'd want you to tell him,` said Hermione sternly. `He's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "going to find out anyway.` `How?` `Harry, this isn't going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to be kept quiet,` said Hermione, very seriously. `This tournament's famous, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "you're famous. I'll be really surprised if there isn't anything in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Daily Prophet about you competing. . . . You're already in half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the books about You-Know-Who, you know.. . and Sirius would rather hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "it from you, I know he would.` `Okay, okay, I'll write","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to him,` said Harry, throwing his last piece of toast into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "lake. They both stood and watched it floating there for a moment,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "before a large tentacle rose out of the water and scooped it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "beneath the surface. Then they returned to the castle. `Whose owl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "am I going to use?` Harry said as they climbed the stairs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`He told me not to use Hedwig again.` `Ask Ron if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "you can borrow -` `I'm not asking Ron for anything,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said flatly. `Well, borrow one of the school owls, then, anyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "can use them,` said Hermione. They went up to the Owlery.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Hermione gave Harry a piece of parchment, a quill, and a bottle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of ink, then strolled around the long lines of perches, looking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "all the different owls, while Harry sat down against a wall and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "wrote his letter. Dear Sirius, You told me to keep you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "posted on what's happening at Hogwarts, so here goes - I don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "know if you've heard, but the Triwizard Tournament's happening this year and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "on Saturday night I got picked as a fourth champion. I don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "who put my name in the Goblet of Fire, because I didn't.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "The other Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory, from Hufflepuff He paused at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "this point, thinking. He had an urge to say something about the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "large weight of anxiety that seemed to have settled inside his chest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "since last night, but he couldn't think how to translate this into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "words, so he simply dipped his quill back into the ink bottle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and wrote, Hope you're okay, and Buckbeak - Harry `Finished,` he told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Hermione, getting to his feet and brushing straw off his robes. At","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "this, Hedwig fluttered down onto his shoulder and held out her leg.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `I can't use you,` Harry told her, looking around for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "school owls. `I've got to use one of these.` Hedwig","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "gave a very loud hoot and took off so suddenly that her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "talons cut into his shoulder. She kept her back to Harry all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the time he was tying his letter to the leg of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "large barn owl. When the barn owl had flown off, Harry reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "out to stroke Hedwig, but she clicked her beak furiously and soared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "up into the rafters out of reach. `First Ron, then you,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry said angrily. `This isn't my fault.` If Harry had thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "that matters would improve once everyone got used to the idea of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "him being champion, the following day showed him how mistaken he was.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "He could no longer avoid the rest of the school once he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "was back at lessons - and it was clear that the rest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of the school, just like the Gryffindors, thought Harry had entered himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "for the tournament. Unlike the Gryffindors, however, they did not seem","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "impressed. The Hufflepuffs, who were usually on excellent terms with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Gryffindors, had turned remarkably cold toward the whole lot of them. One","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Herbology lesson was enough to demonstrate this. It was plain that the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Hufflepuffs felt that Harry had stolen their champion's glory; a feeling exacerbated,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "perhaps, by the fact that Hufflepuff House very rarely got any glory,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and that Cedric was one of the few who had ever given","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "them any, having beaten Gryffindor once at Quidditch. Ernie Macmillan and Justin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "FinchFletchley, with whom Harry normally got on very well, did not talk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to him even though they were repotting Bouncing Bulbs at the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "tray - though they did laugh rather unpleasantly when one of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Bouncing Bulbs wriggled free from Harry's grip and smacked him hard in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the face. Ron wasn't talking to Harry either. Hermione sat between them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "making very forced conversation, but though both answered her normally, they avoided","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "making eye contact with each other. Harry thought even Professor Sprout seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "distant with him -but then, she was Head of Hufflepuff House. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "He would have been looking forward to seeing Hagrid under normal circumstances,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "but Care of Magical Creatures meant seeing the Slytherins too - the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "first time he would come face-to-face with them since becoming champion. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Predictably, Malfoy arrived at Hagrid's cabin with his familiar sneer firmly in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "place. `Ah, look, boys, it's the champion,` he said to Crabbe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and Goyle the moment he got within earshot of Harry. `Got your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "autograph books? Better get a signature now, because I doubt he's going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to be around much longer. . . . Half the Triwizard champions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "have died.. . how long d'you reckon you're going to last,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Potter? Ten minutes into the first task's my bet.` Crabbe and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Goyle guffawed sycophantically, but Malfoy had to stop there, because Hagrid emerged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "from the back of his cabin balancing a teetering tower of crates,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "each containing a very large Blast-Ended Skrewt. To the class's horror, Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "proceeded to explain that the reason the skrewts had been killing one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "another was an excess of pent-up energy, and that the solution would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "be for each student to fix a leash on a skrewt and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "take it for a short walk. The only good thing about this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "plan was that it distracted Malfoy completely. `Take this thing for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a walk?` he repeated in disgust, staring into one of the boxes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `And where exactly are we supposed to fix the leash? Around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the sting, the blasting end, or the sucker?` `Roun' the middle,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said Hagrid, demonstrating. `Er - yeh might want ter put on yer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "dragon-hide gloves, jus' as an extra precaution, like. Harry - you come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "here an' help me with this big one.... Hagrid's real intention,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "however, was totalk to Harry away from the rest of the class.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "He waited until everyone else had set off with their skrewts, then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "turned to Harry and said, very seriously, `So - yer competin', Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "In the tournament. School champion.` `One of the champions,` Harry corrected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "him. Hagrid's beetle-black eyes looked very anxious under his wild eyebrows.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `No idea who put yeh in fer it, Harry?` `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "believe I didn't do it, then?` said Harry, concealing with difficulty the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "rush of gratitude he felt at Hagrid's words. `Course I do,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Hagrid grunted. `Yeh say it wasn' you, an' I believe yeh -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "an' Dumbledore believes yer, an' all.` `Wish I knew who did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "do it,` said Harry bitterly. The pair of them looked out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "over the lawn; the class was widely scattered now, and all in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "great difficulty. The skrewts were now over three feet long, and extremely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "powerful. No longer shell-less and colorless, they had developed a kind of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "thick, grayish, shiny armor. They looked like a cross between giant scorpions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and elongated crabs - but still without recognizable heads or eyes. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "had become immensely strong and very hard to control. `Look like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "they're havin' fun, don' they?` Hagrid said happily. Harry assumed he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "talking about the skrewts, because his classmates certainly weren't; every now and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "then, with an alarming bang, one of the skrewts' ends would explode,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "causing it to shoot forward several yards, and more than one person","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "was being dragged along on their stomach, trying desperately to get back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "on their feet. `Ah, I don' know, Harry,` Hagrid sighed suddenly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "looking back down at him with a worried expression on his face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`School champion. . . everythin' seems ter happen ter you, doesn' it?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " Harry didn't answer. Yes, everything did seem to happen to him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". . that was more or less what Hermione had said as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "they had walked around the lake, and that was the reason, according","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to her, that Ron was no longer talking to him. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "next few days were some of Harry's worst at Hogwarts. The closest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "he had ever come to feeling like this had been during those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "months, in his second year, when a large part of the school","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "had suspected him of attacking his fellow students. But Ron had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "on his side then. He thought he could have coped with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "rest of the school's behavior if he could just have had Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "back as a friend, but he wasn't going to try and persuade","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Ron to talk to him if Ron didn't want to. Nevertheless, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "was lonely with dislike pouring in on him from all sides. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "He could understand the Hufflepuffs' attitude, even if he didn't like it;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "they had their own champion to support. He expected nothing less than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "vicious insults from the Slytherins - he was highly unpopular there and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "always had been, because he had helped Gryffindor beat them so often,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "both at Quidditch and in the Inter-House Championship. But he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "hoped the Ravenclaws might have found it in their hearts to support","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "him as much as Cedric. He was wrong, however. Most Ravenclaws seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to think that he had been desperate to earn himself a bit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "more fame by tricking the goblet into accepting his name. Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "there was the fact that Cedric looked the part of a champion","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "so much more than he did. Exceptionally handsome, with his straight nose,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "dark hair, and gray eyes, it was hard to say who was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "receiving more admiration these days, Cedric or Viktor Krum. Harry actually saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the same sixth-year girls who had been so keen to get Krum's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "autograph begging Cedric to sign their school bags one lunchtime. Meanwhile","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "there was no reply from Sirius, Hedwig was refusing to come anywhere","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "near him, Professor Trelawney was predicting his death with even more certainty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "than usual, and he did so badly at Summoning Charms in Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Flitwick's class that he was given extra homework - the only person","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to get any, apart from Neville. `It's really not that difficult,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry,` Hermione tried to reassure him as they left Flitwick's class -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "she had been making objects zoom across the room to her all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "lesson, as though she were some sort of weird magnet for board","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "dusters, wastepaper baskets, and lunascopes. `You just weren't concentrating properly -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Wonder why that was,` said Harry darkly as Cedric Diggory walked past,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "surrounded by a large group of simpering girls, all of whom looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "at Harry as though he were a particularly large Blast-Ended Skrewt. `Still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "- never mind, eh? Double Potions to look forward to this afternoon.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". .` Double Potions was always a horrible experience, but these","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "days it was nothing short of torture. Being shut in a dungeon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "for an hour and a half with Snape and the Slytherins, all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of whom seemed determined to punish Harry as much as possible for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "daring to become school champion, was about the most unpleasant thing Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "could imagine. He had already struggled through one Friday's worth, with Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "sitting next to him intoning `ignore them, ignore them, ignore them` under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "her breath, and he couldn't see why today should be any better.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " When he and Hermione arrived at Snape's dungeon after lunch, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "found the Slytherins waiting outside, each and every one of them wearing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a large badge on the front of his or her robes. For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "one wild moment Harry thought they were S.P.E.W. badges - then he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "saw that they all bore the same message, in luminous red letters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "that burnt brightly in the dimly lit underground passage: SUPPORT CEDRIC","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "DIGGORY-- THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION! `Like them, Potter?` said Malfoy loudly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "as Harry approached. `And this isn't all they do - look!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "He pressed his badge into his chest, and the message upon it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "vanished, to be replaced by another one, which glowed green: POTTER","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "STINKS! The Slytherins howled with laughter. Each of them pressed their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "badges too, until the message POTTER STINKS was shining brightly all around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry. He felt the heat rise in his face and neck. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Oh very funny,` Hermione said sarcastically to Pansy Parkinson and her gang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of Slytherin girls, who were laughing harder than anyone, `really witty.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Ron was standing against the wall with Dean and Seamus. He wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "laughing, but he wasn't sticking up for Harry either. `Want one,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Granger?` said Malfoy, holding out a badge to Hermione. `I've got loads.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "don't want a Mudblood sliming it up.` Some of the anger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry had been feeling for days and days seemed to burst through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a dam in his chest. He had reached for his wand before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "he'd thought what he was doing. People all around them scrambled out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of the way, backing down the corridor. `Harry!` Hermione said warningly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `Go on, then, Potter,` Malfoy said quietly, drawing out his own","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "wand. `Moody's not here to look after you now - do it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "if you've got the guts -` For a split second, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "looked into each other's eyes, then, at exactly the same time, both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "acted. `Funnunculus!` Harry yelled. `Densaugeo!` screamed Malfoy. Jets of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "light shot from both wands, hit each other in midair, and ricocheted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "off at angles -- Harry's hit Goyle in the face, and Malfoy's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "hit Hermione. Goyle bellowed and put his hands to his nose,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "where great ugly boils were springing up -Hermione, whimpering in panic, was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "clutching her mouth. `Hermione!` Ron had hurried forward to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "what was wrong with her; Harry turned and saw Ron dragging Hermione's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "hand away from her face. It wasn't a pretty sight. Hermione's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "front teeth - already larger than average - were now growing at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "an alarming rate; she was looking more and more like a beaver","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "as her teeth elongated, past her bottom lip, toward her chin -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "panic-stricken, she felt them and let out a terrified cry. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "what is all this noise about?` said a soft, deadly voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Snape had arrived. The Slytherins clamored to give their explanations; Snape pointed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a long yellow finger at Malfoy and said, `Explain.` `Potter attacked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "me, sir -` `We attacked each other at the same time!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry shouted. `- and he hit Goyle - look -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Snape examined Goyle, whose face now resembled something that would have been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "at home in a book on poisonous fungi. `Hospital wing, Goyle,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Snape said calmly. `Malfoy got Hermione!` Ron said. `Look!` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "forced Hermione to show Snape her teeth - she was doing her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "best to hide them with her hands, though this was difficult as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "they had now grown down past her collar. Pansy Parkinson and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "other Slytherin girls were doubled up with silent giggles, pointing at Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "from behind Snape's back. Snape looked coldly at Hermione, then said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`I see no difference.`. Hermione let out a whimper; her eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "filled with tears, she turned on her heel and ran, ran all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the way up the corridor and out of sight. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "lucky, perhaps, that both Harry and Ron started shouting at Snape at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the same time; lucky their voices echoed so much in the stone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "corridor, for in the confused din, it was impossible for him to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "hear exactly what they were calling him. He got the gist, however.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `Let's see,` he said, in his silkiest voice. `Fifty points from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Gryffindor and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "or it'll be a week's worth of detentions.` Harry's ears were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "ringing. The injustice of it made him want to curse Snape into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a thousand slimy pieces. He passed Snape, walked with Ron to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "back of the dungeon, and slammed his bag down onto the table. Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "was shaking with anger too - for a moment, it felt as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "though everything was back to normal between them, but then Ron turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and sat down with Dean and Seamus instead, leaving Harry alone at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "his table. On the other side of the dungeon, Malfoy turned his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "back on Snape and pressed his badge, smirking. POTTER STINKS flashed once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "more across the room. Harry sat there staring at Snape as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the lesson began, picturing horrific things happening to him. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "If only he knew how to do the Cruciatus Curse. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "he'd have Snape flat on his back like that spider, jerking and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "twitching. `Antidotes!` said Snape, looking around at them all, his cold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "black eyes glittering unpleasantly. `You should all have prepared your recipes now.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "I want you to brew them carefully, and then, we will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "selecting someone on whom to test one. . .` Snape's eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "met Harry's, and Harry knew what was coming. Snape was going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "poison him. Harry imagined picking up his cauldron, and sprinting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the front of the class, and bringing it down on Snape's greasy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "head - And then a knock on the dungeon door burst in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "on Harry's thoughts. It was Colin Creevey; he edged into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "room, beaming at Harry, and walked up to Snape's desk at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "front of the room. `Yes?` said Snape curtly. `Please, sir,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "I'm supposed to take Harry Potter upstairs.` Snape stared down his hooked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "nose at Colin, whose smile faded from his eager face. `Potter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "has another hour of Potions to complete,` said Snape coldly. `He will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "come upstairs when this class is finished.` Colin went pink. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Sir - sir, Mr. Bagman wants him,` he said nervously. `All the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "champions have got to go, I think they want to take photographs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". .` Harry would have given anything he owned to have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "stopped Colin saying those last few words. He chanced half a glance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "at Ron, but Ron was staring determinedly at the ceiling. `Very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "well, very well,` Snape snapped. `Potter, leave your things here, I want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "you back down here later to test your antidote.` `Please, sir","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "- he's got to take his things with him,` squeaked Cohn. `All","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the champions...` `Very well!` said Snape. `Potter - take your bag","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and get out of my sight!` Harry swung his bag over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "his shoulder, got up, and headed for the door. As he walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "through the Slytherin desks, POTTER STINKS flashed at him from every direction.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `It's amazing, isn't it, Harry?` said Colin, starting to speak the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "moment Harry had closed the dungeon door behind him. `Isn't it, though?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "You being champion?` `Yeah, really amazing,` said Harry heavily as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "set off toward the steps into the entrance hall. `What do they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "want photos for, Colin?` `The Daily Prophet, I think!` `Great,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said Harry dully. `Exactly what I need. More publicity.` `Good luck!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said Colin when they had reached the right room. Harry knocked on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the door and entered. He was in a fairly small classroom;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "most of the desks had been pushed away to the back of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the room, leaving a large space in the middle; three of them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "however, had been placed end-to-end in front of the blackboard and covered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "with a long length of velvet. Five chairs had been set behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the velvet-covered desks, and Ludo Bagman was sitting in one of them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "talking to a witch Harry had never seen before, who was wearing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "magenta robes. Viktor Krum was standing moodily in a corner as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "usual and not talking to anybody. Cedric and Fheur were in conversation.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Fheur looked a good deal happier than Harry had seen her so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "far; she kept throwing back her head so that her long silvery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "hair caught the light. A paunchy man, holding a large black","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "camera that was smoking slightly, was watching Fleur out of the corner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of his eye. Bagman suddenly spotted Harry, got up quickly, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "bounded forward. `Ah, here he is! Champion number four! In you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "come, Harry, in you come.. . nothing to worry about, it's just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the wand weighing ceremony, the rest of the judges will be here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "in a moment -` `Wand weighing?` Harry repeated nervously. `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "have to check that your wands are fully functional, no problems, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "know, as they're your most important tools in the tasks ahead,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Bagman. `The expert's upstairs now with Dumbledore. And then there's going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "be a little photo shoot. This is Rita Skeeter,` he added, gesturing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "toward the witch in magenta robes. `She's doing a small piece on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the tournament for the Daily Prophet. .. .` `Maybe not that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "small, Ludo,` said Rita Skeeter, her eyes on Harry. Her hair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "was set in elaborate and curiously rigid curls that contrasted oddly with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "her heavy-jawed face. She wore jeweled spectacles. The thick fingers clutching her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "crocodile-skin handbag ended in two-inch nails, painted crimson. `I wonder if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "I could have a little word with Harry before we start?` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said to Bagman, but still gazing fixedly at Harry. `The youngest champion,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "you know. . . to add a bit of color?` `Certainly!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "cried Bagman. `That is - if Harry has no objection?` `Er","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "-` said Harry. `Lovely,` said Rita Skeeter, and in a second,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "her scarlet-taloned fingers had Harry's upper arm in a surprisingly strong grip,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and she was steering him out of the room again and opening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a nearby door. `We don't want to be in there with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "all that noise,` she said. `Let's see . . . ah, yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "this is nice and cozy.` It was a broom cupboard. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "stared at her. `Come along, dear - that's right - lovely,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said Rita Skeeter again, perching herself precariously upon an upturned bucket, pushing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry down onto a cardboard box, and closing the door, throwing them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "into darkness. `Let's see now. .` She unsnapped her crocodile-skin handbag","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and pulled out a handful of candles, which she lit with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "wave of her wand and magicked into midair, so that they could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "see what they were doing. `You won't mind, Harry, if I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "use a Quick-Quotes Quill? It leaves me free to talk to you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "normally. ..` `A what?` said Harry. Rita Skeeter's smile widened.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry counted three gold teeth. She reached again into her crocodile bag","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and drew out a long acid-green quill and a roll of parchment,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "which she stretched out between them on a crate of Mrs. Skower's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover. She put the tip of the green","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "quill into her mouth, sucked it for a moment with apparent relish,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "then placed it upright on the parchment, where it stood balanced on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "its point, quivering slightly. `Testing. . . my name is Rita","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter.` Harry hooked down quickly at the quill.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "The moment Rita Skeeter had spoken, the green quill had started to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "scribble, skidding across the parchment: Attractive blonde Rita Skeeter, forty-three, who's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "savage quill has punctured many inflated reputations - `Lovely,` said Rita Skeeter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "yet again, and she ripped the top piece of parchment off, crumpled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "it up, and stuffed it into her handbag. Now she leaned toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry and said, `So, Harry... what made you decide to enter the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Triwizard Tournament?` `Er -` said Harry again, but he was distracted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "by the quill. Even though he wasn't speaking, it was dashing across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the parchment, and in its wake he could make out a fresh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "sentence: An ugly scar, souvenier of a tragic past, disfigures the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "otherwise charming face of Harry Potter, whose eyes -- `Ignore the quill,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry,` said Rita Skeeter firmly. Reluctantly Harry looked up at her instead.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Now -- why did you decide to enter the tournament, Harry?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`I didn't,` said Harry. `I don't know how my name got into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the Goblet of Fire. I didn't put it in there.` Rita","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Skeeter raised one heavily penciled eyebrow. `Come now, Harry, there's no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "need to be scared of getting into trouble. We all know you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "shouldn't really have entered at all. But don't worry about that. Our","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "readers hove a rebel.` `But I didn't enter,` Harry repeated. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "don't know who -` `How do you feel about the tasks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "ahead?` said Rita Skeeter. `Excited? Nervous?` `I haven't really thought. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". yeah, nervous, I suppose,` said Harry. His insides squirmed uncomfortably as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "he spoke. `Champions have died in the past, haven't they?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Rita Skeeter briskly. `Have you thought about that at all?` `Well.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". . they say it's going to be a lot safer this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "year,` said Harry. The quill whizzed across the parchment between them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "back and forward as though it were skating. `Of course, you've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "looked death in the face before, haven't you?` said Rita Skeeter, watching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "him closely. `How would you say that's affected you?` `Er,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry, yet again. `Do you think that the trauma in your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "past might have made you keen to prove yourself? To live","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "up to your name? Do you think that perhaps you were tempted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to enter the Triwizard Tournament because - ` `I didn't enter,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "said Harry, starting to feel irritated. `Can you remember your parents","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "at all?` said Rita Skeeter, talking over him. `No,` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `How do you think they'd feel if they knew you were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "competing in the Triwizard Tournament? Proud? Worried? Angry?` Harry was feeling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "really annoyed now. How on earth was he to know how his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "parents would feel if they were alive? He could feel Rita Skeeter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "watching him very intently. Frowning, he avoided her gaze and hooked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "down at words the quill had just written: Tears fill those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "startlingly green eyes as our conversation turns to the parents he can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "barely remember. `I have NOT got tears in my eyes!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry loudly. Before Rita Skeeter could say a word, the door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of the broom cupboard was pulled open. Harry looked around, blinking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "in the bright light. Albus Dumbledore stood there, looking down at both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of them, squashed into the cupboard. `Dumbledore!` cried Rita Skeeter, with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "every appearance of delight - but Harry noticed that her quill and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the parchment had suddenly vanished from the box of Magical Mess Remover,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and Rita's clawed fingers were hastily snapping shut the clasp of her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "crocodile-skin bag. `How are you?` she said, standing up and holding out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "one of her large, mannish hands to Dumbledore. `I hope you saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "my piece over the summer about the International Confederation of Wizards' Conference?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `Enchantingly nasty,` said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. `I particularly enjoyed your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "description of me as an obsolete dingbat.` Rita Skeeter didn't look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "remotely abashed. `I was just making the point that some of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "your ideas are a little old-fashioned, Dumbhedore, and that many wizards in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the street -` `I will be delighted to hear the reasoning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "behind the rudeness, Rita,` said Dumbledore, with a courteous bow and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "smile, `but I'm afraid we will have to discuss the matter later.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "The Weighing of the Wands is about to start, and it cannot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "take place if one of our champions is hidden in a broom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "cupboard.` Very glad to get away from Rita Skeeter, Harry hurried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "back into the room. The other champions were now sitting in chairs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "near the door, and he sat down quickly next to Cedric, hooking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "up at the velvet-covered table, where four of the five judges were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "now sitting - Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Mr. Crouch, and Ludo Bagman.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Rita Skeeter settled herself down in a corner; Harry saw her slip","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the parchment out of her bag again, spread it on her knee,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "suck the end of the Quick-Quotes Quill, and place it once more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "on the parchment. `May I introduce Mr. Ollivander?` said Dumbledore, taking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "his place at the judges' table and talking to the champions. `He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "condition before the tournament.` Harry hooked around, and with a jolt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of surprise saw an old wizard with large, pale eyes standing quietly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "by the window. Harry had met Mr. Ollivander before - he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the wand-maker from whom Harry had bought his own wand over three","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "years ago in Diagon Alley. `Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "first, please?` said Mr. Ollivander, stepping into the empty space in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "middle of the room. Fleur Delacour swept over to Mr. Olhivander","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and handed him her wand. `Hmm...` he said. He twirled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the wand between his long fingers like a baton and it emitted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a number of pink and gold sparks. Then he held it chose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to his eyes and examined it carefully. `Yes,` he said quietly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`nine and a half inches. . . inflexible.. rosewood.. . and containing.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". . dear me. . .` `An 'air from ze 'ead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of a veela,` said Fleur. `One of my grandmuzzer's.` So Fleur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "was part veela, thought Harry, making a mental note to tell Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". . then he remembered that Ron wasn't speaking to him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Yes,` said Mr. Ollivander, `yes, I've never used veela hair myself, of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wands...however, to each his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "own, and if this suits you..` Mr. Ollivander ran his fingers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "along the wand, apparently checking for scratches or bumps; then he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "muttered, `Orchideous!` and a bunch of flowers burst from the wand tip.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " `Very well, very well, it's in fine working order,` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Ollivander, scooping up the flowers and handing them to Fleur with her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "wand. `Mr. Diggory, you next.` Fleur glided back to her seat,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "smiling at Cedric as he passed her. `Ah, now, this is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "one of mine, isn't it?` said Mr. Ollivander, with much more enthusiasm,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "as Cedric handed over his wand. `Yes, I remember it well. Containing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". . must have been seventeen hands; nearly gored me with his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "horn after I plucked his tail. Twelve and a quarter inches. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" ". ash. . . pleasantly springy. It's in fine condition...You treat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "it regularly?` `Polished it last night,` said Cedric, grinning. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "hooked down at his own wand. He could see finger marks all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "over it. He gathered a fistful of robe from his knee and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "tried to rub it clean surreptitiously. Several gold sparks shot out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the end of it. Fleur Delacour gave him a very patronizing look,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "and he desisted. Mr. Ollivander sent a stream of silver smoke","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "rings across the room from the tip of Cedric's wand, pronounced himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "satisfied, and then said, `Mr. Krum, if you please.` Viktor Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "got up and slouched, round-shouldered and duck-footed, toward Mr. Ollivander. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "thrust out his wand and stood scowling, with his hands in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "pockets of his robes. `Hmm,` said Mr. Olhivander, `this is a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Gregorovitch creation, unless I'm much mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "styling is never quite what I. . . however. .` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "lifted the wand and examined it minutely, turning it over and over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "before his eyes. `Yes.. . hornbeam and dragon heartstring?` he shot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "at Krum, who nodded. `Rather thicker than one usually sees. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "quite rigid. . . ten and a quarter inches. . . Avis!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " The hornbeam wand let off a blast hike a gun, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a number of small, twittering birds flew out of the end and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "through the open window into the watery sunlight. `Good,` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Ollivander, handing Krum back his wand. `Which leaves. . . Mr. Potter.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " Harry got to his feet and walked past Krum to Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Ollivander. He handed over his wand. `Aaaah, yes,` said Mr. Ohlivander,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "his pale eyes suddenly gleaming. `Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " Harry could remember too. He could remember it as though it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "had happened yesterday.... Four summers ago, on his eleventh birthday, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "had entered Mr. Ollivander's shop with Hagrid to buy a wand. Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Ollivander had taken his measurements and then started handing him wands to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "try. Harry had waved what felt like every wand in the shop,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "until at last he had found the one that suited him -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "this one, which was made of holly, eleven inches long, and contained","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a single feather from the tail of a phoenix. Mr. Ollivander had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "been very surprised that Harry had been so compatible with this wand.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Curious,` he had said, `curious,` and not until Harry asked what was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "curious had Mr. Olhivander explained that the phoenix feather in Harry's wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "had come from the same bird that had supplied the core of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Lord Voldemort's. Harry had never shared this piece of information with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "anybody. He was very fond of his wand, and as far as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "he was concerned its relation to Voldemort's wand was something it couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "help - rather as he couldn't help being related to Aunt Petunia.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "However, he really hoped that Mr. Ollivander wasn't about to tell the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "room about it. He had a funny feeling Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "might just explode with excitement if he did. Mr. Ollivander spent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "much longer examining Harry's wand than anyone else's. Eventually, however, he made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "a fountain of wine shoot out of it, and handed it back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to Harry, announcing that it was still in perfect condition. `Thank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "you all,` said Dumbledore, standing up at the judges' table. `You may","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "go back to your lessons now - or perhaps it would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "end -` Feeling that at last something had gone right today,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Harry got up to leave, but the man with the black camera","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "jumped up and cleared his throat. `Photos, Dumbledore, photos!` cried Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "excitedly. `All the judges and champions, what do you think, Rita?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "`Er - yes, let's do those first,` said Rita Skeeter, whose eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "were upon Harry again. `And then perhaps some individual shots.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "The photographs took a long time. Madame Maxime cast everyone else into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "shadow wherever she stood, and the photographer couldn't stand far enough back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to get her into the frame; eventually she had to sit while","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "everyone else stood around her. Karkaroff kept twirling his goatee around his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "finger to give it an extra curl; Krum, whom Harry would have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "thought would have been used to this sort of thing, skulked, half-hidden,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "at the back of the group. The photographer seemed keenest to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "get Fleur at the front, but Rita Skeeter kept hurrying forward and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "dragging Harry into greater prominence. Then she insisted on separate shots of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "all the champions. At last, they were free to go. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "went down to dinner. Hermione wasn't there - he supposed she was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "still in the hospital wing having her teeth fixed. He ate alone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "at the end of the table, then returned to Gryffindor Tower, thinking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "of all the extra work on Summoning Charms that he had to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "do. Up in the dormitory, he came across Ron. `You've had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "an owl,` said Ron brusquely the moment he walked in. He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "pointing at Harry's pillow. The school barn owl was waiting for him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "there. `Oh - right,` said Harry. `And we've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "do our detentions tomorrow night, Snape's dungeon,` said Ron. He then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "walked straight out of the room, not looking at Harry. For a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "moment, Harry considered going after him - he wasn't sure whether he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "wanted to talk to him or hit him, both seemed quite appealing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "- but the lure of Sirius's answer was too strong. Harry strode","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "over to the barn owl, took the letter off its leg, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "unrolled it. Harry - I can't say everything I would like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "to in a letter, it's too risky in case the owl is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "intercepted - we need to talk face-to-face. Can you ensure that you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "are alone by the fire in Gryffindor Tower at one o'clock in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "the morning on the 22nd ofNovember? I know better than anyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "that you can look after yourself and while you're around Dumbledore and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Moody I don't think anyone will be able to hurt you. However,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "someone seems to be having a good try. Entering you in that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "tournament would have been very risky, especially right under Dumbkdore's nose. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "Be on the watch, Harry. I still want to hear about anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" "unusual. Let me know about the 22nd ofNovember as quickly as you can. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-18" " The prospect of talking face-to-face with Sirius was all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "that sustained Harry over the next fortnight, the only bright spot on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a horizon that had never looked darker. The shock of finding himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "school champion had worn off slightly now, and the fear of what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was facing him had started to sink in. The first task was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "drawing steadily nearer; he felt as though it were crouching ahead of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "him hike some horrific monster, barring his path. He had never suffered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "nerves like these; they were way beyond anything he had experienced before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a Quidditch match, not even his last one against Slytherin, which had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "decided who would win the Quidditch Cup. Harry was finding it hard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to think about the future at all; he felt as though his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "whole life had been heading up to, and would finish with, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "first task. Admittedly, he didn't see how Sirius was going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "make him feel any better about having to perform an unknown piece","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of difficult and dangerous magic in front of hundreds of people, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the mere sight of a friendly face would be something at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "moment. Harry wrote back to Sirius saying that he would be beside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the common room fire at the time Sirius had suggested; and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and Hermione spent a long time going over plans for forcing any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "stragglers out of the common room on the night in question. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the worst came to the worst, they were going to drop a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "bag of Dungbombs, but they hoped they wouldn't have to resort to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "that - Filch would skin them alive. In the meantime, life","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "became even worse for Harry within the confines of the castle, for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Rita Skeeter had published her piece about the Triwizard Tournament, and it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "had turned out to be not so much a report on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "tournament as a highly colored life story of Harry. Much of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the front page had been given over to a picture of Harry;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the article (continuing on pages two, six, and seven) had been all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "about Harry, the names of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions (misspelled) had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "been squashed into the last line of the article, and Cedric hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "been mentioned at all. The article had appeared ten days ago,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and Harry still got a sick, burning feeling of shame in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "stomach every time he thought about it. Rita Skeeter had reported him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "saying an awful lot of things that he couldn't remember ever saying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "in his life, let alone in that broom cupboard. I suppose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "I get my strength from my parents. I know they'd be very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "proud of me if they could see me now. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Yes, sometimes at night I still cry about them, I'm not ashamed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to admit it. . . . I know nothing will hurt me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "during the tournament, because they're watching over me. . . But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Rita Skeeter had gone even further than transforming his `er's` into long,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "sickly sentences: She had interviewed other people about him too. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "has at last found love at Hogwarts. His close friend, Colin Creevey,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hermione Granger, a stunningly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Harry, is one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of the top students in the school. From the moment the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "article had appeared, Harry had had to endure people --Slytherins, mainly --","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "quoting it at him as he passed and making sneering comments. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Want a hanky, Potter, in case you start crying in Transfiguration?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Since when have you been one of the top students in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "school, Potter? Or is this a school you and Longbottom have set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "up together?` `Hey - Harry!` `Yeah, that's right!` Harry found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "himself shouting as he wheeled around in the corridor, having had just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "about enough. `I've just been crying my eyes out over my dead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "mum, and I'm just off to do a bit more. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `No - it was just - you dropped your quill.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "It was Cho. Harry felt the color rising in his face. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Oh - right - sorry,` he muttered, taking the quill back. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Er. . . good luck on Tuesday,` she said. `I really hope","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "you do well.` Which left Harry feeling extremely stupid. Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "had come in for her fair share of unpleasantness too, but she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hadn't yet started yelling at innocent bystanders; in fact, Harry was full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of admiration for the way she was handling the situation. `Stunningly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "pretty? Her?` Pansy Parkinson had shrieked the first time she had come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "face-to-face with Hermione after Rita's article had appeared. `What was she judging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "against - a chipmunk?` `Ignore it,` Hermione said in a dignified","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "voice, holding her head in the air and stalking past the sniggering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Slytherin girls as though she couldn't hear them. `Just ignore it, Harry.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " But Harry couldn't ignore it. Ron hadn't spoken to him at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "all since he had told him about Snape's detentions. Harry had half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hoped they would make things up during the two hours they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "forced to pickle rats' brains in Snape's dungeon, but that had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the day Rita's article had appeared, which seemed to have confirmed Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "belief that Harry was really enjoying all the attention. Hermione was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "furious with the pair of them; she went from one to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "other, trying to force them to talk to each other, but Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was adamant: He would talk to Ron again only if Ron admitted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "that Harry hadn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "apologized for calling him a liar. `I didn't start this,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said stubbornly. `It's his problem.` `You miss him!` Hermione said impatiently.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`And I know he misses you -` `Miss him?` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`I don't miss him. . . But this was a downright","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "lie. Harry liked Hermione very much, but she just wasn't the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "as Ron. There was much hess laughter and a lot more hanging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "around in the library when Hermione was your best friend. Harry still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hadn't mastered Summoning Charms, he seemed to have developed something of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "block about them, and Hermione insisted that learning the theory would help.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "They consequently spent a lot of time poring over books during their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "lunchtimes. Viktor Krum was in the library an awful lot too,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and Harry wondered what he was up to. Was he studying,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "or was he looking for things to help him through the first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "task? Hermione often complained about Krum being there - not that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he ever bothered them - but because groups of giggling girls often","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "turned up to spy on him from behind bookshelves, and Hermione found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the noise distracting. `He's not even good-looking!` she muttered angrily, glaring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "at Krum's sharp profile. `They only like him because he's famous!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "They wouldn't look twice at him if he couldn't do that WonkyFaint","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "thing -` `Wronski Feint,` said Harry, through gritted teeth. Quite apart","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "from liking to get Quidditch terms correct, it caused him another pang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to imagine Ron's expression if he could have heard Hermione talking about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Wonky-Faints. It is a strange thing, but when you are dreading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "disobliging habit of speeding up. The days until the first task seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to slip by as though someone had fixed the clocks to work","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "at double speed. Harry's feeling of barely controlled panic was with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "him wherever he went, as everpresent as the snide comments about the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Daily Prophet article. On the Saturday before the first task, all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "students in the third year and above were permitted to visit the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "village of Hogsmeade. Hermione told Harry that it would do him good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to get away from the castle for a bit, and Harry didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "need much persuasion. `What about Ron, though?` he said. `Don't you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "want to go with him?` `Oh. . . well.. .` Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "went slightly pink. `I thought we might meet up with him in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the Three Broomsticks. . . .` `No,` said Harry flatly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Oh Harry, this is so stupid -` `I'll come, but I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "not meeting Ron, and I'm wearing my Invisibility Cloak.` `Oh all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "right then. . .` Hermione snapped, `but I hate talking to you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "in that cloak, I never know if I'm looking at you or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "not.` So Harry put on his Invisibility Cloak in the dormitory,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "went back downstairs, and together he and Hermione set off for Hogsmeade.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Harry felt wonderfully free under the cloak; he watched other students","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "walking past them as they entered the village, most of them sporting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Support Cedric Diggory! badges, but no horrible remarks came his way for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a change, and nobody was quoting that stupid article. `People keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "looking at me now,` said Hermione grumpily as they came out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Honeydukes Sweetshop later, eating large cream-filled chocolates. `They think I'm talking to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "myself.` `Don't move your lips so much then.` `Come on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "please just take off your cloak for a bit, no one's going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to bother you here.` `Oh yeah?` said Harry. `Look behind you.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Rita Skeeter and her photographer friend had just emerged from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Three Broomsticks pub. Talking in low voices, they passed right by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hermione without hooking at her. Harry backed into the wall of Honeydukes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to stop Rita Skeeter from hitting him with her crocodile-skin handbag. When","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "they were gone, Harry said, `She's staying in the village. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "bet she's coming to watch the first task.` As he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "it, his stomach flooded with a wave of molten panic. He didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "mention this; he and Hermione hadn't discussed what was coming in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "first task much; he had the feeling she didn't want to think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "about it. `She's gone,` said Hermione, looking right through Harry toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the end of the street. `Why don't we go and have a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, it's a bit cold, isn't it? You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "don't have to talk to Ron!` she added irritably, correctly interpreting his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "silence. The Three Broomsticks was packed, mainly with Hogwarts students enjoying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "their free afternoon, but also with a variety of magical people Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "rarely saw anywhere else. Harry supposed that as Hogsmeade was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "only all-wizard village in Britain, it was a bit of a haven","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "for creatures like hags, who were not as adept as wizards at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "disguising themselves. It was very hard to move through crowds in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the Invisibility Cloak, in case you accidentally trod on someone, which tended","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to lead to awkward questions. Harry edged slowly toward a spare table","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "in the corner while Hermione went to buy drinks. On his way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "through the pub, Harry spotted Ron, who was sitting with Fred, George,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and Lee Jordan. Resisting the urge to give Ron a good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hard poke in the back of the head, he finally reached the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "table and sat down at it. Hermione joined him a moment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "later and slipped him a butterbeer under his cloak. `I look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "like such an idiot, sitting here on my own,` she muttered. `Lucky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "I brought something to do.` And she pulled out a notebook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "in which she had been keeping a record of S.P.E.W. members. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry saw his and Ron's names at the top of the very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "short list. It seemed a long time ago that they had sat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "making up those predictions together, and Hermione had turned up and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "appointed them secretary and treasurer. `You know, maybe I should try","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and get some of the villagers involved in S.P.E.W.,` Hermione said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "thoughtfully, looking around the pub. `Yeah, right,` said Harry. He took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a swig of butterbeer under his cloak. `Hermione, when are you going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to give up on this spew stuff?` `When house-elves have decent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "wages and working conditions!` she hissed back. `You know, I'm starting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "think it's time for more direct action. I wonder how you get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "into the school kitchens?` `No idea, ask Fred and George,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry. Hermione lapsed into thoughtful silence, while Harry drank his butterbeer,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "watching the people in the pub. All of them looked cheerful and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "relaxed. Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbot were swapping Chocolate Frog cards at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a nearby table; both of them sporting Support Cedric Diggory! badges on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "their cloaks. Right over by the door he saw Cho and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "large group of her Ravenclaw friends. She wasn't wearing a Cedric badge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "though. . . . This cheered up Harry very slightly. What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "wouldn't he have given to be one of these peophe, sitting around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "laughing and talking, with nothing to worry about but homework? He imagined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "how it would have felt to be here if his name hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "come out of the Goblet of Fire. He wouldn't be wearing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Invisibility Cloak, for one thing. Ron would be sitting with him. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "three of them would probably be happily imagining what deadly dangerous task","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the school champions would be facing on Tuesday. He'd have been really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hooking forward to it, watching them do whatever it was...cheering on Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "with everyone else, safe in a seat at the back of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "stands... He wondered how the other champions were feeling. Every time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he had seen Cedric lately, he had been surrounded by admirers and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "looking nervous but excited. Harry glimpsed Fleur Delacour from time to time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "in the corridors; she looked exactly as she always did, haughty and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "unruffled. And Krum just sat in the library, poring over books. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry thought of Sirius, and the tight, tense knot in his chest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "seemed to ease slightly. He would be speaking to him in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "just over twelve hours, for tonight was the night they were meeting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "at the common room fire - assuming nothing went wrong, as everything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "else had done lately... `Look, it's Hagrid!` said Hermione. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "back of Hagrid's enormous shaggy head - he had mercifully abandoned his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "bunches -emerged over the crowd. Harry wondered why he hadn't spotted him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "at once, as Hagrid was so large, but standing up carefully, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "saw that Hagrid had been leaning low, talking to Professor Moody. Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "had his usual enormous tankard in front of him, but Moody was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "drinking from his hip flask. Madam Rosmerta, the pretty landlady, didn't seem","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to think much of this; she was looking askance at Moody as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "she collected glasses from tables around them. Perhaps she thought it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "an insult to her mulled mead, but Harry knew better. Moody had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "told them all during their last Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "that he preferred to prepare his own food and drink at all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "times, as it was so easy for Dark wizards to poison an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "unattended cup. As Harry watched, he saw Hagrid and Moody get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "up to leave. He waved, then remembered that Hagrid couldn't see him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Moody, however, paused, his magical eye on the corner where Harry was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "standing. He tapped Hagrid in the small of the back (being unable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to reach his shoulder), muttered something to him, and then the pair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of them made their way back across the pub toward Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hermione's table. `All right, Hermione?` said Hagrid loudly. `Hello,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hermione, smiling back. Moody limped around the table and bent down;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry thought he was reading the S.P.E.W. notebook, until he muttered,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Nice cloak, Potter.` Harry stared at him in amazement. The large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "chunk missing from Moody's nose was particularly obvious at a few inches'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "distance. Moody grinned. `Can your eye - I mean, can you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "- ?` `Yeah, it can see through Invisibility Cloaks,` Moody said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "quietly. `And it's come in useful at times, I can tell you.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Hagrid was beaming down at Harry too. Harry knew Hagrid couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "see him, but Moody had obviously told Hagrid he was there. Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "now bent down on the pretext of reading the S.P.E.W. notebook as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "well, and said in a whisper so low that only Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hear it, `Harry, meet me tonight at midnight at me cabin. Wear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "that cloak.` Straightening up, Hagrid said loudly, `Nice ter see yeh,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hermione,` winked, and departed. Moody followed him. `Why does Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "want me to meet him at midnight?` Harry said, very surprised. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Does he?` said Hermione, looking startled. `I wonder what he's up to?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "I don't know whether you should go, Harry. . . .` She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "looked nervously around and hissed, `It might make you late for Sirius.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " It was true that going down to Hagrid's at midnight would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "mean cutting his meeting with Sirius very fine indeed; Hermione suggested sending","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hedwig down to Hagrid's to tell him he couldn't go - always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "assuming she would consent to take the note, of course - Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "however, thought it better just to be quick at whatever Hagrid wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "him for. He was very curious to know what this might be;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hagrid had never asked Harry to visit him so late at night.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " At half past eleven that evening, Harry, who had pretended to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "go up to bed early, pulled the Invisibility Cloak back over himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and crept back downstairs through the common room. Quite a few people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "were still in there. The Creevey brothers had managed to get hold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of a stack of Support Cedric Diggory! badges and were trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "bewitch them to make them say Support Harry Potter! instead. So far,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "however, all they had managed to do was get the badges stuck","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "on POTTER STINKS. Harry crept past them to the portrait hole and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "waited for a minute or so, keeping an eye on his watch.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Then Hermione opened the Fat Lady for him from outside as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "had planned. He slipped past her with a whispered `Thanks!` and set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "off through the castle. The grounds were very dark. Harry walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "down the lawn toward the lights shining in Hagrid's cabin. The inside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of the enormous Beauxbatons carriage was also lit up; Harry could hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Madame Maxime talking inside it as he knocked on Hagrid's front door.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `You there, Harry?` Hagrid whispered, opening the door and looking around.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `Yeah,` said Harry, slipping inside the cabin and pulling the cloak","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "down off his head. `What's up?` `Got summat ter show","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "yeh,` said Hagrid. There was an air of enormous excitement about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hagrid. He was wearing a flower that resembled an oversized artichoke in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "his buttonhole. It looked as though he had abandoned the use of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "axle grease, but he had certainly attempted to comb his hair -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry could see the comb's broken teeth tangled in it. `What're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "you showing me?` Harry said warily, wondering if the skrewts had laid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "eggs, or Hagrid had managed to buy another giant three-headed dog off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a stranger in a pub. `Come with me, keep quiet, an'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "keep yerself covered with that cloak,` said Hagrid. `We won' take Fang,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he won' like it. . . `Listen, Hagrid, I can't stay","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "long. . . . I've got to be back up at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "castle by one o'clock -` But Hagrid wasn't listening; he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "opening the cabin door and striding off into the night. Harry hurried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to follow and found, to his great surprise, that Hagrid was leading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "him to the Beauxbatons carriage. `Hagrid, what - ?` `Shhh!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said Hagrid, and he knocked three times on the door bearing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "crossed golden wands. Madame Maxime opened it. She was wearing a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "silk shawl wrapped around her massive shoulders. She smiled when she saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hagrid. `Ah, 'Agrid . . . it is time?` `Bong-sewer,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said Hagrid, beaming at her, and holding out a hand to help","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "her down the golden steps. Madame Maxime closed the door behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "her, Hagrid offered her his arm, and they set off around the edge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of the paddock containing Madame Maxime's giant winged horses, with Harry, totally","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "bewildered, running to keep up with them. Had Hagrid wanted to show","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "him Madame Maxime? He could see her any old time he wanted..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" ". she wasn't exactly hard to miss.... But it seemed that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Madame Maxime was in for the same treat as Harry, because after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a while she said playfully, `Wair is it you are taking me,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "'Agrid?` `Yeh'll enjoy this,` said Hagrid gruffly, `worth seein', trust me.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "On'y - don' go tellin' anyone I showed yeh, right? Yeh're not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "s'posed ter know.` `Of course not,` said Madame Maxime, fluttering her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "long black eyelashes. And still they walked, Harry getting more and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "more irritated as he jogged along in their wake, checking his watch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "every now and then. Hagrid had some harebrained scheme in hand, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "might make him miss Sirius. If they didn't get there soon, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was going to turn around, go straight back to the castle,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and leave Hagrid to enjoy his moonlit stroll with Madame Maxime. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "But then - when they had walked so far around the perimeter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of the forest that the castle and the lake were out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "sight - Harry heard something. Men were shouting up ahead. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " then came a deafening, earsplitting roar. . . Hagrid led","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Madame Maxime around a clump of trees and came to a halt.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry hurried up alongside them - for a split second, he thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he was seeing bonfires, and men darting around them - and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "his mouth fell open. Dragons. Four fully grown, enormous, vicious-looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "dragons were rearing onto their hind legs inside an enclosure fenced with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "thick planks of wood, roaring and snorting - torrents of fire were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "shooting into the dark sky from their open, fanged mouths, fifty feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "above the ground on their outstretched necks. There was a silvery-blue one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "with long, pointed horns, snapping and snarling at the wizards on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "ground; a smooth-scaled green one, which was writhing and stamping with all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "its might; a red one with an odd fringe of fine gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "spikes around its face, which was shooting mushroom-shaped fire clouds into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "air; and a gigantic black one, more lizard-hike than the others, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was nearest to them. At least thirty wizards, seven or eight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to each dragon, were attempting to control them, pulling on the chains","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "connected to heavy leather straps around their necks and legs. Mesmerized,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry looked up, high above him, and saw the eyes of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "black dragon, with vertical pupils like a cat's, bulging with either fear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "or rage, he couldn't tell which. . . . It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "making a horrible noise, a yowling, screeching scream. `Keep back there,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hagrid!` yelled a wizard near the fence, straining on the chain he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was holding. `They can shoot fire at a range of twenty feet,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "you know! I've seen this Horntail do forty!` `Is'n' it beautiful?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said Hagrid softly. `It's no good!` yelled another wizard. `Stunning Spells,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "on the count of three!` Harry saw each of the dragon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "keepers pull out his wand. `Stupefy!` they shouted in unison, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the Stunning Spells shot into the darkness like fiery rockets, bursting in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "showers of stars on the dragons' scaly hides -Harry watched the dragon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "nearest to them teeter dangerously on its back legs; its jaws stretched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "wide in a silent howl; its nostrils were suddenly devoid of flame,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "though still smoking - then, very slowly, it fell. Several tons of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "sinewy, scaly-black dragon hit the ground with a thud that Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "have sworn made the trees behind him quake. The dragon keepers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "lowered their wands and walked forward to their fallen charges, each of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "which was the size of a small hill. They hurried to tighten","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the chains and fasten them securely to iron pegs, which they forced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "deep into the ground with their wands. `Wan' a closer look?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hagrid asked Madame Maxime excitedly. The pair of them moved right up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to the fence, and Harry followed. The wizard who had warned Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "not to come any closer turned, and Harry realized who it was:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Charlie Weasley. `All right, Hagrid?` he panted, coming over to talk.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`They should be okay now - we put them out with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Sleeping Draft on the way here, thought it might be better for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "them to wake up in the dark and the quiet - but,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "like you saw, they weren't happy, not happy at all -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`What breeds you got here, Charlie?` said Hagrid, gazing at the closest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "dragon, the black one, with something chose to reverence. Its eyes were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "still just open. Harry could see a strip of gleaming yellow beneath","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "its wrinkled black eyelid. `This is a Hungarian Horntail,` said Charlie.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`There's a Common Welsh Green over there, the smaller one -- a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Swedish Short-Snout, that blue-gray -- and a Chinese Fireball, that's the red.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Charlie looked around; Madame Maxime was strolling away around the edge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of the enclosure, gazing at the stunned dragons. `I didn't know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "you were bringing her, Hagrid,` Charlie said, frowning. `The champions aren't supposed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to know what's coming - she's bound to tell her student, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "she?` `Jus' thought she'd like ter see 'em,` shrugged Hagrid, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "gazing, enraptured, at the dragons. `Really romantic date, Hagrid,` said Charlie,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "shaking his head. `Four. . .` said Hagrid, `so it's one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "fer each o' the champions, is it? What've they gotta do -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "fight 'em?` `Just get past them, I think,` said Charlie. `We'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "be on hand if it gets nasty, Extinguishing Spells at the ready.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "They wanted nesting mothers, I don't know why. . . but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "I tell you this, I don't envy the one who gets the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Horntail. Vicious thing. Its back end's as dangerous as its front, look.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Charlie pointed toward the Horntail's tail, and Harry saw long, bronze-colored","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "spikes protruding along it every few inches. Five of Charlie's fellow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "keepers staggered up to the Horntail at that moment, carrying a clutch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of huge granite-gray eggs between them in a blanket. They placed them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "carefully at the Horntail's side. Hagrid let out a moan of longing.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `I've got them counted, Hagrid,` said Charlie sternly. Then he said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`How's Harry?` `Fine,` said Hagrid. He was still gazing at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "eggs. `Just hope he's still fine after he's faced this lot,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said Charlie grimly, looking out over the dragons' enclosure. `I didn't dare","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "tell Mum what he's got to do for the first task; she's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "already having kittens about him. . . .` Charlie imitated his mother's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "anxious voice. `How could they let him enter that tournament, he's much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "too young! I thought they were all safe, I thought there was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "going to be an age limit!' She was in floods after that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Daily Prophet article about him. 'He still cries about his parents! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Oh bless him, I never knew!` Harry had had enough. Trusting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to the fact that Hagrid wouldn't miss him, with the attractions of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "four dragons and Madame Maxime to occupy him, he turned silently and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "began to walk away, back to the castle. He didn't know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "whether he was glad he'd seen what was coming or not. Perhaps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "this way was better. The first shock was over now. Maybe if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he'd seen the dragons for the first time on Tuesday, he would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "have passed out cold in front of the whole school. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "but maybe he would anyway. .. . He was going to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "armed with his wand - which, just now, felt like nothing more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "than a narrow strip of wood -- against a fifty-foot-high, scaly, spike-ridden,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "fire-breathing dragon. And he had to get past it. With everyone watching.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " How? Harry sped up, skirting the edge of the forest;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he had just under fifteen minutes to get back to the fireside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and talk to Sirius, and he couldn't remember, ever, wanting to talk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to someone more than he did right now -- when, without warning,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he ran into something very solid. Harry fell backward, his glasses","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "askew, clutching the cloak around him. A voice nearby said, `Ouch! Who's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "there?` Harry hastily checked that the cloak was covering him and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hay very still, staring up at the dark outline of the wizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he had hit. He recognized the goatee. . . it was Karkaroff.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `Who's there?` said Karkaroff again, very suspiciously, looking around in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "darkness. Harry remained still and silent. After a minute or so,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Karkaroff seemed to decide that he had hit some sort of animal;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he was looking around at waist height, as though expecting to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a dog. Then he crept back under the cover of the trees","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and started to edge forward toward the place where the dragons were.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Very slowly and very carefully, Harry got to his feet and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "set off again as fast as he could without making too much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "noise, hurrying through the darkness back toward Hogwarts. He had no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "doubt whatsoever what Karkaroff was up to. He had sneaked off his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "ship to try and find out what the first task was going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to be. He might even have spotted Hagrid and Madame Maxime heading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "off around the forest together - they were hardly difficult to spot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "at a distance. . . and now all Karkaroff had to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was follow the sound of voices, and he, like Madame Maxime, would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "know what was in store for the champions. By the looks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "of it, the only champion who would be facing the unknown on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Tuesday was Cedric. Harry reached the castle, slipped in through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "front doors, and began to climb the marble stairs; he was very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "out of breath, but he didn't dare slow down. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "He had less than five minutes to get up to the fire.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `Balderdash!` he gasped at the Fat Lady, who was snoozing in her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "frame in front of the portrait hole. `If you say so,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "she muttered sleepily, without opening her eyes, and the picture swung forward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to admit him. Harry climbed inside. The common room was deserted, and,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "judging by the fact that it smelled quite normal, Hermione had not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "needed to set off any Dungbombs to ensure that he and Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "got privacy. Harry pulled off the Invisibility Cloak and threw himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "into an armchair in front of the fire. The room was in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "semidarkness; the flames were the only source of light. Nearby, on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a table, the Support Cedric Diggory! badges the Creeveys had been trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to improve were glinting in the firelight. They now read POTTER","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "REALLY STINKS. Harry looked back into the flames, and jumped. Sirius's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "head was sitting in the fire. If Harry hadn't seen Mr. Diggory","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "do exactly this back in the Weasleys' kitchen, it would have scared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "him out of his wits. Instead, his face breaking into the first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "smile he had worn for days, he scrambled out of his chair,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "crouched down by the hearth, and said, `Sirius - how're you doing?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Sirius looked different from Harry's memory of him. When they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said good-bye, Sirius's face had been gaunt and sunken, surrounded by a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "quantity of long, black, matted hair - but the hair was short","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and clean now, Sirius's face was fuller, and he looked younger, much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "more like the only photograph Harry had of him, which had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "taken at the Potters' wedding. `Never mind me, how are you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said Sirius seriously. `I'm -` For a second, Harry tried to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "say `fine` - but he couldn't do it. Before he could stop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "himself, he was talking more than he'd talked in days - about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "how no one believed he hadn't entered the tournament of his own","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "free will, how Rita Skeeter had lied about him in the Daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Prophet, how he couldn't walk down a corridor without being sneered at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "- and about Ron, Ron not believing him, Ron's jealousy... `.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" ". . and now Hagrid's just shown me what's coming in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "first task, and it's dragons, Sirius, and I'm a goner,` he finished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "desperately. Sirius looked at him, eyes full of concern, eyes that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "had not yet lost the look that Azkaban had given them -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "that deadened, haunted look He had let Harry talk himself into silence","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "without interruption, but now he said, `Dragons we can deal with, Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "but we'll get to that in a minute - I haven't got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "long here. . . I've broken into a wizarding house to use","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the fire, but they could be back at any time. There are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "things I need to warn you about.` `What?` said Harry, feeling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "his spirits slip a further few notches.. . . Surely there could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "be nothing worse than dragons coming? `Karkaroff,` said Sirius. `Harry, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was a Death Eater. You know what Death Eaters are, don't you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `Yes - he - what?` `He was caught, he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "in Azkaban with me, but he got released. I'd bet everything that's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "why Dumbledore wanted an Auror at Hogwarts this year - to keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "an eye on him. Moody caught Karkaroff. Put him into Azkaban","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "in the first place.` `Karkaroff got released?` Harry said slowly -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "his brain seemed to be struggling to absorb yet another piece of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "shocking information. `Why did they release him?` `He did a deal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "with the Ministry of Magic,` said Sirius bitterly. `He said he'd seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the error of his ways, and then he named names. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he put a load of other people into Azkaban in his place.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" ". . . He's not very popular in there, I can tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "you. And since he got out, from what I can tell, he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "been teaching the Dark Arts to every student who passes through that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "school of his. So watch out for the Durmstrang champion as well.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `Okay,` said Harry slowly. `But. . . are you saying Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "put my name in the goblet? Because if he did, he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a really good actor. He seemed furious about it. He wanted to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "stop me from competing.` `We know he's a good actor,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Sirius, `because he convinced the Ministry of Magic to set him free,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "didn't he? Now, I've been keeping an eye on the Daily Prophet,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry..` `- you and the rest of the world,` said Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "bitterly. `- and reading between the lines of that Skeeter woman's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "article last month, Moody was attacked the night before he started at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Hogwarts. Yes, I know she says it was another false alarm,` Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said hastily, seeing Harry about to speak, `but I don't think so,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "somehow. I think someone tried to stop him from getting to Hogwarts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "I think someone knew their job would be a lot more difficult","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "with him around. And no one's going to look into it too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "closely; Mad-Eye's heard intruders a bit too often. But that doesn't mean","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he can't still spot the real thing. Moody was the best Auror","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "the Ministry ever had.` `So. . . what are you saying?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "said Harry slowly. `Karkaroff's trying to kill me? But - why?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Sirius hesitated. `I've been nearing some very strange things,` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "slowly. `The Death Eaters seem to be a bit more active than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "usual lately. They showed themselves at the Quidditch World Cup, didn't they?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Someone set off the Dark Mark.. . and then - did you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "hear about that Ministry of Magic witch who's gone missing?` `Bertha","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Jorkins?` said Harry. `Exactly. . . she disappeared in Albania, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "that's definitely where Voldemort was rumored to be last. . . and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "she would have known the Triwizard Tournament was coming up, wouldn't she?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `Yeah, but. . . it's not very likely she'd have walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "straight into Voldemort, is it?` said Harry. `Listen, I knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Bertha Jorkins,` said Sirius grimly. `She was at Hogwarts when I was,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a few years above your dad and me. And she was an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "idiot. Very nosy, but no brains, none at all. It's not a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "good combination, Harry. I'd say she'd be very easy to lure into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a trap.` `So. . . so Voldemort could have found out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "about the tournament?` said Harry. `Is that what you mean? You think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Karkaroff might be here on his orders?` `I don't know,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Sirius slowly, `I just don't know...Karkaroff doesn't strike me as the type","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "who'd go back to Voldemort unless he knew Voldemort was powerful enough","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to protect him. But whoever put your name in that goblet did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "it for a reason, and I can't help thinking the tournament would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "be a very good way to attack you and make it hook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "like an accident.` `Looks hike a really good plan from where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "I'm standing,` said Harry grinning bleaky. `They'll just have to stand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "back and let the dragons do their stuff.` `Right - these","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "dragons,` said Sirius, speaking very quickly now. `There's a way, Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Don't be tempted to try a Stunning Spell - dragons are strong","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and too powerfully magical to be knocked out by a single Stunner,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "you need about half a dozen wizards at a time to overcome","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "a dragon -` `Yeah, I know, I just saw,` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `But you can do it alone,` said Sirius. `There is away,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "and a simple spell's all you need. Just -` But Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "held up a hand to silence him, his heart suddenly pounding as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "though it would burst. He could hear footsteps coming down the spiral","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "staircase behind him. `Go!` he hissed at Sirius. ` Go! There's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "someone coming!` Harry scrambled to his feet, hiding the fire -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "if someone saw Sirius's face within the walls of Hogwarts, they would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "raise an almighty uproar - the Ministry would get dragged in -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he, Harry, would be questioned about Sirius's whereabouts - Harry heard a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "tiny pop! in the fire behind him and knew Sirius had gone.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "He watched the bottom of the spiral staircase. Who had decided to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "go for a stroll at one o'clock in the morning, and stopped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Sirius from telling him how to get past a dragon? It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "was Ron. Dressed in his maroon paisley pajamas, Ron stopped dead facing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "Harry across the room, and looked around. `Who were you talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "to?` he said. `What's that got to do with you?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "snarled. `What are you doing down here at this time of night?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " `I just wondered where you -` Ron broke off, shrugging. `Nothing.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "I'm going back to bed.` `Just thought you'd come nosing around,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "did you?` Harry shouted. He knew that Ron had no idea what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he'd walked in on, knew he hadn't done it on purpose, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "he didn't care -at this moment he hated everything about Ron, right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "down to the several inches of bare ankle showing beneath his pajama","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "trousers. `Sorry about that,` said Ron, his face reddening with anger.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Should've realized you didn't want to be disturbed. I'll let you get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "on with practicing for your next interview in peace.` Harry seized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "one of the POTTER REALLY STINKS badges off the table and chucked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "it, as hard as he could, across the room. It hit Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "on the forehead and bounced off. `There you go,` Harry said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "`Something for you to wear on Tuesday. You might even have a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "scar now, if yon're lucky.. . . That's what you want, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "it?` He strode across the room toward the stairs; he half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "expected Ron to stop him, he would even have liked Ron to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "throw a punch at him, but Ron just stood there in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "too-small pajamas, and Harry, having stormed upstairs, lay awake in bed fuming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" "for a long time afterward and didn't hear him come up to bed. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-19" " Harry got up on Sunday morning and dressed so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "inattentively that it was a while before he realized he was trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to pull his hat onto his foot instead of his sock. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "When he'd finally got all his clothes on the right parts of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his body, he hurried off to find Hermione, locating her at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, where she was eating breakfast with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Ginny. Feeling too queasy to eat, Harry waited until Hermione had swallowed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "her last spoonful of porridge, then dragged her out onto the grounds.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "There, he told her all about the dragons, and about everything Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "had said, while they took another long walk around the lake. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Alarmed as she was by Sirius's warnings about Karkaroff, Hermione still thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "that the dragons were the more pressing problem. `Let's just try","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and keep you alive until Tuesday evening,` she said desperately, `and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "we can worry about Karkaroff.` They walked three times around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "lake, trying all the way to think of a simple spell that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "would subdue a dragon. Nothing whatsoever occurred to them, so they retired","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to the library instead. Here, Harry pulled down every book he could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "find on dragons, and both of them set to work searching through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the large pile. `Talon-clipping by charms. .. treating scale-rot. . .'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "This is no good, this is for nutters like Hagrid who want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to keep them healthy. .. `Dragons are extremely difficult to slay,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "owing to the ancient magic that imbues their thick hides, which none","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "but the most powerful spells can penetrate. . .' But Sirius said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a simple one would do it.. . `Let's try some simple","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "spellbooks, then,` said Harry, throwing aside Men Who Love Dragons Too Much.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " He returned to the table with a pile of spellbooks, set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "them down, and began to flick through each in turn, Hermione whispering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "nonstop at his elbow. `Well, there are Switching Spells. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "for wine-gums or something that would make it less dangerous.. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "The trouble is, like that book said, not much is going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "get through a dragon's hide. . . . I'd say Transfigure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it, but something that big, you really haven't got a hope, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "doubt even Professor McGonagall. . . unless you're supposed to put the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "spell on yourself? Maybe to give yourself extra powers? But they're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "not simple spells, I mean, we haven't done any of those in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "class, I only know about them because I've been doing O.W.L. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "practice papers. . . .` `Hermione,` Harry said, through gritted teeth,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`will you shut up for a bit, please? I m trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "concentrate.` But all that happened, when Hermione fell silent, was that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Harry's brain filled with a sort of blank buzzing, which didn't seem","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to allow room for concentration. He stared hopelessly down the index of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed. Instant scalping. . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "but dragons had no hair. . . pepper breath.. . that would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "probably increase a dragon's firepower. . . horn tongue. . . just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "what he needed, to give it an extra weapon... `Oh no,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he's back again, why can't he read on his stupid ship?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Hermione irritably as Viktor Krum slouched in, cast a surly look over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "at the pair of them, and settled himself in a distant corner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "with a pile of books. `Come on, Harry, we'll go back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the common room. . . his fan club'll be here in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "moment, twittering away... .` And sure enough, as they left the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "library, a gang of girls tiptoed past them, one of them wearing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a Bulgaria scarf tied around her waist. Harry barely slept that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "night. When he awoke on Monday morning, he seriously considered for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "first time ever just running away from Hogwarts. But as he looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "around the Great Hall at breakfast time, and thought about what leaving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the castle would mean, he knew he couldn't do it. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the only place he had ever been happy. . . well, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "supposed he must have been happy with his parents too, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "couldn't remember that. Somehow, the knowledge that he would rather be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "here and facing a dragon than back on Privet Drive with Dudley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was good to know; it made him feel slightly calmer. He finished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his bacon with difficulty (his throat wasn't working too well), and as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he and Hermione got up, he saw Cedric Diggory leaving the Hufflepuff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "table. Cedric still didn't know about the dragons. . . the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "only champion who didn't, if Harry was right in thinking that Maxime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and Karkaroff would have told Fleur and Krum.... `Hermione, I'll see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "you in the greenhouses,` Harry said, coming to his decision as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "watched Cedric leaving the Hall. `Go on, I'll catch you up.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Harry, you'll be late, the bell's about to ring -` `I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "catch you up, okay?` By the time Harry reached the bottom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of the marble staircase, Cedric was at the top. He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "with a load of sixth-year friends. Harry didn't want to talk to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Cedric in front of them; they were among those who had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "quoting Rita Skeeter's article at him every time he went near them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "He followed Cedric at a distance and saw that he was heading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "toward the Charms corridor. This gave Harry an idea. Pausing at a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "distance from them, he pulled out his wand, and took careful aim.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " `Diffindo!` Cedric's bag split. Parchment, quills, and books spilled out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of it onto the floor. Several bottles of ink smashed. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Don't bother,` said Cedric in an exasperated voice as his friends bent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "down to help him. `Tell Flitwick I'm coming, go on. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ". This was exactly what Harry had been hoping for. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "slipped his wand back into his robes, waited until Cedric's friends had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "disappeared into their classroom, and hurried up the corridor, which was now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "empty of everyone but himself and Cedric. `Hi,` said Cedric, picking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "up a copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration that was now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "splattered with ink. `My bag just split. . . brand-new and all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ". .` `Cedric,` said Harry, `the first task is dragons.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`What?` said Cedric, looking up. `Dragons,` said Harry, speaking quickly, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "case Professor Flitwick came out to see where Cedric had got to.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`They've got four, one for each of us, and we've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "get past them.` Cedric stared at him. Harry saw some of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the panic he'd been feeling since Saturday night flickering in Cedric's gray","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "eyes. `Are you sure?` Cedric said in a hushed voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Dead sure,` said Harry. `I've seen them.` `But how did you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "find out? We're not supposed to know. . . .` `Never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "mind,` said Harry quickly - he knew Hagrid would be in trouble","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "if he told the truth. `But I'm not the only one who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "knows. Fleur and Krum will know by now - Maxime and Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "both saw the dragons too.` Cedric straightened up, his arms full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of inky quills, parchment, and books, his ripped bag dangling off one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "shoulder. He stared at Harry, and there was a puzzled, almost suspicious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "look in his eyes. `Why are you telling me?` he asked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " Harry looked at him in disbelief. He was sure Cedric wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "have asked that if he had seen the dragons himself. Harry wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "have let his worst enemy face those monsters unprepared - well, perhaps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Malfoy or Snape... `It's just . . . fair, isn't it?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he said to Cedric. `We all know now. . . we're on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "an even footing, aren't we?` Cedric was still hooking at him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "in a slightly suspicious way when Harry heard a familiar clunking noise","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "behind him. He turned around and saw Mad-Eye Moody emerging from a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "nearby classroom. `Come with me, Potter,` he growled. `Diggory, off you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "go.` Harry stared apprehensively at Moody. Had he overheard them? ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Er - Professor, I'm supposed to be in Herbology -` `Never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "mind that, Potter. In my office, please... Harry followed him, wondering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "what was going to happen to him now. What if Moody wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to know how he'd found out about the dragons? Would Moody go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to Dumbledore and tell on Hagrid, or just turn Harry into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "ferret? Well, it might be easier to get past a dragon if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he were a ferret, Harry thought dully, he'd be smaller, much less","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "easy to see from a height of fifty feet.. He followed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Moody into his office. Moody closed the door behind them and turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to look at Harry, his magical eye fixed upon him as well","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "as the normal one. `That was a very decent thing you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "just did, Potter,` Moody said quietly. Harry didn't know what to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "say; this wasn't the reaction he had expected at all. `Sit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "down,` said Moody, and Harry sat, looking around. He had visited","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "this office under two of its previous occupants. In Professor Lockhart's day,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the walls had been plastered with beaming, winking pictures of Professor Lockhart","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "himself. When Lupin had lived here, you were more likely to come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "across a specimen of some fascinating new Dark creature he had procured","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "for them to study in class. Now, however, the office was full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of a number of exceptionally odd objects that Harry supposed Moody had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "used in the days when he had been an Auror. On","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his desk stood what looked hike a large, cracked, glass spinning top;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Harry recognized it at once as a Sneakoscope, because he owned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "one himself, though it was much smaller than Moody's. In the corner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "on a small table stood an object that looked something like an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "extra-squiggly, golden television aerial. It was humming slightly. What appeared to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a mirror hung opposite Harry on the wall, but it was not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "reflecting the room. Shadowy figures were moving around inside it, none of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "them clearly in focus. `Like my Dark Detectors, do you?` s","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "aid Moody, who was watching Harry closely. `What's that?` Harry asked,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "pointing at the squiggly golden aerial. `Secrecy Sensor. Vibrates when it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "detects concealment and lies.. . no use here, of course, too much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "interference - students in every direction lying about why they haven't done","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "their homework Been humming ever since I got here. I had to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "disable my Sneakoscope because it wouldn't stop whistling. It's extra-sensitive, picks up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "stuff about a mile around. Of course, it could be picking up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "more than kid stuff,` he added in a growl. `And what's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the mirror for?` `Oh that's my Foe-Glass. See them out there,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "skulking around? I'm not really in trouble until I see the whites","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of their eyes. That's when I open my trunk.` He let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "out a short, harsh laugh, and pointed to the large trunk under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the window. It had seven keyholes in a row. Harry wondered what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was in there, until Moody's next question brought him sharply back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "earth. `So. . . found out about the dragons, have you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " Harry hesitated. He'd been afraid of this - but he hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "told Cedric, and he certainly wasn't going to tell Moody, that Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "had broken the rules. `It's all right,` said Moody, sitting down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and stretching out his wooden leg with a groan. `Cheating's a traditional","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "part of the Triwizard Tournament and always has been.` `I didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "cheat,` said Harry sharply. `It was - a sort of accident that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "I found out.` Moody grinned. `I wasn't accusing you, laddie. I've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "been telling Dumbledore from the start, he can be as high-minded as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he likes, but you can bet old Karkaroff and Maxime won't be.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "They'll have told their champions everything they can. They want to win.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " They want to beat Dumbledore. They'd like to prove he's only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "human.` Moody gave another harsh laugh, and his magical eye swiveled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "around so fast it made Harry feel queasy to watch it. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`So. . . got any ideas how you're going to get past","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "your dragon yet?` said Moody. `No,` said Harry. `Well, I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "not going to tell you,` said Moody gruffly. `I don't show favoritism,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "me. I'm just going to give you some good, general advice.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "And the first bit is - play to your strengths.` `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "haven't got any,` said Harry, before he could stop himself. `Excuse me,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "growled Moody, `you've got strengths if I say you've got them. Think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "now. What are you best at?` Harry tried to concentrate. What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was he best at? Well, that was easy, really -- `Quidditch,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "said dully, `and a fat lot of help -` `That's right,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "said Moody, staring at him very hard, his magical eye barely moving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "at all. `You're a damn good flier from what I've heard.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Yeah, but.. .` Harry stared at him. `I'm not allowed a broom,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "I've only got my wand...` `My second piece of general advice,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "said Moody loudly, interrupting him, `is to use a nice, simple spell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "that will enable you to get what you need.` Harry looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "at him blankly. What did he need? `Come on, boy. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ".` whispered Moody. `Put them together... it's not that difficult...` And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it clicked. He was best at flying. He needed to pass the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "dragon in the air. For that, he needed his Firebolt. And for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his Fire-bolt, he needed - `Hermione,` Harry whispered, when he had sped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "into greenhouse three minutes later, uttering a hurried apology to Professor Sprout","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "as he passed her. `Hermione - I need you to help me.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " `What d'you think I've been trying to do, Harry?` she whispered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "back, her eyes round with anxiety over the top of the quivering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Flutterby Bush she was pruning. `Hermione, I need to learn how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to do a Summoning Charm properly by tomorrow afternoon.` And so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "they practiced. They didn't have lunch, but headed for a free classroom,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "where Harry tried with all his might to make various objects fly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "across the room toward him. He was still having problems. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "books and quills kept losing heart halfway across the room and dropping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "hike stones to the floor. `Concentrate, Harry, concentrate. . . .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " `What d'you think I'm trying to do?` said Harry angrily. `A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "great big dragon keeps popping up in my head for some reason...Okay,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "try again. . . .` He wanted to skip Divination to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "keep practicing, but Hermione refused point-blank to skive off Arithmancy, and there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was no point in staying without her. He therefore had to endure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "over an hour of Professor Trelawney, who spent half the lesson telling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "everyone that the position of Mars with relation to Saturn at that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "moment meant that people born in July were in great danger of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "sudden, violent deaths. `Well, that's good,` said Harry loudly, his temper","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "getting the better of him, `just as long as it's not drawn-out.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "I don't want to suffer.` Ron looked for a moment as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "though he was going to laugh; he certainly caught Harry's eye for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the first time in days, but Harry was still feeling too resentful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "toward Ron to care. He spent the rest of the lesson","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "trying to attract small objects toward him under the table with his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "wand. He managed to make a fly zoom straight into his hand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "though he wasn't entirely sure that was his prowess at Summoning Charms","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "- perhaps the fly was just stupid. He forced down some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "dinner after Divination, then returned to the empty classroom with Hermione, using","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the Invisibility Cloak to avoid the teachers. They kept practicing until past","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "midnight. They would have stayed longer, but Peeves turned up and, pretending","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to think that Harry wanted things thrown at him, started chucking chairs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "across the room. Harry and Hermione left in a hurry before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the noise attracted Filch, and went back to the Gryffindor common room,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "which was now mercifully empty. At two o'clock in the morning,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Harry stood near the fireplace, surrounded by heaps of objects: books, quills,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "several upturned chairs, an old set of Gobstones, and Neville's toad, Trevor.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Only in the last hour had Harry really got the hang of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the Summoning Charm. `That's better, Harry, that's loads better,` Hermione said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "looking exhausted but very pleased. `Well, now we know what to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "do next time I can't manage a spell,` Harry said, throwing a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "rune dictionary back to Hermione, so he could try again, `threaten me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "with a dragon. Right...` He raised his wand once more. `Accio","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Dictionary!` The heavy book soared out of Hermione's hand, flew across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the room, and Harry caught it. `Harry, I really think you've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "got it!` said Hermione delightedly. `Just as long as it works","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "tomorrow,` Harry said. `The Firebolt's going to be much farther away than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the stuff in here, it's going to be in the castle, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "I'm going to be out there on the grounds. . . .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " `That doesn't matter,` said Hermione firmly.` Just as long as you're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "concentrating really, really hard on it, it'll come. Harry, we'd better get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "some sleep.. . you're going to need it.` Harry had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "focusing so hard on learning the Summoning Charm that evening that some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of his blind panic had heft him. It returned in full measure,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "however, on the following morning. The atmosphere in the school was one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of great tension and excitement. Lessons were to stop at midday, giving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "all the students time to get down to the dragons' enclosure -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "though of course, they didn't yet know what they would find there.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " Harry felt oddly separate from everyone around him, whether they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "wishing him good luck or hissing `We'll have a box of tissues","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "ready, Potter` as he passed. It was a state of nervousness so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "advanced that he wondered whether he mightn't just lose his head when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "they tried to lead him out to his dragon, and start trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to curse everyone in sight. Time was behaving in a more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "peculiar fashion than ever, rushing past in great dollops, so that one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "moment he seemed to be sitting down in his first lesson, History","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of Magic, and the next, walking into lunch.. . and then (where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "had the morning gone? the last of the dragon-free hours?), Professor McGonagall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was hurrying over to him in the Great Hall. Lots of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "people were watching. `Potter, the champions have to come down onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the grounds now... . You have to get ready for your first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "task.` `Okay,` said Harry, standing up, his fork falling onto his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "plate with a clatter. `Good luck, Harry,` Hermione whispered. `You'll be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "fine!` `Yeah,` said Harry in a voice that was most unlike","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his own. He heft the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "didn't seem herself either; in fact, she looked nearly as anxious as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Hermione. As she walked him down the stone steps and out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "into the cold November afternoon, she put her hand on his shoulder.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " `Now, don't panic,` she said, `just keep a cool head. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ". . We've got wizards standing by to control the situation if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it gets out of hand. . . . The main thing is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "just to do your best, and nobody will think any the worse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of you. . . . Are you all right?` `Yes,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "heard himself say. `Yes, I'm fine.` She was leading him toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the place where the dragons were, around the edge of the forest,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "but when they approached the clump of trees behind which the enclosure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "would be clearly visible, Harry saw that a tent had been erected,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "its entrance facing them, screening the dragons from view. `You're to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "go in here with the other champions,` said Professor McGonagall, in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "rather shaky sort of voice, `and wait for your turn, Potter. Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Bagman is in there. . . he'll be telling you the -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the procedure. . . . Good luck.` `Thanks,` said Harry, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a flat, distant voice. She left him at the entrance of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "tent. Harry went inside. Fleur Delacour was sitting in a corner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "on a how wooden stool. She didn't look nearly as composed as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "usual, but rather pale and clammy. Viktor Krum looked even surlier than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "usual, which Harry supposed was his way of showing nerves. Cedric was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "pacing up and down. When Harry entered, Cedric gave him a small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "smile, which Harry returned, feeling the muscles in his face working rather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "hard, as though they had forgotten how to do it. `Harry!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Good-o!` said Bagman happily, looking around at him. `Come in, come in,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "make yourself at home!` Bagman looked somehow like a slightly overblown","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "cartoon figure, standing amid all the pale-faced champions. He was wearing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "old Wasp robes again. `Well, now we're all here - time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to fill you in!` said Bagman brightly. `When the audience has assembled,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "I'm going to be offering each of you this bag` - he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "them - `from which you will each select a small model of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the thing you are about to face! There are different - er","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "- varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "else too.. . ah, yes... your task is to collect the golden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "egg!` Harry glanced around. Cedric had nodded once, to show that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he understood Bagman's words, and then started pacing around the tent again;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he looked slightly green. Fleur Delacour and Krum hadn't reacted at all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Perhaps they thought they might be sick if they opened their mouths;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "that was certainly how Harry felt. But they, at least, had volunteered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "for this. . And in no time at all, hundreds upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard passing the tent, their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "owners talking excitedly, laughing, joking. . . . Harry felt as separate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "from the crowd as though they were a different species. And then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "- it seemed like about a second later to Harry - Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was opening the neck of the purple silk sack. `Ladies first,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he said, offering it to Fleur Delacour. She put a shaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a dragon - a Welsh Green. It had the number two around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "its neck And Harry knew, by the fact that Fleur showed no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "sign of surprise, but rather a determined resignation, that he had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "right: Madame Maxime had told her what was coming. The same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "held true for Krum. He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "had a number three around its neck. He didn't even blink, just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "sat back down and stared at the ground. Cedric put his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "number one tied around its neck. Knowing what was left, Harry put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his hand into the silk bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and the number four. It stretched its wings as he looked down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "at it, and bared its minuscule fangs. `Well, there you are!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "said Bagman. `You have each pulled out the dragon you will face,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I'm going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Diggory,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "you're first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "whistle, all right? Now. . . Harry. . . could I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "have a quick word? Outside?` `Er. . . yes,` said Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "blankly, and he got up and went out of the tent with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Bagman, who walked him a short distance away, into the trees, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "then turned to him with a fatherly expression on his face. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Feeling all right, Harry? Anything I can get you?` `What?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Harry. `I - no, nothing.` `Got a plan?` said Bagman, lowering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his voice conspiratorially. `Because I don't mind sharing a few pointers,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "if you'd like them, you know. I mean,` Bagman continued, lowering his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "voice still further, `you're the underdog here, Harry. . . . Anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "I can do to help. . .` `No,` said Harry so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "quickly he knew he had sounded rude, `no - I - I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "know what I'm going to do, thanks.` `Nobody would know, Harry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "said Bagman, winking at him. `No, I'm fine,` said Harry, wondering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "why he kept telling people this, and wondering whether he had ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "been less fine. `I've got a plan worked out, I -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "A whistle had blown somewhere. `Good lord, I've got to run!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "said Bagman in alarm, and he hurried off. Harry walked back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to the tent and saw Cedric emerging from it, greener than ever.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Harry tried to wish him luck as he walked past, but all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "that came out of his mouth was a sort of hoarse grunt.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " Harry went back inside to Fleur and Krum. Seconds hater, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "heard the roar of the crowd, which meant Cedric had entered the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "enclosure and was now face-to-face with the living counterpart of his model.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " It was worse than Harry could ever have imagined, sitting there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and listening. The crowd screamed. . . yelled.. . gasped like a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "single many-headed entity, as Cedric did whatever he was doing to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "past the Swedish Short-Snout. Krum was still staring at the ground. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Fleur had now taken to retracing Cedric's steps, around and around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "tent. And Bagman's commentary made everything much, much worse.. . . Horrible","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "pictures formed in Harry's mind as he heard: `Oooh, narrow miss there,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "very narrow`. . . `He's taking risks, this one!`. . . `Clever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "move - pity it didn't work!` And then, after about fifteen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "minutes, Harry heard the deafening roar that could mean only one thing:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Cedric had gotten past his dragon and captured the golden egg. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Very good indeed!` Bagman was shouting. `And now the marks from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "judges!` But he didn't shout out the marks; Harry supposed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "judges were holding them up and showing them to the crowd. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`One down, three to go!` Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Miss Delacour, if you please!` Fleur was trembling from head to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "foot; Harry felt more warmly toward her than he had done so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "far as she heft the tent with her head held high and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "her hand clutching her wand. He and Krum were left alone, at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "opposite sides of the tent, avoiding each other's gaze. The same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "process started again. . . .`Oh I'm not sure that was wise!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "they could hear Bagman shouting gleefully. `Oh. . . nearly! Careful now.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ". . good lord, I thought she'd had it then!` Ten","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "minutes later, Harry heard the crowd erupt into applause once more. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ". . Fleur must have been successful too. A pause, while Fleur's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "marks were being shown. . . more clapping.. . then, for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "third time, the whistle. `And here comes Mr. Krum!` cried Bagman,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and Krum slouched out, leaving Harry quite alone. He felt much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "more aware of his body than usual; very aware of the way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his heart was pumping fast, and his fingers tingling with fear. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ". yet at the same time, he seemed to be outside himself,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "seeing the walls of the tent, and hearing the crowd, as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "from far away. `Very daring!` Bagman was yelling, and Harry heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the Chinese Fireball emit a horrible, roaring shriek, while the crowd drew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "its collective breath. `That's some nerve he's showing - and - yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he's got the egg!` Applause shattered the wintery air like breaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "glass; Krum had finished - it would be Harry's turn any moment.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " He stood up, noticing dimly that his legs seemed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "made of marshmallow. He waited. And then he heard the whistle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "blow. He walked out through the entrance of the tent, the panic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "rising into a crescendo inside him. And now he was walking past","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the trees, through a gap in the enclosure fence. He saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "everything in front of him as though it was a very highly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "colored dream. There were hundreds and hundreds of faces staring down at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "him from stands that had been magicked there since he'd last stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "on this spot. And there was the Horntail, at the other end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of the enclosure, crouched low over her clutch of eggs, her wings","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "half-furled, her evil, yellow eyes upon him, a monstrous, scaly, black lizard,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "thrashing her spiked tail, heaving yard-long gouge marks in the hard ground.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "The crowd was making a great deal of noise, but whether friendly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "or not, Harry didn't know or care. It was time to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " what he had to do. . . to focus his mind,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "entirely and absolutely, upon the thing that was his only chance. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "He raised his wand. `Accio Firebolt!` he shouted. Harry waited,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "every fiber of him hoping, praying. . . . If it hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "worked. . . if it wasn't coming. . . He seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "be looking at everything around him through some sort of shimmering, transparent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "barrier, like a heat haze, which made the enclosure and the hundreds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of faces around him swim strangely.... And then he heard it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "speeding through the air behind him; he turned and saw his Firebolt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "hurtling toward him around the edge of the woods, soaring into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "enclosure, and stopping dead in midair beside him, waiting for him to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "mount. The crowd was making even more noise. . . . Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was shouting something. . . but Harry's ears were not working properly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "anymore. . . listening wasn't important.... He swung his leg over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the broom and kicked off from the ground. And a second later,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "something miraculous happened.... As he soared upward, as the wind rushed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "through his hair, as the crowd's faces became mere flesh-colored pinpnicks below,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and the Horntail shrank to the size of a dog, he realized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "that he had heft not only the ground behind, but also his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "fear. . . . He was back where he belonged.... This","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was just another Quidditch match, that was all. . . just another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Quidditch match, and that Horntail was just another ugly opposing team. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "He looked down at the clutch of eggs and spotted the gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "one, gleaming against its cement-colored fellows, residing safely between the dragon's front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "legs. `Okay,` Harry told himself, `diversionary tactics. . . let's go. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ".` He dived. The Horntail's head followed him; he knew what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it was going to do and pulled out of the dive just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "in time; a jet of fire had been released exactly where he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "would have been had he not swerved away. . . but Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "didn't care.. . that was no more than dodging a Bludger. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Great Scott, he can fly!` yelled Bagman as the crowd shrieked and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "gasped. `Are you watching this, Mr. Krum?` Harry soared higher in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a circle; the Horntail was still following his progress; its head revolving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "on its long neck - if he kept this up, it would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "be nicely dizzy - but better not push it too long, or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it would be breathing fire again - Harry plummeted just as the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Horntail opened its mouth, but this time he was less lucky -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he missed the flames, but the tail came whipping up to meet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "him instead, and as he swerved to the left, one of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "long spikes grazed his shoulder, ripping his robes -- He could feel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it stinging, he could hear screaming and groans from the crowd, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the cut didn't seem to be deep. . . . Now he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "zoomed around the back of the Horntail, and a possibility occurred to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "him.... The Horntail didn't seem to want to take off, she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was too protective of her eggs. Though she writhed and twisted, furling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and unfurling her wings and keeping those fearsome yellow eyes on Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "she was afraid to move too far from them. . . but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he had to persuade her to do it, or he'd never get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "near them. . . . The trick was to do it carefully,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "gradually.... He began to fly, first this way, then the other,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "not near enough to make her breathe fire to stave him off,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "but still posing a sufficient threat to ensure she kept her eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "on him. Her head swayed this way and that, watching him out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of those vertical pupils, her fangs bared... He flew higher. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Horntail's head rose with him, her neck now stretched to its fullest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "extent, still swaying, hike a snake before its charmer. . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Harry rose a few more feet, and she let out a roar","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of exasperation. He was like a fly to her, a fly she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was longing to swat; her tail thrashed again, but he was too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "high to reach now. . . . She shot fire into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "air, which he dodged.. . . Her jaws opened wide.... `Come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "on,` Harry hissed, swerving tantalizingly above her, `come on, come and get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "me. . . up you get now. .` And then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "she reared, spreading her great, black, leathery wings at last, as wide","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "as those of a small airplane - and Harry dived. Before the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "dragon knew what he had done, or where he had disappeared to,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he was speeding toward the ground as fast as he could go,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "toward the eggs now unprotected by her clawed front legs - he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "had taken his hands off his Firebolt - he had seized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the golden egg - And with a huge spurt of speed, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was off, he was soaring out over the stands, the heavy egg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "safely under his uninjured arm, and it was as though somebody had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "just turned the volume back up - for the first time, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "became properly aware of the noise of the crowd, which was screaming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "and applauding as loudly as the Irish supporters at the World Cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "- `Look at that!` Bagman was yelling. `Will you look at that!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg! Well, this is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "going to shorten the odds on Mr. Potter!` Harry saw the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "dragon keepers rushing forward to subdue the Horntail, and, over at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "entrance to the enclosure, Professor McGonagalh, Professor Moody, and Hagrid hurrying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "meet him, all of them waving him toward them, their smiles evident","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "even from this distance. He flew back over the stands, the noise","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of the crowd pounding his eardrums, and came in smoothly to land,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his heart lighter than it had been in weeks. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "He had got through the first task, he had survived. `That","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was excellent, Potter!` cried Professor McGonagall as he got off the Firebolt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "-which from her was extravagant praise. He noticed that her hand shook","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "as she pointed at his shoulder. `You'll need to see Madam Pomfrey","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "before the judges give out your score. . . . Over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "there, she's had to mop up Diggory already. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Yeh did it, Harry!` said Hagrid hoarsely. `Yeh did it! An' agains'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the Horntail an' all, an' yeh know Charlie said that was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "wors' - ` `Thanks, Hagrid,` said Harry loudly, so that Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "wouldn't blunder on and reveal that he had shown Harry the dragons","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "beforehand. Professor Moody looked very pleased too; his magical eye was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "dancing in its socket. `Nice and easy does the trick, Potter,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he growled. `Right then, Potter, the first aid tent, please. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ".` said Professor McGonagall. Harry walked out of the enclosure, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "panting, and saw Madam Pomfrey standing at the mouth of a second","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "tent, looking worried. `Dragons!` she said, in a disgusted tone, pulling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Harry inside. The tent was divided into cubicles; he could make out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Cedric's shadow through the canvas, but Cedric didn't seem to be badly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "injured; he was sitting up, at least. Madam Pomfrey examined Harry's shoulder,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "talking furiously all the while. `Last year dementors, this year dragons, what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "are they going to bring into this school next? You're very lucky.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" ". . this is quite shallow. . . it'll need cleaning before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "I heal it up, though... .` She cleaned the cut with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a dab of some purple liquid that smoked and stung, but then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "poked his shoulder with her wand, and he felt it heal instantly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " `Now, just sit quietly for a minute - sit! And then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "you can go and get your score.` She bustled out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the tent and he heard her go next door and say, `How","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "does it feel now, Diggory?` Harry didn't want to sit still:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "He was too full of adrenaline. He got to his feet, wanting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to see what was going on outside, but before he'd reached the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "mouth of the tent, two people had come darting inside - Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "followed closely by Ron. `Harry, you were brilliant!` Hermione said squeakily.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "There were fingernail marks on her face where she had been clutching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it in fear. `You were amazing! You really were!` But Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "was looking at Ron, who was very white and staring at Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "as though he were a ghost. `Harry,` he said, very seriously,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`whoever put your name in that goblet - I - I reckon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "they're trying to do you in!` It was as though the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "last few weeks had never happened - as though Harry were meeting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Ron for the first time, right after he'd been made champion. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Caught on, have you?` said Harry coldly. `Took you long enough.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Hermione stood nervously between them, looking from one to the other. Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "opened his mouth uncertainly. Harry knew Ron was about to apologize and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "suddenly he found he didn't need to hear it. `It's okay,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he said, before Ron could get the words out. `Forget it.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`No,` said Ron, `I shouldn't've -` `Forget it, `Harry said. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Ron grinned nervously at him, and Harry grinned back Hermione burst into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "tears. `There's nothing to cry about!` Harry told her, bewildered. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`You two are so stupid!` she shouted, stamping her foot on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "ground, tears splashing down her front. Then, before either of them could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "stop her, she had given both of them a hug and dashed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "away, now positively howling. `Barking mad,` said Ron, shaking his head.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Harry, c'mon, they'll be putting up your scores. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Picking up the golden egg and his Firebolt, feeling more elated than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "he would have believed possible an hour ago, Harry ducked out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the tent, Ron by his side, talking fast. `You were the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "best, you know, no competition. Cedric did this weird thing where he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Transfigured a rock on the ground. . . turned it into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "dog. . . he was trying to make the dragon go for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the dog instead of him. Well, it was a pretty cool bit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of Transfiguration, and it sort of worked, because he did get the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "egg, but he got burned as well - the dragon changed its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "mind halfway through and decided it would rather have him than the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Labrador; he only just got away. And that Fleur girl tried this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "sort of charm, I think she was trying to put it into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a trance - well, that kind of worked too, it went all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "sleepy, but then it snored, and this great jet of flame shot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "out, and her skirt caught fire - she put it out with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a bit of water out of her wand. And Krum - you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "won't believe this, but he didn't even think of flying! He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "probably the best after you, though. Hit it with some sort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of spell right in the eye. Only thing is, it went trampling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "around in agony and squashed half the real eggs - they took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "marks off for that, he wasn't supposed to do any damage to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "them.` Ron drew breath as he and Harry reached the edge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of the enclosure. Now that the Horntail had been taken away, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "could see where the five judges were sitting - right at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "other end, in raised seats draped in gold. `It's marks out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of ten from each one,` Ron said, and Harry squinting up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "field, saw the first judge - Madame Maxime - raise her wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "in the air. What hooked like a long silver ribbon shot out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "of it, which twisted itself into a large figure eight. `Not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "bad!` said Ron as the crowd applauded. `I suppose she took marks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "off for your shoulder. . . Mr. Crouch came next. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "shot a number nine into the air. `Looking good!` Ron yelled,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "thumping Harry on the back. Next, Dumbledore. He too put up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a nine. The crowd was cheering harder than ever. Ludo Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "- ten. `Ten?` said Harry in disbelief. `But. . . I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "got hurt. . . . What's he playing at?` `Harry, don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "complain!` Ron yelled excitedly. And now Karkaroff raised his wand. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "paused for a moment, and then a number shot out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "wand too - four. `What?` Ron bellowed furiously. `Four? You lousy,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "biased scum-bag, you gave Krum ten!` But Harry didn't care, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "wouldn't have cared if Karkaroff had given him zero; Ron's indignation on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "his behalf was worth about a hundred points to him. He didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "tell Ron this, of course, but his heart felt lighter than air","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "as he turned to leave the enclosure. And it wasn't just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Ron. . . those weren't only Gryffindors cheering in the crowd. When","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it had come to it, when they had seen what he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "facing, most of the school had been on his side as well","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "as Cedric's. . . . He didn't care about the Slytherins, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "could stand whatever they threw at him now. `You're tied in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "first place, Harry! You and Krum!` said Charlie Weasley, hurrying to meet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "them as they set off back toward the school. `Listen, I've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to run, I've got to go and send Mum an owl, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "swore I'd tell her what happened - but that was unbelievable! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "Oh yeah - and they told me to tell you you've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "to hang around for a few more minutes.. . . Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "wants a word, back in the champions' tent.` Ron said he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "would wait, so Harry reentered the tent, which somehow looked quite different","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "now: friendly and welcoming. He thought back to how he'd felt while","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "dodging the Horntail, and compared it to the long wait before he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "walked out to face it.... There was no comparison; the wait had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "been immeasurably worse. Fleur, Cedric, and Krum all came in together.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "One side of Cedric's face was covered in a thick orange paste,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "which was presumably mending his burn. He grinned at Harry when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "saw him. `Good one, Harry.` `And you,` said Harry, grinning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "back. `Well done, all of you!` said Ludo Bagman, bouncing into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the tent and looking as pleased as though he personally had just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "got past a dragon. `Now, just a quick few words. You've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a nice long break before the second task, which will take place","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "see that they open. . . see the hinges there? You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "need to solve the clue inside the egg -because it will tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!` Harry left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the tent, rejoined Ron, and they started to walk back around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "edge of the forest, talking hard; Harry wanted to hear what the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "other champions had done in more detail. Then, as they rounded the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "clump of trees behind which Harry had first heard the dragons roar,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "a witch leapt out from behind them. It was Rita Skeeter.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "She was wearing acid-green robes today; the Quick-Quotes Quill in her hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "blended perfectly against them. `Congratulations, Harry!` she said, beaming at him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`I wonder if you could give me a quick word? How you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "felt facing that dragon? How you feel now, about the fairness of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "the scoring?` `Yeah, you can have a word,` said Harry savagely.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" "`Good-bye.` And he set off back to the castle with Ron. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-20" " Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to the Owlery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "that evening to find Pigwidgeon, so that Harry could send Sirius a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "letter telling him that he had managed to get past his dragon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "unscathed. On the way, Harry filled Ron in on everything Sirius had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "told him about Karkaroff. Though shocked at first to hear that Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "had been a Death Eater, by the time they entered the Owlery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Ron was saying that they ought to have suspected it all along.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Fits, doesn't it?` he said. `Remember what Malfoy said on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "train, about his dad being friends with Karkaroff? Now we know where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "they knew each other. They were probably running around in masks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "together at the World Cup.... I'll tell you one thing, though, Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "if it was Karkaroff who put your name in the goblet, he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "going to be feeling really stupid now, isn't he? Didn't work, did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "it? You only got a scratch! Come here - I'll do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "it -` Pigwidgeon was so overexcited at the idea of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "delivery he was flying around and around Harry's head, hooting incessantly. Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "snatched Pigwidgeon out of the air and held him still while Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "attached the letter to his leg. `There's no way any of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the other tasks are going to be that dangerous, how could they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "be?` Ron went on as he carried Pigwidgeon to the window. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "know what? I reckon you could win this tournament, Harry, I'm serious.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " Harry knew that Ron was only saying this to make up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "for his behavior of the last few weeks, but he appreciated it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "all the same. Hermione, however, leaned against the Owlery wall, folded her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "arms, and frowned at Ron. `Harry's got a long way to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "go before he finishes this tournament,` she said seriously. `If that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was the first task, I hate to think what's coming next.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Right little ray of sunshine, aren't you?` said Ron. `You and Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Trelawney should get together sometime.` He threw Pigwidgeon out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "window. Pigwidgeon plummeted twelve feet before managing to pull himself back up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "again; the letter attached to his leg was much longer and heavier","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "than usual - Harry hadn't been able to resist giving Sirius a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "blow-by-blow account of exactly how he had swerved, circled, and dodged the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Horntail. They watched Pigwidgeon disappear into the darkness, and then Ron said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Well, we'd better get downstairs for your surprise party, Harry - Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and George should have nicked enough food from the kitchens by now.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " Sure enough, when they entered the Gryffindor common room it exploded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "with cheers and yells again. There were mountains of cakes and flagons","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on every surface; Lee Jordan had let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "off some Filibuster's Fireworks, so that the air was thick with stars","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and sparks; and Dean Thomas, who was very good at drawing, had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "put up some impressive new banners, most of which depicted Harry zooming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "around the Horntail's head on his Firebolt, though a couple showed Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "with his head on fire. Harry helped himself to food; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "had almost forgotten what it was like to feel properly hungry, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "sat down with Ron and Hermione. He couldn't believe how happy he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "felt; he had Ron back on his side, he'd gotten through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "first task, and he wouldn't have to face the second one for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "three months. `Blimey, this is heavy,` said Lee Jordan, picking up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the golden egg, which Harry had left on a table, and weighing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "it in his hands. `Open it, Harry, go on! Let's just see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "what's inside it!` `He's supposed to work out the clue","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "on his own,` Hermione said swiftly. `It's in the tournament rules. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" ". .` `I was supposed to work out how to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "past the dragon on my own too,` Harry muttered, so only Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "could hear him, and she grinned rather guiltily. `Yeah, go on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry, open it!` several people echoed. Lee passed Harry the egg,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and Harry dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "way around it and prised it open. It was hollow and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "completely empty - but the moment Harry opened it, the most horrible","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room. The nearest thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "to it Harry had ever heard was the ghost orchestra at Nearly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Headless Nick's deathday party, who had all been playing the musical saw.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Shut it!` Fred bellowed, his hands over his ears. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was that?` said Seamus Finnigan, staring at the egg as Harry slammed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "it shut again. `Sounded like a banshee ... Maybe you've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "get past one of those next, Harry!` `It was someone being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tortured!` said Neville, who had gone very white and spilled sausage rolls","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "all over the floor. `You're going to have to fight the Cruciatus","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Curse!` `Don't be a prat, Neville, that's illegal,` said George. `They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. I thought it sounded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "a bit like Percy singing . .. maybe you've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "attack him while he's in the shower. Harry.` `Want a jam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tart, Hermione?` said Fred. Hermione looked doubtfully at the plate he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was offering her. Fred grinned. `It's all right,` he said. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "haven't done anything to them. It's the custard creams you've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "watch -` Neville, who had just bitten into a custard cream,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "choked and spat it out. Fred laughed. `Just my little joke,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Neville.. . .` Hermione took a jam tart. Then she said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Did you get all this from the kitchens, Fred?` `Yep,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Fred, grinning at her. He put on a high-pitched squeak and imitated","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "a house-elf. `'Anything we can get you, sir, anything at all!' They're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "dead helpful... get me a roast ox if I said I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was peckish.` `How do you get in there?` Hermione said in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "an innocently casual sort of voice. `Easy,` said Fred, `concealed door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "behind a painting of a bowl of fruit. Just tickle the pear,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and it giggles and -` He stopped and looked suspiciously at her.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Why?` `Nothing,` said Hermione quickly. `Going to try and lead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the house-elves out on strike now, are you?` said George. `Going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "give up all the leaflet stuff and try and stir them up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "into rebellion?` Several people chortled. Hermione didn't answer. `Don't you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "go upsetting them and telling them they've got to take clothes and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "salaries!` said Fred warningly. `You'll put them off their cooking!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Just then, Neville caused a slight diversion by turning into a large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "canary. `Oh - sorry, Neville!` Fred shouted over all the laughter.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`I forgot - it was the custard creams we hexed -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Within a minute, however, Neville had molted, and once his feathers had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "fallen off, he reappeared looking entirely normal. He even joined in laughing.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Canary Creams!` Fred shouted to the excitable crowd. `George and I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "invented them -seven Sickles each, a bargain!` It was nearly one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "in the morning when Harry finally went up to the dormitory with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean. Before he pulled the curtains of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "four-poster shut. Harry set his tiny model of the Hungarian Horntail on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the table next to his bed, where it yawned, curled up, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "closed its eyes. Really, Harry thought, as he pulled the hangings on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "his four-poster closed, Hagrid had a point.. . they were all right,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "really, dragons. . . . The start of December brought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wind and sleet to Hogwarts. Drafty though the castle always was in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "winter. Harry was glad of its fires and thick walls every time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "he passed the Durmstrang ship on the lake, which was pitching in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the high winds, its black sails billowing against the dark skies. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "thought the Beauxbatons caravan was likely to be pretty chilly too. Hagrid,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "he noticed, was keeping Madame Maxime's horses well provided with their preferred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "drink of single-malt whiskey; the fumes wafting from the trough in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " comer of their paddock was enough to make the entire Care","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of Magical Creatures class light-headed. This was unhelpful, as they were still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tending the horrible skrewts and needed their wits about them. `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "not sure whether they hibernate or not,` Hagrid told the shivering class","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "in the windy pumpkin patch next lesson. `Thought we'd jus' try an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "see if they fancied a kip . . . we'll jus'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "settle 'em down in these boxes. . . .` There were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "now only ten skrewts left; apparently their desire to kill one another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "had not been exercised out of them. Each of them was now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "approaching six feet in length. Their thick gray armor; their powerful, scuttling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "legs; their fire-blasting ends; their stings and their suckers, combined to make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the skrewts the most repulsive things Harry had ever seen. The class","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "looked dispiritedly at the enormous boxes Hagrid had brought out, all lined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "with pillows and fluffy blankets. `We'll jus' lead 'em in here,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Hagrid said, `an' put the lids on, and we'll see what happens.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " But the skrewts, it transpired, did not hibernate, and did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "appreciate being forced into pillow-lined boxes and nailed in. Hagrid was soon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "yelling, `Don panic, now, don' panic!` while the skrewts rampaged around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "pumpkin patch, now strewn with the smoldering wreckage of the boxes. Most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of the class - Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle in the lead -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "had fled into Hagrid's cabin through the back door and barricaded themselves","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "in; Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were among those who remained outside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "trying to help Hagrid. Together they managed to restrain and tie up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "nine of the skrewts, though at the cost of numerous burns and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "cuts; finally, only one skrewt was left. `Don' frighten him, now!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Hagrid shouted as Ron and Harry used their wands to shoot jets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of fiery sparks at the skrewt, which was advancing menacingly on them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "its sting arched, quivering, over its back. `Jus' try an slip the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "rope 'round his sting, so he won hurt any o' the others!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Yeah, we wouldn't want that!` Ron shouted angrily as he and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry backed into the wall of Hagrid's cabin, still holding the skrewt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "off with their sparks. `Well, well, well. . . this does","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "look like fun.` Rita Skeeter was leaning on Hagrid's garden fence,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "looking in at the mayhem. She was wearing a thick magenta cloak","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "with a furry purple collar today, and her crocodile-skin handbag was over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "her arm. Hagrid launched himself forward on top of the skrewt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "that was cornering Harry and Ron and flattened it; a blast of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "fire shot out of its end, withering the pumpkin plants nearby. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Who're you?` Hagrid asked Rita Skeeter as he slipped a loop of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "rope around the skrewt's sting and tightened it. `Rita Skeeter, Daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Prophet reporter,` Rita replied, beaming at him. Her gold teeth glinted. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Thought Dumbledore said you weren' allowed inside the school anymore,` said Hagrid,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "frowning slightly as he got off the slightly squashed skrewt and started","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tugging it over to its fellows. Rita acted as though she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "hadn't heard what Hagrid had said. `What are these fascinating creatures","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "called?` she asked, beaming still more widely. `Blast-Ended Skrewts,` grunted Hagrid.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Really?` said Rita, apparently full of lively interest. `I've never heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of them before...where do they come from?` Harry noticed a dull","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "red flush rising up out of Hagrid's wild black beard, and his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "heart sank. Where had Hagrid got the skrewts from? Hermione, who seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "to be thinking along these lines, said quickly, `They're very interesting, aren't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "they? Aren't they. Harry?` `What? Oh yeah . . . ouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" ". . . interesting,` said Harry as she stepped on his foot.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Ah, you're here. Harry!` said Rita Skeeter as she looked around.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`So you like Care of Magical Creatures, do you? One of your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "favorite lessons?` `Yes,` said Harry stoutly. Hagrid beamed at him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Lovely,` said Rita. `Really lovely. Been teaching long?` she added to Hagrid.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " Harry noticed her eyes travel over Dean (who had a nasty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "cut across one cheek). Lavender (whose robes were badly singed), Seamus (who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was nursing several burnt fingers), and then to the cabin windows, where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "most of the class stood, their noses pressed against the glass waiting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "to see if the coast was clear. `This is o'ny me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "second year,` said Hagrid. `Lovely... I don't suppose you'd like to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "give an interview, would you? Share some of your experience of magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "creatures? The Prophet does a zoological column every Wednesday, as I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "sure you know. We could feature these - er - Bang-Ended Scoots.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Blast-Ended Skrewts,` Hagrid said eagerly. `Er - yeah, why not?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry had a very bad feeling about this, but there was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "way of communicating it to Hagrid without Rita Skeeter seeing, so he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "had to stand and watch in silence as Hagrid and Rita Skeeter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "made arrangements to meet in the Three Broomsticks for a good long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "interview later that week. Then the bell rang up at the castle,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "signaling the end of the lesson. `Well, good-bye, Harry!` Rita Skeeter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "called merrily to him as he set off with Ron and Hermione.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Until Friday night, then, Hagrid!` `She'll twist everything he says,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "said under his breath. `Just as long as he didn't import","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "those skrewts illegally or anything,` said Hermione desperately. They looked at one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "another - it was exactly the sort of thing Hagrid might do.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Hagrids been in loads of trouble before, and Dumbledores never sacked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "him,` said Ron consolingly. `Worst that can happen is Hagrid'll have to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "get rid of the skrewts. Sorry . . . did I say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "worst? I meant best.` Harry and Hermione laughed, and, feeling slightly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "more cheerful, went off to lunch. Harry thoroughly enjoyed double Divination","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "that afternoon; they were still doing star charts and predictions, but now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "that he and Ron were friends once more, the whole thing seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "very funny again. Professor Trelawney, who had been so pleased with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "pair of them when they had been predicting their own horrific deaths,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "quickly became irritated as they sniggered through her explanation of the various","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "ways in which Pluto could disrupt everyday life. `I would think,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "she said, in a mystical whisper that did not conceal her obvious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "annoyance, `that some of us` - she stared very meaningfully at Harry-","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`might be a little less frivolous had they seen what I have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "seen during my crystal gazing last night. As I sat here, absorbed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "in my needlework, the urge to consult the orb overpowered me. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "arose, I settled myself before it, and I gazed into its crystalline","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "depths . . . and what do you think I saw gazing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "back at me?` `An ugly old bat in outsize specs?` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "muttered under his breath. Harry fought hard to keep his face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "straight. `Death, my dears.` Parvati and Lavender both put their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "hands over their mouths, looking horrified. `Yes,` said Professor Trelawney, nodding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "impressively, `it comes, ever closer, it circles overhead like a vulture, ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "lower. . . ever lower over the castle. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "She stared pointedly at Harry, who yawned very widely and obviously. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`It'd be a bit more impressive if she hadn't done it about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "eighty times before,` Harry said as they finally regained the fresh air","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of the staircase beneath Professor Trelawney's room. `But if I'd dropped dead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "every time she's told me I'm going to, I'd be a medical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "miracle.` `You'd be a sort of extra-concentrated ghost,` said Ron, chortling,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "as they passed the Bloody Baron going in the opposite direction, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wide eyes staring sinisterly. `At least we didn't get homework. I hope","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Hermione got loads off Professor Vector, I love not working when she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "is. . . .` But Hermione wasn't at dinner, nor was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "she in the library when they went to look for her afterward.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "The only person in there was Viktor Krum. Ron hovered behind the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "bookshelves for a while, watching Krum, debating in whispers with Harry whether","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "he should ask for an autograph - but then Ron realized that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "six or seven girls were lurking in the next row of books,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "debating exactly the same thing, and he lost his enthusiasm for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "idea. `Wonder where she's got to?` Ron said as he and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry went back to Gryffindor Tower. `Dunno . . . balderdash.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " But the Fat Lady had barely begun to swing forward when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the sound of racing feet behind them announced Hermione's arrival. `Harry!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "she panted, skidding to a halt beside him (the Fat Lady stared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "down at her, eyebrows raised). `Harry, you've got to come - you've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "got to come, the most amazing thing's happened- please -` She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "seized Harry's arm and started to try to drag him back along","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the corridor. `What's the matter?` Harry said. `I'll show you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "when we get there - oh come on, quick -` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "looked around at Ron; he looked back at Harry, intrigued. `Okay,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry said, starting off back down the corridor with Hermione, Ron hurrying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "to keep up. `Oh don't mind me!` the Fat Lady called","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "irritably after them. `Don't apologize for bothering me! I'll just hang here,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wide open, until you get back, shall I?` `Yeah, thanks!` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "shouted over his shoulder. `Hermione, where are we going?` Harry asked,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "after she had led them down through six floors, and started down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the marble staircase into the entrance hall. `You'll see, you'll see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "in a minute!` said Hermione excitedly. She turned left at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "bottom of the staircase and hurried toward the door through which Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Diggory had gone the night after the Goblet of Fire had regurgitated","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "his and Harry's names. Harry had never been through here before. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and Ron followed Hermione down a flight of stone steps, but instead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of ending up in a gloomy underground passage like the one that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "led to Snape's dungeon, they found themselves in a broad stone corridor,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "brightly lit with torches, and decorated with cheerful paintings that were mainly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of food. `Oh hang on . . .` said Harry slowly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "halfway down the corridor. `Wait a minute, Hermione. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`What?` She turned around to look at him, anticipation all over her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "face. `I know what this is about,` said Harry. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "nudged Ron and pointed to the painting just behind Hermione. It showed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "a gigantic silver fruit bowl. `Hermione!` said Ron, cottoning on. `You're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "trying to rope us into that spew stuff again!` `No, no,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "I'm not!` she said hastily. `And it's not spew, Ron -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Changed the name, have you?` said Ron, frowning at her. `What are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "we now, then, the House-Elf Liberation Front? I'm not barging into that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "kitchen and trying to make them stop work, I'm not doing it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "-` `I'm not asking you to!` Hermione said impatiently. `I came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "down here just now, to talk to them all, and I found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "- oh come on, Harry, I want to show you!` She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "seized his arm again, pulled him in front of the picture of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the giant fruit bowl, stretched out her forefinger, and tickled the huge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "green pear. It began to squirm, chuckling, and suddenly turned into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "large green door handle. Hermione seized it, pulled the door open, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "pushed Harry hard in the back, forcing him inside. He had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "one brief glimpse of an enormous, high-ceilinged room, large as the Great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Hall above it, with mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "around the stone walls, and a great brick fireplace at the other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "end, when something small hurtled toward him from the middle of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "room, squealing, `Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!` Next second all the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wind had been knocked out of him as the squealing elf hit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "him hard in the midriff, hugging him so tightly he thought his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "ribs would break. `D-Dobby?` Harry gasped. `It is Dobby, sir,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "it is!` squealed the voice from somewhere around his navel. `Dobby has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "been hoping and hoping to see Harry Potter, sir, and Harry Potter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "has come to see him, sir!` Dobby let go and stepped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "back a few paces, beaming up at Harry, his enormous, green, tennis-ball-shaped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "eyes brimming with tears of happiness. He looked almost exactly as Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "remembered him; the pencil-shaped nose, the batlike ears, the long fingers and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "feet - all except the clothes, which were very different. When","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby had worked for the Malfoys, he had always worn the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "filthy old pillowcase. Now, however, he was wearing the strangest assortment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of garments Harry had ever seen; he had done an even worse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "job of dressing himself than the wizards at the World Cup. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was wearing a tea cozy for a hat, on which he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "pinned a number of bright badges; a tie patterned with horseshoes over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "a bare chest, a pair of what looked like children's soccer shorts,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and odd socks. One of these, Harry saw, was the black one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry had removed from his own foot and tricked Mr. Malfoy into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "giving Dobby, thereby setting Dobby free. The other was covered in pink","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and orange stripes. `Dobby, what're you doing here?` Harry said in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "amazement. `Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!` Dobby squealed excitedly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir! `Winky?` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`She's here too?` `Yes, sir, yes!` said Dobby, and he seized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry's hand and pulled him off into the kitchen between the four","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "long wooden tables that stood there. Each of these tables, Harry noticed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "as he passed them, was positioned exactly beneath the four House tables","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " above, in the Great Hall. At the moment, they were clear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "of food, dinner having finished, but he supposed that an hour ago","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "they had been laden with dishes that were then sent up through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the ceiling to their counterparts above. At least a hundred little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "elves were standing around the kitchen, beaming, bowing, and curtsying as Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "led Harry past them. They were all wearing the same uniform: a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tea towel stamped with the Hogwarts crest, and tied, as Winky's had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "been, like a toga. Dobby stopped in front of the brick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "fireplace and pointed. `Winky, sir!` he said. Winky was sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "on a stool by the fire. Unlike Dobby, she had obviously not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "foraged for clothes. She was wearing a neat little skirt and blouse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "with a matching blue hat, which had holes in it for her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "large ears. However, while every one of Dobby's strange collection of garments","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was so clean and well cared for that it looked brand-new, Winky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was plainly not taking care other clothes at all. There were soup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "stains all down her blouse and a burn in her skirt. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Hello, Winky,` said Harry. Winky's lip quivered. Then she burst into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tears, which spilled out of her great brown eyes and splashed down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "her front, just as they had done at the Quidditch World Cup.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Oh dear,` said Hermione. She and Ron had followed Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby to the end of the kitchen. `Winky, don't cry, please don't...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " But Winky cried harder than ever. Dobby, on the other hand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "beamed up at Harry. `Would Harry Potter like a cup of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tea?` he squeaked loudly, over Winky's sobs. `Er - yeah, okay,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "said Harry. Instantly, about six house-elves came trotting up behind him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "bearing a large silver tray laden with a teapot, cups for Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Ron, and Hermione, a milk jug, and a large plate of biscuits.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Good service!` Ron said, in an impressed voice. Hermione frowned at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "him, but the elves all looked delighted; they bowed very low and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "retreated. `How long have you been here, Dobby?` Harry asked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby handed around the tea. `Only a week. Harry Potter, sir!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "said Dobby happily. `Dobby came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir. You see,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "sir, it is very difficult for a house-elf who has been dismissed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed -` At","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed-tomato of a nose dribbling all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Dobby has traveled the country for two whole years, sir, trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "to find work!` Dobby squeaked. `But Dobby hasn't found work, sir, because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby wants paying now!` The house-elves all around the kitchen, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "had been listening and watching with interest, all looked away at these","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "words, as though Dobby had said something rude and embarrassing. Hermione, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "said, `Good for you, Dobby!` `Thank you, miss!` said Dobby, grinning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "toothily at her. `But most wizards doesn't want a house-elf who wants","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "paying, miss. 'That's not the point of a house-elf,' they says, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "they slammed the door in Dobby's face! Dobby likes work, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid. Harry Potter....","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby likes being free!` The Hogwarts house-elves had now started edging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "away from Dobby, as though he were carrying something contagious. Winky, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "remained where she was, though there was a definite increase in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "volume other crying. `And then, Harry Potter, Dobby goes to visit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Winky, and finds out Winky has been freed too, sir!` said Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "delightedly. At this, Winky flung herself forward off her stool and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "lay face-down on the flagged stone floor, beating her tiny fists upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "it and positively screaming with misery. Hermione hastily dropped down to her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "knees beside her and tried to comfort her, but nothing she said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "made the slightest difference. Dobby continued with his story, shouting shrilly over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Winky's screeches. `And then Dobby had the idea. Harry Potter, sir!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "'Why doesn't Dobby and Winky find work together?' Dobby says. 'Where is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "there enough work for two house-elves?' says Winky. And Dobby thinks,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "and it comes to him, sir! Hogwarts! So Dobby and Winky came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "to see Professor Dumbledore, sir, and Professor Dumbledore took us on!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby beamed very brightly, and happy tears welled in his eyes again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `And Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`That's not very much!` Hermione shouted indignantly from the floor, over Winky's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "continued screaming and fist-beating. `Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "week, and weekends off,` said Dobby, suddenly giving a little shiver, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "though the prospect of so much leisure and riches were frightening, `but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby beat him down, miss. . . . Dobby likes freedom, miss,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "but he isn't wanting too much, miss, he likes work better.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`And how much is Professor Dumbledore paying you, Winky?` Hermione asked kindly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " If she had thought this would cheer up Winky, she was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "wildly mistaken. Winky did stop crying, but when she sat up she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was glaring at Hermione through her massive brown eyes, her whole face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "sopping wet and suddenly furious. `Winky is a disgraced elf, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Winky is not yet getting paid!` she squeaked. `Winky is not sunk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Ashamed?` said Hermione blankly. `But - Winky, come on! It's Mr. Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "who should be ashamed, not you! You didn't do anything wrong, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was really horrible to you -` But at these words, Winky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "clapped her hands over the holes in her hat, flattening her ears","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "so that she couldn't hear a word, and screeched, `You is not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "insulting my master, miss! You is not insulting Mr. Crouch! Mr. Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "is a good wizard, miss! Mr. Crouch is right to sack bad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Winky!` `Winky is having trouble adjusting, Harry Potter,` squeaked Dobby confidentially.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Winky forgets she is not bound to Mr. Crouch anymore; she is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "allowed to speak her mind now, but she won't do it.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Can't house-elves speak their minds about their masters, then?` Harry asked. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Oh no, sir, no,` said Dobby, looking suddenly serious. `'Tis part of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the house-elf's enslavement, sir. We keeps their secrets and our silence, sir.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "We upholds the family's honor, and we never speaks ill of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "- though Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Professor Dumbledore said we is free to - to-` Dobby looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "suddenly nervous and beckoned Harry closer. Harry bent forward. Dobby whispered, `He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "said we is free to call him a - a barmy old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "codger if we likes, sir!` Dobby gave a frightened sort of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "giggle. `But Dobby is not wanting to, Harry Potter,` he said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "talking normally again, and shaking his head so that his ears flapped.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "his secrets and our silence for him.` `But you can say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "what you like about the Malfoys now?` Harry asked him, grinning. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "A slightly fearful look came into Dobby's immense eyes. `Dobby -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby could,` he said doubtfully. He squared his small shoulders. `Dobby could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tell Harry Potter that his old masters were - were - bad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dark wizards'.` Dobby stood for a moment, quivering all over, horror-struck","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "by his own daring - then he rushed over to the nearest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "table and began banging his head on it very hard, squealing, `Bad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Dobby! Bad Dobby!` Harry seized Dobby by the back of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "tie and pulled him away from the table. `Thank you. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Potter, thank you,` said Dobby breathlessly, rubbing his head. `You just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "need a bit of practice,` Harry said. `Practice!` squealed Winky furiously.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`You is ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dobby, talking that way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "about your masters!` `They isn't my masters anymore, Winky!` said Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "defiantly. `Dobby doesn't care what they think anymore!` `Oh you is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "a bad elf, Dobby!` moaned Winky, tears leaking down her face once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "more. `My poor Mr. Crouch, what is he doing without Winky? He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "is needing me, he is needing my help! I is looking after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the Crouches all my life, and my mother is doing it before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "me, and my grandmother is doing it before her ... oh what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "is they saying if they knew Winky was freed? Oh the shame,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the shame!` She buried her face in her skirt again and bawled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Winky,` said Hermione firmly, `I'm quite sure Mr. Crouch is getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "along perfectly well without you. We've seen him, you know -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`You is seeing my master?` said Winky breathlessly, raising her tearstained face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "out of her skirt once more and goggling at Hermione. `You is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "seeing him here at Hogwarts?` `Yes,` said Hermione, `he and Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Bagman are judges in the Triwizard Tournament.` `Mr. Bagman comes too?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "squeaked Winky, and to Harry 's great surprise (and Ron's and Hermione's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "too, by the looks on their faces), she looked angry again. `Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My master isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "liking him, oh no, not at all!` `Bagman - bad?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Harry. `Oh yes,` Winky said, nodding her head furiously, `My master","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying.. . Winky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "- Winky keeps her master's secrets. ...` She dissolved yet again","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "in tears; they could hear her sobbing into her skirt, `Poor ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "master, poor master, no Winky to help him no more!` They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "couldn't get another sensible word out of Winky. They left her to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "her crying and finished their tea, while Dobby chatted happily about his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "life as a free elf and his plans for his wages. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "`Dobby is going to buy a sweater next, Harry Potter!` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "happily, pointing at his bare chest, `Tell you what, Dobby,` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "who seemed to have taken a great liking to the elf, `I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "give you the one my mum knits me this Christmas, I always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "get one from her. You don't mind maroon, do you?` Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "was delighted. `We might have to shrink it a bit to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "fit you,` Ron told him, `but it'll go well with your tea","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "cozy.` As they prepared to take their leave, many of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "surrounding elves pressed in upon them, offering snacks to take back upstairs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Hermione refused, with a pained look at the way the elves kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "bowing and curtsying, but Harry and Ron loaded their pockets with cream","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "cakes and pies. `Thanks a lot!` Harry said to the elves,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "who had all clustered around the door to say good night. `See","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "you, Dobby!` `Harry Potter . . . can Dobby come and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "see you sometimes, sir?` Dobby asked tentatively. ` 'Course you can,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "said Harry, and Dobby beamed. `You know what?` said Ron, once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "he, Hermione, and Harry had left the kitchens behind and were climbing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the steps into the entrance hall again. `All these years I've been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "really impressed with Fred and George, nicking food from the kitchens -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "well, it's not exactly difficult, is it? They can't wait to give","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "it away!` `I think this is the best thing that could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "have happened to those elves, you know,` said Hermione, leading the way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "back up the marble staircase. `Dobby coming to work here, I mean.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "The other elves will see how happy he is, being free, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "slowly it'll dawn on them that they want that too!` `Let's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "hope they don't look too closely at Winky,` said Harry. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "she'll cheer up,` said Hermione, though she sounded a bit doubtful. `Once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "the shock's worn off, and she's got used to Hogwarts, she'll see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "how much better off she is without that Crouch man.` `She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "seems to love him,` said Ron thickly (he had just started on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "a cream cake). `Doesn't think much of Bagman, though, does she?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "said Harry. `Wonder what Crouch says at home about him?` `Probably","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "says he's not a very good Head of Department,` said Hermione, `and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "let's face it... he's got a point, hasn't he?` `I'd still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "rather work for him than old Crouch,` said Ron. `At least Bagman's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "got a sense of humor.` `Don't let Percy hear you saying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "that,` Hermione said, smiling slightly. `Yeah, well, Percy wouldn't want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "work for anyone with a sense of humor, would he?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "Ron, now starting on a chocolate eclair. `Percy wouldn't recognize a joke","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" "if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby's tea cozy.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-21" " `Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?` Professor McGonagall's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and Harry and Ron both jumped and looked up. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the end of the lesson; they had finished their work; the guinea","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "fowl they had been changing into guinea pigs had been shut away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "in a large cage on Professor McGonagall's desk (Neville's still had feathers);","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "they had copied down their homework from the blackboard (`Describe, with examples,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the ways in which Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Switches`}. The bell was due to ring at any moment, and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and Ron, who had been having a sword fight with a couple","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "of Fred and George's fake wands at the back of the class,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "looked up, Ron holding a tin parrot and Harry, a rubber haddock.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "their age,` said Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at the pair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "of them as the head of Harry's haddock drooped and fell silently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to the floor - Ron's parrot's beak had severed it moments before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "- `I have something to say to you all. `The Yule","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Ball is approaching - a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "ball will be open only to fourth years and above - although","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "you may invite a younger student if you wish -` Lavender","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Brown let out a shrill giggle. Parvati Patil nudged her hard in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fought not to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "giggle. They both looked around at Harry, Professor McGonagall ignored them, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry thought was distinctly unfair, as she had just told off him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and Ron. `Dress robes will be worn,` Professor McGonagall continued, `and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "midnight in the Great Hall. Now then -` Professor McGonagall stared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "deliberately around the class. `The Yule Ball is of course a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "chance for us all to - er - let our hair down,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "she said, in a disapproving voice. Lavender giggled harder than ever,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "with her hand pressed hard against her mouth to stifle the sound.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry could see what was funny this time: Professor McGonagall, with her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "hair in a tight bun, looked as though she had never let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "her hair down in any sense. `But that does NOT mean,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Professor McGonagall went on, `that we will be relaxing the standards of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way.` The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "bell rang, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders. Professor McGonagall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "called above the noise, `Potter - a word, if you please.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Assuming this had something to do with his headless rubber haddock, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "proceeded gloomily to the teacher's desk. Professor McGonagall waited until the rest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "of the class had gone, and then said, `Potter, the champions and their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "partners -` `What partners?` said Harry. Profesor McGonagall looked suspiciously","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "at him, as though she thought he was trying to be funny.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter,` she said coldly. `Your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "dance partners.` Harry's insides seemed to curl up and shrivel. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Dance partners?` He felt himself going red. `I don't dance,` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "quickly. `Oh yes, you do,` said Professor McGonagall irritably. `That's what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "I'm telling you. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "ball.` Harry had a sudden mental image of himself in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "top hat and tails, accompanied by a girl in the sort of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "frilly dress Aunt Petunia always wore to Uncle Vernon's work parties. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`I'm not dancing,` he said. `It is traditional,` said Professor McGonagall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "firmly. `You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "you get yourself a partner, Potter.` `But-I don't-` `You heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "me, Potter,` said Professor McGonagall in a very final sort of way.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " A week ago. Harry would have said finding a partner for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "a dance would be a cinch compared to taking on a Hungarian","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Horntail. But now that he had done the latter, and was facing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the prospect of asking a girl to the ball, he thought he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "rather have another round with the dragon. Harry had never known","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "so many people to put their names down to stay at Hogwarts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "for Christmas; he always did, of course, because the alternative was usually","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "going back to Privet Drive, but he had always been very much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "in the minority before now. This year, however, everyone in the fourth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "year and above seemed to be staying, and they all seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry to be obsessed with the coming ball - or at least","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "all the girls were, and it was amazing how many girls Hogwarts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "suddenly seemed to hold; he had never quite noticed that before. Girls","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "giggling and whispering in the corridors, girls shrieking with laughter as boys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "passed them, girls excitedly comparing notes on what they were going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "wear on Christmas night... . `Why do they have to move","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "in packs?` Harry asked Ron as a dozen or so girls walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "past them, sniggering and staring at Harry. `How're you supposed to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "one on their own to ask them?` `Lasso one?` Ron suggested.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Got any idea who you're going to try?` Harry didn't answer.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "He knew perfectly well whom he'd like to ask, but working up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the nerve was something else. . . . Cho was a year","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "older than he was; she was very pretty; she was a very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "good Quidditch player, and she was also very popular. Ron seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to know what was going on inside Harry's head. `Listen, you're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "not going to have any trouble. You're a champion. You've just beaten","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "a Hungarian Horntail. I bet they'll be queuing up to go with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "you.` In tribute to their recently repaired friendship, Ron had kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the bitterness in his voice to a bare minimum. Moreover, to Harry's amazement,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "he turned out to be quite right. A curly-haired third-year Hufflepuff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "girl to whom Harry had never spoken in his life asked him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to go to the ball with her the very next day. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "was so taken aback he said no before he'd even stopped to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "consider the matter. The girl walked off looking rather hurt, and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "had to endure Dean's, Seamus's, and Ron's taunts about her all through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "History of Magic. The following day, two more girls asked him, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "second year and (to his horror) a fifth year who looked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "though she might knock him out if he refused. `She was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "quite good-looking,` said Ron fairly, after he'd stopped laughing. `She was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "a foot taller than me,` said Harry, still unnerved. `Imagine what I'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "look like trying to dance with her.` Hermione's words about Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "kept coming back to him. `They only like him because he's famous!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry doubted very much if any of the girls who had asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to be his partner so far would have wanted to go to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the ball with him if he hadn't been a school champion. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Then he wondered if this would bother him if Cho asked him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " On the whole. Harry had to admit that even with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "embarrassing prospect of opening the ball before him, life had definitely improved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "since he had got through the first task. He wasn't attracting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "nearly as much unpleasantness in the corridors anymore, which he suspected had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "a lot to do with Cedric - he had an idea Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "might have told the Hufflepuffs to leave Harry alone, in gratitude for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry's tip-off about the dragons. There seemed to be fewer Support","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Cedric Diggory! badges around too. Draco Malfoy, of course, was still quoting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Rita Skeeter's article to him at every possible opportunity, but he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "getting fewer and fewer laughs out of it - and just to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "heighten Harry's feeling of well-being, no story about Hagrid had appeared in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the Daily Prophet. `She didn' seem very int'rested in magical creatures,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "ter tell yeh the truth,` Hagrid said, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "asked him how his interview with Rita Skeeter had gone during the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "last Care of Magical Creatures lesson of the term. To their very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "great relief, Hagrid had given up on direct contact with the skrewts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "now, and they were merely sheltering behind his cabin today, sitting at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "a trestle table and preparing a fresh selection of food with which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to tempt the skrewts. `She jus' wanted me ter talk about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "you, Harry,` Hagrid continued in a low voice. `Well, I told her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "we'd been friends since I went ter fetch yeh from the Dursleys.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "'Never had to tell him off in four years?' she said. 'Never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "played you up in lessons, has he?' I told her no, an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "she didn' seem happy at all. Yeh'd think she wanted me to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "say yeh were horrible, Harry.` ` 'Course she did,` said Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "throwing lumps of dragon liver into a large metal bowl and picking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "up his knife to cut some more. `She can't keep writing about what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "a tragic little hero I am, it'll get boring.` `She wants","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "a new angle, Hagrid,` said Ron wisely as he shelled salamander eggs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`You were supposed to say Harry's a mad delinquent!` `But he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "not!` said Hagrid, looking genuinely shocked. `She should've interviewed Snape,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry grimly. `He'd give her the goods on me any day. 'Potter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "has been crossing lines ever since he first arrived at this school.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" ". . .'` `Said that, did he?` said Hagrid, while Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and Hermione laughed. `Well, yeh might've bent a few rules. Harry, bu'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "yeh're all righ' really, aren' you?` `Cheers, Hagrid,` said Harry, grinning.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `You coming to this ball thing on Christmas Day, Hagrid?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Ron. `Though' I might look in on it, yeah,` said Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "gruffly. `Should be a good do, I reckon. You'll be openin the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "dancin', won yeh, Harry? Who're you takin'?` `No one, yet,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry, feeling himself going red again. Hagrid didn't pursue the subject. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "The last week of term became increasingly boisterous as it progressed. Rumors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "about the Yule Ball were flying everywhere, though Harry didn't believe half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "of them - for instance, that Dumbledore had bought eight hundred barrels","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "of mulled mead from Madam Rosmerta. It seemed to be fact, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "that he had booked the Weird Sisters. Exactly who or what the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Weird Sisters were Harry didn't know, never having had access to a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "wizard's wireless, but he deduced from the wild excitement of those who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "had grown up listening to the WWN (Wizarding Wireless Network) that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "they were a very famous musical group. Some of the teachers,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "like little Professor Flitwick, gave up trying to teach them much when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "their minds were so clearly elsewhere; he allowed them to play games","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "in his lesson on Wednesday, and spent most of it talking to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry about the perfect Summoning Charm Harry had used during the first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "task of the Triwizard Tournament. Other teachers were not so generous. Nothing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "would ever deflect Professor Binns, for example, from plowing on through his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "notes on goblin rebellions - as Binns hadn't let his own death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "stand in the way of continuing to teach, they supposed a small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "thing like Christmas wasn't going to put him off. It was amazing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "how he could make even bloody and vicious goblin riots sound as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "boring as Percys cauldron-bottom report. Professors McGonagall and Moody kept them working","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "until the very last second of their classes too, and Snape, of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "course, would no sooner let them play games in class than adopt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry. Staring nastily around at them all, he informed them that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "would be testing them on poison antidotes during the last lesson of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the term. `Evil, he is,` Ron said bitterly that night in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the Gryffindor common room. `Springing a test on us on the last","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "day. Ruining the last bit of term with a whole load of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "studying.` `Mmm . . . you're not exactly straining yourself, though,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "are you?` said Hermione, looking at him over the top of her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Potions notes. Ron was busy building a card castle out of his Exploding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Snap pack - a much more interesting pastime than with Muggle cards,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "because of the chance that the whole thing would blow up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "any second. `It's Christmas, Hermione,` said Harry lazily; he was rereading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Flying with the Cannons for the tenth time in an armchair near","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the fire. Hermione looked severely over at him too. `I'd have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "thought you'd be doing something constructive, Harry, even if you don't want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to learn your antidotes!` `Like what?` Harry said as he watched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Joey Jenkins of the Cannons belt a Bludger toward a Ballycastle Bats","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Chaser. `That egg!` Hermione hissed. `Come on, Hermione, I've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "till February the twenty-fourth,` Harry said. He had put the golden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "egg upstairs in his trunk and hadn't opened it since the celebration","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "party after the first task. There were still two and a half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "months to go until he needed to know what all the screechy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "wailing meant, after all. `But it might take weeks to work","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "it out!` said Hermione. `You're going to look a real idiot if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "everyone else knows what the next task is and you don't!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Leave him alone, Hermione, he's earned a bit of a break,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Ron, and he placed the last two cards on top of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "castle and the whole lot blew up, singeing his eyebrows. `Nice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "look, Ron ... go well with your dress robes, that will.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "It was Fred and George. They sat down at the table with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione as Ron felt how much damage had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "done. `Ron, can we borrow Pigwidgeon?` George asked. `No, he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "off delivering a letter,` said Ron. `Why?` `Because George wants to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "invite him to the ball,` said Fred sarcastically. `Because we want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to send a letter, you stupid great prat,` said George. `Who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "d'you two keep writing to, eh?` said Ron. `Nose out, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "or I'll burn that for you too,` said Fred, waving his wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "threateningly. `So . . . you lot got dates for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "ball yet?` `Nope,` said Ron. `Well, you'd better hurry up,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "mate, or all the good ones will be gone,` said Fred. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Who're you going with, then?` said Ron. `Angelina,` said Fred promptly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "without a trace of embarrassment. `What?` said Ron, taken aback. `You've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "already asked her?` `Good point,` said Fred. He turned his head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and called across the common room, `Oi! Angelina!` Angelina, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "had been chatting with Alicia Spinnet near the fire, looked over at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "him. `What?` she called back. `Want to come to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "ball with me?` Angelina gave Fred an appraising sort of look.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `All right, then,` she said, and she turned back to Alicia","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and carried on chatting with a bit of a grin on her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "face. `There you go,` said Fred to Harry and Ron, `piece","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "of cake.` He got to his feet, yawning, and said, `We'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "better use a school owl then, George, come on. .. .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " They left. Ron stopped feeling his eyebrows and looked across the smoldering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "wreck of his card castle at Harry. `We should get a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "move on, you know . . . ask someone. He's right. We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "don't want to end up with a pair of trolls.` Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "let out a sputter of indignation. `A pair of... what, excuse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "me?` `Well - you know,` said Ron, shrugging. `I'd rather go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "alone than with - with Eloise Midgen, say.` `Her acne's loads","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "better lately - and she's really nice!` `Her nose is off-center,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said Ron. `Oh I see,` Hermione said, bristling. `So basically, you're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "going to take the best-looking girl who'll have you, even if she's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "completely horrible?` `Er - yeah, that sounds about right,` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `I'm going to bed,` Hermione snapped, and she swept off toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the girls' staircase without another word. The Hogwarts staff, demonstrating a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "continued desire to impress the visitors from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, seemed determined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to show the castle at its best this Christmas. When the decorations","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "went up. Harry noticed that they were the most stunning he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "yet seen inside the school. Everlasting icicles had been attached to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "banisters of the marble staircase; the usual twelve Christmas trees in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Great Hall were bedecked with everything from luminous holly berries to real,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "hooting, golden owls, and the suits of armor had all been bewitched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to sing carols whenever anyone passed them. It was quite something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to hear `0 Come, All Ye Faithful` sung by an empty helmet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "that only knew half the words. Several times, Filch the caretaker had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to extract Peeves from inside the armor, where he had taken to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "hiding, filling in the gaps in the songs with lyrics of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "own invention, all of which were very rude. And still. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "hadn't asked Cho to the ball. He and Ron were getting very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "nervous now, though as Harry pointed out, Ron would look much less","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "stupid than he would without a partner; Harry was supposed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "starting the dancing with the other champions. `I suppose there's always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Moaning Myrtle,` he said gloomily, referring to the ghost who haunted the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "girls' toilets on the second floor. `Harry - we've just got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to grit our teeth and do it,` said Ron on Friday morning,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "in a tone that suggested they were planning the storming of an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "impregnable fortress. `When we get back to the common room tonight, we'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "both have partners - agreed?` `Er . . . okay,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry. But every time he glimpsed Cho that day - during","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "break, and then lunchtime, and once on the way to History of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Magic - she was surrounded by friends. Didn't she ever go anywhere","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "alone? Could he perhaps ambush her as she was going into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "bathroom? But no - she even seemed to go there with an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "escort of four or five girls. Yet if he didn't do it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "soon, she was bound to have been asked by somebody else. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "He found it hard to concentrate on Snape's Potions test, and consequently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "forgot to add the key ingredient - a bezoar - meaning that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "received bottom marks. He didn't care, though; he was too busy screwing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "up his courage for what he was about to do. When the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "bell rang, he grabbed his bag, and hurried to the dungeon door.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `I'll meet you at dinner,` he said to Ron and Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and he dashed off upstairs. He'd just have to ask Cho","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "for a private word, that was all. ... He hurried off through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the packed corridors looking for her, and (rather sooner than he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "expected) he found her, emerging from a Defense Against the Dark Arts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "lesson. `Er - Cho? Could I have a word with you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " Giggling should be made illegal. Harry thought furiously, as all the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "girls around Cho started doing it. She didn't, though. She said, `Okay,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and followed him out of earshot other classmates. Harry turned to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "look at her and his stomach gave a weird lurch as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "he had missed a step going downstairs. `Er,` he said. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "He couldn't ask her. He couldn't. But he had to. Cho stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "there looking puzzled, watching him. The words came out before Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "quite got his tongue around them. `Wangoballwime?` `Sorry?` said Cho.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `D'you - d'you want to go to the ball with me?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said Harry. Why did he have to go red now? Why? ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Oh!` s aid Cho, and she went red too. `Oh Harry, I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "really sorry,` and she truly looked it. `I've already said I'll go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "with someone else.` `Oh,` said Harry. It was odd; a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "moment before his insides had been writhing like snakes, but suddenly he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "didn't seem to have any insides at all. `Oh okay,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said, `no problem.` `I'm really sorry,` she said again. `That's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "okay,` said Harry. They stood there looking at each other, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "then Cho said, `Well-` `Yeah,` said Harry. `Well, 'bye,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Cho, still very red. She walked away. Harry called after her,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "before he could stop himself. `Who're you going with?` `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "- Cedric,` she said. `Cedric Diggory.` `Oh right,` said Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "His insides had come back again. It felt as though they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "been filled with lead in their absence. Completely forgetting about dinner,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "he walked slowly back up to Gryffindor Tower, Cho's voice echoing in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "his ears with every step he took. `Cedric - Cedric Diggory.` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "had been starting to quite like Cedric - prepared to overlook the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "fact that he had once beaten him at Quidditch, and was handsome,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and popular, and nearly everyone's favorite champion. Now he suddenly realized that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Cedric was in fact a useless pretty boy who didn't have enough","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "brains to fill an eggcup. `Fairy lights,` he said dully to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "the Fat Lady - the password had been changed the previous day.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `Yes, indeed, dear!` she trilled, straightening her new tinsel hair band","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "as she swung forward to admit him. Entering the common room,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Harry looked around, and to his surprise he saw Ron sitting ashen-faced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "in a distant corner. Ginny was sitting with him, talking to him in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "what seemed to be a low, soothing voice. `What's up, Ron?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said Harry, joining them. Ron looked up at Harry, a sort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "of blind horror in his face. `Why did I do it?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "he said wildly. `I don't know what made me do it! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`What?` said Harry. `He - er - just asked Fleur Delacour","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "to go to the ball with him,` said Ginny. She looked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "though she was fighting back a smile, but she kept patting Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "arm sympathetically. `You what?' said Harry. `I don't know what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "made me do it!` Ron gasped again. `What was I playing at?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "There were people - all around - I've gone mad - everyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "she was standing there talking to Diggory - and it sort of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "came over me - and I asked her!` Ron moaned and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "put his face in his hands. He kept talking, though the words","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "were barely distinguishable. `She looked at me like I was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "sea slug or something. Didn't even answer. And then - I dunno","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "- I just sort of came to my senses and ran for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "it.` `She's part veela,` said Harry. `You were right - her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "grandmother was one. It wasn't your fault, I bet you just walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "past when she was turning on the old charm for Diggory and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "got a blast of it - but she was wasting her time.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "He's going with Cho Chang.` Ron looked up. `I asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "her to go with me just now,` Harry said dully, `and she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "told me.` Ginny had suddenly stopped smiling. `This is mad,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said Ron. `We're the only ones left who haven't got anyone -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "well, except Neville. Hey - guess who he asked? Hermione!` `What?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said Harry, completely distracted by this startling news. `Yeah, I know!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said Ron, some of the color coming back into his face as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "he started to laugh. `He told me after Potions! Said she's always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "been really nice, helping him out with work and stuff- but she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "told him she was already going with someone. Ha! As if! ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "She just didn't want to go with Neville ... I mean, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "would?` `Don't!` said Ginny, annoyed. `Don't laugh -` Just then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Hermione climbed in through the portrait hole. `Why weren't you two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "at dinner?` she said, coming over to join them. `Because -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "oh shut up laughing, you two - because they've both just been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "turned down by girls they asked to the ball!` said Ginny. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "That shut Harry and Ron up. `Thanks a bunch, Ginny,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Ron sourly. `All the good-looking ones taken, Ron?` said Hermione loftily.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you.` But Ron was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "staring at Hermione as though suddenly seeing her in a whole new","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "light. `Hermione, Neville's right - you are a girl. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" ".` `Oh well spotted,` she said acidly. `Well - you can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "come with one of us!` `No, I can't,` snapped Hermione. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Oh come on,` he said impatiently, `we need partners, we're going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "look really stupid if we haven't got any, everyone else has .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" ". .` `I can't come with you,` said Hermione, now blushing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`because I'm already going with someone.` `No, you're not!` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`You just said that to get rid of Neville!` `Oh did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "I?` said Hermione, and her eyes flashed dangerously. `Just because it's taken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "spotted I'm a girl!` Ron stared at her. Then he grinned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "again. `Okay, okay, we know you're a girl,` he said. `That","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "do? Will you come now?` `I've already told you!` Hermione said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "very angrily. `I'm going with someone else!` And she stormed off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "toward the girls' dormitories again. `She's lying,` said Ron flatly, watching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "her go. `She's not,` said Ginny quietly. `Who is it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "then?` said Ron sharply. `I'm not telling you, it's her business,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "said Ginny. `Right,` said Ron, who looked extremely put out, `this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "is getting stupid. Ginny, you can go with Harry, and I'll just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "-` `I can't,` said Ginny, and she went scarlet too. `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "going with - with Neville. He asked me when Hermione said no,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "and I thought. . . well. . . I'm not going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "be able to go otherwise, I'm not in fourth year.` She looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "extremely miserable. `I think I'll go and have dinner,` she said, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "she got up and walked off to the portrait hole, her head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "bowed. Ron goggled at Harry. `What's got into them?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "demanded. But Harry had just seen Parvati and Lavender come in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "through the portrait hole. The time had come for drastic action. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Wait here,` he said to Ron, and he stood up, walked straight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "up to Parvati, and said, `Parvati? Will you go to the ball","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "with me?` Parvati went into a fit of giggles. Harry waited","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "for them to subside, his fingers crossed in the pocket of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "robes. `Yes, all right then,` she said finally, blushing furiously. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Thanks,` said Harry, in relief. `Lavender - will you go with Ron?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " `She's going with Seamus,` said Parvati, and the pair of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "giggled harder than ever. Harry sighed. `Can't you think of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "anyone who'd go with Ron?` he said, lowering his voice so that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Ron wouldn't hear. `What about Hermione Granger?` said Parvati. `She's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "going with someone else.` Parvati looked astonished. `Ooooh - who?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "she said keenly. Harry shrugged. `No idea,` he said. `So what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "about Ron?` `Well. . .` said Parvati slowly, `I suppose my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "sister might. . . Padma, you know ... in Ravenclaw. I'll ask","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "her if you like.` `Yeah, that would be great,` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "`Let me know, will you?` And he went back over to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "Ron, feeling that this ball was a lot more trouble than it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" "was worth, and hoping very much that Padma Patil's nose was dead center. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-22" " Despite the very heavy load of homework that the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "fourth years had been given for the holidays. Harry was in no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "mood to work when term ended, and spent the week leading up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to Christmas enjoying himself as fully as possible along with everyone else.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Gryffindor Tower was hardly less crowded now than during term-time; it seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to have shrunk slightly too, as its inhabitants were being so much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "rowdier than usual. Fred and George had had a great success with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "their Canary Creams, and for the first couple of days of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "holidays, people kept bursting into feather all over the place. Before long,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "however, all the Gryffindors had learned to treat food anybody else offered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "them with extreme caution, in case it had a Canary Cream concealed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in the center, and George confided to Harry that he and Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were now working on developing something else. Harry made a mental note","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "never to accept so much as a crisp from Fred and George","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in future. He still hadn't forgotten Dudley and the Ton-Tongue Toffee. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Snow was falling thickly upon the castle and its grounds now. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "pale blue Beauxbatons carriage looked like a large, chilly, frosted pumpkin next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin, while the Durmstrang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ship's portholes were glazed with ice, the rigging white with frost. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "house-elves down in the kitchen were outdoing themselves with a series of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "rich, warming stews and savory puddings, and only Fleur Delacour seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "be able to find anything to complain about. `It is too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "'eavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food,` they heard her saying grumpily as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "left the Great Hall behind her one evening (Ron skulking behind Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "keen not to be spotted by Fleur). `I will not fit into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "my dress robes!` `Oooh there's a tragedy,` Hermione snapped as Fleur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "went out into the entrance hall. `She really thinks a lot of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "herself, that one, doesn't she?` `Hermione - who are you going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to the ball with?` said Ron. He kept springing this question","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "on her, hoping to startle her into a response by asking it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "when she least expected it. However, Hermione merely frowned and said, `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "not telling you, you'll just make fun of me.` `You're joking,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Weasley!` said Malfoy, behind them. `You're not telling me someone's asked that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?` ; Harry and Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "both whipped around, but Hermione said loudly, waving to somebody over Malfoys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "shoulder, `Hello, Professor Moody!` Malfoy went pale and jumped backward, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wildly around for Moody, but he was still up at the staff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "table, finishing his stew. `Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Hermione scathingly, and she, Harry, and Ron went up the marble staircase","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "laughing heartily. `Hermione,` said Ron, looking sideways at her, suddenly frowning,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`your teeth ...` `What about them?` she said. `Well, they're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "different. . . I've just noticed. . . .` `Of course","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "they are - did you expect me to keep those fangs Malfoy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "gave me?` `No, I mean, they're different to how they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "before he put that hex on you. . . . They're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "all... straight and - and normal-sized.` Hermione suddenly smiled very mischievously,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and Harry noticed it too: It was a very different smile from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the one he remembered. `Well. . . when I went up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk, she held up a mirror","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and told me to stop her when they were back to how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "they normally were,` she said. `And I just. . . let her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "carry on a bit.` She smiled even more widely. `Mum and Dad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "with my braces. You know, they're dentists, they just don't think teeth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and magic should - look! Pigwidgeons back!` Ron's tiny owl was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "twittering madly on the top of the icicle-laden banisters, a scroll of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "parchment tied to his leg. People passing him were pointing and laughing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and a group of third-year girls paused and said, `Oh look at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?` Stupid little feathery git!` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "hissed, hurrying up the stairs and snatching up Pigwidgeon. `You bring letters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!` Pigwidgeon hooted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "happily, his head protruding over Ron's fist. The third-year girls all looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "very shocked. `Clear off!` Ron snapped at them, waving the fist","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "holding Pigwidgeon, who hooted more happily than ever as he soared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "through the air. `Here - take it, Harry,` Ron added in an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "undertone as the third-year girls scuttled away looking scandalized. He pulled Sirius's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "reply off Pigwidgeons leg. Harry pocketed it, and they hurried back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Gryffindor Tower to read it. Everyone in the common room was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "much too busy in letting off more holiday steam to observe what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "anyone else was up to. Ron, Harry, and Hermione sat apart from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "everyone else by a dark window that was gradually filling up with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "snow, and Harry read out: Dear Harry, Congratulations on getting past","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the Horntail. Whoever put your name in that goblet shouldn't be feeling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitus Curse,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point - `That's what Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "did!` Hermione whispered -but your way was better, I'm impressed. Don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "get complacent, though. Harry. You've only done one task; whoever put you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in for the tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "hurt you. Keep your eyes open -particularly when the person we discussed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "is around and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble. Keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual. Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`He sounds exactly like Moody,` said Harry quietly, tucking the letter away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "again inside his robes. `'Constant vigilance!' You'd think I walk around with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "my eyes shut, banging off the walls. ...` `But he's right,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry,` said Hermione, `you have still got two tasks to do. You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "really ought to have a look at that egg, you know, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "start working out what it means. . . .` `Hermione, he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "got ages!` snapped Ron. `Want a game of chess, Harry?` `Yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "okay,` said Harry. Then, spotting the look on Hermione's face, he said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Come on, how'm I supposed to concentrate with all this noise going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "on? I won't even be able to hear the egg over this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "lot.` `Oh I suppose not,` she sighed, and she sat down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to watch their chess match, which culminated in an exciting checkmate of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ron's, involving a couple of recklessly brave pawns and a very violent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bishop. Harry awoke very suddenly on Christmas Day. Wondering what had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "caused his abrupt return to consciousness, he opened his eyes, and saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "something with very large, round, green eyes staring back at him in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the darkness, so close they were almost nose to nose. `Dobby!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry yelled, scrambling away from the elf so fast he almost fell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "out of bed. `Don't do that!` `Dobby is sorry, sir!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "squeaked Dobby anxiously, jumping backward with his long fingers over his mouth.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Dobby is only wanting to wish Harry Potter 'Merry Christmas' and bring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "him a present, Sir! Harry Potter did say Dobby could come and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "see him sometimes, sir!` It's okay,` said Harry, still breathing rather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "faster than usual, while his heart rate returned to normal. `Just -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "just prod me or something in future, all right, don't bend over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "me like that. ..` Harry pulled back the curtains around his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "four-poster, took his glasses from his bedside table, and put them on.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "His yell had awoken Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville. All of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were peering through the gaps in their own hangings, heavy-eyed and tousle-haired.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `Someone attacking you, Harry?` Seamus asked sleepily. `No, it's just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Dobby,` Harry muttered. `Go back to sleep.` `Nah . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "presents!` said Seamus, spotting the large pile at the foot of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bed. Ron, Dean, and Neville decided that now they were awake they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "might as well get down to some present-opening too. Harry turned back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to Dobby, who was now standing nervously next to Harrys bed, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "looking worried that he had upset Harry. There was a Christmas bauble","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "tied to the loop on top of his tea cozy. `Can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Dobby give Harry Potter his present?` he squeaked tentatively. `'Course you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "can,` said Harry. `Er. . . I've got something for you too.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " It was a lie; he hadn't bought anything for Dobby at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "all, but he quickly opened his trunk and pulled out a particularly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "knobbly rolled-up pair of socks. They were his oldest and foulest, mustard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "yellow, and had once belonged to Uncle Vernon. The reason they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "extra-knobbly was that Harry had been using them to cushion his Sneakoscope","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "for over a year now. He pulled out the Sneako-scope and handed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the socks to Dobby, saying, `Sorry, I forgot to wrap them...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "But Dobby was utterly delighted. `Socks are Dobby's favorite, favorite clothes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "sir!` he said, ripping off his odd ones and pulling on Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Vernon's. `I has seven now, sir. . . . But sir ...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he said, his eyes widening, having pulled both socks up to their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "highest extent, so that they reached to the bottom of his shorts,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`they has made a mistake in the shop, Harry Potter, they is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "giving you two the same!` `Ah, no, Harry, how come you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "didn't spot that?` said Ron, grinning over from his own bed, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was now strewn with wrapping paper. `Tell you what, Dobby - here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "you go - take these two, and you can mix them up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "properly. And here's your sweater.` He threw Dobby a pair of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "violet socks he had just unwrapped, and the hand-knitted sweater Mrs. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "had sent, Dobby looked quite overwhelmed. `Sir is very kind!` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "squeaked, his eyes brimming with tears again, bowing deeply to Ron. `Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "knew sir must be a great wizard, for he is Harry Potter's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "greatest friend, but Dobby did not know that he was also as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "generous of spirit, as noble, as selfless -` `They're only socks,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said Ron, who had gone slightly pink around the ears, though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "looked rather pleased all the same. `Wow, Harry -` He had just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "opened Harry's present, a Chudley Cannon hat. `Cool!` He jammed it onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his head, where it clashed horribly with his hair. Dobby now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "handed Harry a small package, which turned out to be - socks.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `Dobby is making them himself, sir!` the elf said happily. `He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "is buying the wool out of his wages, sir!` The left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "sock was bright red and had a pattern of broomsticks upon it;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the right sock was green with a pattern of Snitches. `They're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" ". . . they're really . . . well, thanks, Dobby,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry, and he pulled them on, causing Dobby's eyes to leak with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "happiness again. `Dobby must go now, sir, we is already making","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Christmas dinner in the kitchens!` said Dobby, and he hurried out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the dormitory, waving good-bye to Ron and the others as he passed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " Harry's other presents were much more satisfactory than Dobby's odd socks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "- with the obvious exception of the Dursleys', which consisted of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "single tissue, an all-time low -Harry supposed they too were remember ing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the Ton-Tongue Toffee. Hermione had given Harry a book called Quidditch Teams","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of Britain and Ireland; Ron, a bulging bag of Dungbombs; Sirius, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "handy penknife with attachments to unlock any lock and undo any knot;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and Hagrid, a vast box of sweets including all Harrys favorites: Bertie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and Fizzing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Whizbees. There was also, of course, Mrs. Weasley's usual package, including","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a new sweater (green, with a picture of a dragon on it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "- Harry supposed Charlie had told her all about the Horntail), and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a large quantity of homemade mince pies. Harry and Ron met","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "up with Hermione in the common room, and they went down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "breakfast together. They spent most of the morning in Gryffindor Tower, where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "everyone was enjoying their presents, then returned to the Great Hall for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a magnificent lunch, which included at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "puddings, and large piles of Cribbage's Wizarding Crackers. They went out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "onto the grounds in the afternoon; the snow was untouched except for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the deep channels made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "way up to the castle. Hermione chose to watch Harry and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Weasleys' snowball fight rather than join in, and at five o'clock said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "she was going back upstairs to get ready for the ball. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`What, you need three hours?` said Ron, looking at her incredulously and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "paying for his lapse in concentration when a large snowball, thrown by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "George, hit him hard on the side of the head. `Who're you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "going with?` he yelled after Hermione, but she just waved and disappeared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "up the stone steps into the castle. There was no Christmas","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "tea today, as the ball included a feast, so at seven o'clock,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "when it had become hard to aim properly, the others abandoned their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "snowball fight and trooped back to the common room. The Fat Lady","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was sitting in her frame with her friend Violet from downstairs, both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of them extremely tipsy, empty boxes of chocolate liqueurs littering the bottom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "other picture. `Lairy fights, that's the one!` she giggled when they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "gave the password, and she swung forward to let them inside. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville changed into their dress robes up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in their dormitory, all of them looking very self-conscious, but none as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "much as Ron, who surveyed himself in the long mirror in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "corner with an appalled look on his face. There was just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "no getting around the fact that his robes looked more like a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "dress than anything else. In a desperate attempt to make them look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "more manly, he used a Severing Charm on the ruff and cuffs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "It worked fairly well; at least he was now lace-free, although he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "hadn't done a very neat job, and the edges still looked depressingly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "frayed as the boys set off downstairs. `I still can't work","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "out how you two got the best-looking girls in the year,` muttered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Dean. `Animal magnetism,` said Ron gloomily, pulling stray threads out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his cuffs. The common room looked strange, full of people wearing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "different colors instead of the usual mass of black. Parvati was waiting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "for Harry at the foot of the stairs. She looked very pretty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "indeed, in robes of shocking pink, with her long dark plait braided","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "with gold, and gold bracelets glimmering at her wrists. Harry was relieved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to see that she wasn't giggling. `You - er - look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "nice,` he said awkwardly. `Thanks,` she said. `Padma's going to meet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "you in the entrance hall,` she added to Ron. `Right,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ron, looking around. `Where's Hermione?` Parvati shrugged. `Shall we go down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "then, Harry?` `Okay,` said Harry, wishing he could just stay in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the common room. Fred winked at Harry as he passed him on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the way out of the portrait hole. The entrance hall was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "packed with students too, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock, when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "trying to find one another. Parvati found her sister, Padma, and led","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "her over to Harry and Ron. `Hi,` said Padma, who was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright turquoise. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "She didn't look too enthusiastic about having Ron as a partner, though;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "her dark eyes lingered on the frayed neck and sleeves of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "dress robes as she looked him up and down. `Hi,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ron, not looking at her, but staring around at the crowd. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "no ...` He bent his knees slightly to hide behind Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "because Fleur Delacour was passing, looking stunning in robes of silver-gray satin,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and accompanied by the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Roger Davies. When they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "disappeared, Ron stood straight again and stared over the heads of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "crowd. `Where is Hermione?` he said again. A group of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Slytherins came up the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "high collar, which in Harry's opinion made him look like a vicar.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "arm. Crabbe and Goyle were both wearing green; they resembled moss-colored boulders,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and neither of them, Harry was pleased to see, had managed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "find a partner. The oak front doors opened, and everyone turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to look as the Durmstrang students entered with Professor Karkaroff. Krum was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at the front of the party, accompanied by a pretty girl in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "blue robes Harry didn't know. Over their heads he saw that an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "area of lawn right in front of the castle had been transformed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "into a sort of grotto full of fairy lights - meaning hundreds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of actual living fairies were sitting in the rosebushes that had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "conjured there, and fluttering over the statues of what seemed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Father Christmas and his reindeer. Then Professor McGonagall's voice called, `Champions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "over here, please!` Parvati readjusted her bangles, beaming; she and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said, `See you in a minute` to Ron and Padma and walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "forward, the chattering crowd parting to let them through. Professor McGonagall, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was wearing dress robes of red tartan and had arranged a rather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ugly wreath of thistles around the brim other hat, told them to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "they were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of the students had sat down. Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies stationed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "themselves nearest the doors; Davies looked so stunned by his good fortune","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in having Fleur for a partner that he could hardly take his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "eyes off her. Cedric and Cho were close to Harry too; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "looked away from them so he wouldn't have to talk to them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "His eyes fell instead on the girl next to Krum. His jaw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "dropped. It was Hermione. But she didn't look like Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at all. She had done something with her hair; it was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "longer bushy but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "- or maybe it was merely the absence of the twenty ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "or so books she usually had slung over her back. She was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "also smiling - rather nervously, it was true - but the reduction","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in the size of her front teeth was more noticeable than ever;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry couldn't understand how he hadn't spotted it before. `Hi, Harry!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "she said. `Hi, Parvati!` Parvati was gazing at Hermione in unflattering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "disbelief. She wasn't the only one either; when the doors to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Great Hall opened, Krum's fan club from the library stalked past, throwing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Hermione looks of deepest loathing. Pansy Parkinson gaped at her as she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "walked by with Malfoy, and even he didn't seem to be able","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to find an insult to throw at her. Ron, however, walked right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "past Hermione without looking at her. Once everyone else was settled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "get in line in pairs and to follow her. They did so,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "walking up toward a large round table at the top of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Hall, where the judges were sitting. The walls of the Hall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "seating about a dozen people. Harry concentrated on not tripping over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his feet. Parvati seemed to be enjoying herself; she was beaming around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at everybody, steering Harry so forcefully that he felt as though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were a show dog she was putting through its paces. He caught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "sight of Ron and Padma as he neared the top table. Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was watching Hermione pass with narrowed eyes. Padma was looking sulky. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, but Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wore an expression remarkably like Ron's as he watched Krum and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, tonight in robes of bright purple with large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Madame Maxime, who had changed her usual uniform of black satin for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Mr. Crouch, Harry suddenly realized, was not there. The fifth seat at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the table was occupied by Percy Weasley. When the champions and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "their partners reached the table, Percy drew out the empty chair beside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "him, staring pointedly at Harry. Harry took the hint and sat down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "next to Percy, who was wearing brand-new, navy-blue dress robes and an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "expression of such smugness that Harry thought it ought to be fined.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `I've been promoted,` Percy said before Harry could even ask, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "from his tone, he might have been announcing his election as supreme","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ruler of the universe. `I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I'm here representing him.` `Why didn't he come?` Harry asked. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wasn't looking forward to being lectured on cauldron bottoms all through dinner.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `I'm afraid to say Mr. Crouch isn't well, not well at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "all. Hasn't been right since the World Cup. Hardly surprising - overwork.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "He's not as young as he was - though still quite brilliant,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of course, the mind remains as great as it ever was. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the World Cup was a fiasco for the whole Ministry, and then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Mr. Crouch suffered a huge personal shock with the misbehavior of that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "house-elf of his, Blinky, or whatever she was called. Naturally, he dismissed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "her immediately afterward, but - well, as I say, he's getting on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he needs looking after, and I think he's found a definite drop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in his home comforts since she left. And then we had the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "tournament to arrange, and the aftermath of the Cup to deal with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "- that revolting Skeeter woman buzzing around - no, poor man, he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "having a well earned, quiet Christmas. I'm just glad he knew he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "had someone he could rely upon to take his place.` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wanted very much to ask whether Mr. Crouch had stopped calling Percy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Weatherby` yet, but resisted the temptation. There was no food","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "as yet on the glittering golden plates, but small menus were lying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in front of each of them. Harry picked his up uncertainly and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "looked around - there were no waiters. Dumbledore, however, looked carefully down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at his own menu, then said very clearly to his plate, `Pork","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "chops!` And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the table placed their orders with their plates too. Harry glanced up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at Hermione to see how she felt about this new and more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "complicated method of dining - surely it meant plenty of extra work","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "for the house-elves? - but for once, Hermione didn't seem to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "thinking about S.P.E.W. She was deep in talk with Viktor Krum and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "hardly seemed to notice what she was eating. It now occurred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to Harry that he had never actually heard Krum speak before, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he was certainly talking now, and very enthusiastically at that. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Veil, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "as comfortable, I am thinking,` he was telling Hermione. `Ve have just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ve have grounds larger even than these - though in vinter, ve","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "have very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "-` `Now, now, Viktor!` said Karkaroff with a laugh that didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "reach his cold eyes, `don't go giving away anything else, now, or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!` Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "smiled, his eyes twinkling. `Igor, all this secrecy ., . one would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "almost think you didn't want visitors.` `Well, Dumbledore,` said Karkaroff, displaying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his yellowing teeth to their fullest extent, `we are all protective of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "our private domains, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "right to protect them?` `Oh I would never dream of assuming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor,` said Dumbledore amicably. `Only this morning,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "it is only accessible at five-thirty in the morning. Or it may","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "only appear at the quarter moon - or when the seeker has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "an exceptionally full bladder.` Harry snorted into his plate of goulash.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Percy frowned, but Harry could have sworn Dumbledore had given him a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "very small wink. Meanwhile Fleur Delacour was criticizing the Hogwarts decorations","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to Roger Davies. `Zis is nothing,` she said dismissively, looking around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall. `At ze Palace of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Zey do not melt, of course . . . zey are like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "seemply superb. And we 'ave choirs of wood nymphs, 'oo serenade us","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "as we eat. We 'ave none of zis ugly armor in ze","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "'alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, 'e would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "expelled like zat.` She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " Roger Davies was watching her talk with a very dazed look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "on his face, and he kept missing his mouth with his fork.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry had the impression that Davies was too busy staring at Fleur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to take in a word she was saying. `Absolutely right,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said quickly, slapping his own hand down on the table in imitation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of Fleur. `Like that. Yeah.` Harry looked around the Hall. Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was sitting at one of the other staff tables; he was back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in his horrible hairy brown suit and gazing up at the top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "table. Harry saw him give a small wave, and looking around, saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Madame Maxime return it, her opals glittering in the candlelight. Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was now teaching Krum to say her name properly; he kept calling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "her `Hermy-own.` `Her-my-oh-nee,` she said slowly and clearly. `Herm-own-ninny.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Close enough,` she said, catching Harry's eye and grinning. When all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bagpipes were set upon it. The `Weird Sisters now trooped up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "They picked up their instruments, and Harry, who had been so interested","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in watching them that he had almost forgotten what was coming, suddenly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "realized that the lanterns on all the other tables had gone out,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and that the other champions and their partners were standing up. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Come on!` Parvati hissed. `We're supposed to dance!` Harry tripped over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his dress robes as he stood up. The Weird Sisters struck up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a slow, mournful tune; Harry walked onto the brightly lit dance floor,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "carefully avoiding catching anyone's eye (he could see Seamus and Dean waving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at him and sniggering), and next moment, Parvati had seized his hands,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "placed one around her waist, and was holding the other tightly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "in hers. It wasn't as bad as it could have been.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry thought, revolving slowly on the spot (Parvati was steering). He kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his eyes fixed over the heads of the watching people, and very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "soon many of them too had come onto the dance floor, so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "that the champions were no longer the center of attention. Neville and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ginny were dancing nearby - he could see Ginny wincing frequently as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Neville trod on her feet - and Dumbledore was waltzing with Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Maxime. He was so dwarfed by her that the top of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "pointed hat barely tickled her chin; however, she moved very gracefully for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a woman so large. Mad-Eye Moody was doing an extremely ungainly two-step","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "with Professor Sinistra, who was nervously avoiding his wooden leg. `Nice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "socks. Potter,` Moody growled as he passed, his magical eye staring through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry's robes. `Oh - yeah, Dobby the house-elf knitted them for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "me,` said Harry, grinning. `He is so creepy!` Parvati whispered as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Moody clunked away. `I don't think that eye should be allowed.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry heard the final, quavering note from the bagpipe with relief. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Weird Sisters stopped playing, applause filled the hall once more, and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "let go of Parvati at once. `Let's sit down, shall we?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `Oh - but - this is a really good one!` Parvati","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said as the Weird Sisters struck up a new song, which was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "much faster. `No, I don't like it,` Harry lied, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "led her away from the dance floor, past Fred and Angelina, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were dancing so exhuberantly that people around them were backing away in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "fear of injury, and over to the table where Ron and Padma","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were sitting. `How's it going?` Harry asked Ron, sitting down and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "opening a bottle of butterbeer. Ron didn't answer. He was glaring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at Hermione and Krum, who were dancing nearby. Padma was sitting with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "her arms and legs crossed, one foot jiggling in time to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "music. Every now and then she threw a disgruntled look at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ron, who was completely ignoring her. Parvati sat down on Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "other side, crossed her arms and legs too, and within minutes was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "asked to dance by a boy from Beauxbatons. `You don't mind,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "do you, Harry?` Parvati said. `What?` said Harry, who was now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "watching Cho and Cedric. `Oh never mind,` snapped Parvati, and she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "went off with the boy from Beauxbatons. When the song ended, she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "did not return. Hermione came over and sat down in Parvati's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "empty chair. She was a bit pink in the face from dancing.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `Hi,` said Harry. Ron didn't say anything. `It's hot, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "it?` said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. `Viktors just gone to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "get some drinks.` Ron gave her a withering look. `Viktor?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said. `Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?` Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "looked at him in surprise. `What's up with you?` she said. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`If you don't know,` said Ron scathingly, `I'm not going to tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "you.` Hermione stared at him, then at Harry, who shrugged. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Ron, what - ?` `He's from Durmstrang!` spat Ron. `He's competing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "against Harry! Against Hogwarts! You -you're -` Ron was obviously casting around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "for words strong enough to describe Hermione's crime, `fraternizing with the enemy,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "that's what you're doing!` Hermione's mouth fell open. `Don't be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "so stupid!` she said after a moment. `The enemy! Honestly - who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "model of him up in their dormitory?` Ron chose to ignore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "this. `I s'pose he asked you to come with him while you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were both in the library?` `Yes, he did,` said Hermione, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "pink patches on her cheeks glowing more brightly. `So what?` `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "happened - trying to get him to join spew, were you?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he - he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the courage!` Hermione said this very quickly, and blushed so deeply","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "that she was the same color as Parvati's robes. `Yeah, well","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "- that's his story,` said Ron nastily. `And what's that supposed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to mean?` `Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "knows who you hang around with. . . . He's just trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to get closer to Harry - get inside information on him -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "or get near enough to jinx him -` Hermione looked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "though Ron had slapped her. When she spoke, her voice quivered. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "not one -` Ron changed tack at the speed of light.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cozy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "little library sessions -` `I'd never help him work out that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "egg!` said Hermione, looking outraged. `Never. How could you say something like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "that - I want Harry to win the tournament. Harry knows that,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "don't you, Harry?` `You've got a funny way of showing it,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "sneered Ron. `This whole tournament's supposed to be about getting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "know foreign wizards and making friends with them!` said Hermione hotly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`No it isn't!` shouted Ron. `It's about winning!` People were starting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to stare at them. `Ron,` said Harry quietly, `I haven't got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a problem with Hermione coming with Krum -` But Ron ignored","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry too. `Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wondering where you are,` said Ron. `Don't call him Vicky!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Hermione jumped to her feet and stormed off across the dance floor,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "disappearing into the crowd. Ron watched her go with a mixture of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "anger and satisfaction on his face. `Are you going to ask","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "me to dance at all?` Padma asked him. `No,` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "still glaring after Hermione. `Fine,` snapped Padma, and she got up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and went to join Parvati and the Beauxbatons boy, who conjured up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "one of his friends to join them so fast that Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "have sworn he had zoomed him there by a Summoning Charm. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Vare is Herm-own-ninny?` said a voice. Krum had just arrived at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "their table clutching two butterbeers. `No idea,` said Ron mulishly, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "up at him. `Lost her, have you?` Krum was looking surly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "again. `Veil, if you see her, tell her I haff drinks,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he said, and he slouched off. `Made friends with Viktor Krum,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "have you, Ron?` Percy had bustled over, rubbing his hands together","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and looking extremely pompous. `Excellent! That's the whole point, you know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "- international magical cooperation!` To Harry's displeasure, Percy now took Padma's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "vacated seat. The top table was now empty; Professor Dumbledore was dancing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "with Professor Sprout, Ludo Bagman with Professor McGonagall; Madame Maxime and Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were cutting a wide path around the dance floor as they waltzed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "through the students, and Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen. When the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "next song ended, everybody applauded once more, and Harry saw Ludo Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "kiss Professor McGonagall's hand and make his way back through the crowds,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at which point Fred and George accosted him. `What do they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "think they're doing, annoying senior Ministry members?` Percy hissed, watching Fred and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "George suspiciously. `No respect...` Ludo Bagman shook off Fred and George","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "fairly quickly, however, and, spotting Harry, waved and came over to their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "table. `I hope my brothers weren't bothering you, Mr. Bagman?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Percy at once. `What? Oh not at all, not at all!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said Bagman. `No, they were just telling me a bit more about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "those fake wands of theirs. Wondering if I could advise them on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the marketing. I've promised to put them in touch with a couple","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of contacts of mine at Zonko's Joke Shop. ...` Percy didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "look happy about this at all, and Harry was prepared to bet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he would be rushing to tell Mrs. Weasley about this the moment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he got home. Apparently Fred and George's plans had grown even more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ambitious lately, if they were hoping to sell to the public. Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "opened his mouth to ask Harry something, but Percy diverted him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`How do you feel the tournament's going, Mr. Bagman? Our department's quite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "satisfied -the hitch with the Goblet of Fire` - he glanced at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry - `was a little unfortunate, of course, but it seems to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "have gone very smoothly since, don't you think?` `Oh yes,` Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said cheerfully, `it's all been enormous fun. How's old Barty doing? ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Shame he couldn't come.` `Oh I'm sure Mr. Crouch will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "up and about in no time,` said Percy importantly, `but in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "meantime, I'm more than willing to take up the slack. Of course,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "it's not all attending balls` - he laughed airily - `oh no,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I've had to deal with all sorts of things that have cropped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "up in his absence - you heard Ali Bashir was caught smuggling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a consignment of flying carpets into the country? And then we've been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "trying to persuade the Transylvanians to sign the International Ban on Dueling.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I've got a meeting with their Head of Magical Cooperation in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "new year -` `Let's go for a walk,` Ron muttered to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry, `get away from Percy. ...` Pretending they wanted more drinks.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry and Ron left the table, edged around the dance floor, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "slipped out into the entrance hall. The front doors stood open, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winked and twinkled as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "they went down the front steps, where they found themselves surrounded by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bushes; winding, ornamental paths; and large stone statues. Harry could hear splashing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "water, which sounded like a fountain. Here and there, people were sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "on carved benches. He and Ron set off along one of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "winding paths through the rosebushes, but they had gone only a short","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "way when they heard an unpleasantly familiar voice. `... don't see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "what there is to fuss about, Igor.` `Severus, you cannot pretend","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "this isn't happening!` Karkaroffs voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "not to be overheard. `It's been getting clearer and clearer for months.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it _` `Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "flee,` said Snapes voice curtly. `Flee - I will make your excuses.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts.` Snape and Karkaroff came around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the corner. Snape had his wand out and was blasting rosebushes apart,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his expression most ill-natured. Squeals issued from many of the bushes, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "dark shapes emerged from them. `Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!` Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "snarled as a girl ran past him. `And ten points from Hufflepuff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "too, Stebbins!` as a boy went rushing after her. `And what are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "you two doing?` he added, catching sight of Harry and Ron on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the path ahead. Karkaroff, Harry saw, looked slightly discomposed to see them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "standing there. His hand went nervously to his goatee, and he began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "winding it around his finger. `We re walking,` Ron told Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "shortly. `Not against the law, is it?` `Keep walking, then!` Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "snarled, and he brushed past them, his long black cloak billowing out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "behind him. Karkaroff hurried away after Snape. Harry and Ron continued down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the path. `What's got Karkaroff all worried?` Ron muttered. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "since when have he and Snape been on first-name terms?`said Harry slowly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " They had reached a large stone reindeer now, over which they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "could see the sparkling jets of a tall fountain. The shadowy outlines","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of two enormous people were visible on a stone bench, watching the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "water in the moonlight. And then Harry heard Hagrid speak. `Momen'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I saw yeh, I knew,` he was saying, in an oddly husky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "voice. Harry and Ron froze. This didn't sound like the sort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of scene they ought to walk in on, somehow. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry looked around, back up the path, and saw Fleur Delacour and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Roger Davies standing half-concealed in a rosebush nearby. He tapped Ron on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the shoulder and jerked his head toward them, meaning that they could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "easily sneak off that way without being noticed (Fleur and Davies looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "very busy to Harry), but Ron, eyes widening in horror at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "sight of Fleur, shook his head vigorously, and pulled Harry deeper into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the shadows behind the reindeer. `What did you know, 'Agrid?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Madame Maxime, a purr in her low voice. Harry definitely didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "want to listen to this; he knew Hagrid would hate to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "overheard in a situation like this (he certainly would have) - if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "it had been possible he would have put his fingers in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ears and hummed loudly, but that wasn't really an option. Instead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he tried to interest himself in a beetle crawling along the stone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "reindeer's back, but the beetle just wasn't interesting enough to block out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Hagrid's next words. `I jus' knew . . . knew you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were like me. . . . Was it yer mother or yer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "father?` `I - I don't know what you mean, 'Agrid. ...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `It was my mother,` said Hagrid quietly. `She was one o'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the las' ones in Britain. 'Course, I can' remember her too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "well. . . she left, see. When I was abou' three. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wasn' really the maternal sort. Well. . . it's not in their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "natures, is it? Dunno what happened to her . . . might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "be dead fer all I know. ...` Madame Maxime didn't say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "anything. And Harry, in spite of himself, took his eyes off the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " beetle and looked over the top of the reindeer's antlers, listening.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "... He had never heard Hagrid talk about his childhood before. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`Me dad was broken-hearted when she wen'. Tiny little bloke, my dad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was. By the time I was six I could lift him up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "an' put him on top o' the dresser if he annoyed me.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Used ter make him laugh. . . .` Hagrid's deep voice broke.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Madame Maxime was listening, motionless, apparently staring at the silvery fountain. `Dad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "raised me . . . but he died, o' course, jus' after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I started school. Sorta had ter make me own way after that.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "was. . . .` Hagrid pulled out a large spotted silk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "handkerchief and blew his nose heavily. `So ... anyway . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" ". enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "on?` But Madame Maxime had suddenly got to her feet. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`It is chilly,` she said - but whatever the weather was doing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "it was nowhere near as cold as her voice. `I think I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "will go in now.` `Eh?` said Hagrid blankly. `No, don go!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "I've - I've never met another one before!` `Anuzzer what, precisely?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said Madame Maxime, her tone icy. Harry could have told Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "it was best not to answer; he stood there in the shadows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "gritting his teeth, hoping against hope he wouldn't - but it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "no good. `Another half-giant, o' course!` said Hagrid. `'Ow dare you!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "shrieked Madame Maxime. Her voice exploded through the peaceful night air like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a foghorn; behind him. Harry heard Fleur and Roger fall out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "their rosebush. `I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "'Alf-giant? Moi? I 'ave - I 'ave big bones!` She stormed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "away; great multicolored swarms of fairies rose into the air as she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "passed, angrily pushing aside bushes. Hagrid was still sitting on the bench,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "staring after her. It was much too dark to make out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "his expression. Then, after about a minute, he stood up and strode","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "away, not back to the castle, but off out into the dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "grounds in the direction of his cabin. `C'mon,` Harry said, very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "quietly to Ron. `Let's go. . . .` But Ron didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "move. `What's up?` said Harry, looking at him. Ron looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "around at Harry, his expression very serious indeed. `Did you know?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "he whispered. `About Hagrid being half-giant?` `No,` Harry said, shrugging. `So","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "what?` He knew immediately, from the look Ron was giving him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "that he was once again revealing his ignorance of the wizarding world.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Brought up by the Dursleys, there were many things that wizards took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "for granted that were revelations to Harry, but these surprises had become","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "fewer with each successive year. Now, however, he could tell that most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "wizards would not have said `So what?` upon finding out that one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "of their friends had a giantess for a mother. `I'll explain","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "inside,` said Ron quietly, `c'mon. . ..` Fleur and Roger Davies","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "had disappeared, probably into a more private clump of bushes. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and Ron returned to the Great Hall. Parvati and Padma were now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "sitting at a distant table with a whole crowd of Beauxbatons boys,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and Hermione was once more dancing with Krum. Harry and Ron sat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "down at a table far removed from the dance floor. `So?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry prompted Ron. `What's the problem with giants?` `Well, they're .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" ". . they're . . .` Ron struggled for words. `. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" ". not very nice,` he finished lamely. `Who cares?` Harry said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`There's nothing wrong with Hagrid!` `I know there isn't, but. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" ". blimey, no wonder he keeps it quiet,` Ron said, shaking his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "head. `I always thought he'd got in the way of a bad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Engorgement Charm when he was a kid or something. Didn't like to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "mention it. ...` `But what's it matter if his mother was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "a giantess?` said Harry. `Well... no one who knows him will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "care, 'cos they'll know he's not dangerous,` said Ron slowly. `But. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" ". Harry, they're just vicious, giants. It's like Hagrid said, it's in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "their natures, they're like trolls . . . they just like killing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "everyone knows that. There aren't any left in Britain now, though.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " `What happened to them?` `Well, they were dying out anyway,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "and then loads got themselves killed by Aurors. There're supposed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "be giants abroad, though. . . . They hide out in mountains","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "mostly. . . .` `I don't know who Maxime thinks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "she's kidding,` Harry said, watching Madame Maxime sitting alone at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "judges' table, looking very somber. `If Hagrid's half-giant, she definitely is. Big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bones . .. the only thing that's got bigger bones than her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "is a dinosaur.` Harry and Ron spent the rest of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ball discussing giants in their corner, neither of them having any inclination","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to dance. Harry tried not to watch Cho and Cedric too much;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "it gave him a strong desire to kick something. When the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Weird Sisters finished playing at midnight, everyone gave them a last, loud","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "round of applause and started to wend their way into the entrance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "hall. Many people were expressing the wish that the ball could have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "gone on longer, but Harry was perfectly happy to be going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bed; as far as he was concerned, the evening hadn't been much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "fun. Out in the entrance hall, Harry and Ron saw Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "saying good night to Krum before he went back to the Durmstrang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ship. She gave Ron a very cold look and swept past him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "up the marble staircase without speaking. Harry and Ron followed her, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "halfway up the staircase Harry heard someone calling him. `Hey-Harry!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "It was Cedric Diggory. Harry could see Cho waiting for him in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the entrance hall below. `Yeah?` said Harry coldly as Cedric ran","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "up the stairs toward him. Cedric looked as though he didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "want to say whatever it was in front of Ron, who shrugged,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "looking bad-tempered, and continued to climb the stairs. `Listen ...` Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "lowered his voice as Ron disappeared. `I owe you one for telling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "me about the dragons. You know that golden egg? Does yours wail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "when you open it?` `Yeah,` said Harry. `Well... take a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bath, okay?` `What?` `Take a bath, and - er -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "take the egg with you, and - er - just mull things","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "over in the hot water. It'll help you think. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Trust me.` Harry stared at him. `Tell you what,` Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "said, `use the prefects' bathroom. Fourth door to the left of that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "statue of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor. Password's 'pine fresh.'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Gotta go ... want to say good night -` He grinned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "at Harry again and hurried back down the stairs to Cho. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry walked back to Gryffindor Tower alone. That had been extremely strange","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "advice. Why would a bath help him to work out what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "the wailing egg meant? Was Cedric pulling his leg? Was he trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "to make Harry look like a fool, so Cho would like him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "even more by comparison? The Fat Lady and her friend Vi","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were snoozing in the picture over the portrait hole. Harry had to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "yell `Fairy lights!` before he woke them up, and when he did,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "they were extremely irritated. He climbed into the common room and found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ron and Hermione having a blazing row. Standing ten feet apart, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "were bellowing at each other, each scarlet in the face. `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "you?` yelled Hermione; her hair was coming down out of its elegant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "bun now, and her face was screwed up in anger. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "yeah?` Ron yelled back. `What's that?` `Next time there's a ball,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " Ron mouthed soundlessly like a goldfish out of water as Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "turned on her heel and stormed up the girls' staircase to bed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ron turned to look at Harry. `Well,` he sputtered, looking thunderstruck,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "`well - that just proves - completely missed the point -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Harry didn't say anything. He liked being back on speaking terms with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "Ron too much to speak his mind right now - but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" "somehow thought that Hermione had gotten the point much better than Ron had. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-23" " Everybody got up late on Boxing Day. The Gryffindor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "common room was much quieter than it had been lately, many yawns","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "punctuating the lazy conversations. Hermione's hair was bushy again; she confessed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry that she had used liberal amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "it for the ball, `but it's way too much bother to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "every day,` she said matter-of-factly, scratching a purring Crookshanks behind the ears.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " Ron and Hermione seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "to discuss their argument. They were being quite friendly to each other,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "though oddly formal. Ron and Harry wasted no time in telling Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "about the conversation they had overheard between Madame Maxime and Hagrid, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hermione didn't seem to find the news that Hagrid was a half-giant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "nearly as shocking as Ron did. `Well, I thought he must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "be,` she said, shrugging. `I knew he couldn't be pure giant because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "they're about twenty feet tall. But honestly, all this hysteria about giants.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " They can't all be horrible. . . . It's the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "sort of prejudice that people have toward werewolves. . . . It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "just bigotry, isn't it?` Ron looked as though he would have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "liked to reply scathingly, but perhaps he didn't want another row, because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "he contented himself with shaking his head disbelievingly while Hermione wasn't looking.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " It was time now to think of the homework they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "neglected during the first week of the holidays. Everybody seemed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "feeling rather flat now that Christmas was over -everybody except Harry, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "is, who was starting (once again) to feel slightly nervous. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "trouble was that February the twenty-fourth looked a lot closer from this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "side of Christmas, and he still hadn't done anything about working out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the clue inside the golden egg. He therefore started taking the egg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "out of his trunk every time he went up to the dormitory,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "opening it, and listening intently, hoping that this time it would make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "some sense. He strained to think what the sound reminded him of,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "apart from thirty musical saws, but he had never heard anything else","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "like it. He closed the egg, shook it vigorously, and opened it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "again to see if the sound had changed, but it hadn't. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "tried asking the egg questions, shouting over all the wailing, but nothing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "happened. He even threw the egg across the room - though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "hadn't really expected that to help. Harry had not forgotten the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "hint that Cedric had given him, but his less-than-friendly feelings toward Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "just now meant that he was keen not to take his help","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "if he could avoid it. In any case, it seemed to him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "that if Cedric had really wanted to give Harry a hand, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "would have been a lot more explicit. He, Harry, had told Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "exactly what was coming in the first task - and Cedric's idea","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of a fair exchange had been to tell Harry to take a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "bath. Well, he didn't need that sort of rubbishy help - not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "from someone who kept walking down corridors hand in hand with Cho,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "anyway. And so the first day of the new term arrived, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry set off to lessons, weighed down with books, parchment, and quills","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "as usual, but also with the lurking worry of the egg heavy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "in his stomach, as though he were carrying that around with him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "too. Snow was still thick upon the grounds, and the greenhouse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "windows were covered in condensation so thick that they couldn't see out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of them in Herbology. Nobody was looking forward to Care of Magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Creatures much in this weather, though as Ron said, the skrewts would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "probably warm them up nicely, either by chasing them, or blasting off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "so forcefully that Hagrid's cabin would catch fire. When they arrived","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "at Hagrid 's cabin, however, they found an elderly witch with closely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "cropped gray hair and a very prominent chin standing before his front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "door. `Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago,` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "barked at them as they struggled toward her through the snow. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Who're you?` said Ron, staring at her. `Wheres Hagrid?` `My name","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "is Professor Grubbly-Plank,` she said briskly. `I am your temporary Care of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Magical Creatures teacher.` `Where's Hagrid?` Harry repeated loudly. `He is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "indisposed,` said Professor Grubbly-Plank shortly. Soft and unpleasant laughter reached Harrys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ears. He turned; Draco Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "joining the class. All of them looked gleeful, and none of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "looked surprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank. `This way, please,` said Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Grubbly-Plank, and she strode off around the paddock where the Beauxbatons horses","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "were shivering. Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed her, looking back over their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "shoulders at Hagrid's cabin. All the curtains were closed. Was Hagrid in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "there, alone and ill? `What's wrong with Hagrid?` Harry said, hurrying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "to catch up with Professor Grubbly-Plank. `Never you mind,` she said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "as though she thought he was being nosy. `I do mind,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "though,` said Harry hotly. `What's up with him?` Professor Grubbly-Plank acted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "as though she couldn't hear him. She led them past the paddock","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "where the huge Beauxbatons horses were standing, huddled against the cold, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "toward a tree on the edge of the forest, where a large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and beautiful unicorn was tethered. Many of the girls `ooooohed!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "at the sight of the unicorn. `Oh it's so beautiful!` whispered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Lavender Brown. `How did she get it? They're supposed to be really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "hard to catch!` The unicorn was so brightly white it made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the snow all around look gray. It was pawing the ground nervously","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "with its golden hooves and throwing back its horned head. `Boys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "keep back!` barked Professor Grubbly-Plank, throwing out an arm and catching Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "hard in the chest. `They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it. ...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " She and the girls walked slowly forward toward the unicorn, leaving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the boys standing near the paddock fence, watching. The moment Professor Grubbly-Plank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was out of earshot. Harry turned to Ron. `What d'you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "reckons wrong with him? You don't think a skrewt - ?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Oh he hasn't been attacked, Potter, if that's what you're thinking,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Malfoy softly. `No, he's just too ashamed to show his big,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ugly face.` `What d'you mean?` said Harry sharply. Malfoy put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "his hand inside the pocket of his robes and pulled out a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "folded page of newsprint. `There you go,` he said. `Hate to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "break it to you. Potter. ...` He smirked as Harry snatched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the page, unfolded it, and read it, with Ron, Seamus, Dean, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Neville looking over his shoulder. It was an article topped with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "picture of Hagrid looking extremely shifty. DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE Albus Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "afraid to make controversial staff appointments, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. In","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "September of this year, he hired Alastor `Mad-Eye` Moody, the notoriously jinx-happy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ex-Auror, to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, a decision that caused","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Magic, given Moody's well-known habit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of attacking anybody who makes a sudden movement in his presence. Mad-Eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Moody, however, looks responsible and kindly when set beside the part-human Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures. Rubeus Hagrid, who admits","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "position of gamekeeper at the school ever since, a job secured for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "him by Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "over the headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Creatures teacher, over the heads of many better-qualified candidates. An alarmingly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his newfound authority to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "during a series of lessons that many admit to being `very frightening.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " 'I was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "got a bad bite off a flobberworm,` says Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "student. `We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "anything.` Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "however. In conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter last month, he admitted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "breeding creatures he has dubbed `Blast-Ended Skrewts,` highly dangerous crosses between manti-cores","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and fire-crabs. The creation of new breeds of magical creature is, of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "course, an activity usually closely observed by the Department for the Regulation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and Control of Magical Creatures. Hagrid, however, considers himself to be above","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "such petty restrictions. `I was just having some fun,` he says,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "before hastily changing the subject. As if this were not enough,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the Daily Prophet has now unearthed evidence that Hagrid is not -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "as he has always pretended - a pure-blood wizard. He is not,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "in fact, even pure human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "by warring amongst themselves during the last century. The handful that remained","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "joined the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and were responsible for some of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "worst mass Muggle killings of his reign of terror. While many","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of the giants who served He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named were killed by Aurors working","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "against the Dark Side, Fridwulfa was not among them. It is possible","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "she escaped to one of the giant communities still existing in foreign","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "mountain ranges. If his antics during Care of Magical Creatures lessons are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "any guide, however, Frid-wulfa's son appears to have inherited her brutal nature.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reputed to have developed a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "close friendship with the boy who brought around You-Know-Who's fall from power","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "- thereby driving Hagrid's own mother, like the rest of You-Know-Who's supporters,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "into hiding. Perhaps Harry Potter is unaware of the unpleasant truth about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "his large friend - but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ensure that Harry Potter, along with his fellow students, is warned about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the dangers of associating with part-giants. Harry finished reading and looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "up at Ron, whose mouth was hanging open. `How did she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "find out?` he whispered. But that wasn't what was bothering Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " `What d'you mean, 'we all hate Hagrid'?` Harry spat at Malfoy.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`What's this rubbish about him` - he pointed at Crabbe - `getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a bad bite off a flobberworm? They haven't even got teeth!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Crabbe was sniggering, apparently very pleased with himself. `Well, I think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "this should put an end to the oaf's teaching career,` said Malfoy,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "his eyes glinting. `Half-giant. . . and there was me thinking he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "just swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro when he was young. ... None","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of the mummies and daddies are going to like this at all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "... They'll be worried he'll eat their kids, ha, ha. ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`You-` `Are you paying attention over there?` Professor Grubbly-Planks voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "carried over to the boys; the girls were all clustered around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "unicorn now, stroking it. Harry was so angry that the Daily Prophet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "article shook in his hands as he turned to stare unseeingly at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the unicorn, whose many magical properties Professor Grubbly-Plank was now enumerating in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a loud voice, so that the boys could hear too. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "hope she stays, that woman!` said Parvati Patil when the lesson had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ended and they were all heading back to the castle for lunch.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`That's more what I thought Care of Magical Creatures would be like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" ". . . proper creatures like unicorns, not monsters. . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" ".` `What about Hagrid?` Harry said angrily as they went up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the steps. `What about him?` said Parvati in a hard voice.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`He can still be gamekeeper, can't he?` Parvati had been very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "cool toward Harry since the ball. He supposed that he ought to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "have paid her a bit more attention, but she seemed to have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "had a good time all the same. She was certainly telling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "anybody who would listen that she had made arrangements to meet the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "boy from Beauxbatons in Hogsmeade on the next weekend trip. `That","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was a really good lesson,` said Hermione as they entered the Great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hall. `I didn't know half the things Professor Grubbly-Plank told us about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "uni -` `Look at this!` Harry snarled, and he shoved the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Daily Prophet article under Hermione's nose. Hermione's mouth fell open as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "she read. Her reaction was exactly the same as Ron's. `How","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "did that horrible Skeeter woman find out? You don't think Hagrid told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "her?` `No,` said Harry, leading the way over to the Gryffindor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "table and throwing himself into a chair, furious. `He never even told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "us, did he? I reckon she was so mad he wouldn't give","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "her loads of horrible stuff about me, she went ferreting around to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "get him back.` `Maybe she heard him telling Madame Maxime at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the ball,` said Hermione quietly. `We'd have seen her in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "garden!` said Ron. `Anyway, she's not supposed to come into school anymore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hagrid said Dumbledore banned her. . . .` `Maybe she's got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "an Invisibility Cloak,` said Harry, ladling chicken casserole onto his plate and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "splashing it everywhere in his anger. `Sort of thing she'd do, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "it, hide in bushes listening to people.` `Like you and Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "did, you mean,` said Hermione. `We weren't trying to hear him!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Ron indignantly. `We didn't have any choice! The stupid prat, talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "about his giantess mother where anyone could have heard him!` `We've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "got to go and see him,` said Harry. `This evening, after Divination.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Tell him we want him back . . . you do want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "him back?` he shot at Hermione. `I - well, I'm not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "going to pretend it didn't make a nice change, having a proper","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Care of Magical Creatures lesson for once - but I do want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hagrid back, of course I do!` Hermione added hastily, quailing under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry's furious stare. So that evening after dinner, the three of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "them left the castle once more and went down through the frozen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "grounds to Hagrid's cabin. They knocked, and Fang's booming barks answered. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Hagrid, it's us!` Harry shouted, pounding on the door. `Open up!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hagrid didn't answer. They could hear Fang scratching at the door, whining,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "but it didn't open. They hammered on it for ten more minutes;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Ron even went and banged on one of the windows, but there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was no response. `What's he avoiding us for?` Hermione said when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "they had finally given up and were walking back to the school.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`He surely doesn't think we'd care about him being half-giant?` But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "it seemed that Hagrid did care. They didn't see a sign of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "him all week. He didn't appear at the staff table at mealtimes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "they didn't see him going about his gamekeeper duties on the grounds,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and Professor Grubbly-Plank continued to take the Care of Magical Creatures classes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Malfoy was gloating at every possible opportunity. `Missing your half-breed pal?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "he kept whispering to Harry whenever there was a teacher around, so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "that he was safe from Harry's retaliation. `Missing the elephant-man?` There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was a Hogsmeade visit halfway through January. Hermione was very surprised that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry was going to go. `I just thought you'd want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "take advantage of the common room being quiet,` she said. `Really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "get to work on that egg.` `Oh I - I reckon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "I've got a pretty good idea what it's about now,` Harry lied.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " `Have you really?` said Hermione, looking impressed. `Well done!` Harrys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "insides gave a guilty squirm, but he ignored them. He still had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "five weeks to work out that egg clue, after all, and that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was ages. . . whereas if he went into Hogsmeade, he might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "run into Hagrid, and get a chance to persuade him to come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "back. He, Ron, and Hermione left the castle together on Saturday","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and set off through the cold, wet grounds toward the gates. As","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "they passed the Durmstrang ship moored in the lake, they saw Viktor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Krum emerge onto the deck, dressed in nothing but swimming trunks. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was very skinny indeed, but apparently a lot tougher than he looked,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "because he climbed up onto the side of the ship, stretched out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "his arms, and dived, right into the lake. `He's mad!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry, staring at Krums dark head as it bobbed out into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "middle of the lake. `It must be freezing, it's January!` `It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a lot colder where he comes from,` said Hermione. `I suppose it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "feels quite warm to him.` `Yeah, but there's still the giant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "squid,` said Ron. He didn't sound anxious - if anything, he sounded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "hopeful. Hermione noticed his tone of voice and frowned. `He's really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "nice, you know,` she said. `He's not at all like you'd think,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "coming from Durmstrang. He likes it much better here, he told me.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " Ron said nothing. He hadn't mentioned Viktor Krum since the ball,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "but Harry had found a miniature arm under his bed on Boxing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Day, which had looked very much as though it had been snapped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "off a small model figure wearing Bulgarian Quidditch robes. Harry kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "his eyes skinned for a sign of Hagrid all the way down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the slushy High Street, and suggested a visit to the Three Broomsticks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "once he had ascertained that Hagrid was not in any of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "shops. The pub was as crowded as ever, but one quick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "look around at all the tables told Harry that Hagrid wasn't there.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Heart sinking, he went up to the bar with Ron and Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ordered three butterbeers from Madam Rosmerta, and thought gloomily that he might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "just as well have stayed behind and listened to the egg wailing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "after all. `Doesn't he ever go into the office?` Hermione whispered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "suddenly. `Look!` She pointed into the mirror behind the bar, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry saw Ludo Bagman reflected there, sitting in a shadowy corner with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a bunch of goblins. Bagman was talking very fast in a low","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "voice to the goblins, all of whom had their arms crossed and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "were looking rather menacing. It was indeed odd. Harry thought, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Bagman was here at the Three Broomsticks on a weekend when there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was no Triwizard event, and therefore no judging to be done. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "watched Bagman in the mirror. He was looking strained again, quite as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "strained as he had that night in the forest before the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Mark had appeared. But just then Bagman glanced over at the bar,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "saw Harry, and stood up. `In a moment, in a moment!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry heard him say brusquely to the goblins, and Bagman hurried through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the pub toward Harry, his boyish grin back in place. `Harry!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "he said. `How are you? Been hoping to run into you! Everything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "going all right?` `Fine, thanks,` said Harry. `Wonder if I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "could have a quick, private word, Harry?` said Bagman eagerly. `You couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "give us a moment, you two, could you?` `Er - okay,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Ron, and he and Hermione went off to find a table.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " Bagman led Harry along the bar to the end furthest from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Madam Rosmerta. `Well, I just thought I'd congratulate you again on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "your splendid performance against that Horntail, Harry,` said Bagman. `Really superb.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Thanks,` said Harry, but he knew this couldn't be all that Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "wanted to say, because he could have congratulated Harry in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Ron and Hermione. Bagman didn't seem in any particular rush to spill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the beans, though. Harry saw him glance into the mirror over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "bar at the goblins, who were all watching him and Harry in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "silence through their dark, slanting eyes. `Absolute nightmare,` said Bagman to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry in an undertone, noticing Harry watching the goblins too. `Their English","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "isn't too good . . . it's like being back with all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the Bulgarians at the Quidditch World Cup . . . but at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "least they used sign language another human could recognize. This lot keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "gabbling in Gobblede-gook . . . and I only know one word","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of Gobbledegook. Bladvak. It means 'pickax.' I don't like to use it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "in case they think I'm threatening them.` He gave a short,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "booming laugh. `What do they want?` Harry said, noticing how the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "goblins were still watching Bagman very closely. `Er - well. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" ".` said Bagman, looking suddenly nervous. `They ... er ... they're looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "for Barty Crouch.` `Why are they looking for him here?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry. `He's at the Ministry in London, isn't he?` `Er ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "as a matter of fact, I've no idea where he is,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Bagman. `He's sort of... stopped coming to work. Been absent for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a couple of weeks now. Young Percy, his assistant, says he's ill.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Apparently he's just been sending instructions in by owl. But would you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "mind not mentioning that to anyone. Harry? Because Rita Skeeter's still poking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "around everywhere she can, and I'm willing to bet she'd work up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Bartys illness into something sinister. Probably say he's gone missing like Bertha","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Jorkins.` `Have you heard anything about Bertha Jorkins?` Harry asked. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`No,` said Bagman, looking strained again. `I've got people looking, of course","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "...` (About time, thought Harry) `and it's all very strange. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "definitely arrived in Albania, because she met her second cousin there. And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "then she left the cousin's house to go south and see an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "aunt. . . and she seems to have vanished without trace en","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "route. Blowed if I can see where she's got to ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "she doesn't seem the type to elope, for instance . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "but still. . . . What are we doing, talking about goblins","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and Bertha Jorkins? I really wanted to ask you` - he lowered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "his voice - `how are you getting on with your golden egg?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " `Er . . . not bad,` Harry said untruthfully. Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "seemed to know he wasn't being honest. `Listen, Harry,` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "(still in a very low voice), `I feel very bad about all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "this . . . you were thrown into this tournament, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "didn't volunteer for it... and if. . .` (his voice was so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "quiet now, Harry had to lean closer to listen) `if I can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "help at all... a prod in the right direction . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "I've taken a liking to you . . . the way you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "got past that dragon! . . . well, just say the word.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " Harry stared up into Bagman's round, rosy face and his wide,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "baby-blue eyes. `We're supposed to work out the clues alone, aren't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "we?` he said, careful to keep his voice casual and not sound","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "as though he was accusing the head of the Department of Magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Games and Sports of breaking the rules. `Well. . . well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "yes,` said Bagman impatiently, `but - come on. Harry - we all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "want a Hogwarts victory, don't we?` `Have you offered Cedric help?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry said. The smallest of frowns creased Bagman's smooth face. `No,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "I haven't,` he said. `I -well, like I say, I've taken a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "liking to you. Just thought I'd offer ...` `Well, thanks,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry, `but I think I'm nearly there with the egg . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" ". couple more days should crack it.` He wasn't entirely sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "why he was refusing Bagman's help, except that Bagman was almost a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "stranger to him, and accepting his assistance would feel somehow much more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "like cheating than asking advice from Ron, Hermione, or Sirius. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Bagman looked almost affronted, but couldn't say much more as Fred and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "George turned up at that point. `Hello, Mr. Bagman,` said Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "brightly. `Can we buy you a drink?` `Er . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "no,` said Bagman, with a last disappointed glance at Harry, `no, thank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "you, boys ...` Fred and George looked quite as disappointed as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Bagman, who was surveying Harry as though he had let him down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "badly. `Well, I must dash,` he said. `Nice seeing you all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Good luck, Harry.` He hurried out of the pub. The goblins","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "all slid off their chairs and exited after him. Harry went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "to rejoin Ron and Hermione. `What did he want?` Ron said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the moment Harry had sat down. `He offered to help me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "with the golden egg,` said Harry. `He shouldn't be doing that!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Hermione, looking very shocked. `He's one of the judges! And anyway,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "you've already worked it out - haven't you?` `Er . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" ". nearly,` said Harry. `Well, I don't think Dumbledore would like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "it if he knew Bagman was trying to persuade you to cheat!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Hermione, still looking deeply disapproving. `I hope he's trying to help","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Cedric as much!` `He's not, I asked,` said Harry. `Who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "cares if Diggorys getting help?` said Ron. Harry privately agreed. `Those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "goblins didn't look very friendly,` said Hermione, sipping her butterbeer. `What were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "they doing here?` `Looking for Crouch, according to Bagman,` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`He's still ill. Hasn't been into work.` `Maybe Percys poisoning him,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Ron. `Probably thinks if Crouch snuffs it he'll be made head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.` Hermione gave Ron a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "don't-joke-about-things-like-that look, and said, `Funny, goblins looking for Mr. Crouch. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" ". They'd normally deal with the Department for the Regulation and Control","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of Magical Creatures.` `Crouch can speak loads of different languages, though,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Harry. `Maybe they need an interpreter.` `Worrying about poor 'ickle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "goblins, now, are you?` Ron asked Hermione. `Thinking of starting up S.P.U.G.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "or something? Society for the Protection of Ugly Goblins?` `Ha, ha,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ha,` said Hermione sarcastically. `Goblins don't need protection. Haven't you been listening","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "to what Professor Binns has been telling us about goblin rebellions?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`No,` said Harry and Ron together. `Well, the/re quite capable of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "dealing with wizards,` said Hermione, taking another sip of butterbeer. `They're very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "clever. They're not like house-elves, who never stick up for themselves.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Uh-oh,` said Ron, staring at the door. Rita Skeeter had just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "entered. She was wearing banana-yellow robes today; her long nails were painted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "shocking pink, and she was accompanied by her paunchy photographer. She bought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "drinks, and she and the photographer made their way through the crowds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "to a table nearby. Harry, Ron, and Hermione glaring at her as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "she approached. She was talking fast and looking very satisfied about something.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " `... didn't seem very keen to talk to us, did he,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Bozo? Now, why would that be, do you think? And what's he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "doing with a pack of goblins in tow anyway? Showing them the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "sights . .. what nonsense ... he was always a bad liar.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Reckon something's up? Think we should do a bit of digging? 'Disgraced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Ex-Head of Magical Games and Sports, Ludo Bagman . . .' Snappy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "start to a sentence, Bozo - we just need to find a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "story to fit it -` `Trying to ruin someone else's life?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Harry loudly. A few people looked around. Rita Skeeter's eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "widened behind her jeweled spectacles as she saw who had spoken. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Harry!` she said, beaming. `How lovely! Why don't you come and join-","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "?` `I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot broomstick,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry furiously. `What did you do that to Hagrid for, eh?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Rita Skeeter raised her heavily penciled eyebrows. `Our readers have a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "right to the truth, Harry. I am merely doing my-` `Who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "cares if he's half-giant?` Harry shouted. `There's nothing wrong with him!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "The whole pub had gone very quiet. Madam Rosmerta was staring over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "from behind the bar, apparently oblivious to the fact that the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "flagon she was filling with mead was overflowing. Rita Skeeters smile","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "flickered very slightly, but she hitched it back almost at once; she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "snapped open her crocodile-skin handbag, pulled out her Quick-Quotes Quill, and said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know. Harry?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "The man behind the muscles? Your unlikely friendship and the reasons behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "it. Would you call him a father substitute?` Hermione stood up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "very abruptly, her butterbeer clutched in her hand as though it were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a grenade. `You horrible woman,` she said, through gritted teeth, `you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "don't care, do you, anything for a story, and anyone will do,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "wont they? Even Ludo Bagman -` `Sit down, you silly little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "girl, and don't talk about things you don't understand,` said Rita Skeeter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "coldly, her eyes hardening as they fell on Hermione. `I know things","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl... not that it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "needs it -` she added, eyeing Hermione's bushy hair. `Let's go,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Hermione, `c'mon. Harry - Ron . ..` They left; many","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "people were staring at them as they went. Harry glanced back as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "they reached the door. Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill was out; it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "zooming backward and forward over a piece of parchment on the table.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " `She'll be after you next, Hermione,` said Ron in a low","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and worried voice as they walked quickly back up the street. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Let her try!` said Hermione defiantly; she was shaking with rage. `I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "show her! Silly little girl, am I? Oh, I'll get her back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "for this. First Harry, then Hagrid ...` `You don't want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "go upsetting Rita Skeeter,` said Ron nervously. `I'm serious, Hermione, she'll dig","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "up something on you -` `My parents don't read the Daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Prophet. She can't scare me into hiding!` said Hermione, now striding along","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "so fast that it was all Harry and Ron could do to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "keep up with her. The last time Harry had seen Hermione in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a rage like this, she had hit Draco Malfoy around the face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`And Hagrid isn't hiding anymore! He should never have let that excuse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "for a human being upset him! Come on!` Breaking into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "run, she led them all the way back up the road, through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the gates flanked by winged boars, and up through the grounds to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hagrid's cabin. The curtains were still drawn, and they could hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Fang barking as they approached. `Hagrid!` Hermione shouted, pounding on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "front door. `Hagrid, that's enough! We know you're in there! Nobody cares","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "if your mum was a giantess, Hagrid! You can't let that foul","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Skeeter woman do this to you! Hagrid, get out here, you're just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "being -` The door opened. Hermione said, `About t-!` and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "stopped, very suddenly, because she had found herself face-to-face, not with Hagrid,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "but with Albus Dumbledore. `Good afternoon,` he said pleasantly, smiling down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "at them. `We-er-we wanted to see Hagrid,` said Hermione in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "rather small voice. `Yes, I surmised as much,` said Dumbledore, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "eyes twinkling. `Why don't you come in?` `Oh . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "um ... okay,` said Hermione. She, Ron, and Harry went into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the cabin; Fang launched himself upon Harry the moment he entered, barking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "madly and trying to lick his ears. Harry fended off Fang and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "looked around. Hagrid was sitting at his table, where there were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "two large mugs of tea. He looked a real mess. His face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was blotchy, his eyes swollen, and he had gone to the other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "extreme where his hair was concerned; far from trying to make it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "behave, it now looked like a wig of tangled wire. `Hi,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hagrid,` said Harry. Hagrid looked up. `'Lo,` he said in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "a very hoarse voice. `More tea, I think,` said Dumbledore, closing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the door behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione, drawing out his wand, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "twiddling it; a revolving tea tray appeared in midair along with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "plate of cakes. Dumbledore magicked the tray onto the table, and everybody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "sat down. There was a slight pause, and then Dumbledore said, `Did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "you by any chance hear what Miss Granger was shouting, Hagrid?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Hermione went slightly pink, but Dumbledore smiled at her and continued, `Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry, and Ron still seem to want to know you, judging by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the way they were attempting to break down the door.` `Of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "course we still want to know you!` Harry said, staring at Hagrid.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`You don't think anything that Skeeter cow - sorry, Professor,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "added quickly, looking at Dumbledore. `I have gone temporarily deaf and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "haven't any idea what you said. Harry,` said Dumbledore, twiddling his thumbs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and staring at the ceiling. `Er-right,` said Harry sheepishly. `I just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "meant-Hagrid, how could you think we'd care what that-woman-wrote about you?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Two fat tears leaked out of Hagrid's beetle-black eyes and fell slowly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "into his tangled beard. `Living proof of what I've been telling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "you, Hagrid,` said Dumbledore, still looking carefully up at the ceiling. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "have shown you the letters from the countless parents who remember you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "from their own days here, telling me in no uncertain terms that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "if I sacked you, they would have something to say about it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "-` `Not all of 'em,` said Hagrid hoarsely. `Not all of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "'em wan me ter stay.` `Really, Hagrid, if you are holding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "for a very long time,` said Dumbledore, now peering sternly over his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "half-moon spectacles. `Not a week has passed since I became headmaster of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "this school when I haven't had at least one owl complaining about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "the way I run it. But what should I do? Barricade myself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "in my study and refuse to talk to anybody?` `Yeh -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "yeh're not half-giant!` said Hagrid croakily. `Hagrid, look what I've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "for relatives!` Harry said furiously. `Look at the Dursleys!` `An excellent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "point,` said Professor Dumbledore. `My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practicing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "inappropriate charms on a goat. It was all over the papers, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "did Aberforth hide? No, he did not! He held his head high","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and went about his business as usual! Of course, I'm not entirely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "sure he can read, so that may not have been bravery. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "..` `Come back and teach, Hagrid,` said Hermione quietly, `please come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "back, we really miss you.` Hagrid gulped. More tears leaked out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "down his cheeks and into his tangled beard. Dumbledore stood up.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`I refuse to accept your resignation, Hagrid, and I expect you back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "at work on Monday,` he said. `You will join me for breakfast","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "at eight-thirty in the Great Hall. No excuses. Good afternoon to you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "all.` Dumbledore left the cabin, pausing only to scratch Fangs ears.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "When the door had shut behind him, Hagrid began to sob into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "his dustbin-lid-sized hands. Hermione kept patting his arm, and at last, Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "looked up, his eyes very red indeed, and said, `Great man, Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" ". . . great man . ..` `Yeah, he is,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Ron. `Can I have one of these cakes, Hagrid?` `Help yerself,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "said Hagrid, wiping his eyes on the back of his hand. `Ar,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "he's righ', o' course - yeh're all righ' . . .I bin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "stupid . .. my ol' dad woulda bin ashamed o' the way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "I've bin behavin'....` More tears leaked out, but he wiped them away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "more forcefully, and said, `Never shown you a picture of my old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "dad, have I? Here...` Hagrid got up, went over to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "dresser, opened a drawer, and pulled out a picture of a short","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "wizard with Hagrid's crinkled black eyes, beaming as he sat on top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of Hagrid's shoulder. Hagrid was a good seven or eight feet tall,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "judging by the apple tree beside him, but his face was beardless,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "young, round, and smooth - he looked hardly older than eleven. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Tha was taken jus' after I got inter Hogwarts,` Hagrid croaked. `Dad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "was dead chuffed ... thought I migh' not be a wizard, see,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "'cos me mum ... well, anyway. 'Course, I never was great shakes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "at magic, really... but at least he never saw me expelled. Died,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "see, in me second year. . . .` `Dumbledore was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "one who stuck up for me after Dad went. Got me the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "gamekeeper job . . . trusts people, he does. Gives 'em","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "second chances ... tha's what sets him apar' from other heads, see.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "He'll accept anyone at Hogwarts, s'long as they've got the talent. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Knows people can turn out okay even if their families weren' ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "well... all tha' respectable. But some don understand that. There's some who'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "always hold it against yeh . . . there's some who'd even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "pretend they just had big bones rather than stand up an' say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "- I am what I am, an' I'm not ashamed. 'Never be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ashamed,' my ol' dad used ter say, 'there's some who'll hold it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.' An' he was right.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "I've bin an idiot. I'm not botherin' with her no more, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "promise yeh that. Big bones . . . I'll give her big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "bones.` Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another nervously; Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "would rather have taken fifty Blast-Ended Skrewts for a walk than admit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "to Hagrid that he had overheard him talking to Madame Maxime,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "but Hagrid was still talking, apparently unaware that he had said anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "odd. `Yeh know wha, Harry?` he said, looking up from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "photograph of his father, his eyes very bright, `when I firs' met","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "you, you reminded me o' me a bit. Mum an' Dad gone,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "an' you was feelin' like yeh wouldn' fit in at Hogwarts, remember?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Not sure yeh were really up to it... an' now look at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "yeh, Harry! School champion!` He looked at Harry for a moment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "and then said, very seriously, `Yeh know what I'd love. Harry?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "I'd love yeh ter win, I really would. It'd show 'em all...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "yeh don' have ter be pureblood ter do it. Yeh don have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ter be ashamed of what yeh are. It'd show 'em Dumbledore's the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "one who's got it righ', lettin' anyone in as long as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "can do magic. How you doin' with that egg, Harry?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "`Great,` said Harry. `Really great.` Hagrid's miserable face broke into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "wide, watery smile. `Tha's my boy. . . you show 'em,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry, you show 'em. Beat 'em all.` Lying to Hagrid wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "quite like lying to anyone else. Harry went back to the castle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "later that afternoon with Ron and Hermione, unable to banish the image","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "of the happy expression on Hagrid's whiskery face as he had imagined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "Harry winning the tournament. The incomprehensible egg weighed more heavily than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "ever on Harrys conscience that evening, and by the time he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "got into bed, he had made up his mind - it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" "time to shelve his pride and see if Cedric's hint was worth anything. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-24" " Harry had no idea how long a bath he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "would need to work out the secret of the golden egg, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "decided to do it at night, when he would be able to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "take as much time as he wanted. Reluctant though he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to accept more favors from Cedric, he also decided to use the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "prefects' bathroom; far fewer people were allowed in there, so it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "much less likely that he would be disturbed. Harry planned his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "excursion carefully, because he had been caught out of bed and out-of-bounds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "by Filch the caretaker in the middle of the night once before,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and had no desire to repeat the experience. The Invisibility Cloak would,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of course, be essential, and as an added precaution, Harry thought he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "would take the Marauders Map, which, next to the cloak, was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "most useful aid to rule-breaking Harry owned. The map showed the whole","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of Hogwarts, including its many shortcuts and secret passageways and, most important","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of all, it revealed the people inside the castle as minuscule, labeled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "dots, moving around the corridors, so that Harry would be forewarned if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "somebody was approaching the bathroom. On Thursday night, Harry sneaked up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to bed, put on the cloak, crept back downstairs, and, just as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he had done on the night when Hagrid had shown him the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "dragons, waited for the portrait hole to open. This time it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Ron who waited outside to give the Fat Lady the password (`banana","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "fritters`), `Good luck,` Ron muttered, climbing into the room as Harry crept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "out past him. It was awkward moving under the cloak tonight,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "because Harry had the heavy egg under one arm and the map","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "held in front of his nose with the other. However, the moonlit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "corridors were empty and silent, and by checking the map at strategic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "intervals, Harry was able to ensure that he wouldn't run into anyone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he wanted to avoid. When he reached the statue of Boris the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Bewildered, a lost-looking wizard with his gloves on the wrong hands, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "located the right door, leaned close to it, and muttered the password,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Pine fresh,` just as Cedric had told him. The door creaked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "open. Harry slipped inside, bolted the door behind him, and pulled off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the Invisibility Cloak, looking around. His immediate reaction was that it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "would be worth becoming a prefect just to be able to use","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "this bathroom. It was softly lit by a splendid candle-filled chandelier, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "everything was made of white marble, including what looked like an empty,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "rectangular swimming pool sunk into the middle of the floor. About a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hundred golden taps stood all around the pools edges, each with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "differently colored Jewel set into its handle. There was also a diving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "board. Long white linen curtains hung at the windows; a large pile","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of fluffy white towels sat in a corner, and there was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "single golden-framed painting on the wall. It featured a blonde mermaid who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was fast asleep on a rock, her long hair over her face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "It fluttered every time she snored. Harry moved forward, looking around,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "his footsteps echoing off the walls. Magnificent though the bathroom was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "- and quite keen though he was to try out a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of those taps -now he was here he couldn't quite suppress the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "feeling that Cedric might have been having him on. How on earth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was this supposed to help solve the mystery of the egg? ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Nevertheless, he put one of the Huffy towels, the cloak, the map,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and the egg at the side of the swimming-pool-sized bath, then knelt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "down and turned on a few of the taps. He could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "tell at once that they carried different sorts of bubble bath mixed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "with the water, though it wasn't bubble bath as Harry had ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "experienced it. One tap gushed pink and blue bubbles the size of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "footballs; another poured ice-white foam so thick that Harry thought it would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "have supported his weight if he'd cared to test it; a third","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "sent heavily perfumed purple clouds hovering over the surface of the water.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry amused himself for awhile turning the taps on and off, particularly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "enjoying the effect of one whose jet bounced off the surface of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the water in large arcs. Then, when the deep pool was full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of hot water, foam, and bubbles, which took a very short time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "considering its size, Harry turned off all the taps, pulled off his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "pajamas, slippers, and dressing gown, and slid into the water. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was so deep that his feet barely touched the bottom, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "actually did a couple of lengths before swimming back to the side","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and treading water, staring at the egg. Highly enjoyable though it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to swim in hot and foamy water with clouds of different-colored steam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "wafting all around him, no stroke of brilliance came to him, no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "sudden burst of understanding. Harry stretched out his arms, lifted the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "egg in his wet hands, and opened it. The wailing, screeching sound","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "filled the bathroom, echoing and reverberating off the marble walls, but it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "sounded just as incomprehensible as ever, if not more so with all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the echoes. He snapped it shut again, worried that the sound would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "attract Filch, wondering whether that hadn't been Cedric's plan - and then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "making him jump so badly that he dropped the egg, which clattered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "away across the bathroom floor, someone spoke. `I'd try putting it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "in the water, if I were you.` Harry had swallowed a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "considerable amount of bubbles in shock. He stood up, sputtering, and saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the ghost of a very glum-looking girl sitting cross-legged on top of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "one of the taps. It was Moaning Myrtle, who was usually to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "be heard sobbing in the S-bend of a toilet three floors below.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `Myrtle!` Harry said in outrage, `I'm - I'm not wearing anything!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " The foam was so dense that this hardly mattered, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "had a nasty feeling that Myrtle had been spying on him from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "out of one of the taps ever since he had arrived. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`I closed my eyes when you got in,` she said, blinking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "him through her thick spectacles. `You haven't been to see me for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "ages.` `Yeah . . . well. . .` said Harry, bending","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "his knees slightly, just to make absolutely sure Myrtle couldn't see anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "but his head, `I'm not supposed to come into your bathroom, am","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "I? It's a girls' one.` `You didn't used to care,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Myrtle miserably. `You used to be in there all the time.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "This was true, though only because Harry, Ron, and Hermione had found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Myrtle's out-of-order toilets a convenient place to brew Polyjuice Potion in secret","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "- a forbidden potion that had turned him and Ron into living","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "replicas of Crabbe and Goyle for an hour, so that they could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "sneak into the Slytherin common room. `I got told off for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "going in there.` said Harry, which was half-true; Percy had once caught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "him coming out of Myrtles bathroom. `I thought I'd better not come back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "after that.` `Oh ... I see ...` said Myrtle, picking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "a spot on her chin in a morose sort of way. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Well... anyway... I'd try the egg in the water. That's what Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Diggory did.` `Have you been spying on him too?` said Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "indignantly. `What d'you do, sneak up here in the evenings to watch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the prefects take baths?` `Sometimes,` said Myrtle, rather slyly, `but I've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "never come out to speak to anyone before.` `I'm honored,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry darkly. `You keep your eyes shut!` He made sure Myrtle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "had her glasses well covered before hoisting himself out of the bath,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "wrapping the towel firmly around his waist, and going to retrieve the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "egg. Once he was back in the water, Myrtle peered through her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "fingers and said, `Go on, then . .. open it under the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "water!` Harry lowered the egg beneath the foamy surface and opened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "it... and this time, it did not wail. A gurgling song was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "coming out of it, a song whose words he couldnt distinguish through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the water. `You need to put your head under too,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Myrtle, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying bossing him around. `Go on!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Harry took a great breath and slid under the surface -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and now, sitting on the marble bottom of the bubble-filled bath, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "heard a chorus of eerie voices singing to him from the open","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "egg in his hands: `Come seek us where our voices sound,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "We cannot sing above the ground, And while you re searching, ponder","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "this: Wove taken what you'll sorely miss, An hour long you'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "have to look, And to recover what we took, But past an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hour- the prospect's black, Too late, it's gone, it wont come back`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Harry let himself float back upward and broke the bubbly surface,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "shaking his hair out of his eyes. `Hear it?` said Myrtle.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `Yeah ... 'Come seek us where our voices sound .. .'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and if I need persuading ... hang on, I need to listen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "again....` He sank back beneath the water. It took three more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "underwater renditions of the egg's song before Harry had it memorized; then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he trod water for a while, thinking hard, while Myrtle sat and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "watched him. `I've got to go and look for people who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "can't use their voices above the ground. . . .` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "said slowly. `Er . . . who could that be?` `Slow,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "aren't you?` He had never seen Moaning Myrtle so cheerful, apart","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "from the day when a dose of PolyJuice Potion had given Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the hairy face and tail of a cat. Harry stared around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "bathroom, thinking ... if the voices could only be heard underwater, then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "it made sense for them to belong to underwater creatures. He ran","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "this theory past Myrtle, who smirked at him. `Well, thats what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Diggory thought,` she said. `He lay there talking to himself for ages","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "about it. Ages and ages . . . nearly all the bubbles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "had gone. ...` `Underwater ...` Harry said slowly. `Myrtle . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". what lives in the lake, apart from the giant squid?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Oh all sorts,` she said. `I sometimes go down there . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". sometimes don't have any choice, if someone flushes my toilet when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "I'm not expecting it....` Trying not to think about Moaning Myrtle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "zooming down a pipe to the lake with the contents of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "toilet. Harry said, `Well, does anything in there have a human voice?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Hang on -` Harry's eyes had fallen on the picture","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of the snoozing mermaid on the wall. `Myrtle, there aren't merpeople","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "in there, are there?` `Oooh, very good,` she said, her thick","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "glasses twinkling, `it took Diggory much longer than that! And that was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "with her awake too` - Myrtle jerked her head toward the mermaid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "with an expression of great dislike on her glum face - `giggling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and showing off and flashing her fins.. ..` `Thats it, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "it?` said Harry excitedly. `The second tasks to go and find the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "merpeople in the lake and ... and ...` But he suddenly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "realized what he was saying, and he felt the excitement drain out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of him as though someone had just pulled a plug in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "stomach. He wasn't a very good swimmer; he'd never had much practice.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Dudley had had lessons in his youth, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Vernon, no doubt hoping that Harry would drown one day, hadn't bothered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to give him any. A couple of lengths of this bath were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "all very well, but that lake was very large, and very deep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . . and merpeople would surely live right at the bottom.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . . `Myrtle,` Harry said slowly, `how am I supposed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to breathe?` At this, Myrtle's eyes filled with sudden tears again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `Tactless!` she muttered, groping in her robes for a handkerchief. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`What's tactless?` said Harry, bewildered. `Talking about breathing in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "me!` she said shrilly, and her voice echoed loudly around the bathroom.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`When I can't. . . when I haven't. . . not for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "ages ...` She buried her face in her handkerchief and sniffed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "loudly. Harry remembered how touchy Myrtle had always been about being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "dead, but none of the other ghosts he knew made such a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "fuss about it. `Sorry,` he said impatiently. `I didn't mean -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "I just forgot. . .` `Oh yes, very easy to forget","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Myrtle's dead,` said Myrtle, gulping, looking at him out of swollen eyes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Nobody missed me even when I was alive. Took them hours and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hours to find my body - I know, I was sitting there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "waiting for them. Olive Hornby came into the bathroom - Are you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "in here again, sulking, Myrtle?' she said, 'because Professor Dippet asked me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to look for you -' And then she saw my body .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . ooooh, she didn't forget it until her dying day, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "made sure of that... followed her around and reminded her, I did.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " I remember at her brother's wedding -` But Harry wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "listening; he was thinking about the merpeople's song again. `We've taken what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "you II sorely miss.` That sounded as though they were going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "steal something of his, something he had to get back. What were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "they going to take? `--and then, of course, she went to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the Ministry of Magic to stop me stalking her, so I had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to come back here and live in my toilet.` `Good,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry vaguely. `Well, I'm a lot further on than I was. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . Shut your eyes again, will you? I'm getting out.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "He retrieved the egg from the bottom of the bath, climbed out,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "dried himself, and pulled on his pajamas and dressing gown again. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Will you come and visit me in my bathroom again sometime?` Moaning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Myrtle asked mournfully as Harry picked up the Invisibility Cloak. `Er .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . I'll try,` Harry said, though privately thinking the only way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he'd be visiting Myrtle's bathroom again was if every other toilet in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the castle got blocked. `See you. Myrtle... thanks for your help.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `Bye, 'bye,` she said gloomily, and as Harry put on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Invisibllity Cloak he saw her zoom back up the tap. Out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "in the dark corridor, Harry examined the Marauders Map to check that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the coast was still clear. Yes, the dots belonging to Filch and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "his cat, Mrs. Norris, were safely in their office . .. nothing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "else seemed to be moving apart from Peeves, though he was bouncing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "around the trophy room on the floor above. ... Harry had taken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "his first step back toward Gryffindor Tower when something else on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "map caught his eye . . . something distinctly odd. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Peeves was not the only thing that was moving. A single dot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was flitting around a room in the bottom left-hand corner - Snapes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "office. But the dot wasn't labeled `Severus Snape` ... it was Bartemius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Crouch. Harry stared at the dot. Mr. Crouch was supposed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "be too ill to go to work or to come to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Yule Ball - so what was he doing, sneaking into Hogwarts at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "one o'clock in the morning? Harry watched closely as the dot moved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "around and around the room, pausing here and there. ... Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hesitated, thinking . . . and then his curiosity got the better","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of him. He turned and set off in the opposite direction toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the nearest staircase. He was going to see what Crouch was up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to. Harry walked down the stairs as quietly as possible, though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the faces in some of the portraits still turned curiously at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "squeak of a floorboard, the rustle of his pajamas. He crept along","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the corridor below, pushed aside a tapestry about halfway along, and proceeded","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "down a narrower staircase, a shortcut that would take him down two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "floors. He kept glancing down at the map, wondering ... It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "just didn't seem in character, somehow, for correct, law-abiding Mr. Crouch to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "be sneaking around somebody else's office this late at night.... And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "then, halfway down the staircase, not thinking about what he was doing,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "not concentrating on anything but the peculiar behavior of Mr. Crouch, Harrys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "leg suddenly sank right through the trick step Neville always forgot to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "jump. He gave an ungainly wobble, and the golden egg, still damp","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "from the bath, slipped from under his arm. He lurched forward to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "try and catch it, but too late; the egg fell down the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "long staircase with a bang as loud as a bass drum on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "every step - the Invisibility Cloak slipped - Harry snatched at it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and the Marauder s Map fluttered out of his hand and slid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "down six stairs, where, sunk in the step to above his knee,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he couldn't reach it. The golden egg fell through the tapestry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "at the bottom of the staircase, burst open, and began wailing loudly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "in the corridor below. Harry pulled out his wand and struggled to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "touch the Marauder s Map, to wipe it blank, but it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "too far away to reach -Pulling the cloak back over himself Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "straightened up, listening hard with his eyes screwed up with fear.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . and, almost immediately -` PEEVES!` It was the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "unmistakable hunting cry of Filch the caretaker. Harry could hear his rapid,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "shuffling footsteps coming nearer and nearer, his wheezy voice raised in fury.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `What's this racket? Wake up the whole castle, will you? I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "have you, Peeves, I'll have you, you'll... and what is this?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Filch's footsteps halted; there was a clink of metal on metal and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the wailing stopped -Filch had picked up the egg and closed it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry stood very still, one leg still Jammed tightly in the magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "step, listening. Any moment now, Filch was going to pull aside the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "tapestry, expecting to see Peeves . . . and there would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "no Peeves ... but if he came up the stairs, he would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "spot the Marauder's Map . . . and Invisibility Cloak or not,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the map would show `Harry Potter` standing exactly where he was. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Egg?` Filch said quietly at the foot of the stairs. `My sweet!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "- Mrs. Norris was obviously with him - `This is a Triwizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "clue! This belongs to a school champion!` Harry felt sick; his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "heart was hammering very fast -` PEEVES!` Filch roared gleefully. `You've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "been stealing!` He ripped back the tapestry below, and Harry saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "his horrible, pouchy face and bulging, pale eyes staring up the dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and (to Filch) deserted staircase. `Hiding, are you?` he said softly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`I'm coming to get you, Peeves. . . . You've gone and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "stolen a Triwizard clue, Peeves... . Dumbledore'll have you out of here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "for this, you filthy, pilfering poltergeist. ...` Filch started to climb","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the stairs, his scrawny, dust-colored cat at his heels. Mrs. Morris's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "lamp-like eyes, so very like her masters, were fixed directly upon Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "He had had occasion before now to wonder whether the Invisibility Cloak","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "worked on cats. . . . Sick with apprehension, he watched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Filch drawing nearer and nearer in his old flannel dressing gown -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he tried desperately to pull his trapped leg free, but it merely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "sank a few more inches - any second now, Filch was going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to spot the map or walk right into him -` Filch?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Whats going on?` Filch stopped a few steps below Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "turned. At the foot of the stairs stood the only person who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "could make Harry's situation worse: Snape. He was wearing a long gray","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "nightshirt and he looked livid. `Its Peeves, Professor,` Filch whispered malevolently.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`He threw this egg down the stairs.` Snape climbed up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "stairs quickly and stopped beside Filch. Harry gritted his teeth, convinced his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "loudly thumping heart would give him away at any second. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". `Peeves?` said Snape softly, staring at the egg in Filch's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hands. `But Peeves couldn't get into my office. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`This egg was in your office. Professor?` `Of course not,` Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "snapped. `I heard banging and wailing -` `Yes, Professor, that was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the egg -` `- I was coming to investigate -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`- Peeves threw it. Professor -` `- and when I passed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "my office, I saw that the torches were lit and a cupboard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "door was ajar! Somebody has been searching it!` But Peeves couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "-` `I know he couldn't, Filch!` Snape snapped again. `I seal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "my office with a spell none but a wizard could break!` Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "looked up the stairs, straight through Harry, and then down into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "corridor below. `I want you to come and help me search for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the intruder, Filch.` `I - yes, Professor - but -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Filch looked yearningly up the stairs, right through Harry, who could see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "that he was very reluctant to forgo the chance of cornering Peeves. Go,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry pleaded with him silently, go with Snape . . . go.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . Mrs. Norris was peering around Filch's legs.... Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the distinct impression that she could smell him.. . . Why had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he filled that bath with so much perfumed foam? `The thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "is, Professor,` said Filch plaintively, `the headmaster will have to listen to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "me this time. Peeves has been stealing from a student, it might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "be my chance to get him thrown out of the castle once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and for all -` `Filch, I don't give a damn about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "that wretched poltergeist; it's my office that's -` Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Snape stopped talking very abruptly. He and Filch both looked down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "at the foot of the stairs. Harry saw Mad-Eye Moody limp into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "sight through the narrow gap between their heads. Moody was wearing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "old traveling cloak over his nightshirt and leaning on his staff as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "usual. `Pajama party, is it?` he growled up the stairs. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Professor Snape and I heard noises, Professor,` said Filch at once. `Peeves","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the Poltergeist, throwing things around as usual - and then Professor Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "discovered that someone had broken into his off -` `Shut up!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Snape hissed to Filch. Moody took a step closer to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "foot of the stairs. Harry saw Moodys magical eye travel over Snape,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and then, unmistakably, onto himself. Harrys heart gave a horrible jolt.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Moody could see through Invisibility Cloaks... he alone could see the full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "strangeness of the scene: Snape in his nightshirt, Filch clutching the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "egg, and he, Harry, trapped in the stairs behind them. Moody's lopsided","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "gash of a mouth opened in surprise. For a few seconds, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and Harry stared straight into each other's eyes. Then Moody closed his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "mouth and turned his blue eye upon Snape again. `Did I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hear that correctly, Snape?` he asked slowly. `Someone broke into your office?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `It is unimportant,` said Snape coldly. `On the contrary,` growled Moody,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`it is very important. Who'd want to break into your office?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`A student, I daresay,` said Snape. Harry could see a vein flickering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "horribly on Snape's greasy temple. `It has happened before. Potion ingredients have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "gone missing from my private store cupboard ... students attempting illicit mixtures,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "no doubt....` `Reckon they were after potion ingredients, eh?` said Moody.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Not hiding anything else in your office, are you?` Harry saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the edge of Snapes sallow face turn a nasty brick color, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "vein in his temple pulsing more rapidly. `You know I'm hiding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "nothing, Moody,` he said in a soft and dangerous voice, `as you've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "searched my office pretty thoroughly yourself.` Moodys face twisted into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "smile. `Auror's privilege, Snape. Dumbledore told me to keep an eye -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `Dumbledore happens to trust me,` said Snape through clenched teeth. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "refuse to believe that he gave you orders to search my office!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `Course Dumbledore trusts you,` growled Moody. `Hes a trusting man, isn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he? Believes in second chances. But me - I say there are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "spots that don't come off, Snape. Spots that never come off, d'you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "know what I mean?` Snape suddenly did something very strange. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "seized his left forearm convulsively with his right hand, as though something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "on it had hurt him. Moody laughed. `Get back to bed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Snape.` `You don't have the authority to send me anywhere!` Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hissed, letting go of his arm as though angry with himself. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "have as much right to prowl this school after dark as you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "do!` `Prowl away,` said Moody, but his voice was full of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "menace. `I look forward to meeting you in a dark corridor some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "time.... You've dropped something, by the way. ...` With a stab","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "of horror. Harry saw Moody point at the Marauders Map, still lying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "on the staircase six steps below him. As Snape and Filch both","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "turned to look at it, Harry threw caution to the winds; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "raised his arms under the cloak and waved furiously at Moody to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "attract his attention, mouthing `It's mine! Mine!` Snape had reached out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "for it, a horrible expression of dawning comprehension on his face -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Accio Parchment!` The map flew up into the air, slipped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "through Snapes outstretched fingers, and soared down the stairs into Moodys hand.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " `My mistake,` Moody said calmly. `It's mine - must've dropped it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "earlier -` But Snape's black eyes were darting from the egg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "in Filch's arms to the map in Moodys hand, and Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "tell he was putting two and two together, as only Snape could.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . . `Potter,` he said quietly. `What's that?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "said Moody calmly, folding up the map and pocketing it. `Potter!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Snape snarled, and he actually turned his head and stared right at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the place where Harry was, as though he could suddenly see him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`That egg is Potters egg. That piece of parchment belongs to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Potter. I have seen it before, I recognize it! Potter is here!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Potter, in his Invisibility Cloak!` Snape stretched out his hands like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "a blind man and began to move up the stairs; Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "have sworn his over-large nostrils were dilating, trying to sniff Harry out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "-trapped. Harry leaned backward, trying to avoid Snapes fingertips, but any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "moment now-` There's nothing there, Snape!` barked Moody, `but I'll be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "happy to tell the headmaster how quickly your mind jumped to Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Potter!` `Meaning what?` Snape turned again to look at Moody, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hands still outstretched, inches from Harry's chest. `Meaning that Dumbledore's very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "interested to know who's got it in for that boy!` said Moody,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "limping nearer still to the foot of the stairs. `And so am","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "I, Snape . . . very interested....` The torchlight flickered across his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "mangled face, so that the scars, and the chunk missing from his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "nose, looked deeper and darker than ever. Snape was looking down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "at Moody, and Harry couldn't see the expression on his face. For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "a moment, nobody moved or said anything. Then Snape slowly lowered his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "hands. `I merely thought,` said Snape, in a voice of forced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "calm, `that if Potter was wandering around after hours again ... it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "an unfortunate habit of his ... he should be stopped. For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "- for his own safety.` `Ah, I see,` said Moody softly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Got Potter's best interests at heart, have you?` There was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "pause. Snape and Moody were still staring at each other, Mrs. Norris","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "gave a loud meow, still peering around Filch's legs, looking for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "source of Harry's bubble-bath smell. `I think I will go back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to bed,` Snape said curtly. `Best idea you've had all night,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "said Moody. `Now, Filch, if you'll just give me that egg-` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`No!` said Filch, clutching the egg as though it were his firstborn","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "son. `Professor Moody, this is evidence of Peeves' treachery!` `It's the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "property of the champion he stole it from,` said Moody. Hand it over,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "now.` Snape swept downstairs and passed Moody without another word. Filch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "made a chirruping noise to Mrs. Norris, who stared blankly at Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "for a few more seconds before turning and following her master. Still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "breathing very fast. Harry heard Snape walking away down the corridor; Filch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "handed Moody the egg and disappeared from view too, muttering to Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Norris. `Never mind. my sweet.. . we'll see Dumbledore in the morning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "... tell him what Peeves was up to....` A door slammed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry was left staring down at Moody, who placed his staff on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the bottommost stair and started to climb laboriously toward him, a dull","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "clunk on every other step. `Close shave. Potter,` he muttered. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Yeah ... I - er ... thanks,` said Harry weakly. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "is this thing?` said Moody, drawing the Marauder's Map out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "pocket and unfolding it. `Map of Hogwarts,` said Harry, hoping Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was going to pull him out of the staircase soon; his leg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was really hurting him. `Merlins beard,` Moody whispered, staring at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "map, his magical eye going haywire. `This . .. this is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "some map. Potter!` `Yeah, its . . . quite useful,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "said. His eyes were starting to water from the pain. `Er -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Professor Moody, d'you think you could help me - ?` `What?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Oh! Yes . . . yes, of course . ..` Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "took hold of Harrys arms and pulled; Harrys leg came free of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the trick step, and he climbed onto the one above it. Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was still gazing at the map. `Potter ...` he said slowly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`you didn't happen, by any chance, to see who broke into Snapes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "office, did you? On this map, I mean?` `Er . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". yeah, I did . . .` Harry admitted. `It was Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Crouch.` Moodys magical eye whizzed over the entire surface of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "map. He looked suddenly alarmed. `Crouch?` he said. `You're - you're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "sure. Potter?` `Positive,` said Harry. `Well, he's not here anymore,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "said Moody, his eye still whizzing over the map. `Crouch . ..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "that's very - very interesting... .` He said nothing for almost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "a minute, still staring at the map. Harry could tell that ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "this news meant something to Moody and very much wanted to know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "what it was. He wondered whether he dared ask. Moody scared him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "slightly. . . yet Moody had just helped him avoid an awful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "lot of trouble. . . . `Er ... Professor Moody .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . why d'you reckon Mr. Crouch wanted to look around Snapes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "office?` Moodys magical eye left the map and fixed, quivering, upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry. It was a penetrating glare, and Harry had the impression that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Moody was sizing him up, wondering whether to answer or not, or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "how much to tell him. `Put it this way. Potter,` Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "muttered finally, `they say old Mad-Eye's obsessed with catching Dark wizards .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . but I'm nothing - nothing - compared to Barty Crouch.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " He continued to stare at the map. Harry was burning to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "know more. `Professor Moody?` he said again. `D'you think... could this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "have anything to do with . . . maybe Mr. Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "thinks there's something going on. ...` `Like what?` said Moody sharply.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Harry wondered how much he dare say. He didn't want Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to guess that he had a source of information outside Hogwarts; that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "might lead to tricky questions about Sirius. `I don't know,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "muttered, `odd stuffs been happening lately, hasn't it? It's been in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Daily Prophet... the Dark Mark at the World Cup, and the Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Eaters and everything....` Both of Moody's mismatched eyes widened. `You're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "a sharp boy. Potter,` he said. His magical eye roved back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "the Marauder's Map. `Crouch could be thinking along those lines,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "said slowly. `Very possible. . . there have been some funny rumors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "flying around lately - helped along by Rita Skeeter, of course. It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "making a lot of people nervous, I reckon.` A grim smile twisted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "his lopsided mouth. `Oh if there's one thing I hate,` he muttered,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "more to himself than to Harry, and his magical eye was fixed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "on the left-hand corner of the map, `its a Death Eater who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "walked free. ...` Harry stared at him. Could Moody possibly mean","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "what Harry thought he meant? `And now I want to ask","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "you a question. Potter,` said Moody in a more businesslike tone. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harrys heart sank; he had thought this was coming. Moody was going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to ask where he had got this map, which was a very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "dubious magical object - and the story of how it had fallen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "into his hands incriminated not only him, but his own father, Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and George Weasley, and Professor Lupin, their last Defense Against the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Arts teacher. Moody waved the map in front of Harry, who braced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "himself-` Can I borrow this?` `Oh!` said Harry. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was very fond of his map, but on the other hand, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "was extremely relieved that Moody wasn't asking where he'd got it, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "there was no doubt that he owed Moody a favor. `Yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "okay.` `Good boy,` growled Moody. `I can make good use of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "this . .. this might be exactly what I've been looking for.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" ". . . Right, bed, Potter, come on, now. ...` They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "climbed to the top of the stairs together, Moody still examining the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "map as though it was a treasure the like of which he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "had never seen before. They walked in silence to the door of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Moody's office, where he stopped and looked up at Harry. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "ever thought of a career as an Auror, Potter?` `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Harry, taken aback. `You want to consider it,` said Moody, nodding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "and looking at Harry thoughtfully. `Yes, indeed ... and incidentally ... I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "guessing you werent Just taking that egg for a walk tonight?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "`Er - no,` said Harry, grinning. `I've been working out the clue.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Moody winked at him, his magical eye going haywire again. `Nothing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "like a nighttime stroll to give you ideas, Potter. . .. See","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "you in the morning....` He went back into his office, staring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "down at the Marauders Map again, and closed the door behind him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " Harry walked slowly back to Gryffindor Tower, lost in thought about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Snape, and Crouch, and what it all meant.... Why was Crouch pretending","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "to be ill, if he could manage to get to Hogwarts when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "he wanted to? What did he think Snape was concealing in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "office? And Moody thought he. Harry, ought to be an Auror!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "Interesting idea.. . but somehow. Harry thought, as he got quietly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "into his four-poster ten minutes later, the egg and the cloak now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "safely back in his trunk, he thought he'd like to check how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" "scarred the rest of them were before he chose it as a career. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-25" " You said you'd already worked out that egg clue!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "said Hermione indignantly. `Keep your voice down!` said Harry crossly. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "just need to - sort of fine-tune it, all right?` He,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Ron, and Hermione were sitting at the very back of the Charms","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "class with a table to themselves. They were supposed to be practicing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the opposite of the Summoning Charm today - the Banishing Charm. Owing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to the potential for nasty accidents when objects kept flying across the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "room. Professor Flitwick had given each student a stack of cushions on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "which to practice, the theory being that these wouldn't hurt anyone if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "they went off target. It was a good theory, but it wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "working very well. Neville's aim was so poor that he kept accidentally","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sending much heavier things flying across the room - Professor Flitwick, for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "instance. `Just forget the egg for a minute, all right?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hissed as Professor Flitwick went whizzing resignedly past them, landing on top","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of a large cabinet. `I'm trying to tell you about Snape and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Moody. ...` This class was an ideal cover for a private","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "conversation, as everyone was having far too much fun to pay them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "any attention. Harry had been recounting his adventures of the previous night","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "in whispered installments for the last half hour. `Snape said Moodys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "searched his office as well?` Ron whispered, his eyes alight with interest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as he Banished a cushion with a sweep of his wand (it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "soared into the air and knocked Parvati's hat off). `What. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "d'you reckon Moody's here to keep an eye on Snape as well","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as Karkaroff?` `Well, I dunno if that's what Dumbledore asked him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to do, but he's definitely doing it,` said Harry, waving his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "wand without paying much attention, so that his cushion did an odd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sort of belly flop off the desk. `Moody said Dumbledore only lets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Snape stay here because he's giving him a second chance or something.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "...` `What?` said Ron, his eyes widening, his next cushion spinning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "high into the air, ricocheting off the chandelier, and dropping heavily onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Flitwick's desk. `Harry... maybe Moody thinks Snape put your name in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the Goblet of Fire!` `Oh Ron,` said Hermione, shaking her head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sceptically, `we thought Snape was trying to kill Harry before, and it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "turned out he was saving Harry's life, remember?` She Banished a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "cushion and it flew across the room and landed in the box","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "they were all supposed to be aiming at. Harry looked at Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "thinking... it was true that Snape had saved his life once, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the odd thing was, Snape definitely loathed him, just as he'd loathed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry s father when they had been at school together. Snape loved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "taking points from Harry, and had certainly never missed an opportunity to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "give him punishments, or even to suggest that he should be suspended","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "from the school. `I don't care what Moody says,` Hermione went","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "on. `Dumbledore's not stupid. He was right to trust Hagrid and Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Lupin, even though loads of people wouldn't have given them jobs, so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "why shouldn't he be right about Snape, even if Snape is a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "bit -` `- evil,` said Ron promptly. `Come on, Hermione, why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "are all these Dark wizard catchers searching his office, then?` `Why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "has Mr. Crouch been pretending to be ill?` said Hermione, ignoring Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Its a bit funny, isn't it, that he cant manage to come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to the Yule Ball, but he can get up here in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "middle of the night when he wants to?` `You just don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "like Crouch because of that elf, Winky,` said Ron, sending a cushion","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "soaring into the window. `You just want to think Snapes up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to something,` said Hermione, sending her cushion zooming neatly into the box.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `I just want to know what Snape did with his first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "chance, if he's on his second one,` said Harry grimly, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "his cushion, to his very great surprise, flew straight across the room","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and landed neatly on top of Hermione's. Obedient to Sirius's wish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of hearing about anything odd at Hogwarts, Harry sent him a letter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "by brown owl that night, explaining all about Mr. Crouch breaking into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Snape s office, and Moody and Snape's conversation. Then Harry turned his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "attention in earnest to the most urgent problem facing him: how to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "survive underwater for an hour on the twenty-fourth of February. Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "quite liked the idea of using the Summoning Charm again - Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "had explained about Aqua-Lungs, and Ron couldn't see why Harry shouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Summon one from the nearest Muggle town. Hermione squashed this plan by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "pointing out that, in the unlikely event that Harry managed to learn","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "how to operate an Aqua-Lung within the set limit of an hour,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he was sure to be disqualified for breaking the International Code of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Wizarding Secrecy - it was too much to hope that no Muggles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "would spot an Aqua-Lung zooming across the countryside to Hogwarts. `Of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "course, the ideal solution would be for you to Transfigure yourself into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a submarine or something,` Hermione said. `If only we'd done human Transfiguration","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "already! But I don't think we start that until sixth year, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it can go badly wrong if you don't know what you're doing....`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `Yeah, I don't fancy walking around with a periscope sticking out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of my head,` said Harry. `I s'pose I could always attack someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "in front of Moody; he might do it for me....` `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "don't think he'd let you choose what you wanted to be turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "into, though,` said Hermione seriously. `No, I think your best chance is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "some sort of charm.` So Harry, thinking that he would soon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "have had enough of the library to last him a lifetime, buried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "himself once more among the dusty volumes, looking for any spell that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "might enable a human to survive without oxygen. However, though he, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and Hermione searched through their lunchtimes, evenings, and whole weekends - though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry asked Professor McGonagall for a note of permission to use the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Restricted Section, and even asked the irritable, vulture-like librarian. Madam Pince, for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "help - they found nothing whatsoever that would enable Harry to spend an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hour underwater and live to tell the tale. Familiar flutterings of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "panic were starting to disturb Harry now, and he was finding it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "difficult to concentrate in class again. The lake, which Harry had always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "taken for granted as just another feature of the grounds, drew his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "eyes whenever he was near a classroom window, a great, iron-gray mass","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of chilly water, whose dark and icy depths were starting to seem","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as distant as the moon. Just as it had before he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "faced the Horntail, time was slipping away as though somebody had bewitched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the clocks to go extra-fast. There was a week to go before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "February the twenty-fourth (there was still time) . . . there were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "five days to go (he was bound to find something soon) ..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" ". three days to go (please let me find something... please). .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" ". With two days left. Harry started to go off food","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "again. The only good thing about breakfast on Monday was the return","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of the brown owl he had sent to Sirius. He pulled off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the parchment, unrolled it, and saw the shortest letter Sirius had ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "written to him. Send date of next Hogsmeade weekend by return","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "owl. Harry turned the parchment over and looked at the back,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hoping to see something else, but it was blank. `Weekend after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "next,` whispered Hermione, who had read the note over Harrys shoulder. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Here - take my quill and send this owl back straight away.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " Harry scribbled the dates down on the back of Sirius's letter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "tied it onto the brown owl's leg, and watched it take flight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "again. What had he expected? Advice on how to survive underwater? He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "had been so intent on telling Sirius all about Snape and Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he had completely forgotten to mention the eggs clue. `What's he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "want to know about the next Hogsmeade weekend for?` said Ron. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Dunno,` said Harry dully. The momentary happiness that had flared inside him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at the sight of the owl had died. `Come on ...Care of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Magical Creatures.` Whether Hagrid was trying to make up for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Blast-Ended Skrewts, or because there were now only two skrewts left, or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "because he was trying to prove he could do anything that Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Grubbly-Plank could. Harry didnt know, but Hagrid had been continuing her lessons","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "on unicorns ever since he'd returned to work. It turned out that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Hagrid knew quite as much about unicorns as he did about monsters,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "though it was clear that he found their lack of poisonous fangs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "disappointing. Today he had managed to capture two unicorn foals. Unlike","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "full-grown unicorns, they were pure gold. Parvati and Lavender went into transports","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of delight at the sight of them, and even Pansy Parkinson had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to work hard to conceal how much she liked them. `Easier","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "ter spot than the adults,` Hagrid told the class. `They turn silver","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "when they're abou' two years old, an' they grow horns at aroun","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "four. Don' go pure white till they're full grown, 'round about seven.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "They're a bit more trustin when they're babies .. . don mind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "boys so much.... C'mon, move in a bit, yeh can pat 'em","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "if yeh want. . . give 'em a few o' these","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sugar lumps. . . . `You okay. Harry?` Hagrid muttered, moving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "aside slightly, while most of the others swarmed around the baby unicorns.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `Yeah,` said Harry. `Jus' nervous, eh?` said Hagrid. `Bit,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry. `Harry,` said Hagrid, clapping a massive hand on his shoulder,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "so that Harry's knees buckled under its weight, `I'd've bin worried before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "I saw yeh take on tha Horntail, but I know now yeh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "can do anythin' yeh set yer mind ter. I'm not worried at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "all. Yeh're goin ter be fine. Got yer clue worked out, haven'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "yeh?` Harry nodded, but even as he did so, an insane","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "urge to confess that he didn't have any idea how to survive","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at the bottom of the lake for an hour came over him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He looked up at Hagrid - perhaps he had to go into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the lake sometimes, to deal with the creatures in it? He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "looked after everything else on the grounds, after all-` Yeh're goin'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "ter win,` Hagrid growled, patting Harrys shoulder again, so that Harry actually","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "felt himself sink a couple of inches into the soft ground. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "know it. I can feel it. Yeh're goin' ter win, Harry n","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry just couldn't bring himself to wipe the happy, confident smile off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Hagrid's face. Pretending he was interested in the young unicorns, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "forced a smile in return, and moved forward to pat them with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the others. By the evening before the second task. Harry felt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as though he were trapped in a nightmare. He was fully aware","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "that even if, by some miracle, he managed to find a suitable","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "spell, he'd have a real job mastering it overnight. How could he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "have let this happen? Why hadn't he got to work on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "egg's clue sooner? Why had he ever let his mind wander in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "class - what if a teacher had once mentioned how to breathe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "underwater? He sat with Hermione and Ron in the library as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the sun set outside, tearing feverishly through page after page of spells,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hidden from one another by the massive piles of books on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "desk in front of each of them. Harry s heart gave a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "huge leap every time he saw the word `water` on a page,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "but more often than not it was merely `Take two pints of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "water, half a pound of shredded mandrake leaves, and a newt...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`I don't reckon it can be done,` said Rons voice flatly from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the other side of the table. `There's nothing. Nothing. Closest was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "that thing to dry up puddles and ponds, that Drought Charm, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "that was nowhere near powerful enough to drain the lake.` `There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "must be something,` Hermione muttered, moving a candle closer to her. Her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "eyes were so tired she was poring over the tiny print of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes with her nose about an inch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "from the page. `They'd never have set a task that was undoable.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`They have,` said Ron. `Harry, just go down to the lake tomorrow,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "right, stick your head in, yell at the merpeople to give back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "whatever they've nicked, and see if they chuck it out. Best you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "can do, mate.` `There's a way of doing it!` Hermione said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "crossly. `There Just has to be!` She seemed to be taking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the library's lack of useful information on the subject as a personal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "insult; it had never failed her before. `I know what I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "should have done,` said Harry, resting, face-down, on Saucy Tricks for Tricky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Sorts. `I should've learned to be an Animagus like Sirius.` An","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Animagus was a wizard who could transform into an animal. `Yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "you could've turned into a goldfish any time you wanted!` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `Or a frog,` yawned Harry. He was exhausted. `It takes years","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to become an Animagus, and then you have to register yourself and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "everything,` said Hermione vaguely, now squinting down the index of Weird Wizarding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Dilemmas and Their Solutions. `Professor McGonagall told us, remember... you've got to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "register yourself with the Improper Use of Magic Office ...what animal you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "become, and your markings, so you can't abuse it...` `Hermione, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was joking,` said Harry wearily. `I know I haven't got a chance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of turning into a frog by tomorrow morning....` `Oh this is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "no use,` Hermione said, snapping shut Weird Wizarding Dilemmas. `Who on earth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?` `I wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "mind,` said Fred Weasleys voice. `Be a talking point, wouldn't it?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up. Fred and George had just emerged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "from behind some bookshelves. `What're you two doing here?` Ron asked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `Looking for you,` said George. `McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Hermione.` `Why?` said Hermione, looking surprised. `Dunno ... she was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "looking a bit grim, though,` said Fred. `We're supposed to take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "you down to her office,` said George. Ron and Hermione stared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at Harry, who felt his stomach drop. Was Professor McGonagall about to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "tell Ron and Hermione off? Perhaps she'd noticed how much they were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "helping him, when he ought to be working out how to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the task alone? `We'll meet you back in the common room,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Hermione told Harry as she got up to go with Ron -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "both of them looked very anxious. `Bring as many of these books","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as you can, okay?` `Right,` said Harry uneasily. By eight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "o'clock. Madam Pince had extinguished all the lamps and came to chivvy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry out of the library. Staggering under the weight of as many","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "books as he could carry, Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "pulled a table into a corner, and continued to search. There was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "nothing in Madcap Magic for Wacky Warlocks. . . nothing in A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Guide to Medieval Sorcery . . . not one mention of underwater","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "exploits in An Anthology of Eighteenth-Century Charms, or in Dreadful Denizens of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the Deep, or Powers You Never Knew You Had and What to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Do with Them Now Youve Wised Up. Crookshanks crawled into Harrys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "lap and curled up, purring deeply. The common room emptied slowly around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry. People kept wishing him luck for the next morning in cheery,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "confident voices like Hagrid s, all of them apparently convinced that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was about to pull off another stunning performance like the one he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "had managed in the first task. Harry couldn't answer them, he just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "nodded, feeling as though there were a golfball stuck in his throat.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "By ten to midnight, he was alone in the room with Crookshanks.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He had searched all the remaining books, and Ron and Hermione had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "not come back. It's over, he told himself. You can't do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it. You'll just have to go down to the lake in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "morning and tell the judges.... He imagined himself explaining that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "couldn't do the task. He pictured Bagman's look of round-eyed surprise, Karkaroffs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "satisfied, yellow-toothed smile. He could almost hear Fleur Delacour saying `I knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it. . . 'e is too young, 'e is only a little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "boy.` He saw Malfoy flashing his POTTER STINKS badge at the front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of the crowd, saw Hagrid s crestfallen, disbelieving face. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " Forgetting that Crookshanks was on his lap. Harry stood up very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "suddenly; Crookshanks hissed angrily as he landed on the floor, gave Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a disgusted look, and stalked away with his bottlebrush tail in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "air, but Harry was already hurrying up the spiral staircase to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "dormitory. ... He would grab the Invisibility Cloak and go back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the library, he'd stay there all night if he had to. ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `Lumos,` Harry whispered fifteen minutes later as he opened the library","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "door. Wand tip alight, he crept along the bookshelves, pulling down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "more books - books of hexes and charms, books on merpeople and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "water monsters, books on famous witches and wizards, on magical inventions, on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "anything at all that might include one passing reference to underwater survival.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He carried them over to a table, then set to work, searching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "them by the narrow beam of his wand, occasionally checking his watch.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" ". . . One in the morning. . . two in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the morning . . . the only way he could keep going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was to tell himself, over and over again, next book. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "in the next one. . . the next one. . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "The mermaid in the painting in the prefects' bathroom was laughing. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was bobbing like a cork in bubbly water next to her rock,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "while she held his Firebolt over his head. `Come and get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it!` she giggled maliciously. `Come on, jump!` `I can't,` Harry panted,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "snatching at the Firebolt, and struggling not to sink. `Give it to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "me!` But she just poked him painfully in the side with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the end of the broomstick, laughing at him. `That hurts -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "get off- ouch -` `Harry Potter must wake up, sir!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Stop poking me -` `Dobby must poke Harry Potter, sir, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "must wake up!` Harry opened his eyes. He was still in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the library; the Invisibility Cloak had slipped off his head as he'd slept,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and the side of his face was stuck to the pages of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Where There's a Wand, There's a Way. He sat up, straightening his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "glasses, blinking in the bright daylight. `Harry Potter needs to hurry!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "squeaked Dobby. `The second task starts in ten minutes, and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Potter -` `Ten minutes?` Harry croaked. `Ten - ten minutes?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He looked down at his watch. Dobby was right. It was twenty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "past nine. A large, dead weight seemed to fall through Harry's chest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "into his stomach. `Hurry, Harry Potter!` squeaked Dobby, plucking at Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sleeve. `You is supposed to be down by the lake with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "other champions, sir!` `It's too late, Dobby,` Harry said hopelessly. `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "not doing the task, I don't know how-` `Harry Potter will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "do the task!` squeaked the elf. `Dobby knew Harry had not found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the right book, so Dobby did it for him!` `What?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry. `But you don't know what the second task is -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Dobby knows, sir! Harry Potter has to go into the lake and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "find his Wheezy -` `Find my what?` `- and take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "his Wheezy back from the merpeople!` `What's a Wheezy?` `Your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Wheezy, sir, your Wheezy-Wheezy who is giving Dobby his sweater!` Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "plucked at the shrunken maroon sweater he was now wearing over his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "shorts. `What?` Harry gasped. `They've got. . . they've got Ron?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `The thing Harry Potter will miss most, sir!` squeaked Dobby. `'But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "past an hour-'` `- 'the prospect's black,'` Harry recited, staring, horror-struck,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at the elf. ` 'Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Dobby - what've I got to do?` `You has to eat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "this, sir!` s queaked the elf, and he put his hand in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the pocket of his shorts and drew out a ball of what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "looked like slimy, grayish-green rat tails. `Right before you go into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "lake, sir - gillyweed!` `What's it do?` said Harry, staring at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the gillyweed. `It will make Harry Potter breathe underwater, sir!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Dobby,` said Harry frantically, `listen - are you sure about this?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He couldn't quite forget that the last time Dobby had tried to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`help` him, he had ended up with no bones in his right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "arm. `Dobby is quite sure, sir!` said the elf earnestly. `Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hears things, sir, he is a house-elf, he goes all over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "castle as he lights the fires and mops the floors. Dobby heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Professor McGonagall and Professor Moody in the staffroom, talking about the next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "task. . . . Dobby cannot let Harry Potter lose his Wheezy!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " Harrys doubts vanished. Jumping to his feet he pulled off the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Invisibility Cloak, stuffed it into his bag, grabbed the gillyweed, and put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it into his pocket, then tore out of the library with Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at his heels. `Dobby is supposed to be in the kitchens,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sir!` Dobby squealed as they burst into the corridor. `Dobby will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "missed - good luck, Harry Potter, sir, good luck!` `See you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "later, Dobby!` Harry shouted, and he sprinted along the corridor and down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the stairs, three at a time. The entrance hall contained a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "few last-minute stragglers, all leaving the Great Hall after breakfast and heading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "through the double oak doors to watch the second task. They stared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as Harry flashed past, sending Colin and Dennis Creevey flying as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "leapt down the stone steps and out onto the bright, chilly grounds.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " As he pounded down the lawn he saw that the seats","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "that had encircled the dragons' enclosure in November were now ranged along","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the opposite bank, rising in stands that were packed to the bursting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "point and reflected in the lake below. The excited babble of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "crowd echoed strangely across the water as Harry ran flat-out around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "other side of the lake toward the judges, who were sitting at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "another gold-draped table at the water's edge. Cedric, Fleur, and Krum were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "beside the judges' table, watching Harry sprint toward them. `I'm .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" ".. here ...` Harry panted, skidding to a halt in the mud","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and accidentally splattering Fleurs robes. `Where have you been?` said a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "bossy, disapproving voice. `The task's about to start!` Harry looked around.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Percy Weasley was sitting at the judges' table - Mr. Crouch had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "failed to turn up again. `Now, now, Percy!` said Ludo Bagman,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "who was looking intensely relieved to see Harry. `Let him catch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "his breath!` Dumbledore smiled at Harry, but Karkaroff and Madame Maxime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "didn't look at all pleased to see him. ... It was obvious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "from the looks on their faces that they had thought he wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "going to turn up. Harry bent over, hands on his knees,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "gasping for breath; he had a stitch in his side that felt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as though he had a knife between his ribs, but there was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "no time to get rid of it; Ludo Bagman was now moving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "among the champions, spacing them along the bank at intervals of ten","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "feet. Harry was on the very end of the line, next to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Krum, who was wearing swimming trunks and was holding his wand ready.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `All right. Harry?` Bagman whispered as he moved Harry a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "feet farther away from Krum. `Know what you're going to do?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Yeah,` Harry panted, massaging his ribs. Bagman gave Harry's shoulder a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "quick squeeze and returned to the judges' table; he pointed his wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at his throat as he had done at the World Cup, said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Sonorus!` and his voice boomed out across the dark water toward the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "stands. `Well, all our champions are ready for the second task,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "three, then. One . . . two . . . three!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air; the stands erupted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "with cheers and applause; without looking to see what the other champions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "were doing, Harry pulled off his shoes and socks, pulled the handful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of gillyweed out of his pocket, stuffed it into his mouth, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "waded out into the lake. It was so cold he felt the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "skin on his legs searing as though this were fire, not icy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "water. His sodden robes weighed him down as he walked in deeper;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "now the water was over his knees, and his rapidly numbing feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "were slipping over silt and flat, slimy stones. He was chewing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the gillyweed as hard and fast as he could; it felt unpleasantly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "slimy and rubbery, like octopus tentacles. Waist-deep in the freezing water he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "stopped, swallowed, and waited for something to happen. He could hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "laughter in the crowd and knew he must look stupid, walking into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the lake without showing any sign of magical power. The part of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "him that was still dry was covered in goose pimples; half immersed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "in the icy water, a cruel breeze lifting his hair, Harry started","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to shiver violently. He avoided looking at the stands; the laughter was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "becoming louder, and there were catcalls and jeering from the Slytherins. ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " Then, quite suddenly, Harry felt as though an invisible pillow had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "been pressed over his mouth and nose. He tried to draw breath,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "but it made his head spin; his lungs were empty, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "suddenly felt a piercing pain on either side of his neck -Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "clapped his hands around his throat and felt two large slits just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "below his ears, flapping in the cold air. . . . He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "had gills. Without pausing to think, he did the only thing that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "made sense - he flung himself forward into the water. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "first gulp of icy lake water felt like the breath of life.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "His head had stopped spinning; he took another great gulp of water","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and felt it pass smoothly through his gills, sending oxygen back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "his brain. He stretched out his hands in front of him and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "stared at them. They looked green and ghostly under the water, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "they had become webbed. He twisted around and looked at his bare","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "feet - they had become elongated and the toes were webbed too:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " It looked as though he had sprouted flippers. The water","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "didn't feel icy anymore either ... on the contrary, he felt pleasantly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "cool and very light. . . . Harry struck out once more,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "marveling at how far and fast his flipper-like feet propelled him through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the vater, and noticing how clearly he could see, and how he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "no longer seemed to need to blink. He had soon swum so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "far into the lake that he could no longer see the bottom.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He flipped over and dived into its depths. Silence pressed upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "his ears as he soared over a strange, dark, foggy landscape. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "could only see ten feet around him, so that as he sped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "throuugh the water new scenes seemed to loom suddenly out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "incoming darkness: forests of rippling, tangled black weed, wide plains of mud","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "littered with dull, glimmering stones. He swam deeper and deeper, out toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the middle of the lake, his eyes wide, staring through the eerily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "gray-lit water around him to the shadow beyond, where the water became","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "opaque. Small fish flickered past him like silver darts. Once or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "twice he thought he saw something larger moving ahead of him, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "when he got nearer, he discovered it to be nothing but a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "large, blackened log, or a dense clump of weed. There was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sign of any of the other champions, merpeople, Ron - nor, thankfully,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the giant squid. Light green weed stretched ahead of him as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "far as he could see, two feet deep, like a meadow of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "very overgrown grass. Harry was staring unblinkingly ahead of him, trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "discern shapes through the gloom . . . and then, without warning,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "something grabbed hold of his ankle. Harry twisted his body around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and saw a grindylow, a small, horned water demon, poking out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the weed, its long fingers clutched tightly around Harry's leg, its pointed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "fangs bared - Harry stuck his webbed hand quickly inside his robes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and fumbled for his wand. By the time he had grasped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it, two more grindylows had risen out of the weed, had seized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "handfuls of Harry's robes, and were attempting to drag him down. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Relashio!` Harry shouted, except that no sound came out. ... A large","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "bubble issued from his mouth, and his wand, instead of sending sparks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at the grindylows, pelted them with what seemed to be a jet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of boiling water, for where it struck them, angry red patches appeared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "on their green skin. Harry pulled his ankle out of the grindylows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "grip and swam, as fast as he could, occasionally sending more jets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of hot water over his shoulder at random; every now and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he felt one of the grindylows snatch at his foot again, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he kicked out, hard; finally, he felt his foot connect with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "horned skull, and looking back, saw the dazed grindylow floating away, cross-eyed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "while its fellows shook their fists at Harry and sank back into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the weed. Harry slowed down a little, slipped his wand back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "inside his robes, and looked around, listening again. He turned full circle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "in the water, the silence pressing harder than ever against his eardrums.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He knew he must be even deeper in the lake now, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "nothing was moving but the rippling weed. `How are you getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "on?` Harry thought he was having a heart attack. He whipped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "around and saw Moaning Myrtle floating hazily in front of him, gazing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at him through her thick, pearly glasses. `Myrtle!` Harry tried to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "shout - but once again, nothing came out of his mouth but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a very large bubble. Moaning Myrtle actually giggled. `You want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "try over there!` she said, pointing. `I won't come with you. ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "I don't like them much, they always chase me when I get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "too close. ...` Harry gave her the thumbs-up to show his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "thanks and set off once more, careful to swim a bit higher","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "over the weed to avoid any more grindylows that might be lurking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "there. He swam on for what felt like at least twenty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "minutes. He was passing over vast expanses of black mud now, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "swirled murkily as he disturbed the water. Then, at long last, he heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a snatch of haunting mersong. `An hour long you'll have to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "look, And to recover what we took...` Harry swam faster and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "soon saw a large rock emerge out of the muddy water ahead.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "It had paintings of merpeople on it; they were carrying spears and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "chasing what looked like the giant squid. Harry swam on past the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "rock, following the mersong. `. . . your time's half gone,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "so tarry not Lest what you seek stays here to rot. ...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " A cluster of crude stone dwellings stained with algae loomed suddenly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "out of the gloom on all sides. Here and there at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "dark windows, Harry saw faces . . . faces that bore no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "resemblance at all to the painting of the mermaid in the prefects'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "bathroom. . . . The merpeople had grayish skin and long,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "leered at Harry as he swam past; one or two of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "emerged from their caves to watch him better, their powerful, silver fish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "tails beating the water, spears clutched in their hands. Harry sped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "on, staring around, and soon the dwellings became more numerous; there were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "gardens of weed around some of them, and he even saw a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "pet grindylow tied to a stake outside one door. Merpeople were emerging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "on all sides now, watching him eagerly, pointing at his webbed hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and gills, talking behind their hands to one another. Harry sped around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a corner and a very strange sight met his eyes. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "whole crowd of merpeople was floating in front of the houses that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "lined what looked like a mer-version of a village square. A choir","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of merpeople was singing in the middle, calling the champions toward them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and behind them rose a crude sort of statue; a gigantic merperson","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hewn from a boulder. Four people were bound tightly to the tail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of the stone merperson. Ron was tied between Hermione and Cho","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Chang. There was also a girl who looked no older than eight,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "whose clouds of silvery hair made Harry feel sure that she was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Fleur Delacour's sister. All four of them appeared to be in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a very deep sleep. Their heads were lolling onto their shoulders, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "fine streams of bubbles kept issuing from their mouths. Harry sped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "toward the hostages, half expecting the merpeople to lower their spears and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "charge at him, but they did nothing. The ropes of weed tying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the hostages to the statue were thick, slimy, and very strong. For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a fleeting second he thought of the knife Sirius had bought him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "for Christmas - locked in his trunk in the castle a quarter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of a mile away, no use to him whatsoever. He looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "around. Many of the merpeople surrounding them were carrying spears. He swam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "swiftly toward a seven-foot-tall merman with a long green beard and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "choker of shark fangs and tried to mime a request to borrow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the spear. The merman laughed and shook his head. `We do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "not help,` he said in a harsh, croaky voice. `Come ON!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry said fiercely (but only bubbles issued from his mouth), and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "tried to pull the spear away from the merman, but the merman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "yanked it back, still shaking his head and laughing. Harry swirled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "around, staring about. Something sharp . . . anything . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " There were rocks littering the lake bottom. He dived and snatched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "up a particularly jagged one and returned to the statue. He began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to hack at the ropes binding Ron, and after several minutes' hard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "work, they broke apart. Ron floated, unconscious, a few inches above the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "lake bottom, drifting a little in the ebb of the water. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry looked around. There was no sign of any of the other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "champions. What were they playing at? Why didn't they hurry up? He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "turned back to Hermione, raised the jagged rock, and began to hack","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at her bindings too -At once, several pairs of strong gray hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "seized him. Half a dozen mermen were pulling him away from Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "shaking their green-haired heads, and laughing. `You take your own hostage,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "one of them said to him. `Leave the others ...` `No","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "way!` said Harry furiously - but only two large bubbles came out.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " Your task is to retrieve your own friend . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "leave the others ...` She's my friend too!` Harry yelled, gesturing toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Hermione, an enormous silver bubble emerging soundlessly from his lips. `And I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "don't want them to die either!` Cho's head was on Hermiones","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "shoulder; the small silver-haired girl was ghostly green and pale. Harry struggled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to fight off the mermen, but they laughed harder than ever, holding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "him back. Harry looked wildly around. Where were the other champions? Would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he have time to take Ron to the surface and come back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "down for Hermione and the others? Would he be able to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "find them again? He looked down at his watch to see how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "much time was left - it had stopped working. But then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the merpeople around him pointed excitedly over his head. Harry looked up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and saw Cedric swimming toward them. There was an enormous bubble around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "his head, which made his features look oddly wide and stretched. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Got lost!` he mouthed, looking panic-stricken. `Fleur and Krum're coming now!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Feeling enormously relieved, Harry watched Cedric pull a knife out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "pocket and cut Cho free. He pulled her upward and out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sight. Harry looked around, waiting. Where were Fleur and Krum? Time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was getting short, and according to the song, the hostages would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "lost after an hour. . . . The merpeople started screeching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "animatedly. Those holding Harry loosened their grip, staring behind them. Harry turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and saw something monstrous cutting through the water toward them: a human","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "body in swimming trunks with the head of a shark. ... It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was Krum. He appeared to have transfigured himself- but badly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "The shark-man swam straight to Hermione and began snapping and biting at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "her ropes; the trouble was that Krum's new teeth were positioned very awkwardly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "for biting anything smaller than a dolphin, and Harry was quite sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "that if Krum wasn't careful, he was going to rip Hermione in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "half. Darting forward. Harry hit Krum hard on the shoulder and held","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "up the jagged stone. Krum seized it and began to cut Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "free. Within seconds, he had done it; he grabbed Hermione around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "waist, and without a backward glance, began to rise rapidly with her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "toward the surface. Now what? Harry thought desperately. If he could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "be sure that Fleur was coming. . . . But still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "no sign. There was nothing to be done except. . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He snatched up the stone, which Krum had dropped, but the mermen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "now closed in around Ron and the little girl, shaking their heads","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "at him. Harry pulled out his wand. `Get out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "way!` Only bubbles flew out of his mouth, but he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the distinct impression that the mermen had understood him, because they suddenly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "stopped laughing. Their yellowish eyes were fixed upon Harry's wand, and they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "looked scared. There might be a lot more of them than there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "were of him, but Harry could tell, by the looks on their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "faces, that they knew no more magic than the giant squid did.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `You've got until three!` Harry shouted; a great stream of bubbles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "burst from him, but he held up three fingers to make sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "they got the message. `One . . .` (he put down a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "finger) `two . . .` (he put down a second one) -They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "scattered. Harry darted forward and began to hack at the ropes binding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the small girl to the statue, and at last she was free.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He seized the little girl around the waist, grabbed the neck of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Rons robes, and kicked off from the bottom. It was very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "slow work. He could no longer use his webbed hands to propel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "himself forward; he worked his flippers furiously, but Ron and Fleur's sister","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "were like potato-filled sacks dragging him back down. ... He fixed his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "eyes skyward, though he knew he must still be very deep, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "water above him was so dark, . . . Merpeople were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "rising with him. He could see them swirling around him with ease,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "watching him struggle through the water. .. . Would they pull him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "back down to the depths when the time was up? Did they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "perhaps eat humans? Harry's legs were seizing up with the effort to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "keep swimming; his shoulders were aching horribly with the effort of dragging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Ron and the girl... He was drawing breath with extreme difficulty.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He could feel pain on the sides of his neck again ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he was becoming very aware of how wet the water was in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "his mouth .. . yet the darkness was definitely thinning now... he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "could see daylight above him.. .. He kicked hard with his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "flippers and discovered that they were nothing more than feet...water was flooding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "through his mouth into his lungs ... he was starting to feel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "dizzy, but he knew light and air were only ten feet above","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "him ... he had to get there ... he had to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "... Harry kicked his legs so hard and fast it felt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "as though his muscles were screaming in protest; his very brain felt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "waterlogged, he couldn't breathe, he needed oxygen, he had to keep going,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he could not stop -And then he felt his head break the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "surface of the lake; wonderful, cold, clear air was making his wet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "face sting; he gulped it down, feeling as though he had never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "breathed properly before, and, panting, pulled Ron and the little girl up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "with him. All around him, wild, green-haired heads were emerging out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the water with him, but they were smiling at him. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "crowd in the stands was making a great deal of noise; shouting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and screaming, they all seemed to be on their feet; Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the impression they thought that Ron and the little girl might be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "dead, but they were wrong . . . both of them had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "opened their eyes; the girl looked scared and confused, but Ron merely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "expelled a great spout of water, blinked in the bright light, turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to Harry, and said, `Wet, this, isn't it?` Then he spotted Fleur's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sister. `What did you bring her for?` `Fleur didn't turn up,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "I couldn't leave her,` Harry panted. `Harry, you prat,` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`you didn't take that song thing seriously, did you? Dumbledore wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "have let any of us drown!` `The song said -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`It was only to make sure you got back inside the time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "limit!` said Ron. `I hope you didn't waste time down there acting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the hero!` Harry felt both stupid and annoyed. It was all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "very well for Ron; he'd been asleep, he hadn't felt how eerie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it was down in the lake, surrounded by spear-carrying merpeople who'd looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "more than capable of murder. `C'mon,` Harry said shortly, `help me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "with her, I don't think she can swim very well.` They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "pulled Fleur's sister through the water, back toward the bank where the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "judges stood watching, twenty merpeople accompanying them like a guard of honor,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "singing their horrible screechy songs. Harry could see Madam Pomfrey fussing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "over Hermione, Krum, Cedric, and Cho, all of whom were wrapped in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "thick blankets. Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman stood beaming at Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Ron from the bank as they swam nearer, but Percy, who looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "very white and somehow much younger than usual, came splashing out to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "meet them. Meanwhile Madame Maxime was trying to restrain Fleur Delacour, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was quite hysterical, fighting tooth and nail to return to the water.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Is she alive? Is she 'urt?` `She's fine!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry tried to tell her, but he was so exhausted he could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hardly talk, let alone shout. Percy seized Ron and was dragging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "him back to the bank (`Gerroff, Percy, I'm all right!`); Dumbledore and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Bagman were pulling Harry upright; Fleur had broken free of Madame Maxime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and was hugging her sister. `It was ze grindylows . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" ". zey attacked me ... oh Gabrielle, I thought... I thought.. .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "`Come here, you,` said Madam Pomfrey. She seized Harry and pulled him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "over to Hermione and the others, wrapped him so tightly in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "blanket that he felt as though he were in a straitjacket, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "forced a measure of very hot potion down his throat. Steam gushed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "out of his ears. `Harry, well done!` Hermione cried. `You did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "it, you found out how all by yourself!` `Well -` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Harry. He would have told her about Dobby, but he had just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "noticed Karkaroff watching him. He was the only judge who had not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "left the table; the only judge not showing signs of pleasure and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "relief that Harry, Ron, and Fleur's sister had got back safely. `Yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "that's right,` said Harry, raising his voice slightly so that Karkaroff could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "hear him. `You haff a water beetle in your hair, Herm-own-ninny,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "said Krum. Harry had the impression that Krum was drawing her attention","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "back onto himself; perhaps to remind her that he had just rescued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "her from the lake, but Hermione brushed away the beetle impatiently and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "said, `You're well outside the time limit, though, Harry. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Did it take you ages to find us?` `No ... I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "found you okay....` Harry's feeling of stupidity was growing. Now he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was out of the water, it seemed perfectly clear that Dumbledores safety","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "precautions wouldn't have permitted the death of a hostage just because their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "champion hadn't turned up. Why hadn't he just grabbed Ron and gone?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He would have been first back.... Cedric and Krum hadn't wasted time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "worrying about anyone else; they hadn't taken the mersong seriously. ... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Dumbledore was crouching at the water's edge, deep in conversation with what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "seemed to be the chief merperson, a particularly wild and ferocious-looking female.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "He was making the same sort of screechy noises that the merpeople","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "made when they were above water; clearly, Dumbledore could speak Mermish. Finally","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "he straightened up, turned to his fellow judges, and said, `A conference","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "before we give the marks, I think.` The judges went into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a huddle. Madam Pomfrey had gone to rescue Ron from Percy's clutches;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "she led him over to Harry and the others, gave him a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "blanket and some Pepperup Potion, then went to fetch Fleur and her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "sister. Fleur had many cuts on her face and arms and her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "robes were torn, but she didn't seem to care, nor would she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "allow Madam Pomfrey to clean them. `Look after Gabrielle,` she told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "her, and then she turned to Harry. `You saved 'er,` she said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "breathlessly. `Even though she was not your 'ostage.` `Yeah,` said Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "who was now heartily wishing he'd left all three girls tied to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the statue. Fleur bent down, kissed Harry twice on each cheek","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "(he felt his face burn and wouldn't have been surprised if steam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "was coming out of his ears again), then said to Ron, `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "you too-you 'elped -` `Yeah,` said Ron, looking extremely hopeful, `yeah,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "a bit -` Fleur swooped down on him too and kissed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "him. Hermione looked simply furious, but just then, Ludo Bagman's magically magnified","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "voice boomed out beside them, making them all jump, and causing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "crowd in the stands to go very quiet. `Ladies and gentlemen,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Murcus has told us exactly what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "follows. . . . `Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "points.` Applause from the stands. `I deserved zero,` said Fleur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "throatily, shaking her magnificent head. `Cedric Diggory, who also used the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "one minute outside the time limit of an hour.` Enormous cheers from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the Hufflepuffs in the crowd; Harry saw Cho give Cedric a glowing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "look. `We therefore award him forty-seven points.` Harrys heart sank. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Cedric had been outside the time limit, he most certainly had been.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " `Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "effective, and was second to return with his hostage. We award him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "forty points.` Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior. `Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Potter used gillyweed to great effect,` Bagman continued. `He returned last, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "us that Mr. Potter was first to reach the hostages, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "that the delay in his return was due to his determination to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "return all hostages to safety, not merely his own.` Ron and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Hermione both gave Harry half-exasperated, half-commiserating looks. `Most of the judges,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, `feel that this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However . . . Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "Potter's score is forty-five points.` Harry's stomach leapt - he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "now tying for first place with Cedric. Ron and Hermione, caught by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "surprise, stared at Harry, then laughed and started applauding hard with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "rest of the crowd. `There you go. Harry!` Ron shouted over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "the noise. `You weren't being thick after all -you were showing moral","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "fiber!` Fleur was clapping very hard too, but Krum didn't look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "happy at all. He attempted to engage Hermione in conversation again, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "she was too busy cheering Harry to listen. `The third and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " continued Bagman. `The champions will be notified of what is coming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "champions.` It was over. Harry thought dazedly, as Madam Pomfrey began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "herding the champions and hostages back to the castle to get into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "dry clothes ... it was over, he had got through ... he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "didn't have to worry about anything now until June the twenty-fourth. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" ".. Next time he was in Hogsmeade, Harry decided as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "walked back up the stone steps into the castle, he was going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" "to buy Dobby a pair of socks for every day of the year. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-26" " One of the best things about the aftermath of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the second task was that everybody was very keen to hear details","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of what had happened down in the lake, which meant that Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was getting to share Harry's limelight for once. Harry noticed that Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "version of events changed subtly with every retelling. At first, he gave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "what seemed to be the truth; it tallied with Hermione's story, anyway","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "- Dumbledore had put all the hostages into a bewitched sleep in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Professor McGonagall's office, first assuring them that they would be quite safe,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and would awake when they were back above the water. One week","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "later, however, Ron was telling a thrilling tale of kidnap in which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he struggled single-handedly against fifty heavily armed merpeople who had to beat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "him into submission before tying him up. `But I had my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "wand hidden up my sleeve,` he assured Padma Patil, who seemed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "be a lot keener on Ron now that he was getting so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "much attention and was making a point of talking to him every","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "time they passed in the corridors. `I could've taken those mer-idiots any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "time I wanted.` `What were you going to do, snore at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "them?` said Hermione waspishly. People had been teasing her so much about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "being the thing that Viktor Krum would most miss that she was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in a rather tetchy mood. Ron's ears went red, and thereafter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he reverted to the bewitched sleep version of events. As they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "entered March the weather became drier, but cruel winds skinned their hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and faces every time they went out onto the grounds. There were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "delays in the post because the owls kept being blown off course.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "The brown owl that Harry had sent to Sirius with the dates","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of the Hogsmeade weekend turned up at breakfast on Friday morning with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "half its feathers sticking up the wrong way; Harry had no sooner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "torn off Sirius's reply than it took flight, clearly afraid it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "going to be sent outside again. Sirius's letter was almost as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "short as the previous one. Be at stile at end of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "road out of Hogsmeade (past Dervish and Banges) at two o'clock on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Saturday afternoon. Bring as much food as you can. `He hasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "come back to Hogsmeade?` said Ron incredulously. `It looks like it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "doesn't it?` said Hermione. `I can't believe him,` said Harry tensely,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`if he's caught. . .` `Made it so far, though, hasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he?` said Ron. `And it's not like the place is swarming with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "dementors anymore.` Harry folded up the letter, thinking. If he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "honest with himself, he really wanted to see Sirius again. He therefore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "approached the final lesson of the afternoon - double Potions - feeling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "considerably more cheerful than he usually did when descending the steps to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the dungeons. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing in a huddle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "outside the classroom door with Pansy Parkinson's gang of Slytherin girls. All","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of them were looking at something Harry couldn't see and sniggering heartily.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Pansys pug-like face peered excitedly around Goyle's broad back as Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Hermione approached. `There they are, there they are!` she giggled,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and the knot of Slytherins broke apart. Harry saw that Pansy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "had a magazine in her hands - Witch Weekly. The moving picture","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "on the front showed a curly-haired witch who was smiling toothily and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "pointing at a large sponge cake with her wand. `You might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "find something to interest you in there, Granger!` Pansy said loudly, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "she threw the magazine at Hermione, who caught it, looking startled. At","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "that moment, the dungeon door opened, and Snape beckoned them all inside.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " Hermione, Harry, and Ron headed for a table at the back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of the dungeon as usual. Once Snape had turned his back on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "them to write up the ingredients of todays potion on the blackboard,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Hermione hastily rifled through the magazine under the desk. At last, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the center pages, Hermione found what they were looking for. Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Ron leaned in closer. A color photograph of Harry headed a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "short piece entitled: Harry Potter's Secret Heartache A boy like no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "other, perhaps - yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. Little did he know that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he would shortly be suffering yet another emotional blow in a life","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "already littered with personal loss. Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "cannot satisfy. Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Viktor Krum, Bulgarian Seeker","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and hero of the last World Quidditch Cup, Miss Granger has been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "toying with both boys' affections. Krum, who is openly smitten with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to visit him in Bulgaria","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "over the summer holidays, and insists that he has `never felt this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "way about any other girl.` However, it might not be Miss","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Granger's doubtful natural charms that have captured these unfortunate boys' interest. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`She's really ugly,` says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth-year student,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`but she'd be well up to making a Love Potion, she's quite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "brainy. I think that's how she's doing it.` Love Potions are,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of course, banned at Hogwarts, and no doubt Albus Dumbledore will want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to investigate these claims. In the meantime, Harry Potters well-wishers must hope","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "that, next time, he bestows his heart on a worthier candidate. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`I told you!` Ron hissed at Hermione as she stared down at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the article. `I told you not to annoy Rita Skeeter! She's made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "you out to be some sort of- of scarlet woman!` Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "stopped looking astonished and snorted with laughter. `Scarlet woman?` she repeated, shaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "with suppressed giggles as she looked around at Ron. `It's what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "my mum calls them,` Ron muttered, his ears going red. `If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "that's the best Rita can do, she's losing her touch,` said Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "still giggling, as she threw Witch Weekly onto the empty chair beside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "her. `What a pile of old rubbish.` She looked over at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the Slytherins, who were all watching her and Harry closely across the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "room to see if they had been upset by the article. Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "gave them a sarcastic smile and a wave, and she, Harry, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Ron started unpacking the ingredients they would need for their Wit-Sharpening Potion.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `There's something funny, though,` said Hermione ten minutes later, holding her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "pestle suspended over a bowl of scarab beetles. `How could Rita Skeeter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "have known . . . ?` `Known what?` said Ron quickly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`You haven't been mixing up Love Potions, have you?` `Don't be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "stupid,` Hermione snapped, starting to pound up her beetles again. `No, it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "just. . . how did she know Viktor asked me to visit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "him over the summer?` Hermione blushed scarlet as she said this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and determinedly avoided Ron's eyes. `What?` said Ron, dropping his pestle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "with a loud clunk. `He asked me right after he'd pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "me out of the lake,` Hermione muttered. `After he'd got rid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of his shark's head. Madam Pomfrey gave us both blankets and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he sort of pulled me away from the judges so they wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "hear, and he said, if I wasn't doing anything over the summer,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "would I like to -` `And what did you say?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Ron, who had picked up his pestle and was grinding it on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the desk, a good six inches from his bowl, because he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "looking at Hermione. `And he did say he'd never felt the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "same way about anyone else,` Hermione went on, going so red now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "that Harry could almost feel the heat coming from her, `but how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "could Rita Skeeter have heard him? She wasn't there ... or was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "she? Maybe she has got an Invisibility Cloak; maybe she sneaked onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the grounds to watch the second task. ...` `And what did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "you say?` Ron repeated, pounding his pestle down so hard that it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "dented the desk. `Well, I was too busy seeing whether you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Harry were okay to-` `Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "is. Miss Granger,` said an icy voice right behind them, and all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "three of them jumped, `I must ask you not to discuss it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor.` Snape had glided over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to their desk while they were talking. The whole class was now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "looking around at them; Malfoy took the opportunity to flash POTTER STINKS","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "across the dungeon at Harry. `Ah . . . reading magazines","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "under the table as well?` Snape added, snatching up the copy of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Witch Weekly. `A further ten points from Gryffindor ... oh but of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "course ...` Snapes black eyes glittered as they fell on Rita Skeeter's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "article. `Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ".` The dungeon rang with the Slytherins' laughter, and an unpleasant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "smile curled Snape's thin mouth. To Harry's fury, he began to read","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the article aloud. `'Harry Potter's Secret Heartache. . . dear, dear.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Potter, what's ailing you now? 'A boy like no other, perhaps. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ".'` Harry could feel his face burning. Snape was pausing at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape. Even Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was blushing scarlet now. `'. . . Harry Potter's well-wishers must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "hope that, next time, he bestows his heart upon a worthier candidate.'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "How very touching,` sneered Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of laughter from the Slytherins. `Well, I think I had better separate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "potions rather than on your tangled love lives. Weasley, you stay here.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Miss Granger, over there, beside Miss Parkinson. Potter - that table","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in front of my desk. Move. Now.` Furious, Harry threw his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "ingredients and his bag into his cauldron and dragged it up to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the front of the dungeon to the empty table. Snape followed, sat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "down at his desk and watched Harry unload his cauldron. Determined not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to look at Snape, Harry resumed the mashing of his scarab beetles,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "imagining each one to have Snape's face. `All this press attention","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "seems to have inflated your already over-large head. Potter,` said Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "quietly, once the rest of the class had settled down again. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry didn't answer. He knew Snape was trying to provoke him; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "had done this before. No doubt he was hoping for an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "excuse to take a round fifty points from Gryffindor before the end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of the class. `You might be laboring under the delusion that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the entire wizarding world is impressed with you,` Snape went on, so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "quietly that no one else could hear him (Harry continued to pound his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "scarab beetles, even though he had already reduced them to a very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "fine powder), `but I don't care how many times your picture appears","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in the papers. To me. Potter, you are nothing but a nasty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "little boy who considers rules to be beneath him.` Harry tipped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the powdered beetles into his cauldron and started cutting up his ginger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "roots. His hands were shaking slightly out of anger, but he kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "his eyes down, as though he couldn't hear what Snape was saying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to him. `So I give you fair warning, Potter,` Snape continued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in a sorter and more dangerous voice, `pint-sized celebrity or not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "- if I catch you breaking into my office one more time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "-` `I haven't been anywhere near your office!` said Harry angrily,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "forgetting his feigned deafness. `Don't lie to me,` Snape hissed, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "fathomless black eyes boring into Harrys. `Boomslang skin. Gillyweed. Both come from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "my private stores, and I know who stole them.` Harry stared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "back at Snape, determined not to blink or to look guilty. In","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "truth, he hadn't stolen either of these things from Snape. Hermione had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "taken the boomslang skin back in their second year - they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "needed it for the Polyjuice Potion - and while Snape had suspected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry at the time, he had never been able to prove it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Dobby, of course, had stolen the gillyweed. `I don't know what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "you're talking about,` Harry lied coldly. `You were out of bed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "on the night my office was broken into!` Snape hissed. `I know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "it. Potter! Now, Mad-Eye Moody might have joined your fan club,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "but I will not tolerate your behavior! One more nighttime stroll into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "my office, Potter, and you will pay!` `Right,` said Harry coolly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "turning back to his ginger roots. `I'll bear that in mind if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "I ever get the urge to go in there.` Snape's eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "flashed. He plunged a hand into the inside of his black robes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "For one wild moment. Harry thought Snape was about to pull out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "his wand and curse him - then he saw that Snape had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "drawn out a small crystal bottle of a completely clear potion. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "stared at it. `Do you know what this is. Potter?` Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said, his eyes glittering dangerously again. `No,` said Harry, with complete","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "honesty this time. `It is Veritaserum - a Truth Potion so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "this entire class to hear,` said Snape viciously. `Now, the use of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "this potion is controlled by very strict Ministry guidelines. But unless you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "watch your step, you might just find that my hand slips` -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he shook the crystal bottle slightly - `right over your evening pumpkin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "juice. And then. Potter . . . then we'll find out whether","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "you've been in my office or not.` Harry said nothing. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "turned back to his ginger roots once more, picked up his knife,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and started slicing them again. He didn't like the sound of that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Truth Potion at all, nor would he put it past Snape to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "slip him some. He repressed a shudder at the thought of what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "might come spilling out of his mouth if Snape did it... quite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "apart from landing a whole lot of people in trouble - Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Dobby for a start - there were all the other things","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he was concealing . . . like the fact that he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in contact with Sirius . . . and - his insides","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "squirmed at the thought - how he felt about Cho. ... He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "tipped his ginger roots into the cauldron too, and wondered whether he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "ought to take a leaf out of Moody s book and start","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "drinking only from a private hip flask. There was a knock","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "on the dungeon door. `Enter,` said Snape in his usual voice.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " The class looked around as the door opened. Professor Karkaroff came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in. Everyone watched him as he walked up toward Snape's desk. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was twisting his finger around his goatee and looking agitated. `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "need to talk,` said Karkaroff abruptly when he had reached Snape. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "seemed so determined that nobody should hear what he was saying that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he was barely opening his lips; it was as though he were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "a rather poor ventriloquist. Harry kept his eyes on his ginger roots,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "listening hard. `I'll talk to you after my lesson, Karkaroff,` Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "muttered, but Karkaroff interrupted him. `I want to talk now, while","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "you can't slip off, Severus. You've been avoiding me.` `After the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "lesson,` Snape snapped. Under the pretext of holding up a measuring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "cup to see if he'd poured out enough armadillo bile, Harry sneaked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "a sidelong glance at the pair of them. Karkaroff looked extremely worried,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Snape looked angry. Karkaroff hovered behind Snape's desk for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rest of the double period. He seemed intent on preventing Snape from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "slipping away at the end of class. Keen to hear what Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "wanted to say, Harry deliberately knocked over his bottle of armadillo bile","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "with two minutes to go to the bell, which gave him an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "excuse to duck down behind his cauldron and mop up while the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rest of the class moved noisily toward the door. `What's so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "urgent?` he heard Snape hiss at Karkaroff. `This,` said Karkaroff, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry, peering around the edge of his cauldron, saw Karkaroff pull","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "up the left-hand sleeve of his robe and show Snape something on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "his inner forearm. `Well?` said Karkaroff, still making every effort not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to move his lips. `Do you see? It's never been this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "clear, never since - ` `Put it away!` snarled Snape, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "black eyes sweeping the classroom. `But you must have noticed -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Karkaroff began in an agitated voice. `We can talk later, Karkaroff!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "spat Snape. `Potter! What are you doing?` `Clearing up my armadillo","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "bile, Professor,` said Harry innocently, straightening up and showing Snape the sodden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rag he was holding. Karkaroff turned on his heel and strode","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "out of the dungeon. He looked both worried and angry. Not wanting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to remain alone with an exceptionally angry Snape, Harry threw his books","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and ingredients back into his bag and left at top speed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "tell Ron and Hermione what he had just witnessed. They left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the castle at noon the next day to find a weak silver","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "sun shining down upon the grounds. The weather was milder than it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "had been all year, and by the time they arrived in Hogsmeade,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "all three of them had taken off their cloaks and thrown them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "over their shoulders. The food Sirius had told them to bring was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in Harry's bag; they had sneaked a dozen chicken legs, a loaf","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of bread, and a flask of pumpkin juice from the lunch table.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " They went into Gladrags Wizardwear to buy a present for Dobby,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "where they had fun selecting the most lurid socks they could find,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "including a pair patterned with flashing gold and silver stars, and another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "that screamed loudly when they became too smelly. Then, at half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "past one, they made their way up the High Street, past Dervish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Banges, and out toward the edge of the village. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "had never been in this direction before. The winding lane was leading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "them out into the wild countryside around Hogsmeade. The cottages were fewer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "here, and their gardens larger; they were walking toward the foot of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the mountain in whose shadow Hogsmeade lay. Then they turned a corner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and saw a stile at the end of the lane. Waiting for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "them, its front paws on the topmost bar, was a very large,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "shaggy black dog, which was carrying some newspapers in its mouth and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "looking very familiar. . . . `Hello, Sirius,` said Harry when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "they had reached him. The black dog sniffed Harry's bag eagerly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "wagged its tail once, then turned and began to trot away from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "them across the scrubby patch of ground that rose to meet the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rocky foot of the mountain. Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "stile and followed. Sirius led them to the very foot of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the mountain, where the ground was covered with boulders and rocks. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was easy for him, with his four paws, but Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Hermione were soon out of breath. They followed Sirius higher, up onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the mountain itself. For nearly half an hour they climbed a steep,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "winding, and stony path, following Sirius's wagging tail, sweating in the sun,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the shoulder straps of Harry's bag cutting into his shoulders. Then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "at last, Sirius slipped out of sight, and when they reached the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "place where he had vanished, they saw a narrow fissure in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rock. They squeezed into it and found themselves in a cool, dimly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "lit cave. Tethered at the end of it, one end of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rope around a large rock, was Buckbeak the hippogriff. Half gray horse,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "half giant eagle, Buckbeak's fierce orange eye flashed at the sight of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "them. All three of them bowed low to him, and after regarding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "them imperiously for a moment, Buckbeak bent his scaly front knees and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "allowed Hermione to rush forward and stroke his feathery neck. Harry, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was looking at the black dog, which had just turned into his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "godfather. Sirius was wearing ragged gray robes; the same ones he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "had been wearing when he had left Azkaban. His black hair was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "longer than it had been when he had appeared in the fire,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and it was untidy and matted once more. He looked very thin.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `Chicken!` he said hoarsely after removing the old Daily Prophets from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "his mouth and throwing them down onto the cave floor. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "pulled open his bag and handed over the bundle of chicken legs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and bread. `Thanks,` said Sirius, opening it, grabbing a drumstick, sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "down on the cave floor, and tearing off a large chunk with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "his teeth. `I've been living off rats mostly. Can't steal too much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "food from Hogsmeade; I'd draw attention to myself.` He grinned up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "at Harry, but Harry returned the grin only reluctantly. `What're you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "doing here, Sirius?` he said. `Fulfilling my duty as godfather,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Sirius, gnawing on the chicken bone in a very doglike way. `Don't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "worry about it, I'm pretending to be a lovable stray.` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was still grinning, but seeing the anxiety in Harrys face, said more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "seriously, `I want to be on the spot. Your last letter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". . . well, let's just say things are getting fishier. I've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "been stealing the paper every time someone throws one out, and by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the looks of things, I'm not the only one who's getting worried.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " He nodded at the yellowing Daily Prophets on the cave floor,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Ron picked them up and unfolded them. Harry, however, continued to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "stare at Sirius. `What if they catch you? What if you're seen?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `You three and Dumbledore are the only ones around here who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "know I'm an Animagus,` said Sirius, shrugging, and continuing to devour the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "chicken leg. Ron nudged Harry and passed him the Daily Prophets.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "There were two: The first bore the headline Mystery Illness ofBartemius Crouch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the second, Ministry Witch Still Missing-Minister of Magic Now Personally Involved. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry scanned the story about Crouch. Phrases jumped out at him: hasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "been seen in public since November. . . house appears deserted. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries decline comment. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". Ministry refuses to confirm rumors of critical illness. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `They're making it sound like he's dying,` said Harry slowly. `But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he can't be that ill if he managed to get up here.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". . .` `My brothers Crouch's personal assistant,` Ron informed Sirius.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`He says Crouch is suffering from overwork.` `Mind you, he did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "look ill, last time I saw him up close,` said Harry slowly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "still reading the story. `The night my name came out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "goblet. ...` `Getting his comeuppance for sacking Winky, isn't he?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Hermione, an edge to her voice. She was stroking Buckbeak, who was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "crunching up Sirius's chicken bones. `I bet he wishes he hadn't done","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "it now - bet he feels the difference now she's not there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to look after him.` `Hermione's obsessed with house-elfs,` Ron muttered to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Sirius, casting Hermione a dark look. Sirius, however, looked interested. `Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "sacked his house-elf?` `Yeah, at the Quidditch World Cup,` said Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and he launched into the story of the Dark Mark's appearance, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Winky being found with Harrys wand clutched in her hand, and Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Crouch's fury. When Harry had finished, Sirius was on his feet again","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and had started pacing up and down the cave. `Let me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "get this straight,` he said after a while, brandishing a fresh chicken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "leg. `You first saw the elfin the Top Box. She was saving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Crouch a seat, right?` `Right,` said Harry, Ron, and Hermione together.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `But Crouch didn't turn up for the match?` `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry. `I think he said he'd been too busy.` Sirius paced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "all around the cave in silence. Then he said, `Harry, did you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "check your pockets for your wand after you'd left the Top Box?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `Erm . . .` Harry thought hard. `No,` he said finally.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`I didn't need to use it before we got in the forest.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "And then I put my hand in my pocket, and all that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was in there were my Omnioculars.` He stared at Sirius. `Are you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "saying whoever conjured the Mark stole my wand in the Top Box?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `It's possible,` said Sirius. `Winky didn't steal that wand!` Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "insisted. `The elf wasn't the only one in that box,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Sirius, his brow furrowed as he continued to pace. `Who else was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "sitting behind you?` `Loads of people,` said Harry. `Some Bulgarian ministers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ".. . Cornelius Fudge ... the Malfoys ...` `The Malfoys!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Ron suddenly, so loudly that his voice echoed all around the cave,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Buckbeak tossed his head nervously. `I bet it was Lucius Malfoy!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `Anyone else?` said Sirius. `No one,` said Harry. `Yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "there was, there was Ludo Bagman,` Hermione reminded him. `Oh yeah","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". . .` `I don't know anything about Bagman except that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he used to be Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps,` said Sirius, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "pacing. `What's he like?` `He's okay,` said Harry. `He keeps offering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to help me with the Triwizard Tournament.` `Does he, now?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Sirius, frowning more deeply. `I wonder why he'd do that?` `Says","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he's taken a liking to me,` said Harry. `Hmm,` said Sirius,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "looking thoughtful. `We saw him in the forest just before the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Dark Mark appeared,` Hermione told Sirius. `Remember?` she said to Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Ron. `Yeah, but he didn't stay in the forest, did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he?` said Ron. `The moment we told him about the riot, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "went off to the campsite.` `How d'you know?` Hermione shot back.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`How d'you know where he Disapparated to?` `Come off it,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Ron incredulously. `Are you saying you reckon Ludo Bagman conjured the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Mark?` `It's more likely he did it than Winky,` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "stubbornly. `Told you,` said Ron, looking meaningfully at Sirius, `told you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "she's obsessed with house -` But Sirius held up a hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to silence Ron. `When the Dark Mark had been conjured, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the elf had been discovered holding Harry's wand, what did Crouch do?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `Went to look in the bushes,` said Harry, `but there wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "anyone else there.` `Of course,` Sirius muttered, pacing up and down,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`of course, he'd want to pin it on anyone but his own","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "elf... and then he sacked her?` `Yes,` said Hermione in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "heated voice, `he sacked her, just because she hadn't stayed in her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "tent and let herself get trampled -` `Hermione, will you give","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "it a rest with the elf!` said Ron. Sirius shook his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "head and said, `She's got the measure of Crouch better than you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "have, Ron. If you want to know what a mans like, take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " He ran a hand over his unshaven face, evidently thinking hard.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `All these absences of Barty Crouch's ... he goes to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "trouble of making sure his house-elf saves him a seat at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Quidditch World Cup, but doesn't bother to turn up and watch. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "works very hard to reinstate the Triwizard Tournament, and then stops coming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to that too. . . . It's not like Crouch. If he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "ever taken a day off work because of illness before this, I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "eat Buckbeak.` `D'you know Crouch, then?` said Harry. Sirius's face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "darkened. He suddenly looked as menacing as he had the night when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry first met him, the night when Harry still believed Sirius to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "be a murderer. `Oh I know Crouch all right,` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "quietly. `He was the one who gave the order for me to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "be sent to Azkaban - without a trial.` `What?` said Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Hermione together. `You're kidding!` said Harry. `No, I'm not,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said Sirius, taking another great bite of chicken. `Crouch used to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, didn't you know?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione shook their heads. `He was tipped for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the next Minister of Magic,` said Sirius. `He's a great wizard, Barty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Crouch, powerfully magical - and power-hungry. Oh never a Voldemort supporter,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said, reading the look on Harrys face. `No, Barty Crouch was always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "very outspoken against the Dark Side. But then a lot of people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "who were against the Dark Side . . . well, you wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "understand . . . you're too young. ...` `That's what my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "dad said at the World Cup,` said Ron, with a trace of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "irritation in his voice. `Try us, why don't you?` A grin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "flashed across Sirius's thin face. `All right, I'll try you. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". .` He walked once up the cave, back again, and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said, `Imagine that Voldemort's powerful now. You don't know who his supporters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "are, you don't know who's working for him and who isn't; you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "know he can control people so that they do terrible things without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "being able to stop themselves. You're scared for yourself, and your family,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and your friends. Every week, news comes of more deaths, more disappearances,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "more torturing . . . the Ministry of Magic's in disarray, they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "don't know what to do, they're trying to keep everything hidden from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the Muggles, but meanwhile, Muggles are dying too. Terror everywhere . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". panic . . . confusion . . . that's how it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "used to be. `Well, times like that bring out the best","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in some people and the worst in others. Crouch's principles might've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "been good in the beginning - I wouldn't know. He rose quickly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "through the Ministry, and he started ordering very harsh measures against Voldemorts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "supporters. The Aurors were given new powers - powers to kill rather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "than capture, for instance. And I wasn't the only one who was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "handed straight to the dementors without trial. Crouch fought violence with violence,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and authorized the use of the Unforgivable Curses against suspects. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "would say he became as ruthless and cruel as many on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Dark Side. He had his supporters, mind you - plenty of people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "thought he was going about things the right way, and there were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "a lot of witches and wizards clamoring for him to take over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "as Minister of Magic. When Voldemort disappeared, it looked like only a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "matter of time until Crouch got the top job. But then something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rather unfortunate happened. ...` Sirius smiled grimly. `Crouch's own son was caught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "with a group of Death Eaters who'd managed to talk their way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "out of Azkaban. Apparently they were trying to find Voldemort and return","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "him to power.` `Crouch's son was caught?` gasped Hermione. `Yep,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said Sirius, throwing his chicken bone to Buckbeak, flinging himself back down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "on the ground beside the loaf of bread, and tearing it in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "half. `Nasty little shock for old Barty, I'd imagine. Should have spent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "a bit more time at home with his family, shouldn't he? Ought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to have left the office early once in a while . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". gotten to know his own son.` He began to wolf","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "down large pieces of bread. `Was his son a Death Eater?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said Harry. `No idea,` said Sirius, still stuffing down bread. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was in Azkaban myself when he was brought in. This is mostly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "stuff I've found out since I got out. The boy was definitely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "caught in the company of people I'd bet my life were Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Eaters - but he might have been in the wrong place at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the wrong time, just like the house-elf.` `Did Crouch try and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "get his son off?` Hermione whispered. Sirius let out a laugh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "that was much more like a bark. `Crouch let his son","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "off? I thought you had the measure of him, Hermione! Anything that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "threatened to tarnish his reputation had to go; he had dedicated his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "whole life to becoming Minister of Magic. You saw him dismiss a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "devoted house-elf because she associated him with the Dark Mark again -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "doesn't that tell you what he's like? Crouch's fatherly affection stretched just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "far enough to give his son a trial, and by all accounts,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "it wasn't much more than an excuse for Crouch to show how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "much he hated the boy . . . then he sent him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "straight to Azkaban.` `He gave his own son to the dementors?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "asked Harry quietly. `That's right,` said Sirius, and he didn't look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "remotely amused now. `I saw the dementors bringing him in, watched them through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the bars in my cell door. He can't have been more than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "nineteen. They took him into a cell near mine. He was screaming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "for his mother by nightfall. He went quiet after a few days,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "though . . .they all went quiet in the end. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "except when they shrieked in their sleep. ...` For a moment,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the deadened look in Sirius's eyes became more pronounced than ever, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "though shutters had closed behind them. `So he's still in Azkaban?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry said. `No,` said Sirius dully. `No, he's not in there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "anymore. He died about a year after they brought him in.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`He died?` `He wasn't the only one,` said Sirius bitterly. `Most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "go mad in there, and plenty stop eating in the end. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "lose the will to live. You could always tell when a death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "was coming, because the dementors could sense it, they got excited. That","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "boy looked pretty sickly when he arrived. Crouch being an important Ministry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "member, he and his wife were allowed a deathbed visit. That was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the last time I saw Barty Crouch, half carrying his wife past","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "my cell. She died herself, apparently, shortly afterward. Grief. Wasted away just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "like the boy. Crouch never came for his sons body. The dementors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "buried him outside the fortress; I watched them do it.` Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "threw aside the bread he had just lifted to his mouth and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "instead picked up the flask of pumpkin juice and drained it. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`So old Crouch lost it all, just when he thought he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "it made,` he continued, wiping his mouth with the back of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "hand. `One moment, a hero, poised to become Minister of Magic...next, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "son dead, his wife dead, the family name dishonored, and, so I've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "heard since I escaped, a big drop in popularity. Once the boy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "had died, people started feeling a bit more sympathetic toward the son","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and started asking how a nice young lad from a good family","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "had gone so badly astray. The conclusion was that his father never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "cared much for him. So Cornelius Fudge got the top job, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Crouch was shunted sideways into the Department of International Magical Cooperation.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "There was a long silence. Harry was thinking of the way Crouch's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "eyes had bulged as he'd looked down at his disobedient house-elf back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "in the wood at the Quidditch World Cup. This, then, must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "have been why Crouch had overreacted to Winky being found beneath the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Dark Mark. It had brought back memories of his son, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "old scandal, and his fall from grace at the Ministry. `Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "says Crouch is obsessed with catching Dark wizards,` Harry told Sirius. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`Yeah, I've heard it's become a bit of a mania with him,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said Sirius, nodding. `If you ask me, he still thinks he can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "bring back the old popularity by catching one more Death Eater.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`And he sneaked up here to search Snape's office!` s aid Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "triumphantly, looking at Hermione. `Yes, and that doesn't make sense at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "all,` said Sirius. `Yeah, it does!` said Ron excitedly, but Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "shook his head. `Listen, if Crouch wants to investigate Snape, why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "hasn't he been coming to judge the tournament? It would be an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "ideal excuse to make regular visits to Hogwarts and keep an eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "on him.` `So you think Snape could be up to something,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "then?` asked Harry, but Hermione broke in. `Look, I don't care","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "what you say, Dumbledore trusts Snape -` `Oh give it a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "rest, Hermione,` said Ron impatiently. `I know Dumbledores brilliant and everything, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "that doesn't mean a really clever Dark wizard couldn't fool him -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `Why did Snape save Harry's life in the first year, then?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Why didn't he just let him die?` `I dunno - maybe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he thought Dumbledore would kick him out-` `What d'you think, Sirius?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Harry said loudly, and Ron and Hermione stopped bickering to listen. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "`I think they've both got a point,` said Sirius, looking thoughtfully at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Ron and Hermione. `Ever since I found out Snape was teaching here,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "I've wondered why Dumbledore hired him. Snape's always been fascinated by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Dark Arts, he was famous for it at school. Slimy, oily, greasy-haired","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "kid, he was,` Sirius added, and Harry and Ron grinned at each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "other. `Snape knew more curses when he arrived at school than half","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the kids in seventh year, and he was part of a gang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of Slytherins who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Sirius held up his fingers and began ticking off names. `Rosier","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Wilkes - they were both killed by Aurors the year before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Voldemort fell. The Lestranges - they're a married couple - they're in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Azkaban. Avery - from what I've heard he wormed his way out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of trouble by saying he'd been acting under the Imperius Curse -he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "still at large. But as far as I know, Snape was never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "even accused of being a Death Eater - not that that means","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "much. Plenty of them were never caught. And Snape s certainly clever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and cunning enough to keep himself out of trouble.` `Snape knows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Karkaroff pretty well, but he wants to keep that quiet,` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `Yeah, you should've seen Snape's face when Karkaroff turned up in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Potions yesterday!` said Harry quickly. `Karkaroff wanted to talk to Snape,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he says Snape's been avoiding him. Karkaroff looked really worried. He showed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Snape something on his arm, but I couldn't see what it was.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " He showed Snape something on his arm?` said Sirius, looking frankly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "bewildered. He ran his fingers distractedly through his filthy hair, then shrugged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "again. `Well, I've no idea what that's about. . . but if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Karkaroff s genuinely worried, and he's going to Snape for answers ...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " Sirius stared at the cave wall, then made a grimace of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "frustration. `There's still the fact that Dumbledore trusts Snape, and I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "know Dumbledore trusts where a lot of other people wouldn't, but I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "just can't see him letting Snape teach at Hogwarts if he'd ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "worked for Voldemort.` `Why are Moody and Crouch so keen to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "get into Snapes office then?` said Ron stubbornly. `Well,` said Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "slowly, `I wouldn't put it past Mad-Eye to have searched every single","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "teacher's office when he got to Hogwarts. He takes his Defense Against","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "the Dark Arts seriously, Moody. I'm not sure he trusts anyone at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "all, and after the things he's seen, it's not surprising. I'll say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "this for Moody, though, he never killed if he could help it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Always brought people in alive where possible. He was tough, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "never descended to the level of the Death Eaters. Crouch, though .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" ". . he's a different matter ... is he really ill? If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "he is, why did he make the effort to drag himself up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to Snape's office? And if he's not. . . what's he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "up to? What was he doing at the World Cup that was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "so important he didn't turn up in the Top Box? What's he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "been doing while he should have been judging the tournament?` Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "lapsed into silence, still staring at the cave wall. Buckbeak was ferreting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "around on the rocky floor, looking for bones he might have overlooked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Finally, Sirius looked up at Ron. `You say your brother s","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Crouch's personal assistant? Any chance you could ask him if he's seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Crouch lately?` `I can try,` said Ron doubtfully. `Better not make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "it sound like I reckon Crouch is up to anything dodgy, though.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Percy loves Crouch.` `And you might try and find out whether","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "they've got any leads on Bertha Jorkins while you're at it,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Sirius, gesturing to the second copy of the Daily Prophet. `Bagman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "told me they hadn't,` said Harry. `Yes, he's quoted in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "article in there,` said Sirius, nodding at the paper. `Blustering on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "about how bad Bertha's memory is. Well, maybe she's changed since I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "knew her, but the Bertha I knew wasn't forgetful at all -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "quite the reverse. She was a bit dim, but she had an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "excellent memory for gossip. It used to get her into a lot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of trouble; she never knew when to keep her mouth shut. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "can see her being a bit of a liability at the Ministry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of Magic . . . maybe that's why Bagman didn't bother to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "look for her for so long. ...` Sirius heaved an enormous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "sigh and rubbed his shadowed eyes. `What's the time?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "checked his watch, then remembered it hadn't been working since it had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "spent over an hour in the lake. `It's half past three,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "said Hermione. `You'd better get back to school,` Sirius said, getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to his feet. `Now listen . . .` He looked particularly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "hard at Harry. `I don't want you lot sneaking out of school","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to see me, all right? Just send notes to me here. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "still want to hear about anything odd. But you're not to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "go leaving Hogwarts without permission; it would be an ideal opportunity for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "someone to attack you.` `No one's tried to attack me so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "far, except a dragon and a couple of grindylows,` Harry said, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Sirius scowled at him. `I don't care . . . I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "breathe freely again when this tournament's over, and that's not until June.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "And don't forget, if you're talking about me among yourselves, call me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Snuffles, okay?` He handed Harry the empty napkin and flask and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "went to pat Buckbeak good-bye. `I'll walk to the edge of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "village with you,` said Sirius, `see if I can scrounge another paper.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " He transformed into the great black dog before they left the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "cave, and they walked back down the mountainside with him, across the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "boulder-strewn ground, and back to the stile. Here he allowed each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "of them to pat him on the head, before turning and setting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "off at a run around the outskirts of the village. Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "and Hermione made their way back into Hogsmeade and up toward Hogwarts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " `Wonder if Percy knows all that stuff about Crouch?` Ron said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "as they walked up the drive to the castle. `But maybe he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "doesn't care . . . It'd probably just make him admire Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "even more. Yeah, Percy loves rules. He'd just say Crouch was refusing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "to break them for his own son.` `Percy would never throw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "any of his family to the dementors,` said Hermione severely. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "don't know,` said Ron. `If he thought we were standing in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "way of his career .. . Percy's really ambitious, you know.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "...` They walked up the stone steps into the entrance hall,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "where the delicious smells of dinner wafted toward them from the Great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "Hall. `Poor old Snuffles,` said Ron, breathing deeply. `He must really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" "like you. Harry. . . . Imagine having to live off rats.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-27" " Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to the Owlery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "after breakfast on Sunday to send a letter to Percy, asking, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Sirius had suggested, whether he had seen Mr. Crouch lately. They used","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hedwig, because it had been so long since she'd had a job.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "When they had watched her fly out of sight through the Owlery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "window, they proceeded down to the kitchen to give Dobby his new","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "socks. The house-elves gave them a very cheery welcome, bowing and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "curtsying and bustling around making tea again. Dobby was ecstatic about his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "present. `Harry Potter is too good to Dobby!` he squeaked, wiping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "large tears out of his enormous eyes. `You saved my life","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "with that gillyweed, Dobby, you really did,` said Harry. `No chance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of more of those eclairs, is there?` said Ron, who was looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "around at the beaming and bowing house-elves. `You've just had breakfast!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said Hermione irritably, but a great silver platter of eclairs was already","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "zooming toward them, supported by four elves. `We should get some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "stuff to send up to Snuffles,` Harry muttered. `Good idea,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Ron. `Give Pig something to do. You couldn't give us a bit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of extra food, could you?` he said to the surrounding elves, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "they bowed delightedly and hurried off to get some more. `Dobby,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "where's Winky?` said Hermione, who was looking around. `Winky is over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "there by the fire, miss,` said Dobby quietly, his ears drooping slightly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Oh dear,` said Hermione as she spotted Winky. Harry looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "over at the fireplace too. Winky was sitting on the same stool","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "as last time, but she had allowed herself to become so filthy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "that she was not immediately distinguishable from the smoke-blackened brick behind her.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Her clothes were ragged and unwashed. She was clutching a bottle of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "butterbeer and swaying slightly on her stool, staring into the fire. As","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "they watched her, she gave an enormous hiccup. `Winky is getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "through six bottles a day now,` Dobby whispered to Harry. `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "it's not strong, that stuff,` Harry said. But Dobby shook his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "head. `'Tis strong for a house-elf, sir,` he said. Winky hiccuped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "again. The elves who had brought the eclairs gave her disapproving looks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "as they returned to work. `Winky is pining, Harry Potter,` Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "whispered sadly. `Winky wants to go home. Winky still thinks Mr. Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "is her master, sir, and nothing Dobby says will persuade her that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Professor Dumbledore is her master now.` `Hey, Winky,` said Harry, struck","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "by a sudden inspiration, walking over to her, and bending down, `you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "don't know what Mr. Crouch might be up to, do you? Because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "he's stopped turning up to judge the Triwizard Tournament.` Winky's eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "flickered. Her enormous pupils focused on Harry. She swayed slightly again and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "then said, `M - Master is stopped - hic - coming?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Yeah,` said Harry, `we haven't seen him since the first task. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Daily Prophet's saying he's ill.` Winky swayed some more, staring blurrily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at Harry. `Master- hic- ill?` Her bottom lip began to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "tremble. `But we're not sure if that's true,` said Hermione quickly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Master is needing his - hie - Winky!` whimpered the elf.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Master cannot - hic - manage - hic - all by himself.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". . .` `Other people manage to do their own housework,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "you know, Winky,` Hermione said severely. `Winky - hic - is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "not only - hic - doing housework for Mr. Crouch!` Winky squeaked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "indignantly, swaying worse than ever and slopping butterbeer down her already heavily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "stained blouse. `Master is - hic - trusting Winky with - hic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "- the most important - hic - the most secret...` `What?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said Harry. But Winky shook her head very hard, spilling more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "butterbeer down herself. `Winky keeps - hic - her master's secrets,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "she said mutinously, swaying very heavily now, frowning up at Harry with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "her eyes crossed. `You is - hic - nosing, you is.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Winky must not talk like that to Harry Potter!` said Dobby angrily.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Harry Potter is brave and noble and Harry Potter is not nosy!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `He is nosing - hic - into my master's - hic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "- private and secret - hic - Winky is a good house-elf-","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "hic - Winky keeps her silence - hic - people trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "- hic - pry and poke -hic -` Winky's eyelids drooped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and suddenly, without warning, she slid off her stool into the hearth,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "snoring loudly. The empty bottle of butterbeer rolled away across the stone-flagged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "floor. Half a dozen house-elves came hurrying forward, looking disgusted. One","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of them picked up the bottle; the others covered Winky with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "large checked tablecloth and tucked the ends in neatly, hiding her from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "view. `We is sorry you had to see that, sirs and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "miss!` squeaked a nearby elf, shaking his head and looking very ashamed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`We is hoping you will not judge us all by Winky, sirs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and miss!` `She's unhappy!` said Hermione, exasperated. `Why don't you try","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and cheer her up instead of covering her up?` `Begging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "your pardon, miss,` said the house-elf, bowing deeply again, `but house-elves has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "no right to be unhappy when there is work to be done","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and masters to be served.` `Oh for heavens sake!` Hermione cried.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Listen to me, all of you! You've got just as much right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "as wizards to be unhappy! You've got the right to wages and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "holidays and proper clothes, you don't have to do everything you're told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "- look at Dobby!` `Miss will please keep Dobby out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "this,` Dobby mumbled, looking scared. The cheery smiles had vanished from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "faces of the house-elves around the kitchen. They were suddenly looking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hermione as though she were mad and dangerous. `We has your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "extra food!` squeaked an elf at Harry's elbow, and he shoved a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "large ham, a dozen cakes, and some fruit into Harry's arms. `Good-bye!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " The house-elves crowded around Harry, Ron, and Hermione and began shunting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "them out of the kitchen, many little hands pushing in the smalls","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of their backs. `Thank you for the socks, Harry Potter!` Dobby","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "called miserably from the hearth, where he was standing next to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "lumpy tablecloth that was Winky. `You couldn't keep your mouth shut,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "could you, Hermione?` said Ron angrily as the kitchen door slammed shut","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "behind them. `They won't want us visiting them now! We could've tried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to get more stuff out of Winky about Crouch!` `Oh as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "if you care about that!` scoffed Hermione. `You only like coming down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "here for the food!` It was an irritable sort of day","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "after that. Harry got so tired of Ron and Hermione sniping at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "each other over their homework in the common room that he took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Sirius's food up to the Owlery that evening on his own. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Pigwidgeon was much too small to carry an entire ham up to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the mountain by himself, so Harry enlisted the help of two school","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "screech owls as well. When they had set off into the dusk,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "looking extremely odd carrying the large package between them. Harry leaned on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the windowsill, looking out at the grounds, at the dark, rustling treetops","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of the Forbidden Forest, and the rippling sails of the Durmstrang ship.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "An eagle owl flew through the coil of smoke rising from Hagrids","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "chimney; it soared toward the castle, around the Owlery, and out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "sight. Looking down, Harry saw Hagrid digging energetically in front of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "cabin. Harry wondered what he was doing; it looked as though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "were making a new vegetable patch. As he watched, Madame Maxime emerged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "from the Beauxbatons carriage and walked over to Hagrid. She appeared to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "be trying to engage him in conversation. Hagrid leaned upon his spade,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "but did not seem keen to prolong their talk, because Madame Maxime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "returned to the carriage shortly afterward. Unwilling to go back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Gryffindor Tower and listen to Ron and Hermione snarling at each other,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry watched Hagrid digging until the darkness swallowed him and the owls","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "around Harry began to awake, swooshing past him into the night. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "By breakfast the next day Ron's and Hermione's bad moods had burnt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "out, and to Harrys relief, Ron's dark predictions that the house-elves would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "send substandard food up to the Gryffindor table because Hermione had insulted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "them proved false; the bacon, eggs, and kippers were quite as good","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "as usual. When the post owls arrived, Hermione looked up eagerly;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "she seemed to be expecting something. `Percy won't've had time to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "answer yet,` said Ron. `We only sent Hedwig yesterday.` `No, it's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "not that,` said Hermione. `I've taken out a subscription to the Daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Prophet. I'm getting sick of finding everything out from the Slytherins.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Good thinking!` said Harry, also looking up at the owls. `Hey,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hermione, I think you're in luck -` A gray owl was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "soaring down toward Hermione. `It hasn't got a newspaper, though,` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said, looking disappointed. `It's -` But to her bewilderment, the gray","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "owl landed in front of her plate, closely followed by four barn","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "owls, a brown owl, and a tawny. `How many subscriptions did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "you take out?` said Harry, seizing Hermione's goblet before it was knocked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "over by the cluster of owls, all of whom were jostling close","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to her, trying to deliver their own letter first. `What on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "earth - ?` Hermione said, taking the letter from the gray owl,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "opening it, and starting to read. `Oh really!` she sputtered, going rather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "red. `What's up?` said Ron. `It,'s - oh how ridiculous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "-` She thrust the letter at Harry, who saw that it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was not handwritten, but composed from pasted letters that seemed to have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "been cut out of the Daily Prophet. YOU ARE A WICKED","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "GIRL. HARRY POTTER DESERVES BETTER. GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM MUGGLE.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `They're all like it!` said Hermione desperately, opening one letter after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "another. `'Harry Potter can do much better than the likes of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "you. . . .' 'You deserve to be boiled in frog spawn.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". . .' Ouch!` She had opened the last envelope, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "yellowish-green liquid smelling strongly of petrol gushed over her hands, which began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to erupt in large yellow boils. `Undiluted bubotuber pus!` said Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "picking up the envelope gingerly and sniffing it. `Ow!` said Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "tears starting in her eyes as she tried to rub the pus","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "off her hands with a napkin, but her fingers were now so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "thickly covered in painful sores that it looked as though she were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "wearing a pair of thick, knobbly gloves. `You'd better get up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to the hospital wing,` said Harry as the owls around Hermione took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "flight. `We'll tell Professor Sprout where you've gone. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`I warned her!` said Ron as Hermione hurried out of the Great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hall, cradling her hands. `I warned her not to annoy Rita","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Skeeter! Look at this one ...` He read out one of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "letters Hermione had left behind: `I read In Witch Weekly about how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "you are playing Harry Potter false and that boy has had enough","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "hardship and I will be sending you a curse by next post","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "as soon as I can find a big enough envelope.' Blimey, she'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "better watch out for herself.` Hermione didn't turn up for Herbology.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "As Harry and Ron left the greenhouse for their Care of Magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Creatures class, they saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle descending the stone steps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of the castle. Pansy Parkinson was whispering and giggling behind them with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "her gang of Slytherin girls. Catching sight of Harry, Pansy called, `Potter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "have you split up with your girlfriend? Why was she so upset","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at breakfast?` Harry ignored her; he didn't want to give her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the satisfaction of knowing how much trouble the Witch Weekly article had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "caused. Hagrid, who had told them last lesson that they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "finished with unicorns, was waiting for them outside his cabin with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "fresh supply of open crates at his feet. Harrys heart sank at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the sight of the crates - surely not another skrewt hatching? -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "but when he got near enough to see inside, he found himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "looking at a number of flurry black creatures with long snouts. Their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "front paws were curiously flat, like spades, and they were blinking up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at the class, looking politely puzzled at all the attention. `These're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "nifflers,` said Hagrid, when the class had gathered around. `Yeh find 'em","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "down mines mostly. They like sparkly stuff. . . . There yeh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "go, look.` One of the nifflers had suddenly leapt up and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "attempted to bite Pansy Parkinson's watch off her wrist. She shrieked and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "jumped backward. `Useful little treasure detectors,` said Hagrid happily. `Thought we'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "have some fun with 'em today. See over there?` He pointed at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the large patch of freshly turned earth Harry had watched him digging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "from the Owlery window. `I've buried some gold coins. I've got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a prize fer whoever picks the niffler that digs up most. Jus'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "take off all yer valuables, an' choose a niffler, an get ready","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "ter set 'em loose.` Harry took off his watch, which he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was only wearing out of habit, as it didn't work anymore, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "stuffed it into his pocket. Then he picked up a niffler. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "put its long snout in Harry's ear and sniffed enthusiastically. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "really quite cuddly. `Hang on,` said Hagrid, looking down into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "crate, `there's a spare niffler here . . . who's missin?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Where's Hermione?` `She had to go to the hospital wing,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Ron. `We'll explain later,` Harry muttered; Pansy Parkinson was listening. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "It was easily the most fun they had ever had in Care","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of Magical Creatures. The nifflers dived in and out of the patch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of earth as though it were water, each scurrying back to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "student who had released it and spitting gold into their hands. Ron's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was particularly efficient; it had soon filled his lap with coins. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Can you buy these as pets, Hagrid?` he asked excitedly as his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "niffler dived back into the soil, splattering his robes. `Yer mum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "wouldn' be happy, Ron,` said Hagrid, grinning. `They wreck houses, nifflers. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "reckon they've nearly got the lot, now,` he added, pacing around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "patch of earth while the nifflers continued to dive. `I on'y buried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a hundred coins. Oh there y'are, Hermione!` Hermione was walking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "toward them across the lawn. Her hands were very heavily bandaged and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "she looked miserable. Pansy Parkinson was watching her beadily. `Well, let's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "check how yeh've done!` said Hagrid. `Count yer coins! An' there's no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "point tryin' ter steal any, Goyle,` he added, his beetle-black eyes narrowed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`It's leprechaun gold. Vanishes after a few hours.` Goyle emptied his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "pockets, looking extremely sulky. It turned out that Ron's niffler had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "most successful, so Hagrid gave him an enormous slab of Honeydukes chocolate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "for a prize. The bell rang across the grounds for lunch; the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "rest of the class set off back to the castle, but Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Ron, and Hermione stayed behind to help Hagrid put the nifflers back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "in their boxes. Harry noticed Madame Maxime watching them out other carriage","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "window. `What yeh done ter your hands, Hermione?` said Hagrid, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "concerned. Hermione told him about the hate mail she had received that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "morning, and the envelope full of bubotuber pus. `Aaah, don worry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said Hagrid gendy, looking down at her. `I got some o' those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "letters an all, after Rita Skeeter wrote abou me mum. 'Yeh're a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "monster an yeh should be put down.' 'Yer mother killed innocent people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "an if you had any decency you d jump in a lake.'`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `No!` said Hermione, looking shocked. `Yeah,` said Hagrid, heaving the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "niffler crates over by his cabin wall. `They're jus' nutters, Hermione. Don'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "open 'em if yeh get any more. Chuck 'em straigh' in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "fire.` `You missed a really good lesson,` Harry told Hermione as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "they headed back toward the castle. `They're good, nifflers, aren't they, Ron?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Ron, however, was frowning at the chocolate Hagrid had given him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "He looked thoroughly put out about something. `What's the matter?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry. `Wrong flavor?` `No,` said Ron shortly. `Why didn't you tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "me about the gold?` `What gold?` said Harry. `The gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "I gave you at the Quidditch World Cup,` said Ron. `The leprechaun","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "gold I gave you for my Omnioculars. In the Top Box. Why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "didn't you tell me it disappeared?` Harry had to think for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a moment before he realized what Ron was talking about. `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". . .` he said, the memory coming back to him at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "last. `I dunno ... I never noticed it had gone. I was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "more worried about my wand, wasn't I?` They climbed the steps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "into the entrance hall and went into the Great Hall for lunch.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Must be nice,` Ron said abruptly, when they had sat down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and started serving themselves roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. `To have so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "much money you don't notice if a pocketful of Galleons goes missing.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Listen, I had other stuff on my mind that night!` s","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "aid Harry impatiently. `We all did, remember?` `I didn't know leprechaun","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "gold vanishes,` Ron muttered. `I thought I was paying you back. You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "shouldn't've given me that Chudley Cannon hat for Christmas.` `Forget it,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "all right?` said Harry. Ron speared a roast potato on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "end of his fork, glaring at it. Then he said, `I hate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "being poor.` Harry and Hermione looked at each other. Neither of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "them really knew what to say. `It's rubbish,` said Ron, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "glaring down at his potato. `I don't blame Fred and George for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "trying to make some extra money. Wish I could. Wish I had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a niffler.` `Well, we know what to get you next Christmas,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said Hermione brightly. Then, when Ron continued to look gloomy, she said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Come on, Ron, it could be worse. At least your fingers aren't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "full of pus.` Hermione was having a lot of difficulty managing her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "knife and fork, her fingers were so stiff and swollen. `I hate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "that Skeeter woman!` she burst out savagely. `I'll get her back for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "this if it's the last thing I do!` Hate mail continued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to arrive for Hermione over the following week, and although she followed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hagrid's advice and stopped opening it, several of her ill-wishers sent Howlers,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "which exploded at the Gryffindor table and shrieked insults at her for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the whole Hall to hear. Even those people who didn't read Witch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Weekly knew all about the supposed Harry-Krum-Hermione triangle now. Harry was getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "sick of telling people that Hermione wasn't his girlfriend. `It'll die","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "down, though,` he told Hermione, `if we just ignore it. ... People","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "got bored with that stuff she wrote about me last time ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`I want to know how she's listening into private conversations when she's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "supposed to be banned from the grounds!` said Hermione angrily. Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "hung back in their next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "ask Professor Moody something. The rest of the class was very eager","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to leave; Moody had given them such a rigorous test of hex-deflection","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "that many of them were nursing small injuries. Harry had such","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a bad case of Twitchy Ears, he had to hold his hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "clamped over them as he walked away from the class. `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Rita's definitely not using an Invisibility Cloak!` Hermione panted five minutes later,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "catching up with Harry and Ron in the entrance hall and pulling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harrys hand away from one of his wiggling ears so that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "could hear her. `Moody says he didn't see her anywhere near the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "judges' table at the second task, or anywhere near the lake!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Hermione, is there any point in telling you to drop this?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Ron. `No!` said Hermione stubbornly. `I want to know how she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "heard me talking to Viktor! And how she found out about Hagrids","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "mum!` `Maybe she had you bugged,` said Harry. `Bugged?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Ron blankly. `What. . . put fleas on her or something?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry started explaining about hidden microphones and recording equipment. Ron was fascinated,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "but Hermione interrupted them. `Aren't you two ever going to read","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hogwarts, A History^` `What's the point?` said Ron. `You know it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "by heart, we can just ask you.` `All those substitutes for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "magic Muggles use - electricity, computers, and radar, and all those things","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "- they all go haywire around Hogwarts, there's too much magic in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the air. No, Rita's using magic to eavesdrop, she must be.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "... If I could just find out what it is ... ooh,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "if it's illegal, I'll have her ...` `Haven't we got enough","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to worry about?` Ron asked her. `Do we have to start a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "vendetta against Rita Skeeter as well?` `I'm not asking you to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "help!` Hermione snapped. `I'll do it on my own!` She marched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "back up the marble staircase without a backward glance. Harry was quite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "sure she was going to the library. `What's the betting she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "comes back with a box of / Hate Rita Skeeter badges?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Ron. Hermione, however, did not ask Harry and Ron to help","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "her pursue vengeance against Rita Skeeter, for which they were both grateful,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "because their workload was mounting ever higher in the days before the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Easter holidays. Harry frankly marveled at the fact that Hermione could research","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "magical methods of eavesdropping as well as everything else they had to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "do. He was working flat-out just to get through all their homework,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "though he made a point of sending regular food packages up to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the cave in the mountain for Sirius; after last summer, Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "not forgotten what it felt like to be continually hungry. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "enclosed notes to Sirius, telling him that nothing out of the ordinary","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "had happened, and that they were still waiting for an answer from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Percy. Hedwig didn't return until the end of the Easter holidays.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Percy's letter was enclosed in a package of Easter eggs that Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Weasley had sent. Both Harrys and Ron's were the size of dragon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "eggs and full of homemade toffee. Hermiones, however, was smaller than a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "chicken egg. Her face fell when she saw it. `Your mum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "doesn't read Witch Weekly, by any chance, does she, Ron?` she asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "quietly. `Yeah,` said Ron, whose mouth was full of toffee. `Gets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "it for the recipes.` Hermione looked sadly at her tiny egg.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Don't you want to see what Percy's written?` Harry asked her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "hastily. Percys letter was short and irritated. As I am","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "constantly telling the Daily Prophet, Mr. Crouch is taking a well-deserved break.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " He is sending in regular owls with instructions. No, I haven't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "actually seen him, but I think I can be trusted to know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "my own superior's handwriting. I have quite enough to do at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "moment without trying to quash these ridiculous rumors. Please don't bother me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "again unless it's something important. Happy Easter. The start of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "summer term would normally have meant that Harry was training hard for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the last Quidditch match of the season. This year, however, it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the third and final task in the Triwizard Tournament for which he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "needed to prepare, but he still didn't know what he would have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to do. Finally, in the last week of May, Professor McGonagall held","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "him back in Transfiguration. `You are to go down to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Quidditch field tonight at nine o'clock. Potter,` she told him. `Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Bagman will be there to tell the champions about the third task.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " So at half past eight that night. Harry left Ron and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hermione in Gryffindor Tower and went downstairs. As he crossed the entrance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "hall, Cedric came up from the Hufflepuff common room. `What d'you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "reckon it's going to be?` he asked Harry as they went together","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "down the stone steps, out into the cloudy night. `Fleur keeps going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "on about underground tunnels; she reckons we've got to find treasure.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`That wouldn't be too bad,` said Harry, thinking that he would simply","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "ask Hagrid for a niffler to do the job for him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "They walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch stadium, turned through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a gap in the stands, and walked out onto the field. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`What've they done to it?` Cedric said indignantly, stopping dead. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Quidditch field was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "somebody had been building long, low walls all over it that twisted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and crisscrossed in every direction. `They're hedges!` said Harry, bending to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "examine the nearest one. `Hello there!` called a cheery voice. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and Fleur. Harry and Cedric made their way toward them, climbing over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the hedges. Fleur beamed at Harry as he came nearer. Her attitude","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "toward him had changed completely since he had saved her sister from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the lake. `Well, what d'you think?` said Bagman happily as Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and Cedric climbed over the last hedge. `Growing nicely, aren't they? Give","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "he added, grinning, spotting the less-than-happy expressions on Harrys and Cedric's faces,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "No one spoke for a moment. Then -` Maze,` grunted Krum.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `That's right!` said Bagman. `A maze. The third task's really very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `We seemply 'ave to get through the maze?` said Fleur. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`There will be obstacles,` said Bagman happily, bouncing on the balls of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "his feet. `Hagrid is providing a number of creatures . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". then there will be spells that must be broken ... all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champions who are leading","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "on points will get a head start into the maze.` Bagman grinned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at Harry and Cedric. `Then Mr. Krum will enter . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Harry, who knew only too well the kind of creatures that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hagrid was likely to provide for an event like this, thought it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was unlikely to be any fun at all. However, he nodded politely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "like the other champions. `Very well. . . if you haven't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "it's a bit chilly. ...` Bagman hurried alongside Harry as they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "began to wend their way out of the growing maze. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "had the feeling that Bagman was going to start offering to help","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "him again, but just then, Krum tapped Harry on the shoulder. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Could I haff a vord?` `Yeah, all right,` said Harry, slightly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "surprised. `Vill you valk vith me?` `Okay,` said Harry curiously.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Bagman looked slightly perturbed. `I'll wait for you. Harry, shall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "I?` `No, it's okay, Mr. Bagman,` said Harry, suppressing a smile,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`I think I can find the castle on my own, thanks.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry and Krum left the stadium together, but Krum did not set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a course for the Durmstrang ship. Instead, he walked toward the forest.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `What're we going this way for?` said Harry as they passed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hagrid s cabin and the illuminated Beauxbatons carriage. `Don't vont to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "be overheard,` said Krum shortly. When at last they had reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a quiet stretch of ground a short way from the Beauxbatons horses'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "paddock, Krum stopped in the shade of the trees and turned to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "face Harry. `I vant to know,` he said, glowering, `vot there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "is between you and Hermy-own-ninny.` Harry, who from Krum's secretive manner","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "had expected something much more serious than this, stared up at Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "in amazement. `Nothing,` he said. But Krum glowered at him, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry, somehow struck anew by how tall Krum was, elaborated. `We're friends.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "She's not my girlfriend and she never has been. It's just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "that Skeeter woman making things up.` `Hermy-own-ninny talks about you very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "often,` said Krum, looking suspiciously at Harry. `Yeah,` said Harry, `because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "were friends.` He couldn't quite believe he was having this conversation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "with Viktor Krum, the famous International Quidditch player. It was as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the eighteen-year-old Krum thought he. Harry, was an equal - a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "real rival -` You haff never . . . you haff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "not...` `No,` said Harry very firmly. Krum looked slightly happier.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "He stared at Harry for a few seconds, then said, `You fly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "very veil. I vos votching at the first task.` `Thanks,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry, grinning broadly and suddenly feeling much taller himself. `I saw you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at the Quidditch World Cup. The Wronski Feint, you really -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "But something moved behind Krum in the trees, and Harry, who had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "some experience of the sort of thing that lurked in the forest,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "instinctively grabbed Krum's arm and pulled him around. `Vot is it?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Harry shook his head, staring at the place where he'd seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "movement. He slipped his hand inside his robes, reaching for his wand.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Suddenly a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a moment, Harry didn't recognize him . . . then he realized","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "it was Mr. Crouch. He looked as though he had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "traveling for days. The knees of his robes were ripped and bloody,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "his face scratched; he was unshaven and gray with exhaustion. His neat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "hair and mustache were both in need of a wash and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "trim. His strange appearance, however, was nothing to the way he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "behaving. Muttering and gesticulating, Mr. Crouch appeared to be talking to someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "that he alone could see. He reminded Harry vividly of an old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "tramp he had seen once when out shopping with the Dursleys. That","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "man too had been conversing wildly with thin air; Aunt Petunia had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "seized Dudley's hand and pulled him across the road to avoid him;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Uncle Vernon had then treated the family to a long rant about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "what he would like to do with beggars and vagrants. `Vosn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "he a judge?` said Krum, staring at Mr. Crouch. `Isn't he vith","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "your Ministry?` Harry nodded, hesitated for a moment, then walked slowly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "toward Mr. Crouch, who did not look at him, but continued to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "talk to a nearby tree. `... and when you've done that,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Weatherby, send an owl to Dumbledore confirming the number of Durmstrang students who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "will be attending the tournament, Karkaroff has just sent word there will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "be twelve. . . .` `Mr. Crouch?` said Harry cautiously. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`... and then send another owl to Madame Maxime, because she might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "want to up the number of students she's bringing, now Karkaroff's made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "it a round dozen ... do that, Weatherby, will you? Will you?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Will...` Mr. Crouch's eyes were bulging. He stood staring at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "tree, muttering soundlessly at it. Then he staggered sideways and fell to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "his knees. `Mr. Crouch?` Harry said loudly. `Are you all right?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Crouch's eyes were rolling in his head. Harry looked around at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Krum, who had followed him into the trees, and was looking down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at Crouch in alarm. `Vot is wrong with him?` `No","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "idea,` Harry muttered. `Listen, you'd better go and get someone -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Dumbledore!` gasped Mr. Crouch. He reached out and seized a handful of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harrys robes, dragging him closer, though his eyes were staring over Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "head. `I need... see ... Dumbledore. ...` `Okay,` said Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`if you get up, Mr. Crouch, we can go up to the-`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `I've done . . . stupid . . . thing .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". .` Mr. Crouch breathed. He looked utterly mad. His eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "were rolling and bulging, and a trickle of spittle was sliding down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "his chin. Every word he spoke seemed to cost him a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "terrible effort. `Must. . . tell. . . Dumbledore . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ".` `Get up, Mr. Crouch,` said Harry loudly and clearly. `Get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "up, I'll take you to Dumbledore!` Mr, Crouch's eyes rolled forward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "onto Harry. `Who ... you?` he whispered. `I'm a student","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at the school,` said Harry, looking around at Krum for some help,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "but Krum was hanging back, looking extremely nervous. `You're not... his?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "whispered Crouch, his mouth sagging. `No,` said Harry, without the faintest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "idea what Crouch was talking about. `Dumbledore's?` `That's right,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry. Crouch was pulling him closer; Harry tried to loosen Crouch's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "grip on his robes, but it was too powerful. `Warn ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Dumbledore ...` `I'll get Dumbledore if you let go of me,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said Harry. `Just let go, Mr. Crouch, and I'll get him.. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ".` `Thank you, Weatherby, and when you have done that, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "would like a cup of tea. My wife and son will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "arriving shortly, we are attending a concert tonight with Mr. and Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Fudge.` Crouch was now talking fluently to a tree again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and seemed completely unaware that Harry was there, which surprised Harry so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "much he didn't notice that Crouch had released him. `Yes, my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "son has recently gained twelve O.W.L.S, most satisfactory, yes, thank you, yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "very proud indeed. Now, if you could bring me that memo from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the Andorran Minister of Magic, I think I will have time to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "draft a response. ...` `You stay here with him!` Harry said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to Krum. `I'll get Dumbledore, I'll be quicker, I know where his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "office is -` `He is mad,` said Krum doubtfully, staring down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at Crouch, who was still gabbling to the tree, apparently convinced it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was Percy. `Just stay with him,` said Harry, starting to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "up, but his movement seemed to trigger another abrupt change in Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Crouch, who seized him hard around the knees and pulled Harry back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to the ground. `Don't. . . leave .. . me!` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "whispered, his eyes bulging again. `I... escaped .. . must warn","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". . . must tell... see Dumbledore . . . my fault...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "all my fault. . . Bertha . . . dead ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "all my fault. .. my son ... my fault... tell Dumbledore ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry Potter ... the Dark Lord . . . stronger .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". . Harry Potter ...` `I'll get Dumbledore if you let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "me go, Mr. Crouch!` said Harry. He looked furiously around at Krum.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Help me, will you?` Looking extremely apprehensive, Krum moved forward and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "squatted down next to Mr. Crouch. `Just keep him here,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry, pulling himself free of Mr. Crouch. `I'll be back with Dumbledore.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Hurry, von't you?` Krum called after him as Harry sprinted away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "from the forest and up through the dark grounds. They were deserted;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Bagman, Cedric, and Fleur had disappeared. Harry tore up the stone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "steps, through the oak front doors, and off up the marble staircase,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "toward the second floor. Five minutes later he was hurtling toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a stone gargoyle standing halfway along an empty corridor. `Sher -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "sherbet lemon!` he panted at it. This was the password to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the hidden staircase to Dumbledore's office - or at least, it had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "been two years ago. The password had evidently changed, however, for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "stone gargoyle did not spring to life and jump aside, but stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "frozen, glaring at Harry malevolently. `Move!` Harry shouted at it. `C'mon!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " But nothing at Hogwarts had ever moved just because he shouted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at it; he knew it was no good. He looked up and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "down the dark corridor. Perhaps Dumbledore was in the staffroom? He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "started running as fast as he could toward the staircase -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "POTTER!` Harry skidded to a halt and looked around. Snape had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "just emerged from the hidden staircase behind the stone gargoyle. The wall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was sliding shut behind him even as he beckoned Harry back toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "him. `What are you doing here, Potter?` `I need to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "see Professor Dumbledore!` said Harry, running back up the corridor and skidding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to a standstill in front of Snape instead. `It's Mr. Crouch .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". . he's just turned up ... he's in the forest... he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "asking -` `What is this rubbish?` said Snape, his black eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "glittering. `What are you talking about?` `Mr. Crouch!` Harry shouted. `From","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the Ministry! He's ill or something - he's in the forest, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "wants to see Dumbledore! Just give me the password up to -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `The headmaster is busy. Potter,` said Snape, his thin mouth curling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "into an unpleasant smile. `I've got to tell Dumbledore!` Harry yelled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Didn't you hear me. Potter?` Harry could tell Snape was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "thoroughly enjoying himself, denying Harry the thing he wanted when he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "so panicky. `Look,` said Harry angrily, `Crouch isn't right - he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "- he's out of his mind - he says he wants to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "warn -` The stone wall behind Snape slid open. Dumbledore was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "standing there, wearing long green robes and a mildly curious expression. `Is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "there a problem?` he said, looking between Harry and Snape. `Professor!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry said, sidestepping Snape before Snape could speak, `Mr. Crouch is here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "- he's down in the forest, he wants to speak to you!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Harry expected Dumbledore to ask questions, but to his relief, Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "did nothing of the sort. `Lead the way,` he said promptly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and he swept off along the corridor behind Harry, leaving Snape standing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "next to the gargoyle and looking twice as ugly. `What did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Mr. Crouch say. Harry?` said Dumbledore as they walked swiftly down the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "marble staircase. `Said he wants to warn you . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said he's done something terrible ... he mentioned his son . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". and Bertha Jorkins .. . and - and Voldemort. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "something about Voldemort getting stronger. ...` `Indeed,` said Dumbledore, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "quickened his pace as they hurried out into the pitch-darkness. `He's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "not acting normally,` Harry said, hurrying along beside Dumbledore. `He doesn't seem","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to know where he is. He keeps talking like he thinks Percy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Weasley's there, and then he changes, and says he needs to see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "you. ... I left him with Viktor Krum.` `You did?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Dumbledore sharply, and he began to take longer strides still, so that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry was running to keep up. `Do you know if anybody else","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "saw Mr. Crouch?` `No,` said Harry. `Krum and I were talking,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Mr. Bagman had just finished telling us about the third task, we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "stayed behind, and then we saw Mr. Crouch coming out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "forest -` `Where are they?` said Dumbledore as the Beauxbatons carriage","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "emerged from the darkness. `Over here,` said Harry, moving in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of Dumbledore, leading the way through the trees. He couldn't hear Crouch's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "voice anymore, but he knew where he was going; it hadn't been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "much past the Beauxbatons carriage . . . somewhere around here. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ". . `Viktor?` Harry shouted. No one answered. `They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "were here,` Harry said to Dumbledore. `They were definitely somewhere around here.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " ...` `Lumos,` Dumbledore said, lighting his wand and holding it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "up. Its narrow beam traveled from black trunk to black trunk,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "illuminating the ground. And then it fell upon a pair of feet.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " Harry and Dumbledore hurried forward. Krum was sprawled on the forest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "floor. He seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign at all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of Mr. Crouch. Dumbledore bent over Krum and gently lifted one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "his eyelids. `Stunned,` he said softly. His half-moon glasses glittered in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the wandlight as he peered around at the surrounding trees. `Should","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "I go and get someone?` said Harry. `Madam Pomfrey?` `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Dumbledore swiftly. `Stay here.` He raised his wand into the air","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and pointed it in the direction of Hagrid's cabin. Harry saw something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "silvery dart out of it and streak away through the trees like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a ghostly bird. Then Dumbledore bent over Krum again, pointed his wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "at him, and muttered, `Ennervate.` Krum opened his eyes. He looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "dazed. When he saw Dumbledore, he tried to sit up, but Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "put a hand on his shoulder and made him lie still. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`He attacked me!` Krum muttered, putting a hand up to his head.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`The old madman attacked me! I vos looking around to see vare","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Potter had gone and he attacked from behind!` `Lie still for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a moment,` Dumbledore said. The sound of thunderous footfalls reached them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and Hagrid came panting into sight with Fang at his heels. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was carrying his crossbow. `Professor Dumbledore!` he said, his eyes widening.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Harry - what the - ?` `Hagrid, I need you to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "fetch Professor Karkaroff,` said Dumbledore. `His student has been attacked. When you've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "done that, kindly alert Professor Moody -` `No need, Dumbledore,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a wheezy growl. `I'm here.` Moody was limping toward them, leaning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "on his staff, his wand lit. `Damn leg,` he said furiously.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`Would've been here quicker . . . what's happened? Snape said something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "about Crouch -` `Crouch?` said Hagrid blankly. `Karkaroff, please, Hagrid!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "said Dumbledore sharply. `Oh yeah . .'. right y'are, Professor. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" ".` said Hagrid, and he turned and disappeared into the dark trees,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Fang trotting after him. `I don't know where Barty Crouch is,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Dumbledore told Moody, `but it is essential that we find him.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "`I'm onto it,` growled Moody, and he pulled out his wand and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "limped off into the forest. Neither Dumbledore nor Harry spoke again","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "until they heard the unmistakable sounds of Hagrid and Fang returning. Karkaroff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was hurrying along behind them. He was wearing his sleek silver furs,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and he looked pale and agitated. `What is this?` he cried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "when he saw Krum on the ground and Dumbledore and Harry beside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "him. `What's going on?` `I vos attacked!` said Krum, sitting up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "now and rubbing his head. `Mr. Crouch or votever his name -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Crouch attacked you? Crouch attacked you? The Triwizard judge?` `Igor,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Dumbledore began, but Karkaroff had drawn himself up, clutching his furs around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "him, looking livid. `Treachery!` he bellowed, pointing at Dumbledore. `It is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a plot! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "under false pretenses, Dumbledore! This is not an equal competition! First you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "sneak Potter into the tournament, though he is underage! Now one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "your Ministry friends attempts to put my champion out of action! I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "smell double-dealing and corruption in this whole affair, and you, Dumbledore, you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "with your talk of closer international wizarding links, of rebuilding old ties,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "of forgetting old differences - here's what I think of you!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Karkaroff spat onto the ground at Dumbledore's feet. In one swift movement,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hagrid seized the front of Karkaroff's furs, lifted him into the air,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and slammed him against a nearby tree. `Apologize!` Hagrid snarled as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Karkaroff gasped for breath, Hagrid's massive fist at his throat, his feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "dangling in midair. `Hagrid, no!` Dumbledore shouted, his eyes flashing. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Hagrid removed the hand pinning Karkaroff to the tree, and Karkaroff slid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "all the way down the trunk and slumped in a huddle at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "its roots; a few twigs and leaves showered down upon his head.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Kindly escort Harry back up to the castle, Hagrid,` said Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "sharply. Breathing heavily, Hagrid gave Karkaroff a glowering look. `Maybe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "I'd better stay here. Headmaster. . . .` `You will take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Harry back to school, Hagrid,` Dumbledore repeated firmly. `Take him right up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to Gryffindor Tower. And Harry - I want you to stay there.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Anything you might want to do - any owls you might want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to send - they can wait until morning, do you understand me?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Er - yes,` said Harry, staring at him. How had Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "known that, at that very moment, he had been thinking about sending","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Pigwidgeon straight to Sirius, to tell him what had happened? `I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "leave Fang with yeh. Headmaster,` Hagrid said, staring menacingly at Karkaroff, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was still sprawled at the foot of the tree, tangled in furs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "and tree roots. `Stay, Fang. C'mon, Harry.` They marched in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "silence past the Beauxbatons carriage and up toward the castle. `How","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "dare he,` Hagrid growled as they strode past the lake. `How dare","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "he accuse Dumbledore. Like Dumbledore'd do anythin' like that. Like Dumbledore wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "you in the tournament in the firs' place. Worried! I dunno when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "I seen Dumbledore more worried than he's bin lately. An' you!` Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "suddenly said angrily to Harry, who looked up at him, taken","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "aback. `What were yeh doin', wanderin' off with ruddy Krum? He's from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "Durmstrang, Harry! Coulda jinxed yeh right there, couldn he? Hasn' Moody taught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "yeh nothin'? 'Magine lettin him lure yeh off on yer own -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " `Krum's all right!` said Harry as they climbed the steps into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the entrance hall. `He wasn't trying to jinx me, he just wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "to talk about Hermione -` `I'll be havin' a few words","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "with her, an' all,` said Hagrid grimly, stomping up the stairs. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "less you lot 'ave ter do with these foreigners, the happier yeh'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "be. Yeh can trust any of 'em.` `You were getting on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "all right with Madame Maxime,` Harry said, annoyed. `Don' you talk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "ter me abou' her!` said Hagrid, and he looked quite frightening for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "a moment. `I've got her number now! Tryin' ter get back in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "me good books, tryin' ter get me ter tell her what's comin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "in the third task. Ha! You can' trust any of'em!` Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "was in such a bad mood, Harry was quite glad to say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "good-bye to him in front of the Fat Lady. He clambered through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "the portrait hole into the common room and hurried straight for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" "corner where Ron and Hermione were sitting, to tell them what had happened. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-28" " It comes down to this,` said Hermione, rubbing her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "forehead. `Either Mr. Crouch attacked Viktor, or somebody else attacked both of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "them when Viktor wasn't looking.` `It must've been Crouch,` said Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "at once. `That's why he was gone when Harry and Dumbledore got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "there. He'd done a runner.` `I don't think so,` said Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "shaking his head. `He seemed really weak - I don't reckon he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "was up to Disapparating or anything.` `You cant Disapparate on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Hogwarts grounds, haven't I told you enough times?` said Hermione. `Okay.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". . hows this for a theory,` said Ron excitedly. `Krum attacked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Crouch - no, wait for it - and then Stunned himself!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`And Mr. Crouch evaporated, did he?` said Hermione coldly. `Oh yeah","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". . .` It was daybreak. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "crept out of their dormitories very early and hurried up to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Owlery together to send a note to Sirius. Now they were standing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "looking out at the misty grounds. All three of them were puffy-eyed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and pale because they had been talking late into the night about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Mr. Crouch. `Just go through it again, Harry,` said Hermione. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "did Mr. Crouch actually say?` `I've told you, he wasn't making","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "much sense,` said Harry. `He said he wanted to warn Dumbledore about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "something. He definitely mentioned Bertha Jorkins, and he seemed to think she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "was dead. He kept saying stuff was his fault. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "He mentioned his son.` `Well, that was his fault,` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "testily. `He was out of his mind,` said Harry. `Half the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "time he seemed to think his wife and son were still alive,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and he kept talking to Percy about work and giving him instructions.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `And . . . remind me what he said about You-Know-Who?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Ron tentatively. `I've told you,` Harry repeated dully. `He said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "he's getting stronger.` There was a pause. Then Ron said in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "a falsely confident voice, `But he was out of his mind, like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "you said, so half of it was probably just raving. ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`He was sanest when he was trying to talk about Voldemort,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry, and Ron winced at the sound of the name. `He was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "having real trouble stringing two words together, but that was when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "seemed to know where he was, and know what he wanted to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "do. He just kept saying he had to see Dumbledore.` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "turned away from the window and stared up into the rafters. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "many perches were half-empty; every now and then, another owl would swoop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "in through one of the windows, returning from its night's hunting with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "a mouse in its beak. `If Snape hadn't held me up,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry said bitterly, `we might've got there in time. 'The headmaster is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "busy. Potter . . . what's this rubbish, Potter?' Why couldn't he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "have just got out of the way?` `Maybe he didn't want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "you to get there!` said Ron quickly. `Maybe - hang on - how","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "fast d'you reckon he could've gotten down to the forest? D'you reckon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "he could've beaten you and Dumbledore there?` `Not unless he can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "turn himself into a bat or something,` said Harry. `Wouldn't put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "it past him,` Ron muttered. `We need to see Professor Moody,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Hermione. `We need to find out whether he found Mr. Crouch,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `If he had the Marauder's Map on him, it would've been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "easy,` said Harry. `Unless Crouch was already outside the grounds,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Ron, `because it only shows up to the boundaries, doesn't -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Shh!` said Hermione suddenly. Somebody was climbing the steps up to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the Owlery. Harry could hear two voices arguing, coming closer and closer.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `- that's blackmail, that is, we could get into a lot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "of trouble for that-` `- we've tried being polite; it's time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to play dirty, like him. He wouldn't like the Ministry of Magic","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "knowing what he did -` `I'm telling you, if you put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "that in writing, it's blackmail!` `Yeah, and you won't be complaining","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "if we get a nice fat payoff, will you?` The Owlery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "door banged open. Fred and George came over the threshold, then froze","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "at the sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. `What're you doing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "here?` Ron and Fred said at the same time. `Sending a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "letter,` said Harry and George in unison. `What, at this time?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Hermione and Fred. Fred grinned. `Fine - we won't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "ask you what you're doing, if you don't ask us,` he said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " He was holding a sealed envelope in his hands. Harry glanced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "at it, but Fred, whether accidentally or on purpose, shifted his hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "so that the name on it was covered. `Well, don't let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "us hold you up,` Fred said, making a mock bow and pointing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "at the door. Ron didn't move. `Who're you blackmailing?` he said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " The grin vanished from Fred's face. Harry saw George half glance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "at Fred, before smiling at Ron. `Don't be stupid, I was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "only joking,` he said easily. `Didn't sound like that,` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " Fred and George looked at each other. Then Fred said abruptly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`I've told you before, Ron, keep your nose out if you like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "it the shape it is. Can't see why you would, but -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `It's my business if you're blackmailing someone,` said Ron. `George's right,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "you could end up in serious trouble for that.` `Told you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "I was joking,` said George. He walked over to Fred, pulled the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "letter out of his hands, and began attaching it to the leg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "of the nearest barn owl. `You're starting to sound a bit like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "our dear older brother, you are, Ron. Carry on like this and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "you'll be made a prefect.` `No, I won't!` said Ron hotly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " George carried the barn owl over to the window and it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "took off. George turned around and grinned at Ron. `Well, stop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "telling people what to do then. See you later.` He and Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "left the Owlery. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`You don't think they know something about all this, do you?` Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "whispered. `About Crouch and everything?` `No,` said Harry. `If it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "something that serious, they'd tell someone. They'd tell Dumbledore.` Ron, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "was looking uncomfortable. `What's the matter?` Hermione asked him. `Well.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". .` said Ron slowly, `I dunno if they would. They're .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". . they're obsessed with making money lately, I noticed it when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "I was hanging around with them - when - you know -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `We weren't talking.` Harry finished the sentence for him. `Yeah, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "blackmail...` `It's this joke shop idea they've got,` said Ron. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "thought they were only saying it to annoy Mum, but they really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "mean it, they want to start one. They've only got a year","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "left at Hogwarts, they keep going on about how it's time to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "think about their future, and Dad can't help them, and they need","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "gold to get started.` Hermione was looking uncomfortable now. `Yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "but. . . they wouldn't do anything against the law to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "gold.` `Wouldn't they?` said Ron, looking skeptical. `I dunno . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". they don't exactly mind breaking rules, do they?` `Yes, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "this is the law` said Hermione, looking scared. `This isn't some silly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "school rule. . . . They'll get a lot more than detention","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "for blackmail! Ron. . . maybe you'd better tell Percy. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". .` `Are you mad?` said Ron. `Tell Percy? He'd probably","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "do a Crouch and turn them in.` He stared at the window","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "through which Fred and George's owl had departed, then said, `Come on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "let's get some breakfast.` `D'you think it's too early to go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and see Professor Moody?` Hermione said as they went down the spiral","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "staircase. `Yes,` said Harry. `He'd probably blast us through the door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "if we wake him at the crack of dawn; he'll think we're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "trying to attack him while he's asleep. Let's give it till break.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " History of Magic had rarely gone so slowly. Harry kept checking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Ron's watch, having finally discarded his own, but Ron's was moving so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "slowly he could have sworn it had stopped working too. All three","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "of them were so tired they could happily have put their heads","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "down on the desks and slept; even Hermione wasn't taking her usual","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "notes, but was sitting with her head on her hand, gazing at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Professor Binns with her eyes out of focus. When the bell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "finally rang, they hurried out into the corridors toward the Dark Arts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "classroom and found Professor Moody leaving it. He looked as tired as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "they felt. The eyelid of his normal eye was drooping, giving his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "face an even more lopsided appearance than usual. `Professor Moody?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "called as they made their way toward him through the crowd. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Hello, Potter,` growled Moody. His magical eye followed a couple of passing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "first years, who sped up, looking nervous; it rolled into the back of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Moody's head and watched them around the corner before he spoke again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `Come in here.` He stood back to let them into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "his empty classroom, limped in after them, and closed the door. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Did you find him?` Harry asked without preamble. `Mr. Crouch?` `No,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Moody. He moved over to his desk, sat down, stretched out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "his wooden leg with a slight groan, and pulled out his hip","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "flask. `Did you use the map?` Harry said. `Of course,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Moody, taking a swig from his flask. `Took a leaf out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "of your book, Potter. Summoned it from my office into the forest.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "He wasn't anywhere on there.` `So he did Disapparate?` said Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `You can't Disapparate on the grounds, Ron!` said Hermione. `There are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "other ways he could have disappeared, aren't there, Professor?` Moody's magical","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "eye quivered as it rested on Hermione. `You're another one who might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "think about a career as an Auror,` he told her. `Mind works","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the right way. Granger.` Hermione flushed pink with pleasure. `Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "he wasn't invisible,` said Harry. `The map shows invisible people. He must've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "left the grounds, then.` `But under his own steam?` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "eagerly, `or because someone made him?` `Yeah, someone could've - could've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "pulled him onto a broom and flown off with him, couldn't they?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Ron quickly, looking hopefully at Moody as if he too wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to be told he had the makings of an Auror. `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "can't rule out kidnap,` growled Moody. `So,` said Ron, `d'you reckon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "he's somewhere in Hogsmeade?` `Could be anywhere,` said Moody, shaking his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "head. `Only thing we know for sure is that he's not here.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " He yawned widely, so that his scars stretched, and his lopsided","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "mouth revealed a number of missing teeth. Then he said, `Now, Dumbledore's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "told me you three fancy yourselves as investigators, but there's nothing you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "can do for Crouch. The Ministry'll be looking for him now, Dumbledore's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "notified them. Potter, you just keep your mind on the third task.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `What?` said Harry. `Oh yeah . . .` He hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "given the maze a single thought since he'd left it with Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the previous night. `Should be right up your street, this one,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Moody, looking up at Harry and scratching his scarred and stubbly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "chin. `From what Dumbledore's said, you've managed to get through stuff like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "this plenty of times. Broke your way through a series of obstacles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "guarding the Sorcerers Stone in your first year, didn't you?` `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "helped,` Ron said quickly. `Me and Hermione helped.` Moody grinned. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Well, help him practice for this one, and I'll be very surprised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "if he doesn't win,` said Moody. `In the meantime .. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "constant vigilance, Potter. Constant vigilance.` He took another long draw from his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "hip flask, and his magical eye swiveled onto the window. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "topmost sail of the Durmstrang ship was visible through it. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "two,` counseled Moody, his normal eye on Ron and Hermione, `you stick close","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to Potter, all right? I'm keeping an eye on things, but all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the same . . . you can never have too many eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "out.` Sirius sent their owl back the very next morning. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "fluttered down beside Harry at the same moment that a tawny owl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "landed in front of Hermione, clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "in its beak. She took the newspaper, scanned the first few pages,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said, `Ha! She hasn't got wind of Crouch!` then joined Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and Harry in reading what Sirius had to say on the mysterious","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "events of the night before last. Harry - what do you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "think you are playing at, walking off into the forest with Viktor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Krum? I want you to swear, by return owl, that you are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "not going to go walking with anyone else at night. There is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "somebody highly dangerous at Hogwarts. It is clear to me that they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "wanted to stop Crouch from seeing Dumbledore and you were probably feet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "away from them in the dark. You could have been killed. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Your name didn't get into the Goblet of Fire by accident. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "someone's trying to attack you, they're on their last chance. Stay close","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to Ron and Hermione, do not leave Gryffindor Tower after hours, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "arm yourself for the third task. Practice Stunning and Disarming. A few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "hexes wouldn't go amiss either. There's nothing you can do about Crouch.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Keep your head down and look after yourself. I'm waiting for your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "letter giving me your word you won't stray out-of-bounds again. Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Who's he, to lecture me about being out-of-bounds?` said Harry in mild","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "indignation as he folded up Sirius's letter and put it inside his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "robes. `After all the stuff he did at school!` `He's worried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "about you!` said Hermione sharply. `Just like Moody and Hagrid! So listen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to them!` `No one's tried to attack me all year,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry. `No one's done anything to me at all-` `Except put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "your name in the Goblet of Fire,` said Hermione. `And they must've","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "done that for a reason. Harry. Snuffles is right. Maybe they've been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "biding their time. Maybe this is the task they're going to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "you.` `Look,` said Harry impatiently, `let's say Sirius is right, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "someone Stunned Krum to kidnap Crouch. Well, they would've been in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "trees near us, wouldn't they? But they waited till I was out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "of the way until they acted, didn't they? So it doesn't look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "like I'm their target, does it?` `They couldn't have made it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "look like an accident if they'd murdered you in the forest!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Hermione. `But if you die during a task-` `They didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "care about attacking Krum, did they?` said Harry. `Why didn't they just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "polish me off at the same time? They could've made it look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "like Krum and I had a duel or something.` `Harry, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "don't understand it either,` said Hermione desperately. `I just know there are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "a lot of odd things going on, and I don't like it. ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Moody's right - Sirius is right -you've got to get in training","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "for the third task, straight away. And you make sure you write","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "back to Sirius and promise him you're not going to go sneaking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "off alone again.` The Hogwarts grounds never looked more inviting than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "when Harry had to stay indoors. For the next few days he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "spent all of his free time either in the library with Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and Ron, looking up hexes, or else in empty classrooms, which they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "sneaked into to practice. Harry was concentrating on the Stunning Spell,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "which he had never used before. The trouble was that practicing it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "involved certain sacrifices on Ron's and Hermione's part. `Can't we kidnap","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Mrs. Norris?` Ron suggested on Monday lunchtime as he lay flat on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "his back in the middle of their Charms classroom, having just been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Stunned and reawoken by Harry for the fifth time in a row.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Let's Stun her for a bit. Or you could use Dobby, Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "I bet he'd do anything to help you. I'm not complaining or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "anything` - he got gingerly to his feet, rubbing his backside -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`but I'm aching all over. ...` `Well, you keep missing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "cushions, don't you!` said Hermione impatiently, rearranging the pile of cushions","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "they had used for the Banishing Spell, which Flitwick had left in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "a cabinet. `Just try and fall backward!` `Once you're Stunned, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "can't aim too well, Hermione! `said Ron angrily. `Why don't you take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "a turn?` `Well, I think Harry's got it now, anyway,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Hermione hastily. `And we don't have to worry about Disarming, because he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "been able to do that for ages. ... I think we ought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to start on some of these hexes this evening.` She looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "down the list they had made in the library. `I like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the look of this one,` she said, `this Impediment Curse. Should slow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "down anything that's trying to attack you. Harry. We'll start with that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "one.` The bell rang. They hastily shoved the cushions back into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Flitwicks cupboard and slipped out of the classroom. `See you at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "dinner!` said Hermione, and she set off for Arithmancy, while Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Ron headed toward North Tower, and Divination. Broad strips of dazzling gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "sunlight tell across the corridor from the high windows. The sky outside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "was so brightly blue it looked as though it had been enameled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `It's going to be boiling in Trelawney's room, she never puts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "out that fire,` said Ron as they started up the staircase toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the silver ladder and the trapdoor. He was quite right. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "dimly lit room was swelteringly hot. The fumes from the perfumed fire","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "were heavier than ever. Harrys head swam as he made his way","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "over to one of the curtained windows. While Professor Trelawney was looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the other way, disentangling her shawl from a lamp, he opened it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "an inch or so and settled back in his chintz armchair, so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "that a soft breeze played across his face. It was extremely comfortable. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`My dears,` said Professor Trelawney, sitting down in her winged armchair in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "front of the class and peering around at them all with her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "strangely enlarged eyes, `we have almost finished our work on planetary divination.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Today, however, will be an excellent opportunity to examine the effects of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Mars, for he is placed most interestingly at the present time. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "you will all look this way, I will dim the lights. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". .` She waved her wand and the lamps went out.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "The fire was the only source of light now. Professor Trelawney","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "bent down and lifted, from under her chair, a miniature model of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the solar system, contained within a glass dome. It was a beautiful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "thing; each of the moons glimmered in place around the nine planets","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and the fiery sun, all of them hanging in thin air beneath","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the glass. Harry watched lazily as Professor Trelawney began to point out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the fascinating angle Mars was making to Neptune. The heavily perfumed fumes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "washed over him, and the breeze from the window played across his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "face. He could hear an insect humming gently somewhere behind the curtain.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "His eyelids began to droop. . . . He was riding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "on the back of an eagle owl, soaring through the clear blue","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "sky toward an old, ivy-covered house set high on a hillside. Lower","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and lower they flew, the wind blowing pleasantly in Harry's face, until","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "they reached a dark and broken window in the upper story of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the house and entered. Now they were flying along a gloomy passageway,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to a room at the very end . . . through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "door they went, into a dark room whose windows were boarded up....","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " Harry had left the owl's back... he was watching, now, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "it fluttered across the room, into a chair with its back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "him. . . . There were two dark shapes on the floor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "beside the chair . . . both of them were stirring. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". . One was a huge snake . . . the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "other was a man ... a short, balding man, a man with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "watery eyes and a pointed nose ... he was wheezing and sobbing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "on the hearth rug. . . . `You are in luck,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Wormtail,` said a cold, high-pitched voice from the depths of the chair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "in which the owl had landed. `You are very fortunate indeed. Your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "blunder has not ruined everything. He is dead.` `My Lord!` gasped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the man on the floor. `My Lord, I am ... I am","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "so pleased . . . and so sorry. ...` `Nagini,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the cold voice, `you are out of luck. I will not be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "feeding Wormtail to you, after all... but never mind, never mind .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". . there is still Harry Potter. ...` The snake hissed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry could see its tongue fluttering. `Now, Wormtail,` said the cold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "voice, `perhaps one more little reminder why I will not tolerate another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "blunder from you. ...` `My Lord ... no ... I beg you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". . .` The tip of a wand emerged from around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the back of the chair. It was pointing at Wormtail. `Crucio!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said the cold voice. Wormtail screamed, screamed as though every nerve","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "in his body were on fire, the screaming filled Harry's ears as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "the scar on his forehead seared with pain; he was yelling too...Voldemort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "would hear him, would know he was there. . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Harry! Harry!` Harry opened his eyes. He was lying on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "floor of Professor Trelawney's room with his hands over his face. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "scar was still burning so badly that his eyes were watering. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "The pain had been real. The whole class was standing around him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "and Ron was kneeling next to him, looking terrified. `You all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "right?` he said. `Of course he isn't!` said Professor Trelawney, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "thoroughly excited. Her great eyes loomed over Harry, gazing at him. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "was it. Potter? A premonition? An apparition? What did you see?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Nothing,` Harry lied. He sat up. He could feel himself shaking. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "couldn't stop himself from looking around, into the shadows behind him; Voldemorts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "voice had sounded so close. . . . `You were clutching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "your scar!` said Professor Trelawney. `You were rolling on the floor, clutching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "your scar! Come now. Potter, I have experience in these matters!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry looked up at her. `I need to go to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "hospital wing, I think,` he said. `Bad headache.` `My dear, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "were undoubtedly stimulated by the extraordinary clairvoyant vibrations of my room!` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Professor Trelawney. `If you leave now, you may lose the opportunity to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "see further than you have ever -` `I don't want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "see anything except a headache cure,` said Harry. He stood up.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "The class backed away. They all looked unnerved. `See you later,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry muttered to Ron, and he picked up his bag and headed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "for the trapdoor, ignoring Professor Trelawney, who was wearing an expression of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "great frustration, as though she had just been denied a real treat.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " When Harry reached the bottom of her stepladder, however, he did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "not set off for the hospital wing. He had no intention whatsoever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "of going there. Sirius had told him what to do if his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "scar hurt him again, and Harry was going to follow his advice:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "He was going straight to Dumbledore's office. He marched down the corridors,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "thinking about what he had seen in the dream . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "it had been as vivid as the one that had awoken him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "on Privet Drive. . . . He ran over the details in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "his mind, trying to make sure he could remember them. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". He had heard Voldemort accusing Wormtail of making a blunder .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" ". . but the owl had brought good news, the blunder had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "been repaired, somebody was dead ... so Wormtail was not going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "be fed to the snake . . . he, Harry, was going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "to be fed to it instead. . . . Harry had walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "right past the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledores office without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "noticing. He blinked, looked around, realized what he had done, and retraced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "his steps, stopping in front of it. Then he remembered that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "didn't know the password. `Sherbet lemon?` he tried tentatively. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "gargoyle did not move. `Okay,` said Harry, staring at it, `Pear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Drop. Er - Licorice Wand. Fizzing Whizbee. Drooble's Best Blowing Gum.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans ... oh no, he doesn't like them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "does he?... oh just open, can't you?` he said angrily. `I really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "need to see him, its urgent!` The gargoyle remained immovable. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry kicked it, achieving nothing but an excruciating pain in his big","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "toe. `Chocolate Frog!` he yelled angrily, standing on one leg. `Sugar","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Quill! Cockroach Cluster!` The gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Harry blinked. `Cockroach Cluster?` he said, amazed. `I was only joking.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "...` He hurried through the gap in the walls and stepped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "onto the foot of a spiral stone staircase, which moved slowly upward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "as the doors closed behind him, taking him up to a polished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "oak door with a brass door knocker. He could hear voices","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "from inside the office. He stepped off the moving staircase and hesitated,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "listening. `Dumbledore, I'm afraid I don't see the connection, don't see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "it at all!` It was the voice of the Minister of Magic,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Cornelius Fudge. `Ludo says Berthas perfectly capable of getting herself lost.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "I agree we would have expected to have found her by now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "but all the same, we've no evidence of foul play, Dumbledore, none","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "at all. As for her disappearance being linked with Barty Crouch's!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`And what do you thinks happened to Barty Crouch, Minister?` said Moody's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "growling voice. `I see two possibilities, Alastor,` said Fudge. `Either Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "has finally cracked -more than likely, I'm sure you'll agree, given his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "personal history - lost his mind, and gone wandering off somewhere -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " `He wandered extremely quickly, if that is the case, Cornelius,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "Dumbledore calmly. `Or else - well...` Fudge sounded embarrassed. `Well, I'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "reserve judgment until after I've seen the place where he was found,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "but you say it was just past the Beauxbatons carriage? Dumbledore, you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "know what that woman is?` `I consider her to be a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "very able headmistress - and an excellent dancer,` said Dumbledore quietly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "`Dumbledore, come!` said Fudge angrily. `Don't you think you might be prejudiced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "in her favor because of Hagrid? They don't all turn out harmless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "- if, indeed, you can call Hagrid harmless, with that monster fixation","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "he's got -` `I no more suspect Madame Maxime than Hagrid,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Dumbledore, just as calmly. `I think it possible that it is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "you who are prejudiced, Cornelius.` `Can we wrap up this discussion?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "growled Moody. `Yes, yes, let's go down to the grounds, then,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "said Fudge impatiently. `No, it's not that,` said Moody, `it's just","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" "that Potter wants a word with you, Dumbledore. He's just outside the door.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-29" " The door of the office opened. `Hello, Potter,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said Moody. `Come in, then.` Harry walked inside. He had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "inside Dumbledore's office once before; it was a very beautiful, circular room,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "lined with pictures of previous headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts, all of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "whom were fast asleep, their chests rising and falling gently. Cornelius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Fudge was standing beside Dumbledore's desk, wearing his usual pinstriped cloak and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "holding his lime-green bowler hat. `Harry!` said Fudge jovially, moving forward.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`How are you?` `Fine,` Harry lied. `We were just talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "about the night when Mr. Crouch turned up on the grounds,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Fudge. `It was you who found him, was it not?` `Yes,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said Harry. Then, feeling it was pointless to pretend that he hadn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "overheard what they had been saying, he added, `I didn't see Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Maxime anywhere, though, and she'd have a job hiding, wouldn't she?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore smiled at Harry behind Fudge's back, his eyes twinkling. `Yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "well,` said Fudge, looking embarrassed, `we're about to go for a short","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "walk on the grounds, Harry, if you'll excuse us ... perhaps if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "you just go back to your class -` `I wanted to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "talk to you. Professor,` Harry said quickly, looking at Dumbledore, who gave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him a swift, searching look. `Wait here for me, Harry,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said. `Our examination of the grounds will not take long.` They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "trooped out in silence past him and closed the door. After a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "minute or so, Harry heard the clunks of Moody's wooden leg growing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "fainter in the corridor below. He looked around. `Hello, Fawkes,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said. Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix, was standing on his golden perch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "beside the door. The size of a swan, with magnificent scarlet-and-gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "plumage, he swished his long tail and blinked benignly at Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry sat down in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "several minutes, he sat and watched the old headmasters and headmistresses snoozing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in their frames, thinking about what he had just heard, and running","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his fingers over his scar. It had stopped hurting now. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "felt much calmer, somehow, now that he was in Dumbledore's office, knowing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he would shortly be telling him about the dream. Harry looked up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "at the walls behind the desk. The patched and ragged Sorting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Hat was standing on a shelf. A glass case next to it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "held a magnificent silver sword with large rubies set into the hilt,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "which Harry recognized as the one he himself had pulled out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of the Sorting Hat in his second year. The sword had once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "belonged to Godric Gryffindor, founder of Harry's House. He was gazing at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it, remembering how it had come to his aid when he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "thought all hope was lost, when he noticed a patch of silvery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "light, dancing and shimmering on the glass case. He looked around for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the source of the light and saw a sliver of silver-white shining","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "brightly from within a black cabinet behind him, whose door had not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "been closed properly. Harry hesitated, glanced at Fawkes, then got up, walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "across the office, and pulled open the cabinet door. A shallow","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "stone basin lay there, with odd carvings around the edge: runes and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "symbols that Harry did not recognize. The silvery light was coming from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the basin's contents, which were like nothing Harry had ever seen before.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "He could not tell whether the substance was liquid or gas. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was a bright, whitish silver, and it was moving ceaselessly; the surface","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of it became ruffled like water beneath wind, and then, like clouds,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "separated and swirled smoothly. It looked like light made liquid - or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "like wind made solid - Harry couldn't make up his mind. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "He wanted to touch it, to find out what it felt like,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "but nearly four years' experience of the magical world told him that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "sticking his hand into a bowl full of some unknown substance was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a very stupid thing to do. He therefore pulled his wand out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of the inside of his robes, cast a nervous look around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "office, looked back at the contents of the basin, and prodded them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " The surface of the silvery stuff inside the basin began to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "swirl very fast. Harry bent closer, his head right inside the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "cabinet. The silvery substance had become transparent; it looked like glass. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "looked down into it expecting to see the stone bottom of the basin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "- and saw instead an enormous room below the surface of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "mysterious substance, a room into which he seemed to be looking through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a circular window in the ceiling. The room was dimly lit;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he thought it might even be underground, for there were no windows,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "merely torches in brackets such as the ones that illuminated the walls","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of Hogwarts. Lowering his face so that his nose was a mere","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "inch away from the glassy substance, Harry saw that rows and rows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of witches and wizards were seated around every wall on what seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "to be benches rising in levels. An empty chair stood in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "very center of the room. There was something about the chair that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "gave Harry an ominous feeling. Chains encircled the arms of it, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "though its occupants were usually tied to it. Where was this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "place? It surely wasn't Hogwarts; he had never seen a room like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "that here in the castle. Moreover, the crowd in the mysterious room","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "at the bottom of the basin was comprised of adults, and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "knew there were not nearly that many teachers at Hogwarts. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "seemed, he thought, to be waiting for something; even though he could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "only see the tops of their hats, all of their faces seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "to be pointing in one direction, and none of them were talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "to one another. The basin being circular, and the room he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was observing square, Harry could not make out what was going on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in the corners of it. He leaned even closer, tilting his head,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "trying to see... The tip of his nose touched the strange","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "substance into which he was staring. Dumbledore's office gave an almighty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "lurch - Harry was thrown forward and pitched headfirst into the substance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "inside the basin -But his head did not hit the stone bottom.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "He was falling through something icy-cold and black; it was like being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "sucked into a dark whirlpool -And suddenly, Harry found himself sitting on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a bench at the end of the room inside the basin, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "bench raised high above the others. He looked up at the high","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "stone ceiling, expecting to see the circular window through which he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "just been staring, but there was nothing there but dark, solid stone.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " Breathing hard and fast. Harry looked around him. Not one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the witches and wizards in the room (and there were at least","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "two hundred of them) was looking at him. Not one of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "seemed to have noticed that a fourteen-year-old boy had just dropped from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the ceiling into their midst. Harry turned to the wizard next to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him on the bench and uttered a loud cry of surprise that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "reverberated around the silent room. He was sitting right next to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Albus Dumbledore. `Professor!` Harry said in a kind of strangled whisper.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`I'm sorry - I didn't mean to -I was just looking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "that basin in your cabinet - I - where are we?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "But Dumbledore didn't move or speak. He ignored Harry completely. Like every","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "other wizard on the benches, he was staring into the far","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "corner of the room, where there was a door. Harry gazed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "nonplussed, at Dumbledore, then around at the silently watchful crowd, then back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "at Dumbledore. And then it dawned on him. . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Once before. Harry had found himself somewhere that nobody could see or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "hear him. That time, he had fallen through a page in an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "enchanted diary, right into somebody else's memory . . . and unless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he was very much mistaken, something of the sort had happened again...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " Harry raised his right hand, hesitated, and then waved it energetically","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in from of Dumbledore's face. Dumbledore did not blink, look around at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry, or indeed move at all. And that, in Harry's opinion, settled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the matter. Dumbledore wouldn't ignore him like that. He was inside a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "memory, and this was not the present-day Dumbledore. Yet it couldn't be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "that long ago . . . the Dumbledore sitting next to him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "now was silver-haired, just like the present-day Dumbledore. But what was this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "place? What were all these wizards waiting for? Harry looked around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "more carefully. The room, as he had suspected when observing it from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "above, was almost certainly underground - more of a dungeon than a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "room, he thought. There was a bleak and forbidding air about the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "place; there were no pictures on the walls, no decorations at all;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "just these serried rows of benches, rising in levels all around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "room, all positioned so that they had a clear view of that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "chair with the chains on its arms. Before Harry could reach","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "any conclusions about the place in which they were, he heard footsteps.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "The door in the corner of the dungeon opened and three people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "entered - or at least one man, flanked by two dementors. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry's insides went cold. The dementors - tall, hooded creatures whose faces","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "were concealed - were gliding slowly toward the chair in the center","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of the room, each grasping one of the man's arms with their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "dead and rotten-looking hands. The man between them looked as though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was about to faint, and Harry couldn't blame him ... he knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the dementors could not touch him inside a memory, but he remembered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "their power only too well. The watching crowd recoiled slightly as the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "dementors placed the man in the chained chair and glided back out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of the room. The door swung shut behind them. Harry looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "down at the man now sitting in the chair and saw that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it was Karkaroff. Unlike Dumbledore, Karkaroff looked much younger; his hair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and goatee were black. He was not dressed in sleek furs, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in thin and ragged robes. He was shaking. Even as Harry watched,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the chains on the arms of the chair glowed suddenly gold and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "snaked their way up Karkaroff's arms, binding him there. `Igor Karkaroff,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said a curt voice to Harry's left. Harry looked around and saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Mr. Crouch standing up in the middle of the bench beside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him. Crouch's hair was dark, his face was much less lined, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "looked fit and alert. `You have been brought from Azkaban to present","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "evidence to the Ministry of Magic. You have given us to understand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "that you have important information for us.` Karkaroff straightened himself as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "best he could, tightly bound to the chair. `I have, sir,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he said, and although his voice was very scared, Harry could still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "hear the familiar unctuous note in it. `I wish to be of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "use to the Ministry. I wish to help. I - I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "know that the Ministry is trying to - to round up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "last of the Dark Lords supporters. I am eager to assist in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "any way I can. ...` There was a murmur around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "benches. Some of the wizards and witches were surveying Karkaroff with interest,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "others with pronounced mistrust. Then Harry heard, quite distinctly, from Dumbledores other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "side, a familiar, growling voice saying, `Filth.` Harry leaned forward so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "that he could see past Dumbledore. Mad-Eye Moody was sitting there -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "except that there was a very noticeable difference in his appearance. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "did not have his magical eye, but two normal ones. Both were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "looking down upon Karkaroff, and both were narrowed in intense dislike. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Crouch is going to let him out,` Moody breathed quietly to Dumbledore.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`He's done a deal with him. Took me six months to track","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him down, and Crouch is going to let him go if he's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "got enough new names. Let's hear his information, I say, and throw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him straight back to the dementors.` Dumbledore made a small noise","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of dissent through his long, crooked nose. `Ah, I was forgetting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" ". . . you don't like the dementors, do you, Albus?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Moody with a sardonic smile. `No,` said Dumbledore calmly, `I'm afraid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "I don't. I have long felt the Ministry is wrong to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "ally itself with such creatures.` `But for filth like this .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" ". .` Moody said softly. `You say you have names for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "us, Karkaroff,` said Mr. Crouch. `Let us hear them, please.` `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "must understand,` said Karkaroff hurriedly, `that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named operated always in the greatest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "secrecy. . . . He preferred that we - I mean to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "say, his supporters - and I regret now, very deeply, that I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "ever counted myself among them -` `Get on with it,` sneered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Moody. `- we never knew the names of every one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "our fellows - He alone knew exactly who we all were -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " `Which was a wise move, wasn't it, as it prevented someone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "like you, Karkaroff, from turning all of them in,` muttered Moody. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Yet you say you have some names for us?` said Mr. Crouch. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`I - I do,` said Karkaroff breathlessly. `And these were important supporters,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "mark you. People I saw with my own eyes doing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "bidding. I give this information as a sign that I fully and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "totally renounce him, and am filled with a remorse so deep I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "can barely -` `These names are?` said Mr. Crouch sharply. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Karkaroff drew a deep breath. `There was Antonin Dolohov,` he said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`I - I saw him torture countless Muggles and - and non-supporters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of the Dark Lord.` `And helped him do it,` murmured Moody.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " `We have already apprehended Dolohov,` said Crouch. `He was caught shortly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "after yourself.` `Indeed?` said Karkaroff, his eyes widening. `I - I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "am delighted to hear it!` But he didn't look it. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "could tell that this news had come as a real blow to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him. One of his names was worthless. `Any others?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Crouch coldly. `Why, yes ... there was Rosier,` said Karkaroff hurriedly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Evan Rosier.` `Rosier is dead,` said Crouch. `He was caught shortly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "after you were too. He preferred to fight rather than come quietly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and was killed in the struggle.` `Took a bit of me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "with him, though,` whispered Moody to Harry's right. Harry looked around at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him once more, and saw him indicating the large chunk out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his nose to Dumbledore. `No - no more than Rosier deserved!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said Karkaroff, a real note of panic in his voice now. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "could see that he was starting to worry that none of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "information would be of any use to the Ministry. Karkaroff's eyes darted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "toward the door in the corner, behind which the dementors undoubtedly still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "stood, waiting. `Any more?` said Crouch. `Yes!` said Karkaroff. `There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was Travers - he helped murder the McKinnons! Mulciber -he specialized in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the Imperius Curse, forced countless people to do horrific things! Rookwood,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "who was a spy, and passed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named useful information from inside the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Ministry itself!` Harry could tell that, this time, Karkaroff had struck","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "gold. The watching crowd was all murmuring together. `Rookwood?` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Crouch, nodding to a witch sitting in front of him, who began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "scribbling upon her piece of parchment. `Augustus Rookwood of the Department of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Mysteries?` `The very same,` said Karkaroff eagerly. `I believe he used","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a network of well-placed wizards, both inside the Ministry and out, to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "collect information -` `But Travers and Mulciber we have,` said Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Crouch. `Very well, Karkaroff, if that is all, you will be returned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "to Azkaban while we decide -` `Not yet!` cried Karkaroff, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "quite desperate. `Wait, I have more!` Harry could see him sweating","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in the torchlight, his white skin contrasting strongly with the black of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his hair and beard. `Snape!` he shouted. `Severus Snape!` `Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "has been cleared by this council,` said Crouch disdainfully. `He has been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "vouched for by Albus Dumbledore.` `No!` shouted Karkaroff, straining at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "chains that bound him to the chair. `I assure you! Severus Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "is a Death Eater!` Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`I have given evidence already on this matter,` he said calmly. `Severus","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Snape was indeed a Death Eater. However, he rejoined our side before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Lord Voldemort's downfall and turned spy for us, at great personal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "risk. He is now no more a Death Eater than I am.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " Harry turned to look at Mad-Eye Moody. He was wearing a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "look of deep skepticism behind Dumbledore's back. `Very well, Karkaroff,` Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said coldly, `you have been of assistance. I shall review your case.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "You will return to Azkaban in the meantime. ...` Mr. Crouch's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "voice faded. Harry looked around; the dungeon was dissolving as though it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "were made of smoke; everything was fading; he could see only his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "own body - all else was swirling darkness. . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "And then, the dungeon returned. Harry was sitting in a different seat,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "still on the highest bench, but now to the left side of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Mr. Crouch. The atmosphere seemed quite different: relaxed, even cheerful. The witches","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and wizards all around the walls were talking to one another, almost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "as though they were at some sort of sporting event. Harry noticed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a witch halfway up the rows of benches opposite. She had short","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "blonde hair, was wearing magenta robes, and was sucking the end of an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "acid-green quill. It was, unmistakably, a younger Rita Skeeter. Harry looked around;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore was sitting beside him again, wearing different robes. Mr. Crouch looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "more tired and somehow fiercer, gaunter. . . . Harry understood. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was a different memory, a different day ... a different trial. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "The door in the corner opened, and Ludo Bagman walked into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "room. This was not, however, a Ludo Bagman gone to seed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "but a Ludo Bagman who was clearly at the height of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Quidditch-playing fitness. His nose wasn't broken now; he was tall and lean","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and muscular. Bagman looked nervous as he sat down in the chained","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "chair, but it did not bind him there as it had bound","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Karkaroff, and Bagman, perhaps taking heart from this, glanced around at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "watching crowd, waved at a couple of them, and managed a small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "smile. `Ludo Bagman, you have been brought here in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the Council of Magical Law to answer charges relating to the activities","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of the Death Eaters,` said Mr. Crouch. `We have heard the evidence","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "against you, and are about to reach our verdict. Do you have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "anything to add to your testimony before we pronounce judgment?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "couldn't believe his ears. Ludo Bagman, a Death Eater? `Only,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Bagman, smiling awkwardly, `well - I know I've been a bit of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "an idiot -` One or two wizards and witches in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "surrounding seats smiled indulgently. Mr. Crouch did not appear to share their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "feelings. He was staring down at Ludo Bagman with an expression of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the utmost severity and dislike. `You never spoke a truer word,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "boy,` someone muttered dryly to Dumbledore behind Harry. He looked around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and saw Moody sitting there again. `If I didn't know he'd always","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "been dim, I'd have said some of those Bludgers had permanently affected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his brain. ...` `Ludovic Bagman, you were caught passing information to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Lord Voldemort's supporters,` said Mr. Crouch. `For this, I suggest a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "term of imprisonment in Azkaban lasting no less than -` But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "there was an angry outcry from the surrounding benches. Several of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "witches and wizards around the walls stood up, shaking their heads, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "even their fists, at Mr. Crouch. `But I've told you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "I had no idea!` Bagman called earnestly over the crowd's babble, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "round blue eyes widening. `None at all! Old Rookwood was a friend","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of my dad's . . . never crossed my mind he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was in with You-Know-Who! I thought I was collecting information for our","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "side! And Rookwood kept talking about getting me a job in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Ministry later on ... once my Quidditch days are over, you know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "... I mean, I can't keep getting hit by Bludgers for the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "rest of my life, can I?` There were titters from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "crowd. `It will be put to the vote,` said Mr. Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "coldly. He turned to the right-hand side of the dungeon. `The jury","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "will please raise their hands . . . those in favor of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "imprisonment...` Harry looked toward the right-hand side of the dungeon. Not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "one person raised their hand. Many of the witches and wizards around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the walls began to clap. One of the witches on the jury","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "stood up. `Yes?` barked Crouch. `We'd just like to congratulate","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Mr. Bagman on his splendid performance for England in the Quidditch match","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "against Turkey last Saturday,` the witch said breathlessly. Mr. Crouch looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "furious. The dungeon was ringing with applause now. Bagman got to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "feet and bowed, beaming. `Despicable,` Mr. Crouch spat at Dumbledore, sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "down as Bagman walked out of the dungeon. `Rookwood get him a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "job indeed. . . . The day Ludo Bagman joins us will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "be a sad day indeed for the Ministry. . . .` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "And the dungeon dissolved again. When it had returned, Harry looked around.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "He and Dumbledore were still sitting beside Mr. Crouch, but the atmosphere","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "could not have been more different. There was total silence, broken only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "by the dry sobs of a frail, wispy-looking witch in the seat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "next to Mr. Crouch. She was clutching a handkerchief to her mouth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "with trembling hands. Harry looked up at Crouch and saw that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he looked gaunter and grayer than ever before. A nerve was twitching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in his temple. `Bring them in,` he said, and his voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "echoed through the silent dungeon. The door in the corner opened yet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "again. Six dementors entered this time, flanking a group of four people.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry saw the people in the crowd turn to look up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Mr. Crouch. A few of them whispered to one another. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "The dementors placed each of the four people in the four chairs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "with chained arms that now stood on the dungeon floor. There was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a thickset man who stared blankly up at Crouch; a thinner and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "more nervous-looking man, whose eyes were darting around the crowd; a woman","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "with thick, shining dark hair and heavily hooded eyes, who was sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in the chained chair as though it were a throne; and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "boy in his late teens, who looked nothing short of petrified. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was shivering, his straw-colored hair all over his face, his freckled skin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "milk-white. The wispy little witch beside Crouch began to rock backward and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "forward in her seat, whimpering into her handkerchief. Crouch stood up.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "He looked down upon the four in front of him, and there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was pure hatred in his face. `You have been brought here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "before the Council of Magical Law,` he said clearly, `so that we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "may pass judgment on you, for a crime so heinous -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Father,` said the boy with the straw-colored hair. `Father. . .please .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" ". . `- that we have rarely heard the like of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it within this court,` said Crouch, speaking more loudly, drowning out his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "son's voice. `We have heard the evidence against you. The four","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of you stand accused of capturing an Auror - Frank Longbottom -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and subjecting him to the Cruciatus Curse, believing him to have knowledge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of the present whereabouts of your exiled master, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named -` `Father,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "I didn't!` shrieked the boy in chains below. `I didn't, I swear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it. Father, don't send me back to the dementors -` `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "are further accused,` bellowed Mr. Crouch, `of using the Cruciatus Curse on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Frank Longbottom's wife, when he would not give you information. You planned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "to restore He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to power, and to resume the lives of violence","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "you presumably led while he was strong. I now ask the jury","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "-` `Mother!` screamed the boy below, and the wispy little witch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "beside Crouch began to sob, rocking backward and forward. `Mother, stop him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Mother, I didn't do it, it wasn't me!` `I now ask","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the jury,` shouted Mr. Crouch, `to raise their hands if they believe,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "as I do, that these crimes deserve a life sentence in Azkaban!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " In unison, the witches and wizards along the right-hand side of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the dungeon raised their hands. The crowd around the walls began to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "clap as it had for Bagman, their faces full of savage triumph.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "The boy began to scream. `No! Mother, no! I didn't do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it, I didn't do it, I didn't know! Don't send me there,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "don't let him!` The dementors were gliding back into the room.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "The boys' three companions rose quietly from their seats; the woman with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the heavy-lidded eyes looked up at Crouch and called, `The Dark Lord","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "will rise again, Crouch! Throw us into Azkaban; we will wait! He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "will rise again and will come for us, he will reward us","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "beyond any of his other supporters! We alone were faithful! We alone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "tried to find him!` But the boy was trying to fight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "off the dementors, even though Harry could see their cold, draining power","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "starting to affect him. The crowd was jeering, some of them on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "their feet, as the woman swept out of the dungeon, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "boy continued to struggle. `I'm your son!` he screamed up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Crouch. `I'm your son!` `You are no son of mine!` bellowed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Mr. Crouch, his eyes bulging suddenly. `I have no son!` The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "wispy witch beside him gave a great gasp and slumped in her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "seat. She had fainted. Crouch appeared not to have noticed. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Take them away!` Crouch roared at the dementors, spit flying from his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "mouth. `Take them away, and may they rot there!` `Father! Father,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "I wasn't involved! No! No! Father, please!` `I think. Harry, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "is time to return to my office,` said a quiet voice in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harrys ear. Harry started. He looked around. Then he looked on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his other side. There was an Albus Dumbledore sitting on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "right, watching Crouch's son being dragged away by the dementors - and there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "was an Albus Dumbledore on his left, looking right at him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Come,` said the Dumbledore on his left, and he put his hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "under Harrys elbow. Harry felt himself rising into the air; the dungeon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "dissolved around him; for a moment, all was blackness, and then he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "felt as though he had done a slow-motion somersault, suddenly landing flat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "on his feet, in what seemed like the dazzling light of Dumbledore's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "sunlit office. The stone basin was shimmering in the cabinet in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of him, and Albus Dumbledore was standing beside him. `Professor,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "gasped, `I know I shouldn't've - I didn't mean - the cabinet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "door was sort of open and -` `I quite understand,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore. He lifted the basin, carried it over to his desk, placed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it upon the polished top, and sat down in the chair behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it. He motioned for Harry to sit down opposite him. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "did so, staring at the stone basin. The contents had returned to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "their original, silvery-white state, swirling and rippling beneath his gaze. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "is it?` Harry asked shakily. `This? It is called a Pensieve,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said Dumbledore. `I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "my mind.` `Er,` said Harry, who couldn't truthfully say that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "had ever felt anything of the sort. `At these times,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore, indicating the stone basin, `I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "examines them at one's leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "links, you understand, when they are in this form.` `You mean","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" ". . . that stuff's your thoughts?` Harry said, staring at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "swirling white substance in the basin. `Certainly,` said Dumbledore. `Let me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "show you.` Dumbledore drew his wand out of the inside of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his robes and placed the tip into his own silvery hair, near","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his temple. When he took the wand away, hair seemed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "clinging to it - but then Harry saw that it was in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "fact a glistening strand of the same strange silvery-white substance that filled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the Pensieve. Dumbledore added this fresh thought to the basin, and Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "astonished, saw his own face swimming around the surface of the bowl.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore placed his long hands on either side of the Pensieve and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "swirled it, rather as a gold prospector would pan for fragments of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "gold.... and Harry saw his own face change smoothly into Snape's, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "opened his mouth and spoke to the ceiling, his voice echoing slightly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " `It's coming back . . . Karkaroff's too . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "stronger and clearer than ever...` `A connection I could have made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "without assistance,` Dumbledore sighed, `but never mind.` He peered over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "top of his half-moon spectacles at Harry, who was gaping at Snape's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "face, which was continuing to swirl around the bowl. `I was using","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the Pensieve when Mr. Fudge arrived for our meeting and put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it away rather hastily. Undoubtedly I did not fasten the cabinet door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "properly. Naturally, it would have attracted your attention.` `I'm sorry,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "mumbled. Dumbledore shook his head. `Curiosity is not a sin,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said. `But we should exercise caution with our curiosity. . . yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "indeed ...` Frowning slightly, he prodded the thoughts within the basin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "with the tip of his wand. Instantly, a figure rose out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of it, a plump, scowling girl of about sixteen, who began to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "revolve slowly, with her feet still in the basin. She took no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "notice whatsoever of Harry or Professor Dumbledore. When she spoke, her voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "echoed as Snape's had done, as though it were coming from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "depths of the stone basin. `He put a hex on me, Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore, and I was only teasing him, sir, I only said I'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "seen him kissing Florence behind the greenhouses last Thursday. . . .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " `But why. Bertha,` said Dumbledore sadly, looking up at the now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "silently revolving girl, `why did you have to follow him in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "first place?` `Bertha?` Harry whispered, looking up at her. `Is that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "- was that Bertha Jorkins?` `Yes,` said Dumbledore, prodding the thoughts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in the basin again; Bertha sank back into them, and they became","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "silvery and opaque once more. `That was Bertha as I remember her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "at school.` The silvery light from the Pensieve illuminated Dumbledore's face, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "it struck Harry suddenly how very old he was looking. He knew,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of course, that Dumbledore was getting on in years, but somehow he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "never really thought of Dumbledore as an old man. `So, Harry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said Dumbledore quietly. `Before you got lost in my thoughts, you wanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "to tell me something.` `Yes,` said Harry. `Professor - I was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "in Divination just now, and - er - I fell asleep.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "He hesitated here, wondering if a reprimand was coming, but Dumbledore merely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said, `Quite understandable. Continue.` `Well, I had a dream,` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`A dream about Lord Voldemort. He was torturing Wormtail . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "you know who Wormtail-` `I do know,` said Dumbledore promptly. `Please","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "continue.` `Voldemort got a letter from an owl. He said something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "like, Wormtail's blunder had been repaired. He said someone was dead. Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he said, Wormtail wouldn't be fed to the snake - there was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a snake beside his chair. He said - he said he'd be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "feeding me to it, instead. Then he did the Cruciatus Curse on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Wormtail - and my scar hurt,` Harry said. `It woke me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "up, it hurt so badly.` Dumbledore merely looked at him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Er - that's all,` said Harry. `I see,` said Dumbledore quietly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`I see. Now, has your scar hurt at any other time this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "year, excepting the time it woke you up over the summer?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`No, I - how did you know it woke me up over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the summer?` said Harry, astonished. `You are not Sirius's only correspondent,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said Dumbledore. `I have also been in contact with him ever since","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he left Hogwarts last year. It was I who suggested the mountainside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "cave as the safest place for him to stay.` Dumbledore got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "up and began walking up and down behind his desk. Every now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and then, he placed his wand tip to his temple, removed another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "shining silver thought, and added it to the Pensieve. The thoughts inside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "began to swirl so fast that Harry couldn't make out anything clearly:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "It was merely a blur of color. `Professor?` he said quietly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "after a couple of minutes. Dumbledore stopped pacing and looked at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry. `My apologies,` he said quietly. He sat back down at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "his desk. `D'you - d'you know why my scar's hurting me?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " Dumbledore looked very intently at Harry for a moment, and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said, `I have a theory, no more than that. ... It is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "my belief that your scar hurts both when Lord Voldemort is near","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "you, and when he is feeling a particularly strong surge of hatred.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " `But. . . why?` `Because you and he are connected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "by the curse that failed,` said Dumbledore. `That is no ordinary scar.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " `So you think . . . that dream . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "did it really happen?` `It is possible,` said Dumbledore. `I would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "say - probable. Harry - did you see Voldemort?` `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry. `Just the back of his chair. But - there wouldn't have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "been anything to see, would there? I mean, he hasn't got a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "body, has he? But. . . but then how could he have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "held the wand?` Harry said slowly. `How indeed?` muttered Dumbledore. `How","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "indeed . . .` Neither Dumbledore nor Harry spoke for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "while. Dumbledore was gazing across the room, and, every now and then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "placing his wand tip to his temple and adding another shining silver","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "thought to the seething mass within the Pensieve. `Professor,` Harry said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "at last, `do you think he's getting stronger?` `Voldemort?` said Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "looking at Harry over the Pensieve. It was the characteristic, piercing look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore had given him on other occasions, and always made Harry feel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "as though Dumbledore were seeing right through him in a way that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "even Moody's magical eye could not. `Once again. Harry, I can only","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "give you my suspicions.` Dumbledore sighed again, and he looked older,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and wearier, than ever. `The years of Voldemort's ascent to power,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he said, `were marked with disappearances. Bertha Jorkins has vanished without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a trace in the place where Voldemort was certainly known to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "last. Mr. Crouch too has disappeared . . . within these very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "grounds. And there was a third disappearance, one which the Ministry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "I regret to say, do not consider of any importance, for it concerns","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "a Muggle. His name was Frank Bryce, he lived in the village","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "where Voldemort's father grew up, and he has not been seen since","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "last August. You see, I read the Muggle newspapers, unlike most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of my Ministry friends.` Dumbledore looked very seriously at Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`These disappearances seem to me to be linked. The Ministry disagrees -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "as you may have heard, while waiting outside my office.` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "nodded. Silence fell between them again, Dumbledore extracting thoughts every now and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "then. Harry felt as though he ought to go, but his curiosity","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "held him in his chair. `Professor?` he said again. `Yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry?` said Dumbledore. `Er . . . could I ask you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "about. . . that court thing I was in ... in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Pensieve?` `You could,` said Dumbledore heavily. `I attended it many times,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "but some trials come back to me more clearly than others ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "particularly now. ...` `You know - you know the trial you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "found me in? The one with Crouch's son? Well....were they talking about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Neville's parents?` Dumbledore gave Harry a very sharp look. ` Has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Neville never told you why he has been brought up by his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "grandmother?` he said. Harry shook his head, wondering, as he did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "so, how he could have failed to ask Neville this, in almost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "four years of knowing him. `Yes, they were talking about Nevilles","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "parents,` said Dumbledore. `His father, Frank, was an Auror just like Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Moody. He and his wife were tortured for information about Voldemort's whereabouts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "after he lost his powers, as you heard.` `So they're dead?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "said Harry quietly. `No,` said Dumbledore, his voice full of a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "bitterness Harry had never heard there before. `They are insane. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "are both in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "believe Neville visits them, with his grandmother, during the holidays. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "do not recognize him.` Harry sat there, horror-struck. He had never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "known . . . never, in four years, bothered to find out.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" ". . `The Longbottoms were very popular,` said Dumbledore. `The attacks","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "on them came after Voldemort's fall from power, just when everyone thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "they were safe. Those attacks caused a wave of fury such as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "I have never known. The Ministry was under great pressure to catch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "those who had done it. Unfortunately, the Longbottoms' evidence was - given","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "their condition - none too reliable.` `Then Mr. Crouch's son might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "not have been involved?` said Harry slowly. Dumbledore shook his head.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " `As to that, I have no idea.` Harry sat in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "silence once more, watching the contents of the Pensieve swirl. There were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "two more questions he was burning to ask . . . but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "they concerned the guilt of living people. . . . `Er,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "he said, `Mr. Bagman . ..` `... has never been accused","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "of any Dark activity since,` said Dumbledore calmly. `Right,` said Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "hastily, staring at the contents of the Pensieve again, which were swirling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "more slowly now that Dumbledore had stopped adding thoughts. `And ... er","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "...` But the Pensieve seemed to be asking his question for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "him. Snape's face was swimming on the surface again. Dumbledore glanced","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "down into it, and then up at Harry. `No more has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Professor Snape,` he said. Harry looked into Dumbledore's light blue eyes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "and the thing he really wanted to know spilled out of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "mouth before he could stop it. `What made you think he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "really stopped supporting Voldemort, Professor?` Dumbledore held Harrys gaze for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "few seconds, and then said, `That, Harry, is a matter between Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Snape and myself.` Harry knew that the interview was over; Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "did not look angry, yet there was a finality in his tone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "that told Harry it was time to go. He stood up, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "so did Dumbledore. `Harry,` he said as Harry reached the door.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "`Please do not speak about Neville's parents to anybody else. He has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "the right to let people know, when he is ready.` `Yes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Professor,` said Harry, turning to go. `And-` Harry looked back.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Dumbledore was standing over the Pensieve, his face lit from beneath by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "its silvery spots of light, looking older than ever. He stared at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" "Harry for a moment, and then said, `Good luck with the third task.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-30" " Dumbledore reckons You-Know-Who's getting stronger again as well?` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "whispered. Everything Harry had seen in the Pensieve, nearly everything Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "had told and shown him afterward, he had now shared with Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and Hermione - and, of course, with Sirius, to whom Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "sent an owl the moment he had left Dumbledore's office. Harry, Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and Hermione sat up late in the common room once again that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "night, talking it all over until Harry's mind was reeling, until he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "understood what Dumbledore had meant about a head becoming so full of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "thoughts that it would have been a relief to siphon them off.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Ron stared into the common room fire. Harry thought he saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Ron shiver slightly, even though the evening was warm. `And he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "trusts Snape?` Ron said. `He really trusts Snape, even though he knows","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he was a Death Eater?` `Yes,` said Harry. Hermione had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "not spoken for ten minutes. She was sitting with her forehead in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "her hands, staring at her knees. Harry thought she too looked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "though she could have done with a Pensieve. `Rita Skeeter,` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "muttered finally. `How can you be worrying about her now?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Ron, in utter disbelief. `I'm not worrying about her,` Hermione said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to her knees. `I'm just thinking. . . remember what she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "said to me in the Three Broomsticks? 'I know things about Ludo","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Bagman that would make your hair curl. ' This is what she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "meant, isn't it? She reported his trial, she knew he'd passed information","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to the Death Eaters. And Winky too, remember . . .'Ludo","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Bagman's a bad wizard.' Mr. Crouch would have been furious he got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "off, he would have talked about it at home.` `Yeah, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Bagman didn't pass information on purpose, did he?` Hermione shrugged. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`And Fudge reckons Madame Maxime attacked Crouch?` Ron said, turning back to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry. `Yeah,` said Harry, `but he's only saying that because Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "disappeared near the Beauxbatons carriage.` `We never thought of her, did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "we?` said Ron slowly. `Mind you, she's definitely got giant blood, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "she doesn't want to admit it-` `Of course she doesn't,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Hermione sharply, looking up. `Look what happened to Hagrid when Rita found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "out about his mother. Look at Fudge, jumping to conclusions about her,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "just because she's part giant. Who needs that sort of prejudice? I'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "probably say I had big bones if I knew that's what I'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "get for telling the truth.` Hermione looked at her watch. `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "haven't done any practicing!` she said, looking shocked. `We were going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "do the Impediment Curse! We'll have to really get down to it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "tomorrow! Come on. Harry, you need to get some sleep.` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and Ron went slowly upstairs to their dormitory. As Harry pulled on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his pajamas, he looked over at Nevilles bed. True to his word","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to Dumbledore, he had not told Ron and Hermione about Neville s","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "parents. As Harry took off his glasses and climbed into his four-poster,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he imagined how it must feel to have parents still living but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "unable to recognize you. He often got sympathy from strangers for being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "an orphan, but as he listened to Nevilles snores, he thought that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Neville deserved it more than he did. Lying in the darkness, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "felt a rush of anger and hate toward the people who had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "tortured Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom. ... He remembered the jeers of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "crowd as Crouch's son and his companions had been dragged from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "court by the dementors. ... He understood how they had felt. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" ". . Then he remembered the milk-white face of the screaming boy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and realized with a jolt that he had died a year later.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" ". . . It was Voldemort, Harry thought, staring up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the canopy of his bed in the darkness, it all came back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to Voldemort. ... He was the one who had torn these families","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "apart, who had ruined all these lives. . . . Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and Hermione were supposed to be studying for their exams, which would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "finish on the day of the third task, but they were putting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "most of their efforts into helping Harry prepare. `Don't worry about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it,` Hermione said shortly when Harry pointed this out to them and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " said he didn't mind practicing on his own for a while,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`at least we'll get top marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "We'd never have found out about all these hexes in class.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Good training for when we're all Aurors,` said Ron excitedly, attempting the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Impediment Curse on a wasp that had buzzed into the room and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "making it stop dead in midair. The mood in the castle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "as they entered June became excited and tense again. Everyone was looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "forward to the third task, which would take place a week before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the end of term. Harry was practicing hexes at every available","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "moment. He felt more confident about this task than either of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "others. Difficult and dangerous though it would undoubtedly be, Moody was right:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry had managed to find his way past monstrous creatures and enchanted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "barriers before now, and this time he had some notice, some chance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to prepare himself for what lay ahead. Tired of walking in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "on Harry, Hermione, and Ron all over the school. Professor McGonagall had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "given them permission to use the empty Transfiguration classroom at lunchtimes. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "had soon mastered the Impediment Curse, a spell to slow down and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "obstruct attackers; the Reductor Curse, which would enable him to blast solid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "objects out of his way; and the Four-Point Spell, a useful discovery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of Hermiones that would make his wand point due north, therefore enabling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "him to check whether he was going in the right direction within","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the maze. He was still having trouble with the Shield Charm, though.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " This was supposed to cast a temporary, invisible wall around himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "that deflected minor curses; Hermione managed to shatter it with a well-placed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Jelly-Legs Jinx, and Harry wobbled around the room for ten minutes afterward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "before she had looked up the counter-jinx. `You're still doing really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "well, though,` Hermione said encouragingly, looking down her list and crossing off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "those spells they had already learned. `Some of these are bound to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "come in handy.` `Come and look at this,` said Ron, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was standing by the window. He was staring down onto the grounds.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`What's Malfoy doing?` Harry and Hermione went to see. Malfoy, Crabbe,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and Goyle were standing in the shadow of a tree below. Crabbe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and Goyle seemed to be keeping a lookout; both were smirking. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Malfoy was holding his hand up to his mouth and speaking into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it. `He looks like he's using a walkie-talkie,` said Harry curiously.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " `He can't be,` said Hermione, `I've told you, those sorts of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "things don't work around Hogwarts. Come on, Harry,` she added briskly, turning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "away from the window and moving back into the middle of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "room, `let's try that Shield Charm again.` Sirius was sending daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "owls now. Like Hermione, he seemed to want to concentrate on getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry through the last task before they concerned themselves with anything else.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " He reminded Harry in every letter that whatever might be going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "on outside the walls of Hogwarts was not Harry's responsibility, nor was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it within his power to influence it. If Voldemort is really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "getting stronger again, he wrote, my priority is to ensure your safety.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "He cannot hope to lay hands on you while you are under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Dumbledore's protection, but all the same, take no risks: Concentrate on getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "through that maze safely, and then we can turn our attention to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "other matters. Harry's nerves mounted as June the twenty-fourth drew closer,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "but they were not as bad as those he had felt before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the first and second tasks. For one thing, he was confident that,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "this time, he had done everything in his power to prepare for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the task. For another, this was the final hurdle, and however well","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "or badly he did, the tournament would at last be over, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "would be an enormous relief. Breakfast was a very noisy affair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "at the Gryffindor table on the morning of the third task. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "post owls appeared, bringing Harry a good-luck card from Sirius. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "only a piece of parchment, folded over and bearing a muddy paw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "print on its front, but Harry appreciated it all the same. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "screech owl arrived for Hermione, carrying her morning copy of the Daily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Prophet as usual. She unfolded the paper, glanced at the front page,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and spat out a mouthful of pumpkin juice all over it. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`What?` said Harry and Ron together, staring at her. `Nothing,` said Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "quickly, trying to shove the paper out of sight, but Ron grabbed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it. He stared at the headline and said, `No way. Not today.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "That old cow.` `What?` said Harry. `Rita Skeeter again?` `No,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "said Ron, and just like Hermione, he attempted to push the paper","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "out of sight. `It's about me, isn't it?` said Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`No,` said Ron, in an entirely unconvincing tone. But before Harry could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "demand to see the paper. Draco Malfoy shouted across the Great Hall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "from the Slytherin table. `Hey, Potter! Potter! How's your head? You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "feeling all right? Sure you're not going to go berserk on us?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Malfoy was holding a copy of the Daily Prophet too. Slytherins","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "up and down the table were sniggering, twisting in their seats to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "see Harry's reaction. `Let me see it,` Harry said to Ron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Give it here.` Very reluctantly, Ron handed over the newspaper. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "turned it over and found himself staring at his own picture, beneath","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the banner headline: `HARRY POTTER `DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS` The boy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is unstable and possibly dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Correspondent. Alarming evidence has recently come to light about Harry Potter's strange","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "behavior, which casts doubts upon his suitability to compete in a demanding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "competition like the Triwizard Tournament, or even to attend Hogwarts School. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Potter, the Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal, regularly collapses at school, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "is often heard to complain of pain in the scar on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "forehead (relic of the curse with which You-Know-Who attempted to kill him).","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "On Monday last, midway through a Divination lesson, your Daily Prophet reporter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "witnessed Potter storming from the class, claiming that his scar was hurting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "too badly to continue studying. It is possible, say top experts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that Potters brain","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was affected by the attack inflicted upon him by You-Know-Who, and that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his insistence that the scar is still hurting is an expression of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his deep-seated confusion. `He might even be pretending,` said one specialist.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`This could be a plea for attention.` The Daily Prophet, however,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "has unearthed worrying facts about Harry Potter that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Hogwarts, has carefully concealed from the wizarding public. `Potter can speak","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Parseltongue,` reveals Draco Malfoy, a Hogwarts fourth year. `There were a lot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of attacks on students a couple of years ago, and most people","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "thought Potter was behind them after they saw him lose his temper","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "at a dueling club and set a snake on another boy. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was all hushed up, though. But he's made friends with werewolves and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "giants too. We think he'd do anything for a bit of power.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Parseltongue, the ability to converse with snakes, has long been considered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "a Dark Art. Indeed, the most famous Parselmouth of our times","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "is none other than You-Know-Who himself. A member of the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Force Defense League, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that he would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "regard any wizard who could speak Parseltongue `as worthy of investigation. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers.` Similarly, `anyone who seeks out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the company of such vicious creatures as werewolves and giants would appear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to have a fondness for violence.` Albus Dumbledore should surely consider","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "whether a boy such as this should be allowed to compete in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the Triwizard Tournament. Some fear that Potter might resort to the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Arts in his desperation to win the tournament, the third task of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "which takes place this evening. `Gone off me a bit, hasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "she?` said Harry lightly, folding up the paper. Over at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Slytherin table, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were laughing at him, tapping their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "heads with their fingers, pulling grotesquely mad faces, and waggling their tongues","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "like snakes. `How did she know your scar hurt in Divination?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Ron said. `There's no way she was there, there's no way she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "could've heard -` `The window was open,` said Harry. `I opened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it to breathe.` `You were at the top of North Tower!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Hermione said. `Your voice couldn't have carried all the way down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the grounds!` `Well, you're the one who's supposed to be researching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "magical methods of bugging!` said Harry. `You tell me how she did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it!` `I've been trying!` said Hermione. `But I... but. . .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " An odd, dreamy expression suddenly came over Hermione's face. She slowly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "raised a hand and ran her fingers through her hair. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Are you all right?` said Ron, frowning at her. `Yes,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Hermione breathlessly. She ran her fingers through her hair again, and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "held her hand up to her mouth, as though speaking into an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "invisible walkie-talkie. Harry and Ron stared at each other. `I've had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "an idea,` Hermione said, gazing into space. `I think I know. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" ". because then no one would be able to see ... even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Moody. . . and she'd have been able to get onto the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "window ledge . . . but she's not allowed . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "she's definitely not allowed ... I think we've got her! Just give","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "me two seconds in the library - just to make sure!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "With that, Hermione seized her school bag and dashed out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Great Hall. `Oi!` Ron called after her. `We've got our History","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of Magic exam in ten minutes! Blimey,` he said, turning back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to Harry, `she must really hate that Skeeter woman to risk missing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the start of an exam. What're you going to do in Binns's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "class - read again?` Exempt from the end-of-term tests as a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Triwizard champion, Harry had been sitting in the back of every exam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "class so far, looking up fresh hexes for the third task. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`S'pose so,` Harry said to Ron; but just then. Professor McGonagall came","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "walking alongside the Gryffindor table toward him. `Potter, the champions are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "congregating in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast,` she said. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`But the task's not till tonight!` said Harry, accidentally spilling scrambled eggs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "down his front, afraid he had mistaken the time. `I'm aware","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of that, Potter,` she said. `The champions' families are invited to watch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the final task, you know. This is simply a chance for you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to greet them.` She moved away. Harry gaped after her. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`She doesn't expect the Dursleys to turn up, does she?` he asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Ron blankly. `Dunno,` said Ron. `Harry, I'd better hurry, I'm going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to be late for Binns. See you later.` Harry finished his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "breakfast in the emptying Great Hall. He saw Fleur Delacour get up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "from the Ravenclaw table and join Cedric as he crossed to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "side chamber and entered. Krum slouched off to join them shortly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "afterward. Harry stayed where he was. He really didn't want to go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "into the chamber. He had no family - no family who would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "turn up to see him risk his life, anyway. But just as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he was getting up, thinking that he might as well go up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to the library and do a spot more hex research, the door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of the side chamber opened, and Cedric stuck his head out. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Harry, come on, they're waiting for you!` Utterly perplexed. Harry got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "up. The Dursleys couldn't possibly be here, could they? He walked across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the Hall and opened the door into the chamber. Cedric and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his parents were just inside the door. Viktor Krum was over in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "a corner, conversing with his dark-haired mother and father in rapid Bulgarian.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "He had inherited his fathers hooked nose. On the other side of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the room, Fleur was jabbering away in French to her mother. Fleur's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "little sister, Gabrielle, was holding her mother's hand. She waved at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry, who waved back, grinning. Then he saw Mrs. Weasley and Bill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "standing in front of the fireplace, beaming at him. `Surprise!` Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Weasley said excitedly as he smiled broadly and walked over to them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " `Thought we'd come and watch you. Harry!` She bent down and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "kissed him on the cheek. `You all right?` said Bill, grinning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "at Harry and shaking his hand. `Charlie wanted to come, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "couldn't get time off. He said you were incredible against the Horntail.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Fleur Delacour, Harry noticed, was eyeing Bill with great interest over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "her mother's shoulder. Harry could tell she had no objection whatsoever to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "long hair or earrings with fangs on them. `This is really","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "nice of you,` Harry muttered to Mrs. Weasley. `I thought for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "moment -the Dursleys -` `Hmm,` said Mrs. Weasley, pursing her lips.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "She had always refrained from criticizing the Dursleys in front of Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "but her eyes flashed every time they were mentioned. `It's great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "being back here,` said Bill, looking around the chamber (Violet, the Fat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Lady's friend, winked at him from her frame). `Haven't seen this place","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "for five years. Is that picture of the mad knight still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "around? Sir Cadogan?` `Oh yeah,` said Harry, who had met Sir","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cadogan the previous year. `And the Fat Lady?` said Bill. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`She was here in my time,` said Mrs. Weasley. `She gave me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "such a telling off one night when I got back to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "dormitory at four in the morning -` `What were you doing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "out of your dormitory at four in the morning?` said Bill, surveying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his mother with amazement. Mrs. Weasley grinned, her eyes twinkling. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Your father and I had been for a nighttime stroll,` she said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`He got caught by Apollyon Pringle - he was the caretaker in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "those days - your father's still got the marks.` `Fancy giving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "us a tour, Harry?` said Bill. `Yeah, okay,` said Harry, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "they made their way back toward the door into the Great Hall.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "As they passed Amos Diggory, he looked around. `There you are,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "are you?` he said, looking Harry up and down. `Bet you're","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "not feeling quite as full of yourself now Cedrics caught you up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "on points, are you?` `What?` said Harry. `Ignore him,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric in a low voice to Harry, frowning after his father. `He's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "been angry ever since Rita Skeeters article about the Triwizard Tournament -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "you know, when she made out you were the only Hogwarts champion.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " `Didn't bother to correct her, though, did he?` said Amos Diggory,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "loudly enough for Harry to hear as he started to walk out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of the door with Mrs. Weasley and Bill. `Still, . . you'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "show him, Ced. Beaten him once before, haven't you?` `Rita Skeeter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "goes out of her way to cause trouble, Amos!` Mrs. Weasley said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "angrily. `I would have thought you'd know that, working at the Ministry!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Mr. Diggory looked as though he was going to say something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "angry, but his wife laid a hand on his arm, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "merely shrugged and turned away. Harry had a very enjoyable morning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "walking over the sunny grounds with Bill and Mrs. Weasley, showing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "them the Beauxbatons carriage and the Durmstrang ship. Mrs. Weasley was intrigued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "by the Whomping Willow, which had been planted after she had left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "school, and reminisced at length about the gamekeeper before Hagrid, a man","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "called Ogg. `How's Percy?` Harry asked as they walked around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "greenhouses. `Not good,` said Bill. `He's very upset,` said Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Weasley, lowering her voice and glancing around. `The Ministry wants to keep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Mr. Crouch's disappearance quiet, but Percy's been hauled in for questioning about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the instructions Mr. Crouch has been sending in. They seem to think","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "there's a chance they weren't genuinely written by him. Percy's been under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "a lot of strain. They're not letting him fill in for Mr.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Crouch as the fifth judge tonight. Cornelius Fudge is going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "be doing it.` They returned to the castle for lunch. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Mum - Bill!` said Ron, looking stunned, as he joined the Gryffindor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "table. `What're you doing here?` `Come to watch Harry in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "last task!` said Mrs. Weasley brightly. `I must say, it makes a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "lovely change, not having to cook. How was your exam?` `Oh","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" ". . . okay,` said Ron. `Couldn't remember all the goblin rebels'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "names, so I invented a few. It's all right,` he said, helping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "himself to a Cornish pasty, while Mrs. Weasley looked stern, `they're all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "called stuff like Bodrod the Bearded and Urg the Unclean; it wasn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "hard.` Fred, George, and Ginny came to sit next to them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "too, and Harry was having such a good time he felt almost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "as though he were back at the Burrow; he had forgotten to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "worry about that evening's task, and not until Hermione turned up, halfway","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "through lunch, did he remember that she had had a brainwave about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Rita Skeeter. `Are you going to tell us - ?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Hermione shook her head warningly and glanced at Mrs. Weasley. `Hello,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Hermione,` said Mrs. Weasley, much more stiffly than usual. `Hello,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Hermione, her smile faltering at the cold expression on Mrs. Weasley's face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Harry looked between them, then said, `Mrs. Weasley, you didn't believe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "that rubbish Rita Skeeter wrote in Witch Weekly, did you? Because Hermione's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "not my girlfriend.` `Oh!` said Mrs. Weasley `No - of course","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "I didn't!` But she became considerably warmer toward Hermione after that.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Harry, Bill, and Mrs. Weasley whiled away the afternoon with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "long walk around the castle, and then returned to the Great Hall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "for the evening feast. Ludo Bagman and Cornelius Fudge had joined the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "staff table now. Bagman looked quite cheerful, but Cornelius Fudge, who was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "sitting next to Madame Maxime, looked stern and was not talking. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Madame Maxime was concentrating on her plate, and Harry thought her eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "looked red. Hagrid kept glancing along the table at her, There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "were more courses than usual, but Harry, who was starting to feel","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "really nervous now, didn't eat much. As the enchanted ceiling overhead began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to fade from blue to a dusky purple, Dumbledore rose to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "feet at the staff table, and silence fell. `Ladies and gentlemen,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to the stadium now.` Harry got up. The Gryffindors all along","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the table were applauding him; the Weasleys and Hermione all wished him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "good luck, and he headed off out of the Great Hall with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor. `Feeling all right. Harry?` Bagman asked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "they went down the stone steps onto the grounds. `Confident?` `I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "okay,` said Harry. It was sort of true; he was nervous, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he kept running over all the hexes and spells he had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "practicing in his mind as they walked, and the knowledge that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "could remember them all made him feel better. They walked onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the Quidditch field, which was now completely unrecognizable. A twenty-foot-high hedge ran","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "all the way around the edge of it. There was a gap","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "right in front of them: the entrance to the vast maze. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "passage beyond it looked dark and creepy. Five minutes later, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "stands had begun to fill; the air was full of excited voices","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and the rumbling of feet as the hundreds of students filed into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "their seats. The sky was a deep, clear blue now, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "first stars were starting to appear. Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Professor Flitwick came walking into the stadium and approached Bagman and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "champions. They were wearing large, red, luminous stars on their hats, all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "except Hagrid, who had his on the back of his moleskin vest.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " `We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "said Professor McGonagall to the champions. `If you get into difficulty, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of us will come and get you, do you understand?` The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "champions nodded. `Off you go, then!` said Bagman brightly to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "four patrollers. `Good luck. Harry,` Hagrid whispered, and the four of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "them walked away in different directions, to station themselves around the maze.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Bagman now pointed his wand at his throat, muttered, `Sonorus,` and his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "magically magnified voice echoed into the stands. `Ladies and gentlemen, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Potter, both of Hogwarts School!` The cheers and applause sent birds from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. `In second place, with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!` More applause. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in third place - Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "could just make out Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Ron, and Hermione applauding Fleur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "politely, halfway up the stands. He waved up at them, and they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "waved back, beaming at him. `So ... on my whistle, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and Cedric!` said Bagman. `Three - two - one -` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "gave a short blast on his whistle, and Harry and Cedric hurried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "forward into the maze. The towering hedges cast black shadows across","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the path, and, whether because they were so tall and thick or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "because they had been enchanted, the sound of the surrounding crowd was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "silenced the moment they entered the maze. Harry felt almost as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he were underwater again. He pulled out his wand, muttered, `Lumos,` and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "heard Cedric do the same just behind him. After about fifty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "yards, they reached a fork. They looked at each other. `See","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "you,` Harry said, and he took the left one, while Cedric took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the right. Harry heard Bagman's whistle for the second time. Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "had entered the maze. Harry sped up. His chosen path seemed completely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "deserted. He turned right, and hurried on, holding his wand high over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his head, trying to see as far ahead as possible. Still, there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was nothing in sight. Bagman's whistle blew in the distance for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the third time. All of the champions were now inside. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "kept looking behind him. The old feeling that he was being watched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was upon him. The maze was growing darker with every passing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "minute as the sky overhead deepened to navy. He reached a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "second fork. `Point Me,` he whispered to his wand, holding it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "flat in his palm. The wand spun around once and pointed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "toward his right, into solid hedge. That way was north, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "knew that he needed to go northwest for the center of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "maze. The best he could do was to take the left fork","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and go right again as soon as possible. The path ahead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was empty too, and when Harry reached a right turn and took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it, he again found his way unblocked. Harry didn't know why, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the lack of obstacles was unnerving him. Surely he should have met","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "something by now? It felt as though the maze were luring him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "into a false sense of security. Then he heard movement right behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "him. He held out his wand, ready to attack, but its beam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "fell only upon Cedric, who had just hurried out of a path","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "on the right-hand side. Cedric looked severely shaken. The sleeve of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "robe was smoking. `Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts!` he hissed. `They're enormous -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "I only just got away!` He shook his head and dived","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "out of sight, along another path. Keen to put plenty of distance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "between himself and the skrewts, Harry hurried off again. Then, as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "turned a corner, he saw ... a dementor gliding toward him. Twelve","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "feet tall, its face hidden by its hood, its rotting, scabbed hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "outstretched, it advanced, sensing its way blindly toward him. Harry could hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "its rattling breath; he felt clammy coldness stealing over him, but knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "what he had to do.... He summoned the happiest thought he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "could, concentrated with all his might on the thought of getting out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of the maze and celebrating with Ron and Hermione, raised his wand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and cried, `Expecto Patronum!` A silver stag erupted from the end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of Harry's wand and galloped toward the dementor, which fell back and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "tripped over the hem of its robes. . . . Harry had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "never seen a dementor stumble. `Hang on!` he shouted, advancing in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the wake of his silver Patronus, `You're a boggart! Riddikulus!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "There was a loud crack, and the shape-shifter exploded in a wisp","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of smoke. The silver stag faded from sight. Harry wished it could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "have stayed, he could have used some company...but he moved on, quickly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and quietly as possible, listening hard, his wand held high once more.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Left ... right... left again . . . Twice he found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "himself facing dead ends. He did the Four-Point Spell again and found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "that he was going too far east. He turned back, took a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "right turn, and saw an odd golden mist floating ahead of him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Harry approached it cautiously, pointing the wand's beam at it. This","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "looked like some kind of enchantment. He wondered whether he might be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "able to blast it out of the way. `Reducio!` he said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " The spell shot straight through the mist, leaving it intact. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "supposed he should have known better; the Reductor Curse was for solid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "objects. What would happen if he walked through the mist? Was it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "worth chancing it, or should he double back? He was still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "hesitating when a scream shattered the silence. `Fleur?` Harry yelled. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "There was silence. He stared all around him. What had happened to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "her? Her scream seemed to have come from somewhere ahead. He took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "a deep breath and ran through the enchanted mist. The world","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "turned upside down. Harry was hanging from the ground, with his hair","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "on end, his glasses dangling off his nose, threatening to fall into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the bottomless sky. He clutched them to the end of his nose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and hung there, terrified. It felt as though his feet were glued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to the grass, which had now become the ceiling. Below him the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "dark, star-spangled heavens stretched endlessly. He felt as though if he tried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to move one of his feet, he would fall away from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "earth completely. Think, he told himself, as all the blood rushed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to his head, think. . . But not one of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "spells he had practiced had been designed to combat a sudden reversal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of ground and sky. Did he dare move his foot? He could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "hear the blood pounding in his ears. He had two choices -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "try and move, or send up red sparks, and get rescued and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "disqualified from the task. He shut his eyes, so he wouldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "be able to see the view of endless space below him, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "pulled his right foot as hard as he could away from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "grassy ceiling. Immediately, the world righted itself. Harry fell forward onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his knees onto the wonderfully solid ground. He felt temporarily limp with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "shock. He took a deep, steadying breath, then got up again and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "hurried forward, looking back over his shoulder as he ran away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "from the golden mist, which twinkled innocently at him in the moonlight.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " He paused at a junction of two paths and looked around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "for some sign of Fleur. He was sure it had been she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "who had screamed. What had she met? Was she all right? There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was no sign of red sparks - did that mean she had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "got herself out of trouble, or was she in such trouble that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "she couldn't reach her wand? Harry took the right fork with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "feeling of increasing unease . . . but at the same time,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he couldn't help thinking. One champion down. . . The cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was somewhere close by, and it sounded as though Fleur was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "longer in the running. He'd got this far, hadn't he? What if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he actually managed to win? Fleetingly, and for the first time since","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he'd found himself champion, he saw again that image of himself, raising","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the Triwizard Cup in front of the rest of the school. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" ". . He met nothing for ten minutes, but kept running","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "into dead ends. Twice he took the same wrong turning. Finally, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "found a new route and started to jog along it, his wandlight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "waving, making his shadow flicker and distort on the hedge walls. Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he rounded another corner and found himself facing a Blast-Ended Skrewt. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric was right - it was enormous. Ten feet long, it looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "more like a giant scorpion than anything. Its long sting was curled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "over its back. Its thick armor glinted in the light from Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "wand, which he pointed at it. `Stupefy!` The spell hit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the skrewt's armor and rebounded; Harry ducked just in time, but could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "smell burning hair; it had singed the top of his head. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "skrewt issued a blast of fire from its end and flew forward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "toward him. `Impedimenta!` Harry yelled. The spell hit the skrewt's armor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "again and ricocheted off; Harry staggered back a few paces and fell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "over. `IMPEDIMENTA!` The skrewt was inches from him when it froze","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "- he had managed to hit it on its fleshy, shell-less underside.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Panting, Harry pushed himself away from it and ran, hard, in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "opposite direction - the Impediment Curse was not permanent; the skrewt would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "be regaining the use of its legs at any moment. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "took a left path and hit a dead end, a right, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "hit another; forcing himself to stop, heart hammering, he performed the Four-Point","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Spell again, backtracked, and chose a path that would take him northwest.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " He had been hurrying along the new path for a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "minutes, when he heard something in the path running parallel to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "own that made him stop dead. `What are you doing?` yelled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric's voice. `What the hell d'you think you're doing?` And then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry heard Krum's voice. `Crucio!` The air was suddenly full","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of Cedric's yells. Horrified, Harry began sprinting up his path, trying to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "find a way into Cedric's. When none appeared, he tried the Reductor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Curse again. It wasn't very effective, but it burned a small hole","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in the hedge through which Harry forced his leg, kicking at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "thick brambles and branches until they broke and made an opening; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "struggled through it, tearing his robes, and looking to his right, saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric jerking and twitching on the ground, Krum standing over him. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry pulled himself up and pointed his wand at Krum just as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Krum looked up. Krum turned and began to run. `Stupefy!` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "yelled. The spell hit Krum in the back; he stopped dead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in his tracks, fell forward, and lay motionless, facedown in the grass.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry-dashed over to Cedric, who had stopped twitching and was lying there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "panting, his hands over his face. `Are you all right?` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "said roughly, grabbing Cedric's arm. `Yeah,` panted Cedric. `Yeah ... I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "don't believe it... he crept up behind me. ... I heard him,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "I turned around, and he had his wand on me. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" ".` Cedric got up. He was still shaking. He and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "looked down at Krum. `I can't believe this ... I thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he was all right,` Harry said, staring at Krum. `So did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "I,` said Cedric. `Did you hear Fleur scream earlier?` said Harry.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " `Yeah,` said Cedric. `You don't think Krum got her too?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`I don't know,` said Harry slowly. `Should we leave him here?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric muttered. `No,` said Harry. `I reckon we should send up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "red sparks. Someone'll come and collect him . . . otherwise he'll","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "probably be eaten by a skrewt.` `He'd deserve it,` Cedric muttered,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "but all the same, he raised his wand and shot a ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "shower of red sparks into the air, which hovered high above Krum,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "marking the spot where he lay. Harry and Cedric stood there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in the darkness for a moment, looking around them. Then Cedric said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Well... I s'pose we'd better go on. . . .` `What?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "said Harry. `Oh . . . yeah . . . right. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" ".` It was an odd moment. He and Cedric had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "briefly united against Krum - now the fact that they were opponents","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "came back to Harry. The two of them proceeded up the dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "path without speaking, then Harry turned left, and Cedric right. Cedric's footsteps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "soon died away. Harry moved on, continuing to use the Four-Point","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Spell, making sure he was moving in the right direction. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "between him and Cedric now. His desire to reach the cup first","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was now burning stronger than ever, but he could hardly believe what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he'd just seen Krum do. The use of an Unforgivable Curse on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "a fellow human being meant a life term in Azkaban, that was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "what Moody had told them. Krum surely couldn't have wanted the Triwizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cup that badly....Harry sped up. Every so often he hit more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "dead ends, but the increasing darkness made him feel sure he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "getting near the heart of the maze. Then, as he strode down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "a long, straight path, he saw movement once again, and his beam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of wandlight hit an extraordinary creature, one which he had only seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in picture form, in his Monster Book of Monsters. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "a sphinx. It had the body of an over-large lion: great clawed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "paws and a long yellowish tail ending in a brown tuft. Its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "head, however, was that of a woman. She turned her long, almond-shaped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "eyes upon Harry as he approached. He raised his wand, hesitating. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "was not crouching as if to spring, but pacing from side to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "side of the path, blocking his progress. Then she spoke, in a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "deep, hoarse voice. `You are very near your goal. The quickest","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "way is past me.` `So ... so will you move, please?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "said Harry, knowing what the answer was going to be. `No,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "she said, continuing to pace. `Not unless you can answer my riddle.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Answer on your first guess - I let you pass. Answer wrongly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "- I attack. Remain silent - I will let you walk away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "from me unscathed.` Harry's stomach slipped several notches. It was Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "who was good at this sort of thing, not him. He weighed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his chances. If the riddle was too hard, he could keep silent,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "get away from the sphinx unharmed, and try and find an alternative","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "route to the center. `Okay,` he said. `Can I hear the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "riddle?` The sphinx sat down upon her hind legs, in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "very middle of the path, and recited: `First think of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "person who lives in disguise, Who deals in secrets and tells naught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "but lies. Next, tell me what's always the last thing to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "mend, The middle of middle and end of the end? And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "finally give me the sound often heard During the search for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "hard-to-find word. Now string them together, and answer me this, Which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "creature would you be unwilling to kiss?` Harry gaped at her.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " `Could I have it again . . . more slowly?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "asked tentatively. She blinked at him, smiled, and repeated the poem. `All","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the clues add up to a creature I wouldn't want to kiss?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry asked. She merely smiled her mysterious smile. Harry took that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "for a `yes.` Harry cast his mind around. There were plenty of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "animals he wouldn't want to kiss; his immediate thought was a Blast-Ended","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Skrewt, but something told him that wasn't the answer. He'd have to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "try and work out the clues. . . . `A person","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in disguise,` Harry muttered, staring at her, `who lies ... er ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "that'd be a - an impostor. No, that's not my guess! A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "- a spy? I'll come back to that. . . could you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "give me the next clue again, please?` She repeated the next","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "lines of the poem. `'The last thing to mend,'` Harry repeated.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Er ... no idea . . . 'middle of middle' . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " . could I have the last bit again?` She gave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "him the last four lines. `'The sound often heard during the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "search for a hard-to-find word,'` said Harry. `Er . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "that'd be ... er ... hang on - 'er'! Er's a sound!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " The sphinx smiled at him. `Spy ... er ... spy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "... er ...` said Harry, pacing up and down. `A creature I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "wouldn't want to kiss . . . a spider!` The sphinx","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "smiled more broadly. She got up, stretched her front legs, and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "moved aside for him to pass. `Thanks!` said Harry, and, amazed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "at his own brilliance, he dashed forward. He had to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "close now, he had to be. ... His wand was telling him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he was bang on course; as long as he didn't meet anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "too horrible, he might have a chance. . . . Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "broke into a run. He had a choice of paths up ahead.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Point Me!` he whispered again to his wand, and it spun around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and pointed him to the right-hand one. He dashed up this one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "and saw light ahead. The Triwizard Cup was gleaming on a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "plinth a hundred yards away. Suddenly a dark figure hurtled out onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the path in front of him. Cedric was going to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "there first. Cedric was sprinting as fast as he could toward the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "cup, and Harry knew he would never catch up, Cedric was much","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "taller, had much longer legs -Then Harry saw something immense over a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "hedge to his left, moving quickly along a path that intersected with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his own; it was moving so fast Cedric was about to run","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "into it, and Cedric, his eyes on the cup, had not seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it -` Cedric!` Harry bellowed. `On your left!` Cedric looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "around just in time to hurl himself past the thing and avoid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "colliding with it, but in his haste, he tripped. Harry saw Cedric's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "wand fly out of his hand as a gigantic spider stepped into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the path and began to bear down upon Cedric. `Stupefy!` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "yelled; the spell hit the spider's gigantic, hairy black body, but for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "all the good it did, he might as well have thrown a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "stone at it; the spider jerked, scuttled around, and ran at Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "instead. `Stupefy! Impedimenta! Stupefy!` But it was no use -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the spider was either so large, or so magical, that the spells","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "were doing no more than aggravating it. Harry had one horrifying glimpse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "of eight shining black eyes and razor-sharp pincers before it was upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "him. He was lifted into the air in its front legs;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "struggling madly, he tried to kick it; his leg connected with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "pincers and next moment he was in excruciating pain. He could hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric yelling `Stupefy!` too, but his spell had no more effect than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry's - Harry raised his wand as the spider opened its pincers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "once more and shouted `Expelliarmus!` It worked - the Disarming Spell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "made the spider drop him, but that meant that Harry fell twelve","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "feet onto his already injured leg, which crumpled beneath him. Without pausing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to think, he aimed high at the spider's underbelly, as he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "done with the skrewt, and shouted `Stupefy!''just as Cedric yelled the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "thing. The two spells combined did what one alone had not:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "The spider keeled over sideways, flattening a nearby hedge, and strewing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "path with a tangle of hairy legs. `Harry!` he heard Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "shouting. `You all right? Did it fall on you?` `No,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "called back, panting. He looked down at his leg. It was bleeding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "freely. He could see some sort of thick, gluey secretion from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "spider's pincers on his torn robes. He tried to get up, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his leg was shaking badly and did not want to support his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "weight. He leaned against the hedge, gasping for breath, and looked around.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Cedric was standing feet from the Triwizard Cup, which was gleaming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "behind him. `Take it, then,` Harry panted to Cedric. `Go on,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "take it. You're there.` But Cedric didn't move. He merely stood","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "there, looking at Harry. Then he turned to stare at the cup.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Harry saw the longing expression on his face in its golden light.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Cedric looked around at Harry again, who was now holding onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the hedge to support himself. Cedric took a deep breath. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "take it. You should win. That's twice you've saved my neck in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "here.` `That's not how it's supposed to work,` Harry said. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "felt angry; his leg was very painful, he was aching all over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "from trying to throw off the spider, and after all his efforts,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric had beaten him to it, just as he'd beaten Harry to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "ask Cho to the ball. `The one who reaches the cup","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "first gets the points. That's you. I'm telling you, I'm not going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "to win any races on this leg.` Cedric took a few","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "paces nearer to the Stunned spider, away from the cup, shaking his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "head. `No,` he said. `Stop being noble,` said Harry irritably.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`Just take it, then we can get out of here.` Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "watched Harry steadying himself, holding tight to the hedge. `You told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "me about the dragons,` Cedric said. `I would've gone down in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "first task if you hadn't told me what was coming.` `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "had help on that too,` Harry snapped, trying to mop up his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "bloody leg with his robes. `You helped me with the egg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "- we're square.` `I had help on the egg in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "first place,` said Cedric. `We're still square,` said Harry, testing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "leg gingerly; it shook violently as he put weight on it; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "had sprained his ankle when the spider had dropped him. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "should've got more points on the second task,` said Cedric mulishly. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "stayed behind to get all the hostages. I should've done that.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`I was the only one who was thick enough to take that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "song seriously!` said Harry bitterly. `Just take the cup!` `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "Cedric. He stepped over the spider's tangled legs to join Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "who stared at him. Cedric was serious. He was walking away from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the sort of glory Hufflepuff House hadn't had in centuries. `Go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "on,` Cedric said. He looked as though this was costing him every","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "ounce of resolution he had, but his face was set, his arms","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "were folded, he seemed decided. Harry looked from Cedric to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "cup. For one shining moment, he saw himself emerging from the maze,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "holding it. He saw himself holding the Triwizard Cup aloft, heard the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "roar of the crowd, saw Cho's face shining with admiration, more clearly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "than he had ever seen it before . . . and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "the picture faded, and he found himself staring at Cedric's shadowy, stubborn","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "face. `Both of us,` Harry said. `What?` `We'll take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "it at the same time. It's still a Hogwarts victory. We'll tie","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "for it.` Cedric stared at Harry. He unfolded his arms. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "`You - you sure?` `Yeah,` said Harry. `Yeah . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "we've helped each other out, haven't we? We both got here. Let's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "just take it together.` For a moment, Cedric looked as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "he couldn't believe his ears; then his face split in a grin.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " `You're on,` he said. `Come here.` He grabbed Harrys arm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "below the shoulder and helped Harry limp toward the plinth where the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "cup stood. When they had reached it, they both held a hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "out over one of the cup's gleaming handles. `On three, right?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "said Harry. `One - two - three -` He and Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "both grasped a handle. Instantly, Harry felt a jerk somewhere behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "his navel. His feet had left the ground. He could not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "unclench the hand holding the Triwizard Cup; it was pulling him onward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" "in a howl of wind and swirling color, Cedric at his side. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-31" " Harry felt his feet slam into the ground; his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "injured leg gave way, and he fell forward; his hand let go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "of the Triwizard Cup at last. He raised his head. `Where","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "are we?` he said. Cedric shook his head. He got up,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "pulled Harry to his feet, and they looked around. They had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "left the Hogwarts grounds completely; they had obviously traveled miles -perhaps hundreds","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "of miles - for even the mountains surrounding the castle were gone.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" " They were standing instead in a dark and overgrown graveyard; the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "black outline of a small church was visible beyond a large yew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "tree to their right. A hill rose above them to their left.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "Harry could just make out the outline of a fine old house","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "on the hillside. Cedric looked down at the Triwizard Cup and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "then up at Harry. `Did anyone tell you the cup was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "a Portkey?` he asked. `Nope,` said Harry. He was looking around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the graveyard. It was completely silent and slightly eerie. `Is this supposed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "to be part of the task?` `I dunno,` said Cedric. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "sounded slightly nervous. `Wands out, d'you reckon?` `Yeah,` said Harry, glad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "that Cedric had made the suggestion rather than him. They pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "out their wands. Harry kept looking around him. He had, yet again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the strange feeling that they were being watched. `Someone's coming,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "he said suddenly. Squinting tensely through the darkness, they watched the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "figure drawing nearer, walking steadily toward them between the graves. Harry couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "make out a face, but from the way it was walking and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "holding its arms, he could tell that it was carrying something. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "Whoever it was, he was short, and wearing a hooded cloak pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "up over his head to obscure his face. And - several paces","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "nearer, the gap between them closing all the time - Harry saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "that the thing in the persons arms looked like a baby ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "or was it merely a bundle of robes? Harry lowered his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "wand slightly and glanced sideways at Cedric. Cedric shot him a quizzical look.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "They both turned back to watch the approaching figure. It stopped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "beside a towering marble headstone, only six feet from them. For a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "second. Harry and Cedric and the short figure simply looked at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "one another. And then, without warning, Harry's scar exploded with pain.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "It was agony such as he had never felt in all his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "life; his wand slipped from his fingers as he put his hands","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "over his face; his knees buckled; he was on the ground and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "he could see nothing at all; his head was about to split","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "open. From far away, above his head, he heard a high,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "cold voice say, `Kill the spare.` A swishing noise and a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "second voice, which screeched the words to the night: `Avada Kedavra!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "A blast of green light blazed through Harry's eyelids, and he heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "something heavy fall to the ground beside him; the pain in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "scar reached such a pitch that he retched, and then it diminished;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "terrified of what he was about to see, he opened his stinging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "eyes. Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the ground beside him. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "was dead. For a second that contained an eternity, Harry stared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "into Cedric's face, at his open gray eyes, blank and expressionless as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the windows of a deserted house, at his half-open mouth, which looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "slightly surprised. And then, before Harry's mind had accepted what he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "seeing, before he could feel anything but numb disbelief, he felt himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "being pulled to his feet. The short man in the cloak","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "had put down his bundle, lit his wand, and was dragging Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "toward the marble headstone. Harry saw the name upon it flickering in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the wandlight before he was forced around and slammed against it. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "TOM RIDDLE The cloaked man was now conjuring tight cords around Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "tying him from neck to ankles to the headstone. Harry could hear","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "shallow, fast breathing from the depths of the hood; he struggled, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the man hit him - hit him with a hand that had a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "finger missing. And Harry realized who was under the hood. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "Wormtail. `You!` he gasped. But Wormtail, who had finished conjuring","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the ropes, did not reply; he was busy checking the tightness of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the cords, his fingers trembling uncontrollably, rumbling over the knots. Once sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "that Harry was bound so tightly to the headstone that he couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "move an inch, Wormtail drew a length of some black material from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the inside of his cloak and stuffed it roughly into Harry's mouth;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "then, without a word, he turned from Harry and hurried away. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "couldn't make a sound, nor could he see where Wormtail had gone;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "he couldn't turn his head to see beyond the headstone; he could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "see only what was right in front of him. Cedric's body","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "was lying some twenty feet away. Some way beyond him, glinting in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the starlight, lay the Triwizard Cup. Harry's wand was on the ground","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "at Cedric's feet. The bundle of robes that Harry had thought was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "a baby was close by, at the foot of the grave. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "It seemed to be stirring fretfully. Harry watched it, and his scar","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "seared with pain again . . . and he suddenly knew that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "he didn't want to see what was in those robes ... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "he didn't want that bundle opened.... He could hear noises at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "his feet. He looked down and saw a gigantic snake slithering through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the grass, circling the headstone where he was tied. Wormtail's fast, wheezy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "breathing was growing louder again. It sounded as though he was forcing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "something heavy across the ground. Then he came back within Harry's range","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "of vision, and Harry saw him pushing a stone cauldron to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "foot of the grave. It was full of what seemed to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "water - Harry could hear it slopping around - and it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "larger than any cauldron Harry had ever used; a great stone belly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "large enough for a full-grown man to sit in. The thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "inside the bundle of robes on the ground was stirring more persistently,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "as though it was trying to free itself. Now Wormtail was busying himself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "at the bottom of the cauldron with a wand. Suddenly there were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "crackling names beneath it. The large snake slithered away into the darkness.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" " The liquid in the cauldron seemed to heat very fast. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "surface began not only to bubble, but to send out fiery sparks,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "as though it were on fire. Steam was thickening, blurring the outline","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "of Wormtail tending the fire. The movements beneath the robes became more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "agitated. And Harry heard the high, cold voice again. `Hurry!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "The whole surface of the water was alight with sparks now. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "might have been encrusted with diamonds. `It is ready. Master.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "`Now ...` said the cold voice. Wormtail pulled open the robes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "on the ground, revealing what was inside them, and Harry let out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "a yell that was strangled in the wad of material blocking his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "mouth. It was as though Wormtail had flipped over a stone","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "and revealed something ugly, slimy, and blind - but worse, a hundred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "times worse. The thing Wormtail had been carrying had the shape of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "a crouched human child, except that Harry had never seen anything less","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "like a child. It was hairless and scaly-looking, a dark, raw, reddish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "black. Its arms and legs were thin and feeble, and its face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "- no child alive ever had a face like that - flat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "and snakelike, with gleaming red eyes. The thing seemed almost helpless;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "it raised its thin arms, put them around Wormtail's neck, and Wormtail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "lifted it. As he did so, his hood fell back, and Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "saw the look of revulsion on Wormtail's weak, pale face in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "firelight as he carried the creature to the rim of the cauldron.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "For one moment, Harry saw the evil, flat face illuminated in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "sparks dancing on the surface of the potion. And then Wormtail lowered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the creature into the cauldron; there was a hiss, and it vanished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "below the surface; Harry heard its frail body hit the bottom with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "a soft thud. Let it drown, Harry thought, his scar burning almost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "past endurance, please. . . let it drown. . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "Wormtail was speaking. His voice shook; he seemed frightened beyond his wits.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "He raised his wand, closed his eyes, and spoke to the night.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" " `Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you wil lrenew your son!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" " The surface of the grave at Harry's feet cracked. Horrified, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "watched as a fine trickle of dust rose into the air at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "Wormtail's command and fell softly into the cauldron. The diamond surface of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the water broke and hissed; it sent sparks in all directions and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "turned a vivid, poisonous-looking blue. And now Wormtail was whimpering. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "pulled a long, thin, shining silver dagger from inside his cloak. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "voice broke into petrified sobs. `Flesh - of the servant -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "w-willingly given - you will - revive - your master. ` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "He stretched his right hand out in front of him - the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "hand with the missing finger. He gripped the dagger very tightly in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "his left hand and swung it upward. Harry realized what Wormtail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "was about to do a second before it happened - he closed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "his eyes as tightly as he could, but he could not block","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the scream that pierced the night, that went through Harry as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "he had been stabbed with the dagger too. He heard something fall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "to the ground, heard Wormtail's anguished panting, then a sickening splash, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "something was dropped into the cauldron. Harry couldn't stand to look .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" ". . but the potion had turned a burning red; the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "light of it shone through Harry's closed eyelids. . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "Wormtail was gasping and moaning with agony. Not until Harry felt Wormtail's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "anguished breath on his face did he realize that Wormtail was right","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "in front of him. `B-blood of the enemy . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "forcibly taken .. . you will. . . resurrect your foe.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "Harry could do nothing to prevent it, he was tied too tightly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" ". .. Squinting down, struggling hopelessly at the ropes binding him, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "saw the shining silver dagger shaking in Wormtails remaining hand. He felt its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "point penetrate the crook of his right arm and blood seeping down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "the sleeve of his torn robes. Wormtail, still panting with pain, rumbled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "in his pocket for a glass vial and held it to Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "cut, so that a dribble of blood fell into it. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "staggered back to the cauldron with Harrys blood. He poured it inside.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "The liquid within turned, instantly, a blinding white. Wormtail, his job done,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "dropped to his knees beside the cauldron, then slumped sideways and lay","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "on the ground, cradling the bleeding stump of his arm, gasping","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "and sobbing. The cauldron was simmering, sending its diamond sparks in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "all directions, so blindingly bright that it turned all else to velvety","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "blackness. Nothing happened. . . . Let it have drowned. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "thought, let it have gone wrong. . . ? And then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "suddenly, the sparks emanating from the cauldron were extinguished. A surge of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "white steam billowed thickly from the cauldron instead, obliterating everything in front","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "of Harry, so that he couldn't see Wormtail or Cedric or anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "but vapor hanging in the air. ... It's gone wrong, he thought.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" ". . it's drowned. .. please . . . please let it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "be dead. ... But then, through the mist in front of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "him, he saw, with an icy surge of terror, the dark outline","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "of a man, tall and skeletally thin, rising slowly from inside the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "cauldron. `Robe me,` said the high, cold voice from behind the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "steam, and Wormtail, sobbing and moaning, still cradling his mutilated arm, scrambled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "to pick up the black robes from the ground, got to his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "feet, reached up, and pulled them one-handed over his master's head. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "The thin man stepped out of the cauldron, staring at Harry .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" ". . and Harry stared back into the face that had haunted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "his nightmares for three years. Whiter than a skull, with wide, livid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snakes with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" "slits for nostrils . . . Lord Voldemort had risen again. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-32" " Voldemort looked away from Harry and began examining his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "own body. His hands were like large, pale spiders; his long white","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "fingers caressed his own chest, his arms, his face; the red eyes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "whose pupils were slits, like a cats, gleamed still more brightly through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the darkness. He held up his hands and flexed the fingers, his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "expression rapt and exultant. He took not the slightest notice of Wormtail,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "who lay twitching and bleeding on the ground, nor of the great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "snake, which had slithered back into sight and was circling Harry again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "hissing. Voldemort slipped one of those unnaturally long-fingered hands into a deep","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "pocket and drew out a wand. He caressed it gently too; and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "then he raised it, and pointed it at Wormtail, who was lifted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "off the ground and thrown against the headstone where Harry was tied;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "he fell to the foot of it and lay there, crumpled up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and crying. Voldemort turned his scarlet eyes upon Harry, laughing a high,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "cold, mirthless laugh. Wormtail's robes were shining with blood now; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "had wrapped the stump of his arm in them. `My Lord","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . .` he choked, `my Lord . . . you promised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . you did promise ...` `Hold out your arm,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "said Voldemort lazily. `Oh Master . . . thank you, Master","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "...` He extended the bleeding stump, but Voldemort laughed again. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`The other arm, Wormtail.` `Master, please . . .please ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Voldemort bent down and pulled out Wormtail's left arm; he forced the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "sleeve of Wormtail's robes up past his elbow, and Harry saw something","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "upon the skin there, something like a vivid red tattoo - a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "skull with a snake protruding from its mouth - the image that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "had appeared in the sky at the Quidditch World Cup: the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Mark. Voldemort examined it carefully, ignoring Wormtail's uncontrollable weeping. `It is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "back,` he said softly, `they will all have noticed it... and now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "we shall see ... now we shall know ...` He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "pressed his long white forefinger to the brand on Wormtail's arm. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "The scar on Harry s forehead seared with a sharp pain again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and Wormtail let out a fresh howl; Voldemort removed his fingers from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Wormtail's mark, and Harry saw that it had turned jet black. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "A look of cruel satisfaction on his face, Voldemort straightened up, threw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "back his head, and stared around at the dark graveyard. `How","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "many will be brave enough to return when they feel it?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "whispered, his gleaming red eyes fixed upon the stars. `And how many","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "will be foolish enough to stay away?` He began to pace","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "up and down before Harry and Wormtail, eyes sweeping the graveyard all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the while. After a minute or so, he looked down at Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "again, a cruel smile twisting his snakelike face. `You stand, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Potter, upon the remains of my late father,` he hissed softly. `A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " Muggle and a fool. . . very like your dear mother.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "But they both had their uses, did they not? Your mother died","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "to defend you as a child . . . and I killed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "my father, and see how useful he has proved himself, in death.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "...` Voldemort laughed again. Up and down he paced, looking all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "around him as he walked, and the snake continued to circle in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the grass. `You see that house upon the hillside, Potter? My","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "father lived there. My mother, a witch who lived here in this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "village, fell in love with him. But he abandoned her when she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "told him what she was. ... He didn't like magic, my father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . `He left her and returned to his Muggle parents","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "before I was even born. Potter, and she died giving birth to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "me, leaving me to be raised in a Muggle orphanage . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". but I vowed to find him ... I revenged myself upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "him, that fool who gave me his name . . . Tom","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Riddle. . . .` Still he paced, his red eyes darting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "from grave to grave. `Listen to me, reliving family history .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". .` he said quietly, `why, I am growing quite sentimental. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . But look, Harry! My true family returns. . . .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " The air was suddenly full of the swishing of cloaks. Between","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "graves, behind the yew tree, in every shadowy space, wizards were Apparating.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "All of them were hooded and masked. And one by one they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "moved forward . . . slowly, cautiously, as though they could hardly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "believe their eyes Voldemort stood in silence, waiting for them. Then one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "of the Death Eaters fell to his knees, crawled toward Voldemort and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "kissed the hem of his black robes. Master . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Master ` he murmured. The Death Eaters behind him did the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "same; each of them approaching Voldemort on his knees and kissing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "robes, before backing away and standing up, forming a silent circle, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "enclosed Tom Riddle s grave, Harry, Voldemort, and the sobbing and twitching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "heap that was Wormtail. Yet they left gaps in the circle, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "though waiting for more people. Voldemort, however, did not seem to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "expect more. He looked around at the hooded faces, and though there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "was no wind rustling seemed to run around the circle, as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "it had shivered. `Welcome, Death Eaters,` said Voldemort quietly. `Thirteen years.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . thirteen years since last we met. Yet you answer my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "call as though it were yesterday, we are still united under the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Dark Mark, then! Or are we?` He put back his terrible","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "face and sniffed, his slit-like nostrils widening. `I smell guilt,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "said. `There is a stench or guilt upon the air. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "second shiver ran around the circle, as though each member of it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "longed, but did not dare to step back from him. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "see you all, whole and healthy, with your powers intact - such","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "prompt appearances! and I ask myself . . . why did this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "band of wizards never come to the aid of their master, to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "whom they swore eternal loyalty?` No one spoke. No one moved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "except Wormtail, who was upon the ground, still sobbing over his bleeding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "arm. `And I answer myself,` whispered Voldemort, `they must have believed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "me broken, they thought I was gone. They slipped back among my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "enemies, and they pleaded innocence, and ignorance, and bewitchment. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " `And then I ask myself, but how could they have believed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I would not rise again? They, who knew the steps I took,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? They, who had seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "was mightier than any wizard living? `And I answer myself, perhaps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "they believed a still greater power could exist, one that could vanquish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "even Lord Voldemort. . . perhaps they now pay allegiance to another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . perhaps that champion of commoners, of Mudbloods and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Muggles, Albus Dumbledore?` At the mention of Dumbledore's name, the members","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "of the circle stirred, and some muttered and shook their heads. Voldemort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "ignored them. `It is a disappointment to me ... I confess","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "myself disappointed. . . .` One of the men suddenly flung","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "himself forward, breaking the circle. Trembling from head to foot, he collapsed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "at Voldemort's feet. `Master!` he shrieked, `Master, forgive me! Forgive us all!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " Voldemort began to laugh. He raised his wand. `Crucio!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "The Death Eater on the ground writhed and shrieked; Harry was sure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the sound must carry to the houses around. . . . Let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the police come, he thought desperately . . . anyone . ..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " anything. . . Voldemort raised his wand. The tortured Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Eater lay flat upon the ground, gasping. `Get up, Avery,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Voldemort softly. `Stand up. You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I do not forget. Thirteen long years ... I want thirteen years'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "repayment before I forgive you. Wormtail here has paid some of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "debt already, have you not, Wormtail?` He looked down at Wormtail,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "who continued to sob. `You returned to me, not out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "loyalty, but out of fear of your old friends. You deserve this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "pain, Wormtail. You know that, don't you?` `Yes, Master,` moaned Wormtail,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`please. Master . . . please ...` `Yet you helped return","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "me to my body,` said Voldemort coolly, watching Wormtail sob on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "ground. `Worthless and traitorous as you are, you helped me ... and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers... .` Voldemort raised his wand again","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and whirled it through the air. A streak of what looked like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "molten silver hung shining in the wand's wake. Momentarily shapeless, it writhed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and then formed itself into a gleaming replica of a human hand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "bright as moonlight, which soared downward and fixed itself upon Wormtails bleeding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "wrist. Wormtail's sobbing stopped abruptly. His breathing harsh and ragged, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "raised his head and stared in disbelief at the silver hand, now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "attached seamlessly to his arm, as though he were wearing a dazzling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "glove. He flexed the shining fingers, then, trembling, picked up a small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "twig on the ground and crushed it into powder. `My Lord,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "he whispered. `Master ... it is beautiful. . . thank you... thank","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "you. ...` He scrambled forward on his knees and kissed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "hem of Voldemort's robes. `May your loyalty never waver again, Wormtail,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "said Voldemort. `No, my Lord . . . never, my Lord","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . .` Wormtail stood up and took his place in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the circle, staring at his powerful new hand, his face still shining","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "with tears. Voldemort now approached the man on Wormtail's right. `Lucius,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "my slippery friend,` he whispered, halting before him. `I am told that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "present a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "in a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe? Yet you never tried to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "find me, Lucius. . . . Your exploits at the Quidditch World","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Cup were fun, I daresay. . . but might not your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`My Lord, I was constantly on the alert,` came Lucius Malfoy's voice","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "swiftly from beneath the hood. `Had there been any sign from you,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "any whisper of your whereabouts, I would have been at your side","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "immediately, nothing could have prevented me -` `And yet you ran","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "from my Mark, when a faithful Death Eater sent it into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "sky last summer?` said Voldemort lazily, and Mr. Malfoy stopped talking abruptly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`Yes, I know all about that, Lucius. . . . You have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "disappointed me. ... I expect more faithful service in the future.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`Of course, my Lord, of course. . . . You are merciful,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "thank you. ...` Voldemort moved on, and stopped, staring at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "space - large enough for two people -that separated Malfoy and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "next man. `The Lestranges should stand here,` said Voldemort quietly. `But they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "are entombed in Azkaban. They were faithful. They went to Azkaban rather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "than renounce me. . . . When Azkaban is broken open, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Lestranges will be honored beyond their dreams. The dementors will join us","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "... they are our natural allies ... we will recall the banished","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "giants ... I shall have all my devoted servants returned to me,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and an army of creatures whom all fear. ...` He walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "on. Some of the Death Eaters he passed in silence, but he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "paused before others and spoke to them. `Macnair . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "destroying dangerous beasts for the Ministry of Magic now, Wormtail tells me?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "You shall have better victims than that soon, Macnair. Lord Voldemort will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "provide. ...` `Thank you, Master . . . thank you,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "murmured Macnair. `And here` - Voldemort moved on to the two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "largest hooded figures - `we have Crabbe . . . you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "will do better this time, will you not, Crabbe? And you, Goyle?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " They bowed clumsily, muttering dully. `Yes, Master ...` `We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "will, Master....` `The same goes for you, Nott,` said Voldemort quietly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "as he walked past a stooped figure in Mr. Goyles shadow.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " `My Lord, I prostrate myself before you, I am your most","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "faithful -` `That will do,` said Voldemort. He had reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the largest gap of all, and he stood surveying it with his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "blank, red eyes, as though he could see people standing there. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`And here we have six missing Death Eaters . . . three","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return ... he will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "pay. One, who I believe has left me forever ... he will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "be killed, of course . . . and one, who remains my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "most faithful servant, and who has already reentered my service.` The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Death Eaters stirred, and Harry saw their eyes dart sideways at one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "another through their masks. `He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "tonight. . . . `Yes,` said Voldemort, a grin curling his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "lipless mouth as the eyes of the circle flashed in Harry's direction.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`Harry Potter has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One might","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "go so far as to call him my guest of honor.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "There was a silence. Then the Death Eater to the right of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Wormtail stepped forward, and Lucius Malfoy's voice spoke from under the mask.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " `Master, we crave to know ... we beg you to tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "us ... how you have achieved this . . . this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "miracle . . . how you managed to return to us. ..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ".` `Ah, what a story it is, Lucius,` said Voldemort. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "it begins - and ends - with my young friend here.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "He walked lazily over to stand next to Harry, so that the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "eyes of the whole circle were upon the two of them. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "snake continued to circle. `You know, of course, that they have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "called this boy my downfall?` Voldemort said softly, his red eyes upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Harry, whose scar began to burn so fiercely that he almost screamed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "in agony. `You all know that on the night I lost my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "in the attempt to save him - and unwittingly provided him with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "a protection I admit I had not foreseen. ... I could not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "touch the boy.` Voldemort raised one of his long white fingers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and put it very close to Harry's cheek. `His mother left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "upon him the traces other sacrifice. . . . This is old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it... but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "no matter. I can touch him now.` Harry felt the cold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "tip of the long white finger touch him, and thought his head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "would burst with the pain. Voldemort laughed softly in his ear, then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "took the finger away and continued addressing the Death Eaters. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "miscalculated, my friends, I admit it. My curse was deflected by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "woman's foolish sacrifice, and it rebounded upon myself. Aaah . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "pain beyond pain, my friends; nothing could have prepared me for it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I was ripped from my body, I was less than spirit, less","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "than the meanest ghost. . . but still, I was alive. What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I was, even I do not know... I, who have gone further","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "than anybody along the path that leads to immortality. You know my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "goal - to conquer death. And now, I was tested, and it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "appeared that one or more of my experiments had worked ... for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I had not been killed, though the curse should have done it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Nevertheless, I was as powerless as the weakest creature alive, and without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the means to help myself... for I had no body, and every","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "spell that might have helped me required the use of a wand.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . `I remember only forcing myself, sleeplessly, endlessly, second","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "by second, to exist. ... I settled in a faraway place,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "in a forest, and I waited. . . . Surely, one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "my faithful Death Eaters would try and find me. . . one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "of them would come and perform the magic I could not, to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "restore me to a body . . , but I waited in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "vain. ...` The shiver ran once more around the circle of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "listening Death Eaters. Voldemort let the silence spiral horribly before continuing. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`Only one power remained to me. I could possess the bodies of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "others. But I dared not go where other humans were plentiful, for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I knew that the Aurors were still abroad and searching for me.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " I sometimes inhabited animals - snakes, of course, being my preference","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "- but I was little better off inside them than as pure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "spirit, for their bodies were ill adapted to perform magic . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". and my possession of them shortened their lives; none of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "lasted long. . . . `Then . . . four","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "years ago . . . the means for my return seemed assured.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "A wizard -young, foolish, and gullible - wandered across my path in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the forest I had made my home. Oh, he seemed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "very chance I had been dreaming of... for he was a teacher","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "at Dumbledore's school... he was easy to bend to my will...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "he brought me back to this country, and after a while, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "took possession of his body, to supervise him closely as he carried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "out my orders. But my plan failed. I did not manage to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "steal the Sorcerer's Stone. I was not to be assured immortal life.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I was thwarted . . . thwarted, once again, by Harry Potter.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "...` Silence once more; nothing was stirring, not even the leaves","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "on the yew tree. The Death Eaters were quite motionless, the glittering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "eyes in their masks fixed upon Voldemort, and upon Harry. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "servant died when I left his body, and I was left as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "weak as ever I had been,` Voldemort continued. `I returned to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "my hiding place far away, and I will not pretend to you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "that I didn't then fear that I might never regain my powers.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . Yes, that was perhaps my darkest hour... I could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "not hope that I would be sent another wizard to possess . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". and I had given up hope, now, that any of my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Death Eaters cared what had become of me. ...` One or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "two of the masked wizards in the circle moved uncomfortably, but Voldemort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "took no notice. `And then, not even a year ago, when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I had almost abandoned hope, it happened at last... a servant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "returned to me. Wormtail here, who had faked his own death to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "escape justice, was driven out of hiding by those he had once","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "counted friends, and decided to return to his master. He sought me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "in the country where it had long been rumored I was hiding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . helped, of course, by the rats he met","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "along the way. Wormtail has a curious affinity with rats, do you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "not, Wormtail? His filthy little friends told him there was a place,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "deep in an Albanian forest, that they avoided, where small animals like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "themselves had met their deaths by a dark shadow that possessed them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . `But his journey back to me was not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "smooth, was it, Wormtail? For, hungry one night, on the edge of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the very forest where he had hoped to find me, he foolishly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "stopped at an inn for some food . . . and who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "should he meet there, but one Bertha Jorkins, a witch from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Ministry of Magic. `Now see the way that fate favors Lord","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Voldemort. This might have been the end of Wormtail, and of my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "last hope for regeneration. But Wormtail - displaying a presence of mind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I would never have expected from him - convinced Bertha Jorkins to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "accompany him on a nighttime stroll. He overpowered her ... he brought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "her to me. And Bertha Jorkins, who might have ruined all, proved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "instead to be a gift beyond my wildest dreams ... for -with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "a little persuasion - she became a veritable mine of information. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`She told me that the Triwizard Tournament would be played at Hogwarts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "this year. She told me that she knew of a faithful Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Eater who would be only too willing to help me, if I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "could only contact him. She told me many things. . . but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the means I used to break the Memory Charm upon her were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "powerful, and when I had extracted all useful information from her, her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "mind and body were both damaged beyond repair. She had now served","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "her purpose. I could not possess her. I disposed of her.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Voldemort smiled his terrible smile, his red eyes blank and pitiless. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "`Wormtail's body, of course, was ill adapted for possession, as all assumed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "him dead, and would attract far too much attention if noticed. However,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "he was the able-bodied servant I needed, and, poor wizard though he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "is, Wormtail was able to follow the instructions I gave him, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "would return me to a rudimentary, weak body of my own, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "body I would be able to inhabit while awaiting the essential ingredients","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "for true rebirth ... a spell or two of my own invention","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "... a little help from my dear Nagini,` Voldemorts red eyes fell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "upon the continually circling snake, `a potion concocted from unicorn blood, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the snake venom Nagini provided ... I was soon returned to an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "almost human form, and strong enough to travel. `There was no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "hope of stealing the Sorcerer's Stone anymore, for I knew that Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "would have seen to it that it was destroyed. But I was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "willing to embrace mortal life again, before chasing immortality. I set my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "sights lower ... I would settle for my old body back again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "and my old strength. `I knew that to achieve this -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "it is an old piece of Dark Magic, the potion that revived me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "tonight - I would need three powerful ingredients. Well, one of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "was already at hand, was it not, Wormtail? Flesh given by a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "servant. . . . `My father's bone, naturally, meant that we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "would have to come here, where he was buried. But the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "blood of a foe ... Wormtail would have had me use any","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "wizard, would you not, Wormtail? Any wizard who had hated me ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "as so many of them still do. But I knew the one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I must use, if I was to rise again, more powerful than","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "I had been when I had fallen. I wanted Harry Potters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "blood. I wanted the blood of the one who had stripped me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "of power thirteen years ago . . . for the lingering protection","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "his mother once gave him would then reside in my veins too.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" ". . . `But how to get at Harry Potter? For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "he has been better protected than I think even he knows, protected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "in ways devised by Dumbledore long ago, when it fell to him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "to arrange the boy's future. Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic, to ensure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the boy's protection as long as he is in his relations' care.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Not even I can touch him there. . . . Then, of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "course, there was the Quidditch World Cup. ... I thought his protection","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "might be weaker there, away from his relations and Dumbledore, but I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "was not yet strong enough to attempt kidnap in the midst of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "a horde of Ministry wizards. And then, the boy would return to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Hogwarts, where he is under the crooked nose of that Muggle-loving fool","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "from morning until night. So how could I take him? `Why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "... by using Bertha Jorkins's information, of course. Use my one faithful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts, to ensure that the boy's name was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "entered into the Goblet of Fire. Use my Death Eater to ensure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "that the boy won the tournament - that he touched the Triwizard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Cup first - the cup which my Death Eater had turned into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "a Portkey, which would bring him here, beyond the reach of Dumbledore's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "help and protection, and into my waiting arms. And here he is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "... the boy you all believed had been my downfall. ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "Voldemort moved slowly forward and turned to face Harry. He raised his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "wand. `Crucio!` It was pain beyond anything Harry had ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "experienced; his very bones were on fire; his head was surely splitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "along his scar; his eyes were rolling madly in his head; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "wanted it to end ... to black out... to die ... ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "And then it was gone. He was hanging limply in the ropes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "binding him to the headstone of Voldemort's father, looking up into those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "bright red eyes through a kind of mist. The night was ringing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "with the sound of the Death Eaters' laughter. `You see, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "think, how foolish it was to suppose that this boy could ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "have been stronger than me,` said Voldemort. `But I want there to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "be no mistake in anybody's mind. Harry Potter escaped me by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "a lucky chance. And I am now going to prove my power","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "by killing him, here and now, in front of you all, when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "there is no Dumbledore to help him, and no mother to die","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "for him. I will give him his chance. He will be allowed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "to fight, and you will be left in no doubt which of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "us is the stronger. Just a little longer, Nagini,` he whispered, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "the snake glided away through the grass to where the Death Eaters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" "stood watching. `Now untie him, Wormtail, and give him back his wand.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-33" " Wormtail approached Harry, who scrambled to find his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "feet, to support his own weight before the ropes were untied. Wormtail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "raised his new silver hand, pulled out the wad of material gagging","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Harry, and then, with one swipe, cut through the bonds tying Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "to the gravestone. There was a split second, perhaps, when Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "might have considered running for it, but his injured leg shook under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "him as he stood on the overgrown grave, as the Death Eaters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "closed ranks, forming a tighter circle around him and Voldemort, so that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the gaps where the missing Death Eaters should have stood were filled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Wormtail walked out of the circle to the place where Cedric's body","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "lay and returned with Harry's wand, which he thrust roughly into Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "hand without looking at him. Then Wormtail resumed his place in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "circle of watching Death Eaters. `You have been taught how to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "duel. Harry Potter?` said Voldemort softly, his red eyes glinting through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "darkness. At these words Harry remembered, as though from a former","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "life, the dueling club at Hogwarts he had attended briefly two years","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "ago. ... All he had learned there was the Disarming Spell, `Expelliarmus`.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . and what use would it be to deprive Voldemort of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "his wand, even if he could, when he was surrounded by Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Eaters, outnumbered by at least thirty to one? He had never learned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "anything that could possibly fit him for this. He knew he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "facing the thing against which Moody had always warned . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the unblockable Avada Kedavra curse - and Voldemort was right - his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "mother was not here to die for him this time. ... He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "was quite unprotected. . . . `We bow to each other.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Harry,` said Voldemort, bending a little, but keeping his snakelike face upturned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "to Harry. `Come, the niceties must be observed. . . . Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" " would like you to show manners. . . . Bow to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "death, Harry. ...` The Death Eaters were laughing again. Voldemorts lipless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "mouth was smiling. Harry did not bow. He was not going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "let Voldemort play with him before killing him ... he was not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "going to give him that satisfaction. . . . `I said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "bow,` Voldemort said, raising his wand - and Harry felt his spine","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "curve as though a huge, invisible hand were bending him ruthlessly forward,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and the Death Eaters laughed harder than ever. `Very good,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort softly, and as he raised his wand the pressure bearing down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "upon Harry lifted too. `And now you face me, like a man","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . . straight-backed and proud, the way your father died. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . `And now - we duel.` Voldemort raised his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "wand, and before Harry could do anything to defend himself, before he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "could even move, he had been hit again by the Cruciatus Curse.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "The pain was so intense, so all-consuming, that he no longer knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "where he was. . . . White-hot knives were piercing every inch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "of his skin, his head was surely going to burst with pain,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he was screaming more loudly than he'd ever screamed in his life","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "-And then it stopped. Harry rolled over and scrambled to his feet;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he was shaking as uncontrollably as Wormtail had done when his hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "had been cut off; he staggered sideways into the wall of watching","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Death Eaters, and they pushed him away, back toward Voldemort. `A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "little break,` said Voldemort, the slit-like nostrils dilating with excitement, `a little","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "pause . . . That hurt, didn't it. Harry? You don't want","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "me to do that again, do you?` Harry didn't answer. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "was going to die like Cedric, those pitiless red eyes were telling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "him so ... he was going to die, and there was nothing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he could do about it... but he wasn't going to play along.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "He wasn't going to obey Voldemort... he wasn't going to beg. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . `I asked you whether you want me to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "that again,` said Voldemort softly. `Answer me! Imperial` And Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "felt, for the third time in his life, the sensation that his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "mind had been wiped of all thought. . . . Ah, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "was bliss, not to think, it was as though he were floating,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "dreaming ...just answer no ... say no ... just answer no. ..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". I will not, said a stronger voice, in the back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "of his head, I won't answer. . . . Just answer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "no. . . . I won't do it, I won't say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "it. ... Just answer no. . . . `I WON'T!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" " And these words burst from Harry's mouth; they echoed through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "graveyard, and the dream state was lifted as suddenly as though cold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "water had been thrown over him - back rushed the aches that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the Cruciatus Curse had left all over his body - back rushed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the realization of where he was, and what he was facing. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . `You won't?` said Voldemort quietly, and the Death Eaters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "were not laughing now. `You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "virtue I need to teach you before you die. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" " Perhaps another little dose of pain?` Voldemort raised his wand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "but this time Harry was ready; with the reflexes born of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Quidditch training, he flung himself sideways onto the ground; he rolled behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the marble headstone of Voldemort s father, and he heard it crack","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "as the curse missed him. `We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "said Voldemort's soft, cold voice, drawing nearer, as the Death Eaters laughed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "`You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "our duel? Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "it now, Harry? Come out, Harry . . . come out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and play, then ... it will be quick ... it might even","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "be painless ... I would not know... I have never died. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". .` Harry crouched behind the headstone and knew the end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "had come. There was no hope ... no help to be had.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "And as he heard Voldemort draw nearer still, he knew one thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "only, and it was beyond fear or reason: He was not going","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "to die crouching here like a child playing hide-and-seek; he was not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "going to die kneeling at Voldemort s feet... he was going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "die upright like his father, and he was going to die trying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "to defend himself, even if no defense was possible. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" " Before Voldemort could stick his snakelike face around the headstone. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "stood up ... he gripped his wand tightly in his hand,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "thrust it out in front of him, and threw himself around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "headstone, facing Voldemort. Voldemort was ready. As Harry shouted, `Expelliarmus!` Voldemort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "cried, `Avada Kedavra!` A jet of green light issued from Voldemorts","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "wand just as a jet of red light blasted from Harry's -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "they met in midair - and suddenly Harry's wand was vibrating as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "though an electric charge were surging through it; his hand seized up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "around it; he couldn't have released it if he'd wanted to -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and a narrow beam of light connected the two wands, neither red","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "nor green, but bright, deep gold. Harry, following the beam with his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "astonished gaze, saw that Voldemort's long white fingers too were gripping a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "wand that was shaking and vibrating. And then - nothing could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "have prepared Harry for this - he felt his feet lift from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the ground. He and Voldemort were both being raised into the air,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "their wands still connected by that thread of shimmering golden light. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "glided away from the tombstone of Voldemort's father and then came to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "rest on a patch of ground that was clear and free of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "graves. . . . The Death Eaters were shouting; they were asking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort for instructions; they were closing in, reforming the circle around Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and Voldemort, the snake slithering at their heels, some of them drawing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "their wands -The golden thread connecting Harry and Voldemort splintered; though the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "wands remained connected, a thousand more beams arced high over Harry and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort, crisscrossing all around them, until they were enclosed in a golden,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "dome-shaped web, a cage of light, beyond which the Death Eaters circled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "like jackals, their cries strangely muffled now. . . . `Do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "nothing!` Voldemort shrieked to the Death Eaters, and Harry saw his red","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "eyes wide with astonishment at what was happening, saw him fighting to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "break the thread of light still connecting his wand with Harry's; Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "held onto his wand more tightly, with both hands, and the golden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "thread remained unbroken. `Do nothing unless I command you!` Voldemort shouted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "to the Death Eaters. And then an unearthly and beautiful sound","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "filled the air. ... It was coming from every thread of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "light-spun web vibrating around Harry and Voldemort. It was a sound Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "recognized, though he had heard it only once before in his life:","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "phoenix song. It was the sound of hope to Harry. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". the most beautiful and welcome thing he had ever heard in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "his life. . . . He felt as though the song were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "inside him instead of just around him. ... It was the sound","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he connected with Dumbledore, and it was almost as though a friend","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "were speaking in his ear. . . . Don't break the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "connection. I know. Harry told the music, I know I mustn't.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . but no sooner had he thought it, than the thing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "became much harder to do. His wand began to vibrate more powerfully","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "than ever . . . and now the beam between him and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort changed too ... it was as though large beads of light","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "were sliding up and down the thread connecting the wands - Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "felt his wand give a shudder under his hand as the light","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "beads began to slide slowly and steadily his way. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "The direction of the beams movement was now toward him, from Voldemort,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and he felt his wand shudder angrily. . . . As","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the closest bead of light moved nearer to Harrys wand tip, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "wood beneath his fingers grew so hot he feared it would burst","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "into flame. The closer that bead moved, the harder Harry's wand vibrated;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he was sure his wand would not survive contact with it; it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "felt as though it was about to shatter under his fingers -He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "concentrated every last particle of his mind upon forcing the bead back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "toward Voldemort, his ears full of phoenix song, his eyes furious, fixed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . . and slowly, very slowly, the beads quivered to a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "halt, and then, just as slowly, they began to move the other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "way . . . and it was Voldemort's wand that was vibrating","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "extra-hard now . . . Voldemort who looked astonished, and almost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "fearful. . . . One of the beads of light was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "quivering, inches from the tip of Voldemorts wand. Harry didn't understand why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he was doing it, didn't know what it might achieve . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". but he now concentrated as he had never done in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "life on forcing that bead of light right back into Voldemort s","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "wand . . . and slowly . . . very slowly ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "it moved along the golden thread ... it trembled for a moment.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . and then it connected. . . . At once,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemorts wand began to emit echoing screams of pain . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "then - Voldemort's red eyes widened with shock - a dense, smoky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "hand flew out of the tip of it and vanished . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". the ghost of the hand he had made Wormtail. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "more shouts of pain . . . and then something much larger","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "began to blossom from Voldemorts wand tip, a great, grayish something, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "looked as though it were made of the solidest, densest smoke. ...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "It was a head . . . now a chest and arms","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . . the torso of Cedric Diggory. If ever Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "might have released his wand from shock, it would have been then,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "but instinct kept him clutching his wand tightly, so that the thread","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "of golden light remained unbroken, even though the thick gray ghost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "of Cedric Diggory (was it a ghost? it looked so solid) emerged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "in its entirety from the end of Voldemort s wand, as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "it were squeezing itself out of a very narrow tunnel. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and this shade of Cedric stood up, and looked up and down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the golden thread of light, and spoke. `Hold on. Harry,` it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "said. Its voice was distant and echoing. Harry looked at Voldemort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "... his wide red eyes were still shocked ... he had no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "more expected this than Harry had . . . and, very dimly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" " Harry heard the frightened yells of the Death Eaters, prowling around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the edges of the golden dome. . More screams of pain","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "from the wand . . . and then something else emerged from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "its tip ... the dense shadow of a second head, quickly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "followed by arms and torso ... an old man Harry had seen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "only in a dream was now pushing himself out of the end","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "of the wand just as Cedric had done . . . and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "his ghost, or his shadow, or whatever it was, fell next to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Cedric's, and surveyed Harry and Voldemort, and the golden web, and the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "connected wands, with mild surprise, leaning on his walking stick. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". `He was a real wizard, then?` the old man said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "his eyes on Voldemort. `Killed me, that one did. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "You fight him, boy. . . .` But already, yet another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "head was emerging ... and this head, gray as a smoky statue,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "was a woman's. . . . Harry, both arms shaking now as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he fought to keep his wand still, saw her drop to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "ground and straighten up like the others, staring. . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "The shadow of Bertha Jorkins surveyed the battle before her with wide","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "eyes. `Don't let go, now!` she cried, and her voice echoed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "like Cedrics as though from very far away. `Don't let him get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "you, Harry - don't let go!` She and the other two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "shadowy figures began to pace around the inner walls of the golden","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "web, while the Death Eaters flitted around the outside of it... and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort's dead victims whispered as they circled the duelers, whispered words of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "encouragement to Harry, and hissed words Harry couldn't hear to Voldemort. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "And now another head was emerging from the tip of Voldemorts wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . . and Harry knew when he saw it who it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "would be ... he knew, as though he had expected it from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the moment when Cedric had appeared from the wand . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "knew, because the man appearing was the one he'd thought of more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "than any other tonight. . . . The smoky shadow of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "a tall man with untidy hair fell to the ground as Bertha","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "had done, straightened up, and looked at him . . . and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Harry, his arms shaking madly now, looked back into the ghostly face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "of his father. `Your mother's coming . . .` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "quietly. `She wants to see you ... it will be all right..","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". hold on. . . .` And she came. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "first her head, then her body... a young woman with long hair,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the smoky, shadowy form of Lily Potter blossomed from the end of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort's wand, fell to the ground, and straightened like her husband. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "walked close to Harry, looking down at him, and she spoke in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the same distant, echoing voice as the others, but quietly, so that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort, his face now livid with fear as his victims prowled around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "him, could not hear. . .. `When the connection is broken,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "we will linger for only moments . . . but we will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "give you time. . . you must get to the Portkey, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "will return you to Hogwarts ... do you understand, Harry?` `Yes,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Harry gasped, fighting now to keep a hold on his wand, which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "was slipping and sliding beneath his fingers. `Harry . . .`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "whispered the figure of Cedric, `take my body back, will you? Take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "my body back to my parents, ...` `I will,` said Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "his face screwed up with the effort of holding the wand. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "`Do it now,` whispered his father's voice, `be ready to run .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" ". . do it now. ...` `NOW!` Harry yelled; he didn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "think he could have held on for another moment anyway -he pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "his wand upward with an almighty wrench, and the golden thread broke;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the cage of light vanished, the phoenix song died - but the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "shadowy figures of Voldemort's victims did not disappear - they were closing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "in upon Voldemort, shielding Harry from his gaze -And Harry ran as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "he had never run in his life, knocking two stunned Death Eaters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "aside as he passed; he zigzagged behind headstones, feeling their curses following","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "him, hearing them hit the headstones - he was dodging curses and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "graves, pelting toward Cedric's body, no longer aware of the pain in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "his leg, his whole being concentrated on what he had to do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "- `Stun him!` he heard Voldemort scream. Ten feet from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Cedric, Harry dived behind a marble angel to avoid the jets of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "red light and saw the tip of its wing shatter as the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "spells hit it. Gripping his wand more tightly, he dashed out from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "behind the angel -` Impedimenta!` he bellowed, pointing his wand wildly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "over his shoulder at the Death Eaters running at him. From","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "a muffled yell, he thought he had stopped at least one of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "them, but there was no time to stop and look; he jumped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "over the cup and dived as he heard more wand blasts behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "him; more jets of light flew over his head as he fell,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "stretching out his hand to grab Cedric's arm... `Stand aside! I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "will kill him! He is mine!` shrieked Voldemort. Harry's hand had closed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "on Cedric's wrist; one tombstone stood between him and Voldemort, but Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "was too heavy to carry, and the cup was out of reach","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "-Voldemort's red eyes flamed in the darkness. Harry saw his mouth curl","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "into a smile, saw him raise his wand. `Accio!` Harry yelled,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "pointing his wand at the Triwizard Cup. It flew into the air","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and soared toward him. Harry caught it by the handle -He heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "Voldemort s scream of fury at the same moment that he felt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "the jerk behind his navel that meant the Portkey had worked -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "it was speeding him away in a whirl of wind and color,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" "and Cedric along with him. . . . They were going back. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-34" " Harry felt himself slam flat into the ground; his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "face was pressed into grass; the smell of it filled his nostrils.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "He had closed his eyes while the Portkey transported him, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "kept them closed now. He did not move. All the breath seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to have been knocked out of him; his head was swimming so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "badly he felt as though the ground beneath him were swaying like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the deck of a ship. To hold himself steady, he tightened his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "hold on the two things he was still clutching: the smooth, cold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "handle of the Triwizard Cup and Cedric's body. He felt as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he would slide away into the blackness gathering at the edges of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his brain if he let go of either of them. Shock and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "exhaustion kept him on the ground, breathing in the smell of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "grass, waiting . . . waiting for someone to do something .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . something to happen . . . and all the while,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his scar burned dully on his forehead. . . . A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "torrent of sound deafened and confused him; there were voices everywhere, footsteps,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "screams. ... He remained where he was, his face screwed up against","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the noise, as though it were a nightmare that would pass. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . Then a pair of hands seized him roughly and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "turned him over. `Harry! Harry!` He opened his eyes. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "He was looking up at the starry sky, and Albus Dumbledore was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "crouched over him. The dark shadows of a crowd of people pressed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "in around them, pushing nearer; Harry felt the ground beneath his head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "reverberating with their footsteps. He had come back to the edge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of the maze. He could see the stands rising above him, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "shapes of people moving in them, the stars above. Harry let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "go of the cup, but he clutched Cedric to him even more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "tightly. He raised his free hand and seized Dumbledore's wrist, while Dumbledore's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "face swam in and out of focus. `He's back,` Harry whispered.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`He's back. Voldemort.` `What's going on? What's happened?` The face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of Cornelius Fudge appeared upside down over Harry; it looked white, appalled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " `My God - Diggory!` it whispered. `Dumbledore - he's dead!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "The words were repeated, the shadowy figures pressing in on them gasped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "it to those around them . . . and then others shouted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "it - screeched it - into the night - `He's dead!` `He's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "dead!` `Cedric Diggory! Dead!` `Harry, let go of him,` he heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Fudge's voice say, and he felt fingers trying to pry him from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Cedric's limp body, but Harry wouldn't let him go. Then Dumbledore's face,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "which was still blurred and misted, came closer. `Harry, you can't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "help him now. It's over. Let go.` `He wanted me to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "bring him back,` Harry muttered - it seemed important to explain this.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " `He wanted me to bring him back to his parents. ...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " `That's right. Harry . . . just let go now. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". .` Dumbledore bent down, and with extraordinary strength for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "man so old and thin, raised Harry from the ground and set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "-him on his feet. Harry swayed. His head was pounding. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "injured leg would no longer support his weight. The crowd around them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "jostled, fighting to get closer, pressing darkly in on him - `What's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "happened?` `What's wrong with him?` `Diggorys dead!` `He'll need to go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to the hospital wing!` Fudge was saying loudly. `He's ill, he's injured","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "- Dumbledore, Diggory's parents, they're here, they're in the stands. ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`I'll take Harry, Dumbledore, I'll take him -` `No, I would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "prefer-` `Dumbledore, Amos Diggorys running . . . he's coming over.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . . Don't you think you should tell him - before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he sees - ?` `Harry, stay here -` Girls were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "screaming, sobbing hysterically.... The scene flickered oddly before Harry's eyes. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". `Its all right, son, I've got you . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "come on ... hospital wing . . .` `Dumbledore said stay,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "said Harry thickly, the pounding in his scar making him feel as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "though he was about to throw up; his vision was blurring worse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "than ever. `You need to lie down. . .. Come on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "now....` Someone larger and stronger than he was was half pulling,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "half carrying him through the frightened crowd. Harry heard people gasping, screaming,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and shouting as the man supporting him pushed a path through them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "taking him back to the castle. Across the lawn, past the lake","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and the Durmstrang ship, Harry heard nothing but the heavy breathing of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the man helping him walk. `What happened. Harry?` the man asked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "at last as he lifted Harry up the stone steps. Clunk.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Clunk. Clunk. It was Mad-Eye Moody. `Cup was a Portkey,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Harry as they crossed the entrance hall. `Took me and Cedric to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "a graveyard . . . and Voldemort was there . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Lord Voldemort...` Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Up the marble stairs . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". `The Dark Lord was there? What happened then?` `Killed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Cedric . . . they killed Cedric. . . .` `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "then?` Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Along the corridor . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`Made a potion . . . got his body back. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ".` `The Dark Lord got his body back? He's returned?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`And the Death Eaters came . . . and then we dueled.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "...` `You dueled with the Dark Lord?` `Got away .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . my wand . . . did something funny. ... I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "saw my mum and dad . . . they came out of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his wand. ...` `In here. Harry ... in here, and sit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "down. . . . You'll be all right now . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "drink this. ...` Harry heard a key scrape in a lock","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and felt a cup being pushed into his hands. `Drink it...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "you'll feel better . . . come on, now. Harry, I need","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to know exactly what happened. ...` Moody helped tip the stuff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "down Harrys throat; he coughed, a peppery taste burning his throat. Moody's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "office came into sharper focus, and so did Moody himself. ... He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "looked as white as Fudge had looked, and both eyes were fixed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "unblinkingly upon Harry's face. `Voldemort's back, Harry? You're sure he's back?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "How did he do it?` `He took stuff from his father's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "grave, and from Wormtail, and me,` said Harry. His head felt clearer;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his scar wasn't hurting so badly; he could now see Moodys face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "distinctly, even though the office was dark. He could still hear screaming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and shouting from the distant Quidditch field. `What did the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Lord take from you?` said Moody. `Blood,` said Harry, raising his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "arm. His sleeve was ripped where Wormtail's dagger had torn it. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Moody let out his breath in a long, low hiss. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the Death Eaters? They returned?` `Yes,` said Harry. `Loads of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . .` `How did he treat them?` Moody asked quietly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`Did he forgive them?` But Harry had suddenly remembered. He should","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "have told Dumbledore, he should have said it straightaway - `There's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "a Death Eater at Hogwarts! There's a Death Eater here - they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "put my name in the Goblet of Fire, they made sure I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "got through to the end -` Harry tried to get up,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "but Moody pushed him back down. `I know who the Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Eater is,` he said quietly. `Karkaroff?` said Harry wildly. `Where is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he? Have you got him? Is he locked up?` `Karkaroff?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Moody with an odd laugh. `Karkaroff fled tonight, when he felt the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dark Mark burn upon his arm. He betrayed too many faithful supporters","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of the Dark Lord to wish to meet them . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "but I doubt he will get far. The Dark Lord has ways","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of tracking his enemies.` `Karkaroff's gone? He ran away? But then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "- he didn't put my name in the goblet?` `No,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Moody slowly. `No, he didn't. It was I who did that.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Harry heard, but didn't believe. `No, you didn't,` he said. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "didn't do that. . . you can't have done...` `I assure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "you I did,` said Moody, and his magical eye swung around and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "fixed upon the door, and Harry knew he was making sure that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "there was no one outside it. At the same time, Moody drew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "out his wand and pointed it at Harry. `He forgave them,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "then?` he said. `The Death Eaters who went free? The ones who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "escaped Azkaban?` `What?` said Harry. He was looking at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "wand Moody was pointing at him. This was a bad joke, it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "had to be. `I asked you,` said Moody quietly, `whether he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "forgave the scum who never even went to look for him. Those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "treacherous cowards who wouldn't even brave Azkaban for him. The faithless, worthless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "bits of filth who were brave enough to cavort in masks at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the Quidditch World Cup, but fled at the sight of the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Mark when I fired it into the sky.` `You fired .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . What are you talking about. . . ?` `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "told you. Harry ... I told you. If there's one thing I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "hate more than any other, it's a Death Eater who walked free.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "They turned their backs on my master when he needed them most.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I expected him to punish them. I expected him to torture them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Tell me he hurt them, Harry. . . .` Moody's face was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "suddenly lit with an insane smile. `Tell me he told them that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I, I alone remained faithful... prepared to risk everything to deliver to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "him the one thing he wanted above all... you` `You didn't...","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "it - it can't be you. ...` `Who put your name","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "in the Goblet of Fire, under the name of a different school?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I did. Who frightened off every person I thought might try","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to hurt you or prevent you from winning the tournament? I did.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Who nudged Hagrid into showing you the dragons? I did. Who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "helped you see the only way you could beat the dragon? I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "did` Moody's magical eye had now left the door. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "fixed upon Harry. His lopsided mouth leered more widely than ever. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`It hasn't been easy, Harry, guiding you through these tasks without arousing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "suspicion. I have had to use every ounce of cunning I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "possess, so that my hand would not be detectable in your success.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dumbledore would have been very suspicious if you had managed everything too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "easily. As long as you got into that maze, preferably with a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "decent head start - then, I knew, I would have a chance","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of getting rid of the other champions and leaving your way clear.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "But I also had to contend with your stupidity. The second","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "task . . . that was when I was most afraid we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "would fail. I was keeping watch on you, Potter. I knew you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "hadn't worked out the egg's clue, so I had to give you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "another hint -` `You didn't,` Harry said hoarsely. `Cedric gave me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the clue -` `Who told Cedric to open it underwater? I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "did. I trusted that he would pass the information on to you.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Decent people are so easy to manipulate, Potter. I was sure Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "would want to repay you for telling him about the dragons, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "so he did. But even then, Potter, even then you seemed likely","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to fail. I was watching all the time ... all those hours","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "in the library. Didn't you realize that the book you needed was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "in your dormitory all along? I planted it there early on, I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "gave it to the Longbottom boy, don't you remember? Magical Water Plants","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of the Mediterranean. It would have told you all you needed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "know about gillyweed. I expected you to ask everyone and anyone you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "could for help. Longbottom would have told you in an instant. But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "you did not. . . you did not. . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "You have a streak of pride and independence that might have ruined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "all. `So what could I do? Feed you information from another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "innocent source. You told me at the Yule Ball a house-elf","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "called Dobby had given you a Christmas present. I called the elf","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to the staffroom to collect some robes for cleaning. I staged a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "loud conversation with Professor McGonagall about the hostages who had been taken,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and whether Potter would think to use gillyweed. And your little elf","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "friend ran straight to Snape's office and then hurried to find you...`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " Moodys wand was still pointing directly at Harry's heart. Over his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "shoulder, foggy shapes were moving in the Foe-Glass on the wall. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`You were so long in that lake, Potter, I thought you had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "drowned. But luckily, Dumbledore took your idiocy for nobility, and marked you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "high for it. I breathed again. `You had an easier time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of it than you should have in that maze tonight, of course,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "said Moody. `I was patrolling around it, able to see through the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "outer hedges, able to curse many obstacles out of your way. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Stunned Fleur Delacour as she passed. I put the Imperius Curse on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Krum, so that he would finish Diggory and leave your path to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the cup clear.` Harry stared at Moody. He just didn't see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "how this could be. ... Dumbledore's friend, the famous Auror. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the one who had caught so many Death Eaters ... It made","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "no sense ... no sense at all. ... The foggy shapes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "in the Foe-Glass were sharpening, had become more distinct. Harry could see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the outlines of three people over Moody's shoulder, moving closer and closer.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "But Moody wasn't watching them. His magical eye was upon Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`The Dark Lord didn't manage to kill you. Potter, and he so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "wanted to,` whispered Moody. `Imagine how he will reward me when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he finds I have done it for him. I gave you to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "him -the thing he needed above all to regenerate - and then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I killed you for him. I will be honored beyond all other","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Death Eaters. I will be his dearest, his closest supporter . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " . closer than a son. ...` Moody's normal eye was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "bulging, the magical eye fixed upon Harry. The door was barred, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Harry knew he would never reach his own wand in time. .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . `The Dark Lord and I,` said Moody, and he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "looked completely insane now, towering over Harry, leering down at him, `have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "much in common. Both of us, for instance, had very disappointing fathers","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . . very disappointing indeed. Both of us suffered the indignity,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Harry, of being named after those fathers. And both of us had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the pleasure . . . the very great pleasure ... of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "killing our fathers to ensure the continued rise of the Dark Order!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " `You're mad,` Harry said - he couldn't stop himself- `you're mad!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " `Mad, am I?` said Moody, his voice rising uncontrollably. `We'll see!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "We'll see who's mad, now that the Dark Lord has returned, with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "me at his side! He is back, Harry Potter, you did not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "conquer him - and now - I conquer you!` Moody raised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his wand, he opened his mouth; Harry plunged his own hand into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his robes -` Stupefy!` There was a blinding flash of red","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "light, and with a great splintering and crashing, the door of Moody's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "office was blasted apart -Moody was thrown backward onto the office floor.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Harry, still staring at the place where Moody's face had been, saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Albus Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and Professor McGonagall looking back at him out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of the Foe-Glass. He looked around and saw the three of them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "standing in the doorway, Dumbledore in front, his wand outstretched. At","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "that moment, Harry fully understood for the first time why people said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared. The look upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dumbledore's face as he stared down at the unconscious form of Mad-Eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Moody was more terrible than Harry could have ever imagined. There was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "no benign smile upon Dumbledore's face, no twinkle in the eyes behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the spectacles. There was cold fury in every line of the ancient","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "face; a sense of power radiated from Dumbledore as though he were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "giving off burning heat. He stepped into the office, placed a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "foot underneath Moodys unconscious body, and kicked him over onto his back,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "so that his face was visible. Snape followed him, looking into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Foe-Glass, where his own face was still visible, glaring into the room.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Professor McGonagall went straight to Harry. `Come along, Potter,` she whispered.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "The thin line of her mouth was twitching as though she was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "about to cry. `Come along . . . hospital wing ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`No,` said Dumbledore sharply. `Dumbledore, he ought to - look at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "him - he's been through enough tonight -` `He will stay,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Minerva, because he needs to understand,` said Dumbledore curtly. `Understanding is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "recovery. He needs to know who has put him through the ordeal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he has suffered tonight, and why,` `Moody,` Harry said. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "was still in a state of complete disbelief. `How can it have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "been Moody?` `This is not Alastor Moody,` said Dumbledore quietly. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "have never known Alastor Moody. The real Moody would not have removed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "you from my sight after what happened tonight. The moment he took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "you, I knew - and I followed.` Dumbledore bent down over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Moody's limp form and put a hand inside his robes. He pulled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "out Moody's hip flask and a set of keys on a ring.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Then he turned to Professors McGonagall and Snape. `Severus, please fetch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "me the strongest Truth Potion you possess, and then go down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the kitchens and bring up the house-elf called Winky. Minerva, kindly go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "down to Hagrid's house, where you will find a large black dog","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "sitting in the pumpkin patch. Take the dog up to my office,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "tell him I will be with him shortly, then come back here.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " If either Snape or McGonagall found these instructions peculiar, they hid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "their confusion. Both turned at once and left the office. Dumbledore walked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "over to the trunk with seven locks, fitted the first key in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the lock, and opened it. It contained a mass of spell-books. Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "closed the trunk, placed a second key in the second lock, and opened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the trunk again. The spellbooks had vanished; this time it contained an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "assortment of broken Sneako-scopes, some parchment and quills, and what looked like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "a silvery Invisibility Cloak. Harry watched, astounded, as Dumbledore placed the third,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "fourth, fifth, and sixth keys in their respective locks, reopening the trunk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "each time, and revealing different contents each time. Then he placed the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "seventh key in the lock, threw open the lid, and Harry let","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "out a cry of amazement. He was looking down into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "kind of pit, an underground room, and lying on the floor some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "ten feet below, apparently fast asleep, thin and starved in appearance, was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the real Mad-Eye Moody. His wooden leg was gone, the socket that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "should have held the magical eye looked empty beneath its lid, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "chunks of his grizzled hair were missing. Harry stared, thunderstruck, between the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "sleeping Moody in the trunk and the unconscious Moody lying on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "floor of the office. Dumbledore climbed into the trunk, lowered himself,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and fell lightly onto the floor beside the sleeping Moody. He bent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "over him. `Stunned - controlled by the Imperius Curse - very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "weak,` he said. `Of course, they would have needed to keep him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "alive. Harry, throw down the imposter's cloak - he's freezing. Madam Pomfrey","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "will need to see him, but he seems in no immediate danger.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " Harry did as he was told; Dumbledore covered Moody in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "cloak, tucked it around him, and clambered out of the trunk again.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Then he picked up the hip flask that stood upon the desk,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "unscrewed it, and turned it over. A thick glutinous liquid splattered onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the office floor. `Polyjuice Potion, Harry,` said Dumbledore. `You see the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "simplicity of it, and the brilliance. For Moody never does drink except","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "from his hip flask, he's well known for it. The imposter needed,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of course, to keep the real Moody close by, so that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "could continue making the potion. You see his hair ...` Dumbledore looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "down on the Moody in the trunk. `The imposter has been cutting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "it off all year, see where it is uneven? But I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "think, in the excitement of tonight, our fake Moody might have forgotten","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to take it as frequendy as he should have done ... on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the hour . . . every hour. . . . We shall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "see.` Dumbledore pulled out the chair at the desk and sat","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "down upon it, his eyes fixed upon the unconscious Moody on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "floor. Harry stared at him too. Minutes passed in silence... . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Then, before Harry's very eyes, the face of the man on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "floor began to change. The scars were disappearing, the skin was becoming","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "smooth; the mangled nose became whole and started to shrink. The long","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "mane of grizzled gray hair was withdrawing into the scalp and turning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the color of straw. Suddenly, with a loud clunk, the wooden leg","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "fell away as a normal leg regrew in its place; next moment,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the magical eyeball had popped out of the man's face as a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "real eye replaced it; it rolled away across the floor and continued","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to swivel in every direction. Harry saw a man lying before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "him, pale-skinned, slightly freckled, with a mop of fair hair. He knew","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "who he was. He had seen him in Dumbledore's Pensieve, had watched","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "him being led away from court by the dementors, trying to convince","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Mr. Crouch that he was innocent. . . but he was lined","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "around the eyes now and looked much older. . . . ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "There were hurried footsteps outside in the corridor. Snape had returned with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Winky at his heels. Professor McGonagall was right behind them. `Crouch!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Snape said, stopping dead in the doorway. `Barty Crouch!` `Good heavens,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "said Professor McGonagall, stopping dead and staring down at the man on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the floor. Filthy, disheveled, Winky peered around Snape's legs. Her mouth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "opened wide and she let out a piercing shriek. `Master Barty,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Master Barty, what is you doing here?` She flung herself forward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "onto the young man's chest. `You is killed him! You is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "killed him! You is killed Master's son!` `He is simply Stunned,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Winky,` said Dumbledore. `Step aside, please. Severus, you have the potion?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Snape handed Dumbledore a small glass bottle of completely clear liquid: the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Veritaserum with which he had threatened Harry in class. Dumbledore got up,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "bent over the man on the floor, and pulled him into a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "sitting position against the wall beneath the Foe-Glass, in which the reflections","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall were still glaring down upon them all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Winky remained on her knees, trembling, her hands over her face. Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "forced the mans mouth open and poured three drops inside it. Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he pointed his wand at the mans chest and said, `Ennervate.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Crouch's son opened his eyes. His face was slack, his gaze unfocused.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dumbledore knelt before him, so that their faces were level. `Can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "you hear me?` Dumbledore asked quietly. The man's eyelids flickered. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`Yes,` he muttered. `I would like you to tell us,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dumbledore softly, `how you came to be here. How did you escape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "from Azkaban?` Crouch took a deep, shuddering breath, then began to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "speak in a flat, expressionless voice. `My mother saved me. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "knew she was dying. She persuaded my father to rescue me as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "a last favor to her. He loved her as he had never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "loved me. He agreed. They came to visit me. They gave me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "a draft of Polyjuice Potion containing one of my mother's hairs. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "She took a draft of Polyjuice Potion containing one of my hairs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "We took on each other's appearance.` Winky was shaking her head,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "trembling. `Say no more. Master Barty, say no more, you is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "getting your father into trouble!` But Crouch took another deep breath","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and continued in the same flat voice. `The dementors are blind.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "They sensed one healthy, one dying person entering Azkaban. They sensed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "one healthy, one dying person leaving it. My father smuggled me out,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "disguised as my mother, in case any prisoners were watching through their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "doors. `My mother died a short while afterward in Azkaban. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "was careful to drink Polyjuice Potion until the end. She was buried","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "under my name and bearing my appearance. Everyone believed her to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "me.` The man's eyelids flickered. `And what did your father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "do with you, when he had got you home?` said Dumbledore quietly.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " `Staged my mother's death. A quiet, private funeral. That grave is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "empty. The house-elf nursed me back to health. Then I had to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "be concealed. I had to be controlled. My father had to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "use a number of spells to subdue me. When I had recovered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "my strength, I thought only of finding my master . . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of returning to his service.` `How did your father subdue you?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "said Dumbledore. `The Imperius Curse,` Moody said. `I was under my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "fathers control. I was forced to wear an Invisibility Cloak day and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "night. I was always with the house-elf. She was my keeper and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "caretaker. She pitied me. She persuaded my father to give me occasional","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "treats. Rewards for my good behavior.` `Master Barty, Master Barty,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "sobbed Winky through her hands. `You isn't ought to tell them, we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "is getting in trouble. ...` `Did anybody ever discover that you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "were still alive?` said Dumbledore softly. `Did anyone know except your father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and the house-elf?` `Yes,` said Crouch, his eyelids flickering again. `A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "witch in my father's office. Bertha Jorkins. She came to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "house with papers for my father s signature. He was not at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "home. Winky showed her inside and returned to the kitchen, to me.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "But Bertha Jorkins heard Winky talking to me. She came to investigate.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "She heard enough to guess who was hiding under the Invisibility Cloak.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "My father arrived home. She confronted him. He put a very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "powerful Memory Charm on her to make her forget what she'd found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "out. Too powerful. He said it damaged her memory permanently.` `Why","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "is she coming to nose into my masters private business?` sobbed Winky.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`Why isn't she leaving us be?` `Tell me about the Quidditch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "World Cup,` said Dumbledore. `Winky talked my father into it,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Crouch, still in the same monotonous voice. `She spent months persuading him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I had not left the house for years. I had loved Quidditch.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " Let him go, she said. He will be in his Invisibility","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Cloak. He can watch. Let him smell fresh air for once. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "said my mother would have wanted it. She told my father that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "my mother had died to give me freedom. She had not saved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "me for a life of imprisonment. He agreed in the end. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`It was carefully planned. My father led me and Winky up to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the Top Box early in the day. Winky was to say that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "she was saving a seat for my father. I was to sit","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "there, invisible. When everyone had left the box, we would emerge. Winky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "would appear to be alone. Nobody would ever know. `But Winky","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "didn't know that I was growing stronger. I was starting to fight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "my father's Imperius Curse. There were times when I was almost myself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "again. There were brief periods when I seemed outside his control. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "happened, there, in the Top Box. It was like waking from a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "deep sleep. I found myself out in public, in the middle of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the match, and I saw, in front of me, a wand sticking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "out of a boys pocket. I had not been allowed a wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "since before Azkaban. I stole it. Winky didn't know. Winky is frightened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of heights. She had her face hidden.` `Master Barty, you bad","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "boy!` whispered Winky, tears trickling between her fingers. `So you took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the wand,` said Dumbledore, `and what did you do with it?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`We went back to the tent,` said Crouch. `Then we heard them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "We heard the Death Eaters. The ones who had never been to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Azkaban. The ones who had never suffered for my master. They had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "turned their backs on him. They were not enslaved, as I was.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "They were free to seek him, but they did not. They were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "merely making sport of Muggles. The sound of their voices awoke me.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "My mind was clearer than it had been in years. I was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "angry. I had the wand. I wanted to attack them for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "their disloyalty to my master. My father had left the tent; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "had gone to free the Muggles. Winky was afraid to see me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "so angry. She used her own brand of magic to bind me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to her. She pulled me from the tent, pulled me into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "forest, away from the Death Eaters. I tried to hold her back.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I wanted to return to the campsite. I wanted to show those","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Death Eaters what loyalty to the Dark Lord meant, and to punish","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "them for their lack of it. I used the stolen wand to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "cast the Dark Mark into the sky. `Ministry wizards arrived. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "shot Stunning Spells everywhere. One of the spells came through the trees","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "where Winky and I stood. The bond connecting us was broken. We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "were both Stunned. `When Winky was discovered, my father knew I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "must be nearby. He searched the bushes where she had been found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and felt me lying there. He waited until the other Ministry members","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "had left the forest. He put me back under the Imperius Curse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and took me home. He dismissed Winky. She had failed him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "She had let me acquire a wand. She had almost let me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "escape.` Winky let out a wail of despair. `Now it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "was just Father and I, alone in the house. And then .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" ". . and then . . .` Crouch's head rolled on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his neck, and an insane grin spread across his face. `My master","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "came for me. `He arrived at our house late one night","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "in the arms of his servant Wormtail. My master had found out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "that I was still alive. He had captured Bertha Jorkins in Albania.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "He had tortured her. She told him a great deal. She told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "him about the Triwizard Tournament. She told him the old Auror,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Moody, was going to teach at Hogwarts. He tortured her until he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "broke through the Memory Charm my father had placed upon her. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "told him I had escaped from Azkaban. She told him my father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "kept me imprisoned to prevent me from seeking my master. And so","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "my master knew that I was still his faithful servant - perhaps","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the most faithful of all. My master conceived a plan, based upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the information Bertha had given him. He needed me. He arrived at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "our house near midnight. My father answered the door.` The smile","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "spread wider over Crouch's face, as though recalling the sweetest memory of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his life. Winky's petrified brown eyes were visible through her fingers. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "seemed too appalled to speak. `It was very quick. My","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "father was placed under the Imperius Curse by my master. Now my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "father was the one imprisoned, controlled. My master forced him to go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "about his business as usual, to act as though nothing was wrong.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "And I was released. I awoke. I was myself again, alive as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I hadn't been in years. `And what did Lord Voldemort ask","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "you to do?` said Dumbledore. `He asked me whether I was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "ready to risk everything for him. I was ready. It was my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "dream, my greatest ambition, to serve him, to prove myself to him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "He told me he needed to place a faithful servant at Hogwarts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "A servant who would guide Harry Potter through the Triwizard Tournament without","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "appearing to do so. A servant who would watch over Harry Potter.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Ensure he reached the Triwizard Cup. Turn the cup into a Portkey,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "which would take the first person to touch it to my master.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "But first -` `You needed Alastor Moody,` said Dumbledore. His blue","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "eyes were blazing, though his voice remained calm. `Wormtail and I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "did it. We had prepared the Polyjuice Potion beforehand. We journeyed to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his house. Moody put up a struggle. There was a commotion. We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "managed to subdue him just in time. Forced him into a compartment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "of his own magical trunk. Took some of his hair and added","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "it to the potion. I drank it; I became Moody's double. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "took his leg and his eye. I was ready to face Arthur","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Weasley when he arrived to sort out the Muggles who had heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "a disturbance. I made the dustbins move around the yard. I told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Arthur Weasley I had heard intruders in my yard, who had set","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "off the dustbins. Then I packed up Moody's clothes and Dark detectors,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "put them in the trunk with Moody, and set off for Hogwarts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I kept him alive, under the Imperius Curse. I wanted to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "able to question him. To find out about his past, learn his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "habits, so that I could fool even Dumbledore. I also needed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "his hair to make the Polyjuice Potion. The other ingredients were easy.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I stole boom-slang skin from the dungeons. When the Potions master found","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "me in his office, I said I was under orders to search","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "it.` `And what became of Wormtail after you attacked Moody?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dumbledore. `Wormtail returned to care for my master, in my father's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "house, and to keep watch over my father.` `But your father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "escaped,` said Dumbledore. `Yes. After a while he began to fight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the Imperius Curse just as I had done. There were periods when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he knew what was happening. My master decided it was no longer","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "safe for my father to leave the house. He forced him to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "send letters to the Ministry instead. He made him write and say","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "he was ill. But Wormtail neglected his duty. He was not watchful","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "enough. My father escaped. My master guessed that he was heading for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Hogwarts. My father was going to tell Dumbledore everything, to confess. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "was going to admit that he had smuggled me from Azkaban. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "`My master sent me word of my father's escape. He told me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "to stop him at all costs. So I waited and watched. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "used the map I had taken from Harry Potter. The map that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "had almost ruined everything.` `Map?` said Dumbledore quickly. `What map is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "this?` `Potter's map of Hogwarts. Potter saw me on it. Potter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "saw me stealing more ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion from Snape's office","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "one night. He thought I was my father. We have the same","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "first name. I took the map from Potter that night. I told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "him my father hated Dark wizards. Potter believed my father was after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Snape. `For a week I waited for my father to arrive","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "at Hogwarts. At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest. Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Potter came, and Krum. I waited. I could not hurt Potter;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "my master needed him. Potter ran to get Dumbledore. I Stunned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Krum. I killed my father.` `Noooo!` wailed Winky. `Master Barty, Master","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Barty, what is you saying?` `You killed your father,` Dumbledore said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "in the same soft voice. `What did you do with the body?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " `Carried it into the forest. Covered it with the Invisibility Cloak.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "I had the map with me. I watched Potter run into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "castle. He met Snape. Dumbledore joined them. I watched Potter bringing Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "out of the castle. I walked back out of the forest, doubled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "around behind them, went to meet them. I told Dumbledore Snape had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "told me where to come. `Dumbledore told me to go and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "look for my father. I went back to my father's body. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Watched the map. When everyone was gone, I Transfigured my father's body.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "He became a bone ... I buried it, while wearing the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Invisibility Cloak, in the freshly dug earth in front of Hagrid's cabin.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " There was complete silence now, except for Winky's continued sobs. Then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Dumbledore said, `And tonight. . .` `I offered to carry the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "Triwizard Cup into the maze before dinner,` whispered Barty Crouch. `Turned it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "into a Portkey. My master's plan worked. He is returned to power","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "and I will be honored by him beyond the dreams of wizards.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " The insane smile lit his features once more, and his head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" "drooped onto his shoulder as Winky wailed and sobbed at his side. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-35" " Dumbledore stood up. He stared down at Barty","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Crouch for a moment with disgust on his face. Then he raised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his wand once more and ropes flew out of it, ropes that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "twisted themselves around Barty Crouch, binding him tightly. He turned to Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "McGonagall. `Minerva, could I ask you to stand guard here while","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I take Harry upstairs?` `Of course,` said Professor McGonagall. She looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "slightly nauseous, as though she had just watched someone being sick. However,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "when she drew out her wand and pointed it at Barty Crouch,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "her hand was quite steady. `Severus` - Dumbledore turned to Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "- `please tell Madam Pomfrey to come down here; we need to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "get Alastor Moody into the hospital wing. Then go down into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "grounds, find Cornelius Fudge, and bring him up to this office. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "will undoubtedly want to question Crouch himself. Tell him I will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "in the hospital wing in half an hour's time if he needs","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "me.` Snape nodded silently and swept out of the room. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`Harry?` Dumbledore said gently. Harry got up and swayed again; the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "pain in his leg, which he had not noticed all the time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he had been listening to Crouch, now returned in full measure. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "also realized that he was shaking. Dumbledore gripped his arm and helped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "him out into the dark corridor. `I want you to come","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "up to my office first. Harry,` he said quiedy as they headed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "up the passageway. `Sirius is waiting for us there.` Harry nodded.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "A kind of numbness and a sense of complete unreality were upon","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "him, but he did not care; he was even glad of it.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "He didn't want to have to think about anything that had happened","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "since he had first touched the Triwizard Cup. He didn't want to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "have to examine the memories, fresh and sharp as photographs, which kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "flashing across his mind. Mad-Eye Moody, inside the trunk. Wormtail, slumped on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the ground, cradling his stump of an arm. Voldemort, rising from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "steaming cauldron. Cedric. . . dead . . . Cedric, asking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to be returned to his parents. . . . `Professor,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "mumbled, `where are Mr. and Mrs. Diggory?` `They are with Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Sprout,` said Dumbledore. His voice, which had been so calm throughout the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "interrogation of Barty Crouch, shook very slightly for the first time. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`She was Head of Cedric's house, and knew him best.` They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "had reached the stone gargoyle. Dumbledore gave the password, it sprang aside,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and he and Harry went up the moving spiral staircase to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "oak door. Dumbledore pushed it open. Sirius was standing there. His face","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was white and gaunt as it had been when he had escaped","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Azkaban. In one swift moment, he had crossed the room. `Harry,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "are you all right? I knew it - I knew something like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "this - what happened?` His hands shook as he helped Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "into a chair in front of the desk. `What happened?` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "asked more urgently. Dumbledore began to tell Sirius everything Barty Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "had said. Harry was only half listening. So tired every bone in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his body was aching, he wanted nothing more than to sit here,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "undisturbed, for hours and hours, until he fell asleep and didn't have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to think or feel anymore. There was a soft rush of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wings. Fawkes the phoenix had left his perch, flown across the office,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and landed on Harry's knee. `'Lo, Fawkes,` said Harry quietly. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "stroked the phoenix's beautiful scarlet-and-gold plumage. Fawkes blinked peacefully up at him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "There was something comforting about his warm weight. Dumbledore stopped talking.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "He sat down opposite Harry, behind his desk. He was looking at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry, who avoided his eyes. Dumbledore was going to question him. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was going to make Harry relive everything. `I need to know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "what happened after you touched the Portkey in the maze. Harry,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore. `We can leave that till morning, can't we, Dumbledore?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Sirius harshly. He had put a hand on Harrys shoulder. `Let him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "have a sleep. Let him rest.` Harry felt a rush of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "gratitude toward Sirius, but Dumbledore took no notice of Sirius's words. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "leaned forward toward Harry. Very unwillingly, Harry raised his head and looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "into those blue eyes. `If I thought I could help you,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore said gently, `by putting you into an enchanted sleep and allowing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you to postpone the moment when you would have to think about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "what has happened tonight, I would do it. But I know better.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "finally feel it. You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "expected of you. I ask you to demonstrate your courage one more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "time. I ask you to tell us what happened.` The phoenix","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "let out one soft, quavering note. It shivered in the air, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry felt as though a drop of hot liquid had slipped down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his throat into his stomach, warming him, and strengthening him. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "took a deep breath and began to tell them. As he spoke,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "visions of everything that had passed that night seemed to rise before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his eyes; he saw the sparkling surface of the potion that had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "revived Voldemort; he saw the Death Eaters Apparating between the graves around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "them; he saw Cedric's body, lying on the ground beside the cup.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Once or twice, Sirius made a noise as though about to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "say something, his hand still tight on Harry's shoulder, but Dumbledore raised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his hand to stop him, and Harry was glad of this, because","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "it was easier to keep going now he had started. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "even a relief; he felt almost as though something poisonous were being","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "extracted from him. It was costing him every bit of determination he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "had to keep talking, yet he sensed that once he had finished,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he would feel better. When Harry told of Wormtail piercing his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "arm with the dagger, however, Sirius let out a vehement exclamation and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore stood up so quickly that Harry started. Dumbledore walked around the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "desk and told Harry to stretch out his arm. Harry showed them","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "both the place where his robes were torn and the cut beneath","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "them. `He said my blood would make him stronger than if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he'd used someone else's,` Harry told Dumbledore. `He said the protection my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "- my mother left in me - he'd have it too. And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he was right - he could touch me without hurting himself, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "touched my face.` For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes. But next second.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry was sure he had imagined it, for when Dumbledore had returned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to his seat behind the desk, he looked as old and weary","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "as Harry had ever seen him. `Very well,` he said, sitting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "down again. `Voldemort has overcome that particular barrier. Harry, continue, please.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry went on; he explained how Voldemort had emerged from the cauldron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and told them all he could remember of Voldemort's speech to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Death Eaters. Then he told how Voldemort had untied him, returned his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wand to him, and prepared to duel. But when he reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the part where the golden beam of light had connected his and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Voldemort's wands, he found his throat obstructed. He tried to keep talking,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "but the memories of what had come out of Voldemort's wand were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "flooding into his mind. He could see Cedric emerging, see the old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "man, Bertha Jorkins ... his father . . . his mother .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" ". . He was glad when Sirius broke the silence.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `The wands connected?` he said, looking from Harry to Dumbledore. `Why?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Harry looked up at Dumbledore again, on whose face there was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "an arrested look. `Priori Incantatem,` he muttered. His eyes gazed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "into Harry's and it was almost as though an invisible beam of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "understanding shot between them. `The Reverse Spell effect?` said Sirius sharply.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `Exactly,` said Dumbledore. `Harry's wand and Voldemorts wand share cores. Each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "of them contains a feather from the tail of the same phoenix.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "This phoenix, in fact,` he added, and he pointed at the scarlet-and-gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "bird, perching peacefully on Harry's knee. `My wand's feather came from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Fawkes?` Harry said, amazed. `Yes,` said Dumbledore. `Mr. Ollivander wrote to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "tell me you had bought the second wand, the moment you left","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his shop four years ago.` `So what happens when a wand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "meets its brother?` said Sirius. `They will not work properly against each","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "other,` said Dumbledore. `If, however, the owners of the wands force the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wands to do battle ... a very rare effect will take place.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " One of the wands will force the other to regurgitate spells","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "it has performed - in reverse. The most recent first. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and then those which preceded it. . . .` He looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "interrogatively at Harry, and Harry nodded. `Which means,` said Dumbledore slowly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his eyes upon Harry's face, `that some form of Cedric must have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "reappeared.` Harry nodded again. `Diggory came back to life?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Sirius sharply. `No spell can reawaken the dead,` said Dumbledore heavily.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`All that would have happened is a kind of reverse echo. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "shadow of the living Cedric would have emerged from the wand .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" ". . am I correct, Harry?` `He spoke to me,` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said. He was suddenly shaking again. `The . . . the ghost","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Cedric, or whatever he was, spoke.` `An echo,` said Dumbledore, `which","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "retained Cedric's appearance and character. I am guessing other such forms appeared","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" ". . . less recent victims of Voldemort's wand....` `An old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "man,` Harry said, his throat still constricted. `Bertha Jorkins. And . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" ".` `Your parents?` said Dumbledore quietly. `Yes,` said Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Sirius's grip on Harry's shoulder was now so tight it was painful.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `The last murders the wand performed,` said Dumbledore, nodding. `In reverse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "order. More would have appeared, of course, had you maintained the connection.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Very well, Harry, these echoes, these shadows . .. what did they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "do?` Harry described how the figures that had emerged from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wand had prowled the edges of the golden web, how Voldemort had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "seemed to fear them, how the shadow of Harry's mother had told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "him what to do, how Cedric's had made its final request. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "At this point. Harry found he could not continue. He looked around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "at Sirius and saw that he had his face in his hands.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Harry suddenly became aware that Fawkes had left his knee. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "phoenix had fluttered to the floor. It was resting its beautiful head","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "against Harry's injured leg, and thick, pearly tears were falling from its","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "eyes onto the wound left by the spider. The pain vanished. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "skin mended. His leg was repaired. `I will say it again,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said Dumbledore as the phoenix rose into the air and resettled itself","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "upon the perch beside the door. `You have shown bravery beyond anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I could have expected of you tonight. Harry. You have shown bravery","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "equal to those who died fighting Voldemort at the height of his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "powers. You have shouldered a grown wizard's burden and found yourself equal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to it - and you have now given us all we have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "a right to expect. You will come with me to the hospital","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wing. I do not want you returning to the dormitory tonight. A","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Sleeping Potion, and some peace . . . Sirius, would you like","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to stay with him?` Sirius nodded and stood up. He transformed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "back into the great black dog and walked with Harry and Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "out of the office, accompanying them down a flight of stairs to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the hospital wing. When Dumbledore pushed open the door. Harry saw","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Ron, and Hermione grouped around a harassed-looking Madam Pomfrey.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "They appeared to be demanding to know where Harry was and what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "had happened to him. All of them whipped around as Harry, Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and the black dog entered, and Mrs. Weasley let out a kind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "of muffled scream. `Harry! Oh Harry!` She started to hurry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "toward him, but Dumbledore moved between them. `Molly,` he said, holding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "up a hand, `please listen to me for a moment. Harry has","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "been through a terrible ordeal tonight. He has just had to relive","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "it for me. What he needs now is sleep, and peace, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "quiet. If he would like you all to stay with him,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "added, looking around at Ron, Hermione, and Bill too, `you may do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "so. But I do not want you questioning him until he is","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "ready to answer, and certainly not this evening.` Mrs. Weasley nodded.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "She was very white. She rounded on Ron, Hermione, and Bill as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "they were being noisy, and hissed, `Did you hear? He needs quiet!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `Headmaster,` said Madam Pomfrey, staring at the great black dog that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was Sirius, `may I ask what - ?` `This dog will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "be remaining with Harry for a while,` said Dumbledore simply. `I assure","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you, he is extremely well trained. Harry - I will wait while","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you get into bed.` Harry felt an inexpressible sense of gratitude","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to Dumbledore for asking the others not to question him. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wasn't as though he didn't want them there; but the thought of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "explaining it all over again, the idea of reliving it one more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "time, was more than he could stand. `I will be back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to see you as soon as I have met with Fudge, Harry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said Dumbledore. `I would like you to remain here tomorrow until I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "have spoken to the school.` He left. As Madam Pomfrey led","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry to a nearby bed, he caught sight of the real Moody","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "lying motionless in a bed at the far end of the room.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "His wooden leg and magical eye were lying on the bedside table.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `Is he okay?` Harry asked. `He'll be fine,` said Madam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Pomfrey, giving Harry some pajamas and pulling screens around him. He took","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "off his robes, pulled on the pajamas, and got into bed. Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Hermione, Bill, Mrs. Weasley, and the black dog came around the screen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and settled themselves in chairs on either side of him. Ron and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Hermione were looking at him almost cautiously, as though scared of him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `I'm all right,` he told them. `Just tired.` Mrs. Weasleys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "eyes filled with tears as she smoothed his bed-covers unnecessarily. Madam","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Pomfrey, who had bustled off to her office, returned holding a small","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "bottle of some purple potion and a goblet. `You'll need to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "drink all of this. Harry,` she said. `It's a potion for dreamless","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "sleep.` Harry took the goblet and drank a few mouthfuls. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "felt himself becoming drowsy at once. Everything around him became hazy; the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "lamps around the hospital wing seemed to be winking at him in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "a friendly way through the screen around his bed; his body felt","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "as though it was sinking deeper into the warmth of the feather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "matress. Before he could finish the potion, before he could say another","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "word, his exhaustion had carried him off to sleep. Harry woke","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "up, so warm, so very sleepy, that he didn't open his eyes,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wanting to drop off again. The room was still dimly lit; he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was sure it was still nighttime and had a feeling that he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "couldn't have been asleep very long. Then he heard whispering around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "him. `They'll wake him if they don't shut up!` `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "are they shouting about? Nothing else can have happened, can it?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry opened his eyes blearily. Someone had removed his glasses. He could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "see the fuzzy outlines of Mrs. Weasley and Bill close by. Mrs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Weasley was on her feet. `That's Fudge's voice,` she whispered. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "that's Minerva McGonagall's, isn't it? But what are they arguing about?` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Now Harry could hear them too: people shouting and running toward the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "hospital wing. `Regrettable, but all the same, Minerva -` Cornelius Fudge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was saying loudly. `You should never have brought it inside the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "castle!` yelled Professor McGonagall. `When Dumbledore finds out -` Harry heard","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the hospital doors burst open. Unnoticed by any of the people around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his bed, all of whom were staring at the door as Bill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "pulled back the screens, Harry sat up and put his glasses back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "on. Fudge came striding up the ward. Professors McGonagall and Snape","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "were at his heels. `Where's Dumbledore?` Fudge demanded of Mrs. Weasley.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `He's not here,` said Mrs. Weasley angrily. `This is a hospital","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "wing. Minister, don't you think you'd do better to -` But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the door opened, and Dumbledore came sweeping up the ward. `What","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "has happened?` said Dumbledore sharply, looking from Fudge to Professor McGonagall. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`Why are you disturbing these people? Minerva, I'm surprised at you -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I asked you to stand guard over Barty Crouch -` `There","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "is no need to stand guard over him anymore, Dumble-dore!` she shrieked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`The Minister has seen to that!` Harry had never seen Professor McGonagall","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "lose control like this. There were angry blotches of color in her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "cheeks, and a hands were balled into fists; she was trembling with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "fury.-` When we told Mr. Fudge that we had caught the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Death Eater responsible for tonight's events,` said Snape, in a low voice;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he seemed to feel his personal safety was in question. He insisted","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "on summoning a dementor to accompany him into the castle. He brought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "it up to the office where Barty Crouch -` `I told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "him you would not agree, Dumbledore!` McGonagall fumed. `I told him you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "would never allow dementors to set foot inside the castle, but -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `My dear woman!` roared Fudge, who likewise looked angrier than Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "had ever seen him, `as Minister of Magic, it is my decision","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "whether I wish to bring protection with me when interviewing a possibly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "dangerous -` But Professor McGonagall's voice drowned Fudge's. `The moment","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "that - that thing entered the room,` she screamed, pointing at Fudge,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "trembling all over, `it swooped down on Crouch and - and -`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Harry felt a chill in his stomach as Professor McGonagall struggled","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to find words to describe what had happened. He did not need","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "her to finish her sentence. He knew what the dementor must have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "done. It had administered its fatal kiss to Barty Crouch. It had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "sucked his soul out through his mouth. He was worse than dead.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `By all accounts, he is no loss!` blustered Fudge. `It seems","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he has been responsible for several deaths'.` `But he cannot now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "give testimony, Cornelius,` said Dumbledore. He was staring hard at Fudge, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "though seeing him plainly for the first time. `He cannot give evidence","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "about why he killed those people.` `Why he killed them? Well,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "that's no mystery, is it?` blustered Fudge. `He was a raving lunatic!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "From what Minerva and Severus have told me, he seems to have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "thought he was doing it all on You-Know-Who's instructions!` `Lord Voldemort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was giving him instructions, Cornelius,` Dumbledore said. `Those peoples deaths were mere","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "by-products of a plan to restore Voldemort to full strength again. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "plan succeeded. Voldemort has been restored to his body.` Fudge looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "as though someone had just swung a heavy weight into his face.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dazed and blinking, he stared back at Dumbledore as if he couldn't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "quite believe what he had just heard. He began to sputter, still","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "goggling at Dumbledore. `You-Know-Who . . . returned? Preposterous. Come now,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore ...` `As Minerva and Severus have doubtless told you,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore, `we heard Barty Crouch confess. Under the influence of Veritaserum, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "told us how he was smuggled out of Azkaban, and how Voldemort","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "- learning of his continued existence from Bertha Jorkins -went to free","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "him from his father and used him to capture Harry. The plan","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "worked, I tell you. Crouch has helped Voldemort to return.` `See","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "here, Dumbledore,` said Fudge, and Harry was astonished to see a slight","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "smile dawning on his face, `you - you can't seriously believe that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "You-Know-Who - back? Come now, come now . . . certainly, Crouch","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "may have believed himself to be acting upon You-Know-Who's orders - but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to take the word of a lunatic like that, Dumbledore ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`When Harry touched the Triwizard Cup tonight, he was transported straight to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Voldemort,` said Dumbledore steadily. `He witnessed Lord Voldemort's rebirth. I will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "explain it all to you if you will step up to my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "office.` Dumbledore glanced around at Harry and saw that he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "awake, but shook his head and said, `I am afraid I cannot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "permit you to question Harry tonight.` Fudge's curious smile lingered. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "too glanced at Harry, then looked back at Dumbledore, and said, `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "are - er - prepared to take Harry's word on this, are","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you, Dumbledore?` There was a moment's silence, which was broken by","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Sirius growling. His hackles were raised, and he was baring his teeth","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "at Fudge. `Certainly, I believe Harry,` said Dumbledore. His eyes were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "blazing now. `I heard Crouch's confession, and I heard Harry's account of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "what happened after he touched the Triwizard Cup; the two stories make","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "sense, they explain everything that has happened since Bertha Jorkins disappeared last summer.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Fudge still had that strange smile on his face. Once again,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he glanced at Harry before answering. `You are prepared to believe","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "that Lord Voldemort has returned, on the word of a lunatic murderer,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and a boy who . . . well...` Fudge shot Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "another look, and Harry suddenly understood. `You've been reading Rita Skeeter,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Mr. Fudge,` he said quietly. Ron, Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, and Bill","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "all jumped. None of them had realized that Harry was awake. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Fudge reddened slightly, but a defiant and obstinate look came over his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "face. `And if I have?` he said, looking at Dumbledore. `If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I have discovered that you've been keeping certain facts about the boy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "very quiet? A Parselmouth, eh? And having funny turns all over the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "place -` `I assume that you are referring to the pains","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry has been experiencing in his scar?` said Dumbledore coolly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`You admit that he has been having these pains, then?` said Fudge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "quickly. `Headaches? Nightmares? Possibly - hallucinations?` `Listen to me, Cornelius,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said Dumbledore, taking a step toward Fudge, and once again, he seemed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to radiate that indefinable sense of power that Harry had felt after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore had Stunned young Crouch. `Harry is as sane as you or","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I. That scar upon his forehead has not addled his brains. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "believe it hurts him when Lord Voldemort is close by, or feeling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "particularly murderous.` Fudge had taken half a step back from Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "but he looked no less stubborn. `You'll forgive me, Dumbledore, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I've never heard of a curse scar acting as an alarm bell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "before. ...` `Look, I saw Voldemort come back!` Harry shouted. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "tried to get out of bed again, but Mrs. Weasley forced him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "back. `I saw the Death Eaters! I can give you their names!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Lucius Malfoy -` Snape made a sudden movement, but as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry looked at him, Snape's eyes flew back to Fudge. `Malfoy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was cleared!` said Fudge, visibly affronted. `A very old family - donations","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to excellent causes -` `Macnair!` Harry continued. `Also cleared! Now","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "working for the Ministry!` `Avery - Nott - Crabbe - Goyle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "-` `You are merely repeating the names of those who were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "acquitted of being Death Eaters thirteen years ago!` said Fudge angrily. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "could have found those names in old reports of the trials! For","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "heavens sake, Dumbledore - the boy was full of some crackpot story","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "at the end of last year too - his tales are getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "taller, and you're still swallowing them - the boy can talk to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "snakes. Dumbledore, and you still think he's trustworthy?` `You fool!` Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "McGonagall cried. `Cedric Diggory! Mr. Crouch! These deaths were not the random","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "work of a lunatic!` `I see no evidence to the contrary!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "shouted Fudge, now matching her anger, his face purpling. `It seems to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "me that you are all determined to start a panic that will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "destabilize everything we have worked for these last thirteen years!` Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had always thought of Fudge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "as a kindly figure, a little blustering, a little pompous, but essentially","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "good-natured. But now a short, angry wizard stood before him, refusing, point-blank,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to accept the prospect of disruption in his comfortable and ordered world","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "- to believe that Voldemort could have risen. `Voldemort has returned,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore repeated. `If you accept that fact straightaway. Fudge, and take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the necessary measures, we may still be able to save the situation.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "The first and most essential step is to remove Azkaban from the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "control of the dementors -` `Preposterous!` shouted Fudge again. `Remove the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "dementors? I'd be kicked out of office for suggesting it! Half of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "us only feel safe in our beds at night because we know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the dementors are standing guard at Azkaban!` `The rest of us","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "sleep less soundly in our beds, Cornelius, knowing that you have put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Lord Voldemort's most dangerous supporters in the care of creatures who will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "join him the instant he asks them!` said Dumbledore. `They will not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "remain loyal to you, Fudge! Voldemort can offer them much more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "scope for their powers and their pleasures than you can! With the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "dementors behind him, and his old supporters returned to him, you will be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "hard-pressed to stop him regaining the sort of power he had thirteen","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "years ago!` Fudge was opening and closing his mouth as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "no words could express his outrage. `The second step you must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "take - and at once,` Dumbledore pressed on, `is to send envoys","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to the giants.` `Envoys to the giants?` Fudge shrieked, finding his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "tongue again. `What madness is this?` `Extend them the hand of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "friendship, now, before it is too late,` said Dumbledore, `or Voldemort will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "persuade them, as he did before, that he alone among wizards will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "give them their rights and their freedom!` `You - you cannot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "be serious!` Fudge gasped, shaking his head and retreating further from Dumbledore.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`If the magical community got wind that I had approached the giants","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "-people hate them, Dumbledore - end of my career -` `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "are blinded,` said Dumbledore, his voice rising now, the aura of power","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "around him palpable, his eyes blazing once more, `by the love of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the office you hold, Cornelius! You place too much importance, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "they grow to be! Your dementor has just destroyed the last remaining","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "member of a pure-blood family as old as any - and see","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "what that man chose to make of his life! I tell you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "now-take the steps I have suggested, and you will be remembered, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "office or out, as one of the bravest and greatest Ministers of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Magic we have ever known. Fail to act - and history will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "remember you as the man who stepped aside and allowed Voldemort a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`Insane,` whispered Fudge, still backing away. `Mad . . .` And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "then there was silence. Madam Pomfrey was standing frozen at the foot","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "of Harry's bed, her hands over her mouth. Mrs.Weasley was still standing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "over Harry, her hand on his shoulder to prevent him from rising.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Bill, Ron, and Hermione were staring at Fudge. `If your determination","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this, Cornelius,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said Dumbledore, `we have reached a parting of the ways. You must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "act as you see fit. And I - I shall act as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I see fit.` Dumbledore's voice carried no hint of a threat;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "it sounded like a mere statement, but Fudge bristled as though Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "were advancing upon him with a wand. `Now, see here, Dumbledore,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he said, waving a threatening finger. `I've given you free rein, always.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "I've had a lot of respect for you. I might not have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "agreed with some of your decisions, but I've kept quiet. There aren't","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "many who'd have let you hire werewolves, or keep Hagrid, or decide","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "what to teach your students without reference to the Ministry. But if","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you're going to work against me -` `The only one against","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "whom I intend to work,` said Dumbledore, `is Lord Voldemort. If you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "are against him, then we remain, Cornelius, on the same side.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "It seemed Fudge could think of no answer to this. He rocked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "backward and forward on his small feet for a moment and spun","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his bowler hat in his hands. Finally, he said, with a hint","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "of a plea in his voice, `He can't be back, Dumbledore, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "just can't be ...` Snape strode forward, past Dumbledore, pulling up","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the left sleeve of his robes as he went. He stuck out","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his forearm and showed it to Fudge, who recoiled. `There,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Snape harshly. `There. The Dark Mark. It is not as clear as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "it was an hour or so ago, when it burned black, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "into him by the Dark Lord. It was a means of distinguishing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "one another, and his means of summoning us to him. When he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "touched the Mark of any Death Eater, we were to Disapparate, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Apparate, instantly, at his side. This Mark has been growing clearer all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "year. Karkaroff s too. Why do you think Karkaroff fled tonight? We","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "both felt the Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the Dark Lord's vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Eaters to be sure of a welcome back into the fold.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Fudge stepped back from Snape too. He was shaking his head. He","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "did not seem to have taken in a word Snape had said.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "He stared, apparently repelled by the ugly mark on Snape's arm, then","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "looked up at Dumbledore and whispered, `I don't know what you and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "your staff are playing at, Dumbledore, but I have heard enough. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "have no more to add. I will be in touch with you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "tomorrow, Dumbledore, to discuss the running of this school. I must return","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to the Ministry.` He had almost reached the door when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "paused. He turned around, strode back down the dormitory, and stopped at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Harry's bed. `Your winnings,` he said shortly, taking a large bag","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "of gold out of his pocket and dropping it onto Harrys bedside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "table. `One thousand Galleons. There should have been a presentation ceremony, but","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "under the circumstances .. .` He crammed his bowler hat onto","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his head and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "him. The moment he had disappeared, Dumbledore turned to look at the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "group around Harry's bed. `There is work to be done,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said. `Molly... am I right in thinking that I can count on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you and Arthur?` `Of course you can,` said Mrs. Weasley. She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was white to the lips, but she looked resolute. `We know what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Fudge is. It's Arthur's fondness for Muggles that has held him back","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "at the Ministry all these years. Fudge thinks he lacks proper wizarding","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "pride.` `Then I need to send a message to Arthur,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore. `All those that we can persuade of the truth must be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "notified immediately, and he is well placed to contact those at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the Ministry who are not as shortsighted as Cornelius.` `I'll go","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to Dad,` said Bill, standing up. `I'll go now.` `Excellent,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Dumbledore. `Tell him what has happened. Tell him I will be in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "direct contact with him shortly. He will need to be discreet, however.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "If Fudge thinks I am interfering at the Ministry -` `Leave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "it to me,` said Bill. He clapped a hand on Harry's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "shoulder, kissed his mother on the cheek, pulled on his cloak, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "strode quickly from the room. `Minerva,` said Dumbledore, turning to Professor","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "McGonagall, `I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "possible. Also - if she will consent to come - Madame Maxime.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Professor McGonagall nodded and left without a word. `Poppy,` Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said to Madam Pomfrey, `would you be very kind and go down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to Professor Moodys office, where I think you will find a house-elf","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "called Winky in considerable distress? Do what you can for her, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "take her back to the kitchens. I think Dobby will look after","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "her for us.` `Very - very well,` said Madam Pomfrey, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "startled, and she too left. Dumbledore made sure that the door","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "was closed, and that Madam Pomfrey's footsteps had died away, before he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "spoke again. `And now,` he said, `it is time for two","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "of our number to recognize each other for what they are. Sirius","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "... if you could resume your usual form.` The great black","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "dog looked up at Dumbledore, then, in an instant, turned back into","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "a man. Mrs. Weasley screamed and leapt back from the bed.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " `Sirius Black!` she shrieked, pointing at him. `Mum, shut up!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Ron yelled. `It's okay!` Snape had not yelled or jumped backward,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "but the look on his face was one of mingled fury and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "horror. `Him!` he snarled, staring at Sirius, whose face showed equal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "dislike. `What is he doing here?` `He is here at my","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "invitation,` said Dumbledore, looking between them, `as are you, Severus. I trust","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you both. It is time for you to lay aside your old","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "differences and trust each other.` Harry thought Dumbledore was asking for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "a near miracle. Sirius and Snape were eyeing each other with the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "utmost loathing. `I will settle, in the short term,` said Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "with a bite of impatience in his voice, `for a lack of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "truth do not stand united, there is no hope for any us.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " Very slowly - but still glaring at each other as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "each wished the other nothing but ill - Sirius and Snape moved","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "toward each other and shook hands. They let go extremely quickly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`That will do to be going on with,` said Dumbledore, stepping between","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "them once more. `Now I have work for each of you.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Fudge's attitude, though not unexpected, changes everything. Sirius, I need you to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Mundungus Fletcher - the old crowd. Lie low at Lupin's for a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "while; I will contact you there.` `But -` said Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "He wanted Sirius to stay. He did not want to have to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "say goodbye again so quickly. `You'll see me very soon. Harry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said Sirius, turning to him. `I promise you. But I must do","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "what I can, you understand, don't you?` `Yeah,` said Harry. `Yeah","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" ". . . of course I do.` Sirius grasped his hand","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "briefly, nodded to Dumbledore, transformed again into the black dog, and ran","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "the length of the room to the door, whose handle he turned","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "with a paw. Then he was gone. `Severus,` said Dumbledore, turning","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to Snape, `you know what I must ask you to do. If","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "you are ready . . . if you are prepared ...` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`I am,` said Snape. He looked slightly paler than usual, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his cold, black eyes glittered strangely. `Then good luck,` said Dumbledore,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and he watched, with a trace of apprehension on his face, as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "Snape swept wordlessly after Sirius. It was several minutes before Dumbledore","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "spoke again. `I must go downstairs,` he said finally. `I must","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "see the Diggorys. Harry - take the rest of your potion. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "will see all of you later.` Harry slumped back against his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "pillows as Dumbledore disappeared. Hermione, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley were all looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "at him. None of them spoke for a very long time. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "`You've got to take the rest of your potion. Harry,` Mrs. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "said at last. Her hand nudged the sack of gold on his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "bedside cabinet as she reached for the bottle and the goblet. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "have a good long sleep. Try and think about something else for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "a while . . . think about what you're going to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "buy with your winnings!` `I don't want that gold,` said Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "in an expressionless voice. `You have it. Anyone can have it. I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "shouldn't have won it. It should've been Cedric's.` The thing against","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "which he had been fighting on and off ever since he had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "come out of the maze was threatening to overpower him. He could","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "feel a burning, prickling feeling in the inner corners of his eyes.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "He blinked and stared up at the ceiling. `It wasn't your","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "fault. Harry,` Mrs. Weasley whispered. `I told him to take the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "cup with me,` said Harry. Now the burning feeling was in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his throat too. He wished Ron would look away. Mrs. Weasley","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "set the potion down on the bedside cabinet, bent down, and put","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "her arms around Harry. He had no memory of ever being hugged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "like this, as though by a mother. The full weight of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "everything he had seen that night seemed to fall in upon him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "as Mrs. Weasley held him to her. His mother s face,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "his father's voice, the sight of Cedric, dead on the ground all","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "started spinning in his head until he could hardly bear it, until","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "he was screwing up his face against the howl of misery fighting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "to get out of him. There was a loud slamming noise,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "and Mrs. Weasley and Harry broke apart. Hermione was standing by the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "window. She was holding something tight in her hand. `Sorry,` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "whispered. `Your potion, Harry,` said Mrs. Weasley quickly, wiping her eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "on the back of her hand. Harry drank it in one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "gulp. The effect was instantaneous. Heavy, irresistible waves of dreamless sleep broke","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" "over him; he fell back onto his pillows and thought no more. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-36" " When he looked back, even a month later, Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "found he had only scattered memories of the next few days. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "was as though he had been through too much to take in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "any more. The recollections he did have were very painful. The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "worst, perhaps, was the meeting with the Diggorys that took place the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "following morning. They did not blame him for what had happened;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "on the contrary, both thanked him for returning Cedric's body to them.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Mr. Diggory sobbed through most of the interview. Mrs. Diggory's grief","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "seemed to be beyond tears. `He suffered very little then,` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said, when Harry had told her how Cedric had died. `And","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "after all, Amos ... he died just when he'd won the tournament.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "He must have been happy.` When they got to their feet,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "she looked down at Harry and said, `You look after yourself, now.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " Harry seized the sack of gold on the bedside table. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`You take this,` he muttered to her. `It should've been Cedric's, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "got there first, you take it -` But she backed away","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "from him. `Oh no, it's yours, dear, I couldn't. . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you keep it.` Harry returned to Gryffindor Tower the following evening.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "From what Hermione and Ron told him, Dumbledore had spoken to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "school that morning at breakfast. He had merely requested that they leave","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Harry alone, that nobody ask him questions or badger him to tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the story of what had happened in the maze. Most people, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "noticed, were skirting him in the corridors, avoiding his eyes. Some whispered","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "behind their hands as he passed. He guessed that many of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "them had believed Rita Skeeter's article about how disturbed and possibly dangerous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "he was. Perhaps they were formulating their own theories about how Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "had died. He found he didn't care very much. He liked it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "best when he was with Ron and Hermione and they were talking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "about other things, or else letting him sit in silence while they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "played chess. He felt as though all three of them had reached","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "an understanding they didn't need to put into words; that each was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "waiting for some sign, some word, of what was going on outside","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hogwarts - and that it was useless to speculate about what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "might be coming until they knew anything for certain. The only time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "they touched upon the subject was when Ron told Harry about a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "meeting Mrs. Weasley had had with Dumbledore before going home. `She","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "went to ask him if you could come straight to us this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "summer,` he said. `But he wants you to go back to the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Dursleys, at least at first.` `Why?` said Harry. `She said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Dumbledore's got his reasons,` said Ron, shaking his head darkly. `I suppose","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "we've got to trust him, haven't we?` The only person apart","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "from Ron and Hermione that Harry felt able to talk to was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hagrid. As there was no longer a Defense Against the Dark","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Arts teacher, they had those lessons free. They used the one on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Thursday afternoon to go down and visit Hagrid in his cabin. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "It was a bright and sunny day; Fang bounded out of the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "open door as they approached, barking and wagging his tail madly. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`Who's that?` called Hagrid, coming to the door. `Harry!` He strode","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "out to meet them, pulled Harry into a one-armed hug, ruffled his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "hair, and said, `Good ter see yeh, mate. Good ter see yeh.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " They saw two bucket-size cups and saucers on the wooden table","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "in front of the fireplace when they entered Hagrid's cabin. `Bin","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "havin' a cuppa with Olympe,` Hagrid said. `She's jus' left.` `Who?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said Ron curiously. `Madame Maxime, o' course!` said Hagrid. `You","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "two made up, have you?` said Ron. `Dunno what yeh're talkin'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "about,` said Hagrid airily, fetching more cups from the dresser. When he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "had made tea and offered around a plate of doughy cookies, he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "leaned back in his chair and surveyed Harry closely through his beetle-black","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "eyes. `You all righ'?` he said gruffly `Yeah,` said Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`No, yeh're not,` said Hagrid. `Course yeh're not. But yeh will be.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " Harry said nothing. `Knew he was goin' ter come back,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said Hagrid, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up at him, shocked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`Known it fer years. Harry. Knew he was out there, bidin' his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "have ter get on with it. We'll fight. Migh' be able","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "ter stop him before he gets a good hold. That's Dumbledores plan,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "anyway. Great man, Dumbledore. 'S long as we've got him, I'm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "not too worried.` Hagrid raised his bushy eyebrows at the disbelieving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "expressions on their faces. `No good sittin' worryin' abou' it,` he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said. `What's comin' will come, an we'll meet it when it does.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Dumbledore told me wha' you did. Harry.` Hagrid's chest swelled as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "he looked at Harry. `Yeh did as much as yer father","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "would've done, an' I can' give yeh no higher praise than that.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " Harry smiled back at him. It was the first time he'd","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "smiled in days. `What's Dumbledore asked you to do, Hagrid?` he asked.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`He sent Professor McGonagall to ask you and Madame Maxime to meet","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "him - that night.` `Got a little job fer me over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the summer,` said Hagrid. `Secret, though. I'm not s'pposed ter talk abou'","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "it, no, not even ter you lot. Olympe - Madame Maxime ter","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you -might be comin' with me. I think she will. Think I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "got her persuaded.` `Is it to do with Voldemort?` Hagrid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "flinched at the sound of the name. `Migh' be,` he said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "evasively. `Now . . . who'd like ter come an' visit the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "las' skrewt with me? I was jokin' - jokin'!` he added hastily,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "seeing the looks on their faces. It was with a heavy","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "heart that Harry packed his trunk up in the dormitory on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "night before his return to Privet Drive. He was dreading the Leaving","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Feast, which was usually a cause for celebration, when the winner of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the Inter-House Championship would be announced. He had avoided being in the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Great Hall when it was full ever since he had left the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "hospital wing, preferring to eat when it was nearly empty to avoid","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the stares of his fellow students. When he, Ron, and Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "entered the Hall, they saw at once that the usual decorations were","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "missing. The Great Hall was normally decorated with the winning House's colors","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "for the Leaving Feast. Tonight, however, there were black drapes on the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "wall behind the teachers' table. Harry knew instantly that they were there","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "as a mark of respect to Cedric. The real Mad-Eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Moody was at the staff table now, his wooden leg and his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "magical eye back in place. He was extremely twitchy, jumping every time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "someone spoke to him. Harry couldn't blame him; Moodys fear of attack","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "was bound to have been increased by his ten-month imprisonment in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "own trunk. Professor Karkaroff s chair was empty. Harry wondered, as he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "sat down with the other Gryffindors, where Karkaroff was now, and whether","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Voldemort had caught up with him. Madame Maxime was still there.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "She was sitting next to Hagrid. They were talking quietly together. Further","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "along the table, sitting next to Professor McGonagall, was Snape. His eyes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "lingered on Harry for a moment as Harry looked at him. His","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "expression was difficult to read. He looked as sour and unpleasant as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "ever. Harry continued to watch him, long after Snape had looked away.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " What was it that Snape had done on Dumbledores orders, the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "night that Voldemort had returned? And why. . . why . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" ". was Dumbledore so convinced that Snape was truly on their side?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "He had been their spy, Dumbledore had said so in the Pensieve.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Snape had turned spy against Voldemort, `at great personal risk.` Was that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the job he had taken up again? Had he made contact with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the Death Eaters, perhaps? Pretended that he had never really gone over","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "to Dumbledore, that he had been, like Voldemort himself, biding his time?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " Harry's musings were ended by Professor Dumbledore, who stood up at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the staff table. The Great Hall, which in any case had been","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "less noisy than it usually was at the Leaving Feast, became very","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "quiet. `The end,` said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, `of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "another year.` He paused, and his eyes fell upon the Hufflepuff","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "table. Theirs had been the most subdued table before he had gotten","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "to his feet, and theirs were still the saddest and palest faces","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "in the Hall. `There is much that I would like to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "say to you all tonight,` said Dumbledore, `but I must first acknowledge","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "he gestured toward the Hufflepuffs, `enjoying our feast with us. I would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Diggory.` They did it, all of them; the benches scraped as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "everyone in the Hall stood, and raised their goblets, and echoed, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "one loud, low, rumbling voice, `Cedric Diggory.` Harry caught a glimpse","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "of Cho through the crowd. There were tears pouring silently down her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "face. He looked down at the table as they all sat down","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "again. `Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "that distinguish Hufflepuff house,` Dumbledore continued. `He was a good and loyal","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " Harry raised his head and stared at Dumbledore. `Cedric Diggory","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "was murdered by Lord Voldemort.` A panicked whisper swept the Great","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. He looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "perfectly calm as he watched them mutter themselves into silence. `The","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Ministry of Magic,` Dumbledore continued, `does not wish me to tell you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "I have done so - either because they will not believe that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory.`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " Stunned and frightened, every face in the Hall was turned toward","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Dumbledore now... or almost every face. Over at the Slytherin table. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "saw Draco Malfoy muttering something to Crabbe and Goyle. Harry felt a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "hot, sick swoop of anger in his stomach. He forced himself to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "look back at Dumbledore. `There is somebody else who must be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "mentioned in connection with Cedrics death,` Dumbledore went on. `I am","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "talking, of course, about Harry Potter.` A kind of ripple crossed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the Great Hall as a few heads turned in Harry's direction before","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "flicking back to face Dumbledore. `Harry Potter managed to escape Lord","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Voldemort,` said Dumbledore. `He risked his own life to return Cedric's body","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "I honor him.` Dumbledore turned gravely to Harry and raised his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "They murmured his name, as they had murmured Cedric's, and drank to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "him. But through a gap in the standing figures. Harry saw that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and many of the other Slytherins had remained defiantly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "in their seats, their goblets untouched. Dumbledore, who after all possessed no","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "magical eye, did not see them. When everyone had once again","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "resumed their seats, Dumbledore continued, `The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "of Lord Voldemorts return - such ties are more important than ever","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "before.` Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the Slytherin table. Krum, Harry saw, looked wary, almost frightened, as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "he expected Dumbledore to say something harsh. `Every guest in this","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hall,` said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, `will","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "I say to you all, once again - in the light of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemorts gift for spreading discord","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "hearts are open. `It is my belief- and never have I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "our midst. `Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you have to make a choice between what is right and what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Remember Cedric Diggory.` Harry's trunk was packed; Hedwig was back in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "her cage on top of it. He, Ron, and Hermione were waiting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "in the crowded entrance hall with the rest of the fourth years","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "for the carriages that would take them back to Hogsmeade station. It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "was another beautiful summer's day. He supposed that Privet Drive would be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "hot and leafy, its flower beds a riot of color, when he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "arrived there that evening. The thought gave him no pleasure at all.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " `'Arry!` He looked around. Fleur Delacour was hurrying up the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "stone steps into the castle. Beyond her, far across the grounds. Harry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "could see Hagrid helping Madame Maxime to back two of the giant","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "horses into their harness. The Beauxbatons carriage was about to take off.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " `We will see each uzzer again, I 'ope,` said Fleur as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "she reached him, holding out her hand. `I am 'oping to get","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "a job 'ere, to improve my Eenglish.` `It's very good already,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said Ron in a strangled sort of voice. Fleur smiled at him;","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hermione scowled. `Good-bye, 'Arry,` said Fleur, turning to go. `It 'az","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "been a pleasure meeting you!` Harrys spirits couldn't help but lift","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "slightly as he watched Fleur hurry back across the lawns to Madame","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Maxime, her silvery hair rippling in the sunlight. Wonder how the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Durmstrang students are getting back,` said Ron. `D' you reckon they can","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "steer that ship without Karkaroff?` `Karkaroff did not steer,` said a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "gruff voice. `He stayed in his cabin and let us do the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "vork.` Krum had come to say good-bye to Hermione. `Could I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "have a vord?` he asked her. `Oh . . . yes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "... all right,` said Hermione, looking slightly flustered, and following Krum through","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the crowd and out of sight. `You'd better hurry up!` Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "called loudly after her. `The carriages'll be here in a minute!` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "He let Harry keep a watch for the carriages, however, and spent","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the next few minutes craning his neck over the crowd to try","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "and see what Krum and Hermione might be up to. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "returned quite soon. Ron stared at Hermione, but her face was quite","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "impassive. `I liked Diggory,` said Krum abruptly to Harry. `He vos","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "alvays polite to me. Alvays. Even though I vos from Durmstrang","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "- with Karkaroff,` he added, scowling. `Have you got a new","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "headmaster yet?` said Harry Krum shrugged. He held out his hand as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Fleur had done, shook Harry's hand, and then Ron's. Ron looked as","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "though he was suffering some sort of painful internal struggle. Krum","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "had already started walking away when Ron burst out, `Can I have","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "your autograph?` Hermione turned away, smiling at the horseless carriages that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "were now trundling toward them up the drive, as Krum, looking surprised","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "but gratified, signed a fragment of parchment for Ron. The weather","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "could not have been more different on the journey back to King's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Cross than it had been on their way to Hogwarts the previous","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "September. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Harry, Ron, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hermione had managed to get a compartment to themselves. Pigwidgeon was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "once again hidden under Rons dress robes to stop him from hooting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "continually; Hedwig was dozing, her head under her wing, and Crookshanks was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "curled up in a spare seat like a large, furry ginger cushion.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked more fully and freely than they had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "all week as the train sped them southward. Harry felt as though","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Dumbledore's speech at the Leaving Feast had unblocked him, somehow. It was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "less painful to discuss what had happened now. They broke off their","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "conversation about what action Dumbledore might be taking, even now, to stop","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Voldemort only when the lunch trolley arrived. When Hermione returned from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the trolley and put her money back into her schoolbag, she dislodged","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "a copy of the Daily Prophet that she had been carrying in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "there. Harry looked at it, unsure whether he really wanted to know","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "what it might say, but Hermione, seeing him looking at it, said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "calmly, `There's nothing in there. You can look for yourself, but there's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "nothing at all. I've been checking every day. Just a small piece","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the day after the third task saying you won the tournament. They","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "didn't even mention Cedric. Nothing about any of it. If you","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "ask me. Fudge is forcing them to keep quiet.` `He'll never","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "keep Rita quiet,` said Harry. `Not on a story like this.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`Oh, Rita hasn't written anything at all since the third task,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hermione in an oddly constrained voice. `As a matter of fact,` she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "added, her voice now trembling slightly, `Rita Skeeter isn't going to be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "writing anything at all for a while. Not unless she wants me","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "to spill the beans on her.` `What are you talking about?`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said Ron. `I found out how she was listening in on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "private conversations when she wasn't supposed to be coming onto the grounds,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said Hermione in a rush. Harry had the impression that Hermione","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "had been dying to tell them this for days, but that she","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "had restrained herself in light of everything else that had happened. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`How was she doing it?` said Harry at once. `How did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you find out?` said Ron, staring at her. `Well, it was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you, really, who gave me the idea. Harry,` she said. `Did","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "I?` said Harry, perplexed. `How?` `Bugging,` said Hermione happily. `But","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you said they didn't work -` `Oh not electronic bugs,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hermione. `No, you see ... Rita Skeeter` - Hermiones voice trembled with","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "quiet triumph - `is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn -` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Hermione pulled a small sealed glass jar out other bag. `-","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "into a beetle.` `You're kidding,` said Ron. `You haven't.. . she's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "not...` `Oh yes she is,` said Hermione happily, brandishing the jar","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "at them. Inside were a few twigs and leaves and one","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "large, fat beetle. `That's never - you're kidding -` Ron whispered,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "lifting the jar to his eyes. `No, I'm not,` said Hermione,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "beaming. `I caught her on the windowsill in the hospital wing. Look","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "very closely, and you'll notice the markings around her antennae are exactly","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "like those foul glasses she wears.` Harry looked and saw that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "she was quite right. He also remembered something. `There was a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "beetle on the statue the night we heard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "about his mum!` `Exactly,` said Hermione. `And Viktor pulled a beetle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "out of my hair after we'd had our conversation by the lake.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "And unless I'm very much mistaken, Rita was perched on the windowsill of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the Divination class the day your scar hurt. She's been buzzing around","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "for stories all year.` `When we saw Malfoy under that tree","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "...` said Ron slowly. `He was talking to her, in his","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "hand,` said Hermione. `He knew, of course. That's how she's been getting","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "all those nice little interviews with the Slytherins. They wouldn't care that","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "she was doing something illegal, as long as they were giving her","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "horrible stuff about us and Hagrid.` Hermione took the glass","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "jar back from Ron and smiled at the beetle, which buzzed angrily","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "against the glass. `I've told her I'll let her out when","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "we get back to London,` said Hermione. `I've put an Unbreakable Charm","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "on the jar, you see, so she can't transform. And I've told","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "her she's to keep her quill to herself for a whole year.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "See if she can't break the habit of writing horrible lies about","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "people.` Smiling serenely, Hermione placed the beetle back inside her schoolbag.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " The door of the compartment slid open. `Very clever. Granger,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle were standing behind him. All","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "three of them looked more pleased with themselves, more arrogant and more","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "menacing, than Harry had ever seen them. `So,` said Malfoy slowly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "advancing slightly into the compartment and looking slowly around at them, a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "smirk quivering on his lips. `You caught some pathetic reporter, and Potter's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Dumbledore's favorite boy again. Big deal.` His smirk widened. Crabbe and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Goyle leered. `Trying not to think about it, are we?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Malfoy softly, looking around at all three of them. `Trying to pretend","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "it hasn't happened?` `Get out,` said Harry. He had not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "been this close to Malfoy since he had watched him muttering to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Crabbe and Goyle during Dumbledores speech about Cedric. He could feel a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "kind of ringing in his ears. His hand gripped his wand under","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "his robes. `You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you!","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "I told you you ought to choose your company more carefully, remember?","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "When we met on the train, first day at Hogwarts? I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "told you not to hang around with riffraff like this!` He jerked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "his head at Ron and Hermione. `Too late now. Potter! They'll be","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Muggle-lovers first! Well - second - Diggory was the f-` It","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "was as though someone had exploded a box of fireworks within the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "compartment. Blinded by the blaze of the spells that had blasted from","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "every direction, deafened by a series of bangs, Harry blinked and looked","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "down at the floor. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were all lying","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "unconscious in the doorway. He, Ron, and Hermione were on their feet,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "all three of them having used a different hex. Nor were they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the only ones to have done so. `Thought we'd see what","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "those three were up to,` said Fred matter-of-factly, stepping onto Goyle and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "into the compartment. He had his wand out, and so did George,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "who was careful to tread on Malfoy as he followed Fred inside.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " `Interesting effect,` said George, looking down at Crabbe. `Who used the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Furnunculus Curse?` `Me,` said Harry. `Odd,` said George lightly. `I","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "used Jelly-Legs. Looks as though those two shouldn't be mixed. He seems","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "to have sprouted little tentacles all over his face. Well, let's not","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "leave them here, they don't add much to the decor.` Ron,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Harry, and George kicked, rolled, and pushed the unconscious Malfoy, Crabbe, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Goyle - each of whom looked distinctly the worse for the jumble","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "of jinxes with which they had been hit - out into the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "corridor, then came back into the compartment and rolled the door shut.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " `Exploding Snap, anyone?` said Fred, pulling out a pack of cards.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" " They were halfway through their fifth game when Harry decided to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "ask them. `You going to tell us, then?` he said to","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "George. `Who you were blackmailing?` `Oh,` said George darkly. `That.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`It doesn't matter,` said Fred, shaking his head impatiently. `It wasn't anything","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "important. Not now, anyway.` `We've given up,` said George, shrugging. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "But Harry, Ron, and Hermione kept on asking, and finally, Fred said,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`All right, all right, if you really want to know ... it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "was Ludo Bagman.` `Bagman?` said Harry sharply. `Are you saying he","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "was involved in -` `Nah,` said George gloomily. `Nothing like that.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Stupid git. He wouldn't have the brains.` `Well, what, then?` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Ron. Fred hesitated, then said, `You remember that bet we had","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "with him at the Quidditch World Cup? About how Ireland would win,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "but Krum would get the Snitch?` `Yeah,` said Harry and Ron","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "slowly. `Well, the git paid us in leprechaun gold he'd caught","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "from the Irish mascots.` `So?` `So,` said Fred impatiently, `it","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "vanished, didn't it? By next morning, it had gone!` `But -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "it must've been an accident, mustn't it?` said Hermione. George laughed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "very bitterly. `Yeah, that's what we thought, at first. We thought","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "if we just wrote to him, and told him he'd made a","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "mistake, he'd cough up. But nothing doing. Ignored our letter. We kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "trying to talk to him about it at Hogwarts, but he was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "always making some excuse to get away from us.` `In the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "end, he turned pretty nasty,` said Fred. `Told us we were too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "young to gamble, and he wasn't giving us anything.` `So we","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "asked for our money back,` said George glowering. `He didn't refuse!`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "gasped Hermione. `Right in one,` said Fred. `But that was","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "all your savings!` said Ron. `Tell me about it,` said George.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`'Course, we found out what was going on in the end. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Lee Jordan's dad had had a bit of trouble getting money off","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Bagman as well. Turns out he's in big trouble with the goblins.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Borrowed loads of gold off them. A gang of them cornered him","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "in the woods after the World Cup and took all the gold","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "he had, and it still wasn't enough to cover all his debts.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "They followed him all the way to Hogwarts to keep an eye","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "on him. He's lost everything gambling. Hasn't got two Galleons to rub","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "together. And you know how the idiot tried to pay the","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "goblins back?` `How?` said Harry. `He put a bet on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "you, mate,` said Fred. `Put a big bet on you to win","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the tournament. Bet against the goblins.` `So that's why he kept","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "trying to help me win!` said Harry. `Well - I did win,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "didn't I? So he can pay you your gold!` `Nope,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said George, shaking his head. `The goblins play as dirty as him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "They say you drew with Diggory, and Bagman was betting you'd win","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "outright. So Bagman had to run for it. He did run for","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "it right after the third task.` George sighed deeply and started","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "dealing out the cards again. The rest of the journey passed","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "pleasantly enough; Harry wished it could have gone on all summer, in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "fact, and that he would never arrive at King's Cross . .","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" ". but as he had learned the hard way that year, time","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead, and all too","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "soon, the Hogwarts Express was pulling in at platform nine and three-quarters.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "The usual confusion and noise filled the corridors as the students began","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "to disembark. Ron and Hermione struggled out past Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "carrying their trunks. Harry, however, stayed put. `Fred - George -","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "wait a moment.` The twins turned. Harry pulled open his trunk","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "and drew out his Triwizard winnings. `Take it,` he said, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "he thrust the sack into George's hands. `What?` said Fred, looking","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "flabbergasted. `Take it,` Harry repeated firmly. `I don't want it.` ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`You're mental,` said George, trying to push it back at Harry. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`No, I'm not,` said Harry. `You take it, and get inventing. It's","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "for the joke shop.` `He is mental,` Fred said in an","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "almost awed voice. `Listen,` said Harry firmly. `If you don't take","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "it, I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't want it and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "I don't need it. But I could do with a few laughs.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "We could all do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "we're going to need them more than usual before long.` `Harry,`","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "said George weakly, weighing the money bag in his hands, `there's got","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "to be a thousand Galleons in here.` `Yeah,` said Harry, grinning.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`Think how many Canary Creams that is.` The twins stared at","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "him. `Just don't tell your mum where you got it... although","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "she might not be so keen for you to join the Ministry","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "anymore, come to think of it. . . .` `Harry,` Fred","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "began, but Harry pulled out his wand. `Look,` he said flatly,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "`take it, or I'll hex you. I know some good ones now.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Just do me one favor, okay? Buy Ron some different dress robes","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "and say they're from you.` He left the compartment before they","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "could say another word, stepping over Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "were still lying on the floor, covered in hex marks. Uncle","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Vernon was waiting beyond the barrier. Mrs. Weasley was close by him.","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "She hugged Harry very tightly when she saw him and whispered in","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "his ear, `I think Dumbledore will let you come to us later","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "in the summer. Keep in touch, Harry.` `See you. Harry,` said","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Ron, clapping him on the back. `'Bye, Harry!` said Hermione, and","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "she did something she had never done before, and kissed him on","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the cheek. `Harry - thanks,` George muttered, while Fred nodded fervently","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "at his side. Harry winked at them, turned to Uncle Vernon,","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "and followed him silently from the station. There was no point","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "worrying yet, he told himself, as he got into the back of","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "the Dursleys' car. As Hagrid had said, what would come, would","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "come ... and he would have to meet it when it did. ","Book 4: Goblet of Fire","chap-37" "Dudley Demented The hottest day of the summer so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the large, square houses of Privet Drive. Cars that were usually gleaming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "stood dusty in their drives and lawns that were once emerald green","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "lay parched and yellowing - 'for the use of hosepipes had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "banned due to drought. Deprived of their usual car-washing and lawn-mowing pursuits,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the inhabitants of Privet Drive had retreated into the shade of their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "cool houses, windows thrown wide in the hope of tempting in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "nonexistent breeze. The only person left outdoors was a teenage boy who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was lying flat on his back in a flowerbed outside number four.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " He was a skinny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the pinched, slightly unhealthy look of someone who has grown a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "in a short space of time. His jeans were torn and dirty,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "his T-shirt baggy and faded, and the soles of his trainers were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "peeling away from the uppers. Harry Potters appearance did not endear him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to the neighbours, who were the sort of people who thought scruffiness","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "ought to be punishable by law, but as he had hidden himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "behind a large hydrangea bush this evening he was quite invisible to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "passers-by. In fact, the only way he would be spotted was if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "his Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia stuck their heads out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "living-room window and looked straight down into the flowerbed below. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " On the whole, Harry thought he was to be congratulated on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "his idea of hiding here. He was not, perhaps, very comfortable lying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "on the hot, hard earth but, on the other hand, nobody was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "glaring at him, grinding their teeth so loudly that he could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "hear the news, or shooting nasty questions at him, as had happened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "every time he had tried sitting down in the living room to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "watch television with his aunt and uncle. Almost as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "though this thought had fluttered through the open window, Vernon Dursley, Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "uncle, suddenly spoke. 'Glad to see the boy's stopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "trying to butt in. Where is he, anyway?' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "don't know,' said Aunt Petunia, unconcerned. 'Not in the house.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " Uncle Vernon grunted. 'Watching the news . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ".' he said scathingly. 'I'd like to know what he's really up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to. As if a normal boy cares what's on the news -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "'Dudley hasn't got a clue what's going on; doubt he knows who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the Prime Minister is! Anyway, it's not as if there'd be anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "about his lot on our news - ' 'Vernon,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "shh!' said Aunt Petunia. The window's open!' 'Oh -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "yes - sorry, dear.' The Dursleys fell silent. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "listened to a jingle about Fruit 'n' Bran breakfast cereal while he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "watched Mrs Figg, a batty cat-loving old lady from nearby Wisteria Walk,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "amble slowly past. She was frowning and muttering to herself. Harry was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "very pleased he was concealed behind the bush, as Mrs Figg had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "recently taken to asking him round for tea whenever she met him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "in the street. She had rounded the corner and vanished from view","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "before Uncle Vernon's voice floated out of the window again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Dudders out for tea?' 'At the Polkisses',' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Aunt Petunia fondly. 'He's got so many little friends, he's so popular","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". . .' Harry suppressed a snort with difficulty.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "The Dursleys really were astonishingly stupid about their son, Dudley. They had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "swallowed all his dim-witted lies about having tea with a different member","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "of his gang every night of the summer holidays. Harry knew perfectly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "well that Dudley had not been to tea anywhere; he and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "gang spent every evening vandalising the play park, smoking on street corners","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and throwing stones at passing cars and children. Harry had seen them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "at it during his evening walks around Little Whinging; he had spent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "most of the holidays wandering the streets, scavenging newspapers from bins along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the way. The opening notes of the music that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "heralded the seven o'clock news reached Harry's ears and his stomach turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "over. Perhaps tonight - after a month of waiting - would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the night. 'Record numbers of stranded holidaymakers fill airports","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "as the Spanish baggage-handlers' strike reaches its second week - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Give 'em a lifelong siesta, I would,' snarled Uncle Vernon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "over the end of the newsreaders sentence, but no matter: outside in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the flowerbed, Harry's stomach seemed to unclench. If anything had happened, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "would surely have been the first item on the news; death and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "destruction were more important than stranded holidaymakers. He let out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "a long, slow breath and stared up at the brilliant blue sky.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Every day this summer had been the same: the tension, the expectation,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the temporary relief, and then mounting tension again . . . and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "always, growing more insistent all the time, the question of why nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "had happened yet. He kept listening, just in case","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "there was some small clue, not recognised for what it really was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "by the Muggles - an unexplained disappearance, perhaps, or some strange accident","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". . . but the baggage-handlers' strike was followed by news about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the drought in the Southeast ('I hope he's listening next door!' bellowed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Uncle Vernon. 'Him with his sprinklers on at three in the morning!'),","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "then a helicopter that had almost crashed in a field in Surrey,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "then a famous actress's divorce from her famous husband ('As if we're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "interested in their sordid affairs,' sniffed Aunt Petunia, who had followed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "case obsessively in every magazine she could lay her bony hands on).","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " Harry closed his eyes against the now blazing evening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "sky as the newsreader said, '- and finally, Bungy the budgie has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "found a novel way of keeping cool this summer. Bungy, who lives","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "at the Five Feathers in Barnsley, has learned to water ski! Mary","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Dorkins went to find out more.' Harry opened his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "eyes. If they had reached water-skiing budgerigars, there would be nothing else","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "worth hearing. He rolled cautiously on to his front and raised himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "on to his knees and elbows, preparing to crawl out from under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the window. He had moved about two inches when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "several things happened in very quick succession. A loud,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "echoing crack broke the sleepy silence like a gunshot; a cat streaked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "out from under a parked car and flew out of sight; a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "shriek, a bellowed oath and the sound of breaking china came from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the Dursleys' living room, and as though this was the signal Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "had been waiting for he jumped to his feet, at the same","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "time pulling from the waistband of his jeans a thin wooden wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "as if he were unsheathing a sword - but before he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "draw himself up to full height, the top of his head collided","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "with the Dursleys' open window. The resultant crash made Aunt Petunia scream","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "even louder. Harry felt as though his head had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "been split in two. Eyes streaming, he swayed, trying to focus on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the street to spot the source of the noise, but he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "barely staggered upright when two large purple hands reached through the open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "window and closed tightly around his throat. 'Put -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "it - away!' Uncle Vernon snarled into Harry's ear. 'Now! Before -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "anyone - sees!' 'Get - off - me!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "gasped. For a few seconds they struggled, Harry pulling at his uncle's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "sausage-like fingers with his left hand, his right maintaining a firm grip","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "on his raised wand; then, as the pain in the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry's head gave a particularly nasty throb, Uncle Vernon yelped and released","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry as though he had received an electric shock. Some invisible force","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "seemed to have surged through his nephew, making him impossible to hold.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " Panting, Harry fell forwards over the hydrangea bush, straightened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "up and stared around. There was no sign of what had caused","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the loud cracking noise, but there were several faces peering through various","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "nearby windows. Harry stuffed his wand hastily back into his jeans and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "tried to look innocent. 'Lovely evening!' shouted Uncle Vernon,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "waving at Mrs Number Seven opposite, who was glaring from behind her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "net curtains. 'Did you hear that car backfire just now? Gave Petunia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and me quite a turn!' He continued to grin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "in a horrible, manic way until all the curious neighbours had disappeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "from their various windows, then the grin became a grimace of rage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "as he beckoned Harry back towards him. Harry moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "a few steps closer, taking care to stop just short of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "point at which Uncle Vernon's outstretched hands could resume their strangling. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'What the devil do you mean by it, boy?' asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Uncle Vernon in a croaky voice that trembled with fury. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'What do I mean by what?' said Harry coldly. He kept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "looking left and right up the street, still hoping to see the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "person who had made the cracking noise. 'Making a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "racket like a starting pistol right outside our - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'I didn't make that noise,' said Harry firmly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Aunt Petunia's thin, horsy face now appeared beside Uncle Vernon's wide, purple","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "one. She looked livid. 'Why were you lurking under our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "window?' 'Yes - yes, good point, Petunia! What were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "you doing under our window, boy?' 'Listening to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "news,' said Harry in a resigned voice. His aunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and uncle exchanged looks of outrage. 'Listening to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "news! Again?' 'Well, it changes every day, you see,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "said Harry. 'Don't you be clever with me, boy!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "I want to know what you're really up to - and don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "give me any more of this listening to the news tosh! You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "know perfectly well that your lot - ' 'Careful,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Vernon!' breathed Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon lowered his voice so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry could barely hear him,' - that your lot don't get on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "our news!' That's all you know,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " The Dursleys goggled at him for a few seconds, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Aunt Petunia said, 'You're a nasty little liar. What are all those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "- ' she, too, lowered her voice so that Harry had to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "lip-read the next word, ' - owls doing if they're not bringing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "you news?' 'Aha!' said Uncle Vernon in a triumphant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "whisper. 'Get out of that one, boy! As if we didn't know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "you get all your news from those pestilential birds!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry hesitated for a moment. It cost him something to tell the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "truth this time, even though his aunt and uncle could not possibly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "know how bad he felt at admitting it. 'The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "owls . . . aren't bringing me news,' he said tonelessly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'I don't believe it,' said Aunt Petunia at once. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'No more do I,' said Uncle Vernon forcefully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'We know you're up to something funny' said Aunt Petunia. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'We're not stupid, you know,' said Uncle Vernon. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Well, that's news to me,' said Harry, his temper rising, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "before the Dursleys could call him back, he had wheeled about, crossed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the front lawn, stepped over the low garden wall and was striding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "off up the street. He was in trouble now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and he knew it. He would have to face his aunt and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "uncle later and pay the price for his rudeness, but he: did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "not care very much just at the moment; he had much more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "pressing matters on his mind. Harry was sure the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "cracking noise had been made by someone Apparating or Disapparating. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "exactly the sound Dobby the house-elf made when he vanished into thin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "air. Was it possible that Dobby was here in Privet Drive? Could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Dobby be following him right at this very moment? As this thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "occurred he wheeled around and stared back down Privet Drive, but it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "appeared to be completely deserted and Harry was sure that Dobby did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "not know how to become invisible. He walked on,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "hardly aware of the route he was taking, for he had pounded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "these streets so often lately that his feet carried him to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "favourite haunts automatically. Every few steps he glanced back over his shoulder.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Someone magical had been near him as he lay among Aunt Petunia's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "dying begonias, he was sure of it. Why hadn't they spoken to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "him, why hadn't they made contact, why were they hiding now? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " And then, as his feeling of frustration peaked, his certainty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "leaked away. Perhaps it hadn't been a magical sound","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "after all. Perhaps he was so desperate for the tiniest sign of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "contact from the world to which he belonged that he was simply","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "overreacting to perfectly ordinary noises. Could he be sure it hadn't been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the sound of something breaking inside a neighbour's house? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry felt a dull, sinking sensation in his stomach and before he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "knew it the feeling of hopelessness that had plagued him all summer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "rolled over him once again. Tomorrow morning he would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "be woken by the alarm at five o'clock so he could pay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the owl that delivered the Daily Prophet - but was there any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "point continuing to take it? Harry merely glanced at the front page","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "before throwing it aside these days; when the idiots who ran the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "paper finally realised that Voldemort was back it would be headline news,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and that was the only kind Harry cared about. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "If he was lucky, there would also be owls carrying letters from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "his best friends Ron and Hermione, though any expectation he'd had that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "their letters would bring him news had long since been dashed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " We can't say much about you-know-what, obviously . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "We've been told not to say anything important in case our letters go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "astray . . . We're quite busy but I can't give you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "details here . . . There's a fair amount going on, we'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "tell you everything when we see you . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " But when were they going to see him? Nobody seemed too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "bothered with a precise date. Hermione had scribbled I expect we'll be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "seeing you quite soon inside his birthday card, but how soon was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "soon? As far as Harry could tell from the vague hints in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "their letters, Hermione and Ron were in the same place, presumably at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Ron's parents' house. He could hardly bear to think of the pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "of them having fun at The Burrow when he was stuck in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Privet Drive. In fact, he was so angry with them he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "thrown away, unopened, the two boxes of Honeydukes chocolates they'd sent him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "for his birthday. He'd regretted it later, after the wilted salad Aunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Petunia had provided for dinner that night. And what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "were Ron and Hermione busy with? Why wasn't he, Harry, busy? Hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he proved himself capable of handling much more than them? Had they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "all forgotten what he had done? Hadn't it been he who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "entered that graveyard and watched Cedric being murdered, and been tied to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "that tombstone and nearly killed? Don't think about that,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry told himself sternly for the hundredth time that summer. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "bad enough that he kept revisiting the graveyard in his nightmares, without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "dwelling on it in his waking moments too. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "turned a corner into Magnolia Crescent; halfway along he passed the narrow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "alleyway down the side of a garage where he had first clapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "eyes on his godfather. Sirius, at least, seemed to understand how Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was feeling. Admittedly, his letters were just as empty of proper news","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "as Ron and Hermione's, but at least they contained words of caution","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and consolation instead of tantalising hints: I know this must be frustrating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "for you . . . Keep your nose clean and everything will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "be OK . . .Be careful and don't do anything rash .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". . Well, thought Harry, as he crossed Magnolia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Crescent, turned into Magnolia Road and headed towards the darkening play park,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he had (by and large) done as Sirius advised. He had at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "least resisted the temptation to tie his trunk to his broomstick and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "set off for The Burrow by himself. In fact, Harry thought his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "behaviour had been very good considering how frustrated and angry he felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "at being stuck in Privet Drive so long, reduced to hiding in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "flowerbeds in the hope of hearing something that might point to what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Lord Voldemort was doing. Nevertheless, it was quite galling to be told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "not to be rash by a man who had served twelve years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "in the wizard prison, Azkaban, escaped, attempted to commit the murder he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "had been convicted for in the first place, then gone on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "run with a stolen Hippogriff. Harry vaulted over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "locked park gate and set off across the parched grass. The park","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was as empty as the surrounding streets. When he reached the swings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he sank on to the only one that Dudley and his friends","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "had not yet managed to break, coiled one arm around the chain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and stared moodily at the ground. He would not be able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "hide in the Dursleys' flowerbed again. Tomorrow, he would have to think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "of some fresh way of listening to the news. In the meantime,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he had nothing to look forward to but another restless, disturbed night,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "because even when he escaped the nightmares about Cedric he had unsettling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "dreams about long dark corridors, all finishing in dead ends and locked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "doors, which he supposed had something to do with the trapped feeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he had when he was awake. Often the old scar on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "forehead prickled uncomfortably, but he did not fool himself that Ron or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Hermione or Sirius would find that very interesting any more. In the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "past, his scar hurting had warned that Voldemort was getting stronger again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "but now that Voldemort was back they would probably remind him that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "its regular irritation was only to be expected . . . nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to worry about . . . old news . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " The injustice of it all welled up inside him so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "that he wanted to yell with fury. If it hadn't been for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "him, nobody would even have known Voldemort was back! And. his reward","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was to be stuck in Little Whinging for four solid weeks, completely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "cut off from the magical world, reduced to squatting among dying begonias","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "so hat he could hear about water-skiing budgerigars! How could Dumbledore have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "forgotten him so easily? Why had Ron and Hermione got together without inviting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "him along, too? How much longer was he supposed to endure Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "telling him to sit tight and be a good boy; or resist","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the temptation to write to the stupid Daily Prophet and point out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "that Voldemort had returned? These curious thoughts whirled around in Harry's head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and his insides writhed with anger as a sultry, velvety night fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "around him, the air full of the smell of warm, dry grass,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and the only sound that of the low grumble of traffic on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the road beyond the park railings. He did not know how long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he had sat on the swing before the sound of voices interrupted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "his musings and he looked up. The streetlamps from the surrounding roads","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "were casting a misty glow strong enough to silhouette a group of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "people making their way across the park. One of them was singing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "a loud, crude song. The others were laughing. A soft ticking noise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "came from several expensive racing bikes that they were wheeling along. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " Harry knew who those people were. The figure in front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was unmistakeably his cousin, Dudley Dursley wending his way home, accompanied by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "his faithful gang. Dudley was as vast as ever,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "but a year's hard dieting and the discovery of a new talent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "had wrought quite a change in his physique. As Uncle Vernon delightedly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "told anyone who would listen, Dudley had recently become the Junior Heavyweight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Inter-school Boxing Champion of the Southeast. 'The noble sport', as Uncle Vernon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "called it, had made Dudley even more formidable than he had seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to Harry in their primary school days when he had served as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Dudley's first punchball. Harry was not remotely afraid of his cousin any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "more but he still didn't think that Dudley earning to punch harder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and more accurately was cause for celebration. Neighbourhood children all around were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "terrified of him - even more terrified than they were of 'that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Potter boy' who, they lad been warned, was a hardened hooligan and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "attended St Brutus's secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry watched the dark figures crossing the grass and wondered who they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "had been beating up tonight. Look round, Harry found himself thinking as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he watched them. Come on . . . look round . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". I'm sitting here all alone . . . come and have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "a go . . . If Dudley's friends saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "him sitting here, they would be sure to make a beeline for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "him, and what would Dudley do then? He wouldn't want to lose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "face in front of the gang, but he'd be terrified of provoking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry . . . it would be really fun to watch Dudley's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "dilemma, to taunt him, watch him, with him powerless to respond .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". . and if any of the others tried hitting Harry, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was ready - he had his wand. Let them try . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". he'd love to vent some of his frustration on the boys","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "who had once made his life hell. But they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "didn't turn around, they didn't see him, they were almost at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "railings. Harry mastered the impulse to call after them . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "seeking a fight was not a smart move . . . he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "must not use magic he would be risking expulsion again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " The voices of Dudley's gang died away; they were out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "sight, heading along Magnolia Road. There you go, Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry thought dully. Nothing rash. Kept my nose clean. Exactly the opposite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "of what you'd have done. He got to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "feet and stretched. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon seemed to feel that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "whenever Dudley turned up was the right time to be home, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "any time after that was much too late. Uncle Vernon had threatened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to lock Harry in the shed if he came home alter Dudley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "ever again, so, stifling a yawn, and still scowling, Harry set off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "towards the park gate. Magnolia Road, like Privet Drive,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was full of large, square houses with perfectly manicured lawns, all owned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "by large, square owners who drove very clean cars similar to Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Vernon's. Harry preferred Little Whinging by night, when the curtained windows made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "patches of jewel-bright colour in the darkness and he ran no danger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "of hearing disapproving mutters about his 'delinquent' appearance when he passed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "householders. He walked quickly, so that halfway along Magnolia Road Dudley's gang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "came into view again; they were saying their farewells at the entrance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to Magnolia Crescent. Harry stepped into the shadow of a large lilac","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "tree and waited. '. . . squealed like a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "pig, didn't he?' Malcolm was saying, to guffaws from the others. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Nice right hook, Big D,' said Piers. 'Same","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "time tomorrow?' said Dudley. 'Round at my place, my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "parents will be out,' said Gordon. 'See you then,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "said Dudley. 'Bye, Dud!' 'See ya,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Big D!' Harry waited for the rest of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "gang to move on before setting off again. When their voices had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "faded once more he headed around the corner into Magnolia Crescent and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "by walking very quickly he soon came within hailing distance of Dudley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "who was strolling along at his ease, humming tunelessly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "'Hey, Big D!' Dudley turned. 'Oh,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he grunted. 'It's you.' 'How long have you been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "`Big D` then?' said Harry. 'Shut it,' snarled Dudley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "turning away. 'Cool name,' said Harry, grinning and falling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "into step beside is cousin. 'But you'll always be `Ickle Diddykins` to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "me.' 'I said, SHUT IT!' said Dudley, whose ham-like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "hands had curled into fists. 'Don't the boys know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "that's what your mum calls you?' 'Shut your face.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'You don't tell her to shut her face. What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "about `Popkin` and `Dinky Diddydums`, can I use them then?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " Dudley said nothing. The effort of keeping himself from hitting Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "seemed to demand all his self-control. 'So who've you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "been beating up tonight?' Harry asked, his grin fading. 'Another ten-year-old? I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "know you did Mark Evans two nights ago - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'He was asking for it,' snarled Dudley. 'Oh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "yeah?' 'He cheeked me.' 'Yeah? Did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he say you look like a pig that's been taught to walk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "on its hind legs? 'Cause that's not cheek, Dud, that's true.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " A muscle was twitching in Dudley's jaw. It gave Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "enormous satisfaction to know how furious he was making Dudley; he felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "as though he was siphoning off his own frustration into his cousin,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the only outlet he had. They turned right down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the narrow alleyway where Harry had first seen Sirius and which formed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "a short cut between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. It was empty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and much darker than the streets it linked because there were no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "streetlamps. Their footsteps were muffled between garage walls on one side and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "a high fence on the other. Think you're a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "big man carrying that thing, don't you?' Dudley said after a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "seconds. 'What thing?' That - that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "thing you are hiding.' Harry grinned again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Not as stupid as you look, are you, Dud? But I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "s'pose, if you were, you wouldn't be able to walk and talk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "at the same time.' Harry pulled out his wand.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "He saw Dudley look sideways at it. 'You're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "allowed,' Dudley said at once. 'I know you're not. You'd get expelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "from that freak school you go to.' 'How d'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "know they haven't changed the rules, Big D?' They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "haven't,' said Dudley, though he didn't sound completely convinced. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry laughed softly. 'You haven't got the guts to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "take me on without that thing, have you?' Dudley snarled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Whereas you just need four mates behind you before you can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "beat up a ten year old. You know that boxing title you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "keep banging on about? How old was your opponent? Seven? Eight?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'He was sixteen, for your information,' snarled Dudley, 'and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was out cold for twenty minutes after I'd finished with him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he was twice as heavy as you. You just wait till I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "tell Dad you had that thing out - 'Running","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to Daddy now, are you? Is his ickle boxing champ frightened of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "nasty Harry's wand?' 'Not this brave at night, are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "you?' sneered Dudley. 'This is night, Diddykins. That's what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "we call it when it goes all dark like this.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'I mean when you're in bed!' Dudley snarled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "He had stopped walking. Harry stopped too, staring at his cousin. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " From the little he could see of Dudley's large face,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he was wearing a strangely triumphant look. 'What d'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "mean, I'm not brave when I'm in bed?' said Harry, Completely nonplussed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "'What am I supposed to be frightened of, pillows or something?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'I heard you last night,' said Dudley breathlessly. Talking in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "your sleep. Moaning.' 'What d'you mean?' Harry said again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "but there was a cold, plunging sensation in his stomach. He had revisited","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the graveyard last night in his dreams. Dudley gave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "a harsh bark of laughter, then adopted a high-pitched whimpering voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " ' `Don't kill Cedric! Don't kill Cedric!` Who's Cedric -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "your boyfriend?' 'I - you're lying,' said Harry automatically.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "But his mouth had gone dry. He knew Dudley wasn't lying -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "how else would he know about Cedric? ' `Dad!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Help me, Dad! He's going to kill me, Dad! Boo hoo!'' '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Shut up,' said Harry quietly. 'Shut up, Dudley, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "warning you!' ' `Come and help me, Dad! Mum,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "come and help me! He's killed Cedric! Dad, help me! He's going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to - ` Don't you point that thing at me!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " Dudley backed into the alley wall. Harry was pointing the wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "directly at Dudley's heart. Harry could feel fourteen years' hatred of Dudley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "pounding in his veins - what wouldn't he give to strike now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to jinx Dudley so thoroughly he'd have to crawl home like an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "insect, struck dumb, sprouting feelers . . . 'Don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "ever talk about that again,' Harry snarled. 'D'you understand me?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Point that thing somewhere else!' 'I said, do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "you understand me?' 'Point it somewhere else!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?' 'GET THAT THING AWAY","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "FROM - ' Dudley gave an odd. shuddering gasp,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "as though he had been doused in icy water. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Something had happened to the night. The star-strewn indigo sky was suddenly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "pitch black and lightless - the stars, the moon, the misty streetlamps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "at either end of the alley had vanished. The distant rumble of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "cars and the whisper of trees had gone. The balmy evening was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "suddenly piercingly, bitingly cold. They were surrounded by total, impenetrable, silent darkness,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "as though some giant hand had dropped a thick, icy mantle over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the entire alleyway, blinding them. For a split second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry thought he had done magic without meaning to, despite the fact","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "that he'd been resisting as hard as he could - then his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "reason caught up with his senses - he didn't have the power","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to turn off the stars. He turned his head this way and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "that, trying to see something, but the darkness pressed on his eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "like a weightless veil. Dudley's terrified voice broke in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry's ear. 'W-what are you d-doing? St-stop it!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'I'm not doing anything! Shut up and don't move!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'I c-can't see! I've g-gone blind! I - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'I said shut up!' Harry stood stock","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "still, turning his sightless eyes left and right. The cold was so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "intense he was shivering all over; goose bumps had erupted up his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "arms and the hairs on the back of his neck were standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "up - he opened his eyes to their fullest extent, staring blankly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "around, unseeing. It was impossible . . . they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "couldn't be here . . . not in Little Whinging . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". he strained his ears . . . he would hear them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "before he saw them . . . 'I'll t-tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Dad!' Dudley whimpered. 'W-where are you? What are you d-do-?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Will you shut up?' Harry hissed, 'I'm trying to lis- '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " But he fell silent. He had heard just the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "thing he had been dreading. There was something in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the alleyway apart from themselves, something that was drawing long, hoarse, rattling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "breaths. Harry felt a horrible jolt of dread as he stood trembling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "in the freezing air. 'C-cut it out! Stop doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "it! I'll h-hit you, I swear I will!' 'Dudley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "shut - ' WHAM. A fist","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "made contact with the side of Harry's head, lifting him off his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "feet. Small white lights popped in front of his eyes. For the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "second time in an hour Harry felt as though his head had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "been cleaved in two; next moment, he had landed hard on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "ground and his wand had flown out of his hand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'You moron, Dudley!' Harry yelled, his eyes watering with pain as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he scrambled to his hands and knees, feeling around frantically n the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "blackness. He heard Dudley blundering away, hitting the alley fence, stumbling. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'DUDLEY, COME BACK! YOU'RE RUNNING RIGHT AT IT!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " There was a horrible squealing yell and Dudley's footsteps topped. At","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the same moment, Harry felt a creeping chill behind him that could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "mean only one thing. There was more than one. 'DUDLEY,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! WHATEVER YOU DO, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! Wand!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry muttered frantically, his hands flying over the ground like spiders. 'Where's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "- wand - come on - lumos!' He said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the spell automatically, desperate for light to help him n his search","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "- and to his disbelieving relief, light flared inches from his right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "hand - the wand tip had ignited. Harry snatched it up, scrambled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to his feet and turned around. His stomach turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "over. A towering, hooded figure was gliding smoothly towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "him, hovering over the ground, no feet or face visible beneath its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "robes, sucking on the night as it came. Stumbling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "backwards, Harry raised his wand. 'Expecto patronum!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " A silvery wisp of vapour shot from the tip of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "wand and the Dementor slowed, but the spell hadn't worked properly; tripping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "over his own feet, Harry retreated further as the Dementor bore down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "upon him, panic fogging his brain - concentrate - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "A pair of grey, slimy, scabbed hands slid from inside the Dementor's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "robes, reaching for him. A rushing noise filled Harry's ears. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Expecto patronum!' His voice sounded dim and distant.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Another wisp of silver smoke, feebler than the last, drifted from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "wand - he couldn't do it any more, he couldn't work the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "spell. There was laughter inside his own head, shrill,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "high-pitched laughter . . . he could smell the Dementor's putrid, death-cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "breath filling his own lungs, drowning him - think . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "something happy . . . But there was no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "happiness in him . . . the Dementor's icy fingers were closing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "on his throat - the high-patched laughter was growing louder and louder,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and a voice spoke inside his head: 'Bow to death, Harry .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" ". . it might even be painless . . . I would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "not know . . . I have never died ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "He was never going to see Ron and Hermione again - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " And their faces burst clearly into his mind as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "fought for breath. 'EXPECTO PATRONUM!' An","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "enormous silver stag erupted from the tip of Harry's wand; it's antlers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "caught the Dementor in the place where the heart should have been;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "it was thrown backwards, weightless as darkness, and as the stag charged,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the Dementor swooped away, bat-like and defeated. 'THIS WAY!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry shouted at the stag. Wheeling around, he sprinted down the alleyway,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "holding the lit wand aloft. 'DUDLEY? DUDLEY!' He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "run barely a dozen steps when he reached them: Dudley was curled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "up on the ground, his arms clamped over his face. A second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Dementor was crouching low over him, gripping his wrists in its slimy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "hands, prising them slowly, almost lovingly apart, lowering its hooded head towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Dudley's face as though about to kiss him. 'GET","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "IT!' Harry bellowed, and with a rushing, roaring sound, the silver stag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "he had conjured came galloping past him. The Dementor's eyeless face was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "barely an inch from Dudley's when the silver antlers caught it; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "thing was thrown up into the air and, like its fellow, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "soared away and was absorbed into the darkness; the stag cantered to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "the end of the alleyway and dissolved into silver mist. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " Moon, stars and streetlamps burst back into life. A warm breeze","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "swept the alleyway. Trees rustled in neighbouring gardens and the mundane rumble","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "of cars in Magnolia Crescent filled the air again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Harry stood quite still, all his senses vibrating, taking in the abrupt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "return to normality. After a moment, he became aware that his T-shirt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "was sticking to him; he was drenched in sweat. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "He could not believe what had just happened. Dementors here, in Little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "Whinging. Dudley lay curled up on the ground, whimpering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and shaking. Harry bent down to see whether he was in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "fit state to stand up, but then he heard loud, running footsteps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "behind him. Instinctively raising his wand again, he span on his heel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "to face the newcomer. Mrs Figg, their batty old","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "neighbour, came panting into sight. Her grizzled grey hair was escaping from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "its hairnet, a clanking String shopping bag was swinging from her wrist","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "and her feet were halfway out of her tartan carpet slippers. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "made to stow his wand hurriedly out of sight, but - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " 'Don't put it away, idiot boy!' she shrieked. 'What if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" "there are more of them around? Oh, I'm going to kill Mundungus Fletcher!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-1" " A Peck of Owls 'What?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said Harry blankly. 'He left!' said Mrs Figg, wringing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "her hands. 'Left to see someone about a batch of cauldrons that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "fell off the back of a broom! I told him I'd flay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "him alive if he went, and now look! Dementors! It's just lucky","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "I put Mr Tibbles on the case! But we haven't got time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to stand around! Hurry, now, we've got to get you back! Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the trouble this is going to cause! I will kill him!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'But - ' The revelation that his batty old cat-obsessed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "neighbour knew what Dementors were was almost as big a shock to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry as meeting two of them down the alleyway. 'You're - you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "a witch?' 'I'm a Squib, as Mundungus knows full","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "well, so how on earth was I supposed to help you fight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "off Dementors? He left you completely without cover when I'd warned him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- ' This Mundungus has been following me? Hang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "on - it was him! He Disapparated from the front of my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "house!' 'Yes, yes, yes, but luckily I'd stationed Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Tibbles under a car just in case, and Mr Tibbles came and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "warned me, but by the time I got to your house you'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "gone - and now - oh, what's Dumbledore going to say? You!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "she shrieked at Dudley, still supine on the alley floor. 'Get your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "fat bottom off the ground, quick!' 'You know Dumbledore?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said Harry, staring at her. 'Of course I know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dumbledore, who doesn't know Dumbledore? But come on - I'll be no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "help if they come back, I've never so much as Transfigured a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "teabag.' She stooped down, seized one of Dudley's massive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "arms in her wizened hands and tugged. 'Get up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "you useless lump, get up!' But Dudley either could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "not or would not move. He remained on the ground, trembling and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "ashen-faced, his mouth shut very tight. 'I'll do it.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry took hold of Dudley's arm and heaved. With an enormous effort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "he managed to hoist him to his feet. Dudley seemed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "on the point of fainting. His small eyes were rolling in their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "sockets and sweat was beading his face; the moment Harry let go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of him he swayed dangerously. 'Hurry up!' said Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Figg hysterically. Harry pulled one of Dudley's massive arms","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "around his own shoulders and dragged him towards the road, sagging slightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "under the weight. Mrs Figg tottered along in front of them, peering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "anxiously around the corner. 'Keep your wand out,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "told Harry, as they entered Wisteria Walk. 'Never mind the Statute of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Secrecy now, there's going to be hell to pay anyway, we might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "as well be hanged for a dragon as an egg. Talk about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery . . . this was exactly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "what Dumbledore was afraid of - What's that at the end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the street? Oh, it's just Mr Prentice . . . don't put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "your wand away, boy, don't I keep telling you I'm no use?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " It was not easy to hold a wand steady","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and haul Dudley along at the same time. Harry gave his cousin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "an impatient dig in the ribs, but Dudley seemed to have lost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "all desire for independent movement. He was slumped on Harry's shoulder, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "large feet dragging along the ground. 'Why didn't you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "tell me you're a Squib, Mrs Figg?' asked Harry, panting with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "effort to keep walking. 'All those times I came round your house","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- why didn't you say anything?' 'Dumbledore's orders. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was to keep an eye on you but not say anything, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "were too young. I'm sorry I gave you such a miserable time,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry, but the Dursleys would never have let you come if they'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "thought you enjoyed it. It wasn't easy, you know . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "but oh my word,' she said tragically, wringing her hands once more,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'when Dumbledore hears about this - how could Mundungus have left, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was supposed to be on duty until midnight - where is he?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "How am I going to tell Dumbledore what's happened? I can't Apparate.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'I've got an owl, you can borrow her.' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "groaned, wondering whether his spine was going to snap under Dudley's weight.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Harry, you don't understand! Dumbledore will need to act","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "as quickly as possible, the Ministry have their own ways of detecting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "underage magic, they'll know already, you mark my words.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'But I was getting rid of Dementors, I had to use magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- they're going to be more worried about what Dementors were doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "floating around Wisteria Walk, surely?' 'Oh, my dear, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "wish it were so, but I'm afraid - MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER, I AM","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "GOING TO KILL YOU!' There was a loud crack","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and a strong smell of drink mingled with stale tobacco filled the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "air as a squat, unshaven man in a tattered overcoat materialised right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "in front of them. He had short, bandy legs, long straggly ginger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "hair and bloodshot, baggy eyes that gave him the doleful look of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "a basset hound. He was also clutching a silvery bundle that Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "recognised at once as an Invisibility Cloak. ' 'S'up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Figgy?' he said, staring from Mrs Figg to Harry and Dudley. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'appened to staying undercover?' 'I'll give you undercover!' cried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Mrs Figg. 'Dementors, you useless, skiving sneak thief!' 'Dementors?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "repeated Mundungus, aghast. 'Dementors, 'ere?' 'Yes, here, you worthless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "pile of bat droppings, here!' shrieked Mrs Figg. 'Dementors attacking the boy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "on your watch!' 'Blimey,' said Mundungus weakly, looking from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Mrs Figg to Harry, and back again. 'Blimey, I - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'And you off buying stolen cauldrons! Didn't I tell you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "not to go? Didn't I?' 'I - well, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "-' Mundungus looked deeply uncomfortable. 'It - it was a very good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "business opportunity see - ' Mrs Figg raised the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "arm from which her string bag dangled and whacked Mundungus around the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "lace and neck with it; judging by the clanking noise it made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "it was full of cat food. 'Ouch - gerroff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- gerroff, you mad old bat! Someone's gotta tell Dumbledore!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Yes - they - have!' yelled Mrs Figg, swinging the bag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of cat food at every bit of Mundungus she could reach. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- it - had - better - be - you - and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- you - can - tell - him - why - you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- weren't - there - to - help!' 'Keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "your 'airnet on!' said Mundungus, his arms over his head, cowering. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "going, I'm going!' And with another loud crack, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "vanished. 'I hope Dumbledore murders him!' said Mrs Figg","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "furiously. 'Now come on, Harry, what are you waiting for?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Harry decided not to waste his remaining breath on pointing out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "that he could barely walk under Dudley's bulk. He gave the semi-conscious","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dudley a heave and staggered onwards. 'I'll take you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to the door,' said Mrs Figg, as they turned into Privet Drive.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'Just in case there are more of them around . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "oh my word, what a catastrophe . . . and you had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to fight them off yourself . . . and Dumbledore said we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "were to keep you from doing magic at all costs . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" ". well, it's no good crying over spilt potion, I suppose .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" ". . but the cat's among the pixies now.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'So,' Harry panted, 'Dumbledore's . . . been having . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "me followed?' 'Of course he has,' said Mrs Figg","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "impatiently. 'Did you expect him to let you wander around on your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "own after what happened in June? Good Lord, boy, they told me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "you were intelligent . . . right . . . get inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and stay there,' she said, as they reached number four. 'I expect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "someone will be in touch with you soon enough.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'What are you going to do?' asked Harry quickly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'I'm going straight home,' said Mrs Figg, staring around the dark street","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and shuddering. 'I'll need to wait for more instructions. Just stay in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the house. Goodnight.' 'Hang on, don't go yet! I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "want to know - ' But Mrs Figg had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "already set off at a trot, carpet slippers flopping, string bag clanking.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Wait!' Harry shouted after her. He had a million","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "questions to ask anyone who was in contact with Dumbledore; but within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "seconds Mrs Figg was swallowed by the darkness. Scowling, Harry readjusted Dudley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "on his shoulder and made his slow, painful way up number four's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "garden path. The hall light was on. Harry stuck","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "his wand back inside the waistband of his jeans, rang the bell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and watched Aunt Petunia's outline grow larger and larger, oddly distorted by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the rippling glass in the front door. 'Diddy! About","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "time too, I was getting quite - quite - Diddy, what's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "matter?' Harry looked sideways at Dudley and ducked out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "from under his arm just in time. Dudley swayed on the spot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "for a moment, his face pale green . . . then he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "opened his mouth and vomited all over the doormat. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'DIDDY! Diddy, what's the matter with you? Vernon? VERNON!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry's uncle came galumphing out of the living room, walrus moustache blowing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "hither and thither as it always did when he was agitated. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "hurried forwards to help Aunt Petunia negotiate a weak-kneed Dudley over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "threshold while avoiding stepping in the pool of sick. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'He's ill, Vernon!' 'What is it, son? What's happened7","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Did Mrs Polkiss give you something foreign for tea?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'Why are you all covered in dirt, darling? Have you been lying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "on the ground?' 'Hang on - you haven't been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "mugged, have you, son?' Aunt Petunia screamed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Phone the police, Vernon! Phone the police! Diddy, darling, speak to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Mummy! What did they do to you?' In all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the kerfuffle nobody seemed to have noticed Harry, which suited him perfectly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "He managed to slip inside just before Uncle Vernon slammed the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and, while the Dursleys made their noisy progress down the hall towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the kitchen, Harry moved carefully and quietly towards the stairs. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Who did it, son? Give us names. We'll get them, don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "worry.' 'Shh! He's trying to say something, Vernon! What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "is it, Diddy? Tell Mummy!' Harry's foot was on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the bottom-most stair when Dudley found his voice. 'Him.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Harry froze, foot on the stair, face screwed up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "braced for the explosion. 'BOY! COME HERE!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " With a feeling of mingled dread and anger, Harry removed his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "foot slowly from the stair and turned to follow the Dursleys. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " The scrupulously clean kitchen had an oddly unreal glitter after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the darkness outside. Aunt Petunia was ushering Dudley into a chair; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was still very green and clammy-looking. Uncle Vernon was standing in front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of the draining board, glaring at Harry through tiny, narrowed eyes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'What have you done to my son?' he said in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "a menacing growl. 'Nothing,' said Harry, knowing perfectly well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "that Uncle Vernon wouldn't believe him. 'What did he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "do to you. Diddy?' Aunt Petunia said in a quavering voice, now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "sponging sick from the front of Dudley's leather jacket. 'Was it -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was it you-know-what, darling? Did he use - his thing?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Slowly, tremulously, Dudley nodded. 'I didn't!' Harry said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "sharply, as Aunt Petunia let out a wail and Uncle Vernon raised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "his fists. 'I didn't do anything to him, it wasn't me, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was - ' But at that precise moment a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "screech owl swooped in through the kitchen window. Narrowly missing the top","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of Uncle Vernon's head, it soared across the kitchen, dropped the large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "parchment envelope it was carrying in its beak at Harry's feet, turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "gracefully, the tips of its wings just brushing the top of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "fridge, then zoomed outside again and off across the garden. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'OWLS!' bellowed Uncle Vernon, the well-worn vein in his temple pulsing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "angrily as he slammed the kitchen window shut. 'OWLS AGAIN! I WILL","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "NOT HAVE ANY MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry was already ripping open the envelope and pulling out the letter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "inside, his heart pounding somewhere in the region of his Adam's apple.Dear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Mr Potter,We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the presence of a Muggle. The severity of this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "your wand. As you have already received an official","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "warning for a previous offence under Section 13 of the International Confederation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August. Hoping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "you are well, Yours sincerely, Mafalda","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Hopkirk Improper Use of Magic Office ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Ministry of MagicHarry read the letter through twice. He was only vaguely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "aware of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia talking. Inside his head, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was icy and numb. One fact had penetrated his consciousness like a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "paralysing dart. He was expelled from Hogwarts. It was all over. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was never going back. He looked up at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dursleys. Uncle Vernon was purple-faced, shouting, his fists still raised; Aunt Petunia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "had her arms around Dudley who was retching again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry's temporarily stupefied brain seemed to reawaken. Ministry representatives will be calling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "only one thing for it. He would have to run - now.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Where he was going to go, Harry didn't know but he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "certain of one thing: at Hogwarts or outside it, he needed his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "wand. In an almost dreamlike state, he pulled his wand out and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "turned to leave the kitchen. 'Where d'you think you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "going?' yelled Uncle Venon. When Harry didn't reply, he pounded across the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "kitchen to block the doorway into the hall. 'I haven't finished with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "you, boy!' 'Get out of the way,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "quietly. 'You're going to stay here and explain how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "my son - ' 'If you don't get out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of the way I'm going to jinx you,' said Harry, raising the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "wand. 'You can't pull that one on me!' snarled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon. 'I know 'You're not allowed to use","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "it outside that madhouse you call a school!' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "madhouse has chucked me out,' said Harry. 'So I can do whatever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "I like. You've got three seconds. One - two - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " A resounding CRACK filled the kitchen. Aunt Petunia screamed, Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Vernon yelled and ducked, but for the third time that night Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was searching for the source of a disturbance he had not made.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "He spotted it at once: a dazed and ruffled-looking barn owl was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "sitting outside on the kitchen sill, having just collided with the closed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "window. Ignoring Uncle Vernon's anguished yell of 'OWLS!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "crossed the room at a run and wrenched the window open. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "owl stuck out its leg, to which a small roll of parchment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was tied, shook its feathers, and took off the moment Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "taken the letter. Hands shaking, Harry unfurled the second message, which was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "written very hastily and blotchily in black ink.Harry -Dumbledore's just arrived at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND. Arthur WeasleyDumbledore was trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to sort it all out . . . what did that mean?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "how much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry's chest, almost immediately","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "strangled by panic - how was he supposed to refuse to surrender","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "his wand without doing magic? He'd have to duel with the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "let alone expulsion. His mind was racing . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" ". he could run for it and risk being captured by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Ministry, or stay put and wait for them to find him here.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "He was much more tempted by the former course, but he mew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Mr Weasley had his best interests at heart . . . and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "after all, Dumbledore had sorted out much worse than this before. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Right,' Harry said, 'I've changed my mind, I'm staying.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " He flung himself down at the kitchen table and faced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dudley and Aunt Petunia. The Dursleys appeared taken aback at his abrupt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "change of mind. Aunt Petunia glanced despairingly at Uncle Vernon. The vein","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "in his purple temple was throbbing worse than ever. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'Who are all these ruddy owls from?' he growled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'The first one was from the Ministry of Magic, expelling me,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry calmly. He was straining his ears to catch any noises outside,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "in case the Ministry representatives were approaching, and it was easier and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "quieter to answer Uncle Vernon's questions than to have him start raging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and bellowing. The second one was from my friend Ron's dad, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "works at the Ministry.' 'Ministry of Magic?' bellowed Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Vernon. 'People like you in government? Oh, this explains everything, everything, no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "wonder the country's going to the dogs.' When Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "did not respond, Uncle Vernon glared at him, then spat out, 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "why have you been expelled?' 'Because I did magic.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'AHA!' roared Uncle Vernon, slamming his fist down on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "top of the fridge, which sprang open; several of Dudley's low-fat snacks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "toppled out and burst on the floor. 'So you admit it! What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "did you do to Dudley?' 'Nothing,' said Harry, slightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "less calmly. That wasn't me - ' 'Was,' muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dudley unexpectedly, and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia instantly made flapping gestures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "at Harry to quieten him while they both bent low over Dudley.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Go on, son,' said Uncle Vernon, 'what did he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "do?' Tell us, darling,' whispered Aunt Petunia. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Pointed his wand at me,' Dudley mumbled. 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "I did, but I didn't use - ' Harry began angrily, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- ' 'SHUT UP!' roared Uncle Vernon and Aunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Petunia in unison. 'Go on, son,' repeated Uncle Vernon,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "moustache blowing about furiously. 'All went dark,' Dudley said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "hoarsely, shuddering 'Everything dark. And then I h-heard . . . things.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Inside m-my head.' Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia exchanged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "looks of utter horror. If their least favourite thing in the world","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was magic - closely followed by neighbours who cheated more than they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "did on the hosepipe ban - people who heard voices were definitely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "in the bottom ten. They obviously thought Dudley was losing his mind.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'What sort of things did you hear, Popkin?' breathed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia, very white-faced and with tears in her eyes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " But Dudley seemed incapable of saying. He shuddered again and shook","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "his large blond head, and despite the sense of numb dread that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "had settled on Harry since the arrival of the first owl, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "felt a certain curiosity. Dementors caused a person to relive the worst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "moments of their life. What would spoiled, pampered, bullying Dudley have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "forced to hear? 'How come you fell over, son?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said Uncle Vernon, in an unnaturally quiet voice, the kind of voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "he might adopt at the Bedside of a very ill person. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'T-tripped,' said Dudley shakily. 'And then - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " He gestured at his massive chest. Harry understood. Dudley was remembering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the clammy cold that filled the lungs as hope and happiness were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "sucked out of you. 'Horrible,' croaked Dudley. 'Cold. Really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "cold.' 'OK,' said Uncle Vernon, in a voice of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "forced calm, while Aunt Petunia laid an anxious hand on Dudley's forehead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to feel his temperature. 'What happened then, Dudders?' 'Felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" ". . . felt . . . felt . . . as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "if . . . as if . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'As if you'd never be happy again,' Harry supplied dully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Yes,' Dudley whispered, still trembling. 'So!' said Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Vernon, voice restored to full and considerable volume as he straightened up.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'You put some crackpot spell on my on so he'd hear voices","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and believe he was - was doomed to misery, or something, did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "you?' 'How many times do I have to tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "you?' said Harry, temper and voice both rising. 'It wasn't me! It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was a couple of Dementors!' 'A couple of -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "what's this codswallop?' 'De - men - tors,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry slowly and clearly. Two of them.' 'And what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the ruddy hell are Dementors?' 'They guard the wizard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "prison, Azkaban,' said Aunt Petunia. Two seconds of ringing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "silence followed these words before Aunt Petunia clapped her hand over her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "mouth as though she had let slip a disgusting swear word. Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Vernon was goggling at her. Harry's brain reeled. Mrs Figg was one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "thing - but Aunt Petunia? 'How d'you know that?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "he asked her, astonished. Aunt Petunia looked quite appalled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "with herself. She glanced at Uncle Vernon in fearful apology, then lowered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "her hand slightly to reveal her horsy teeth. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "heard - that awful boy - telling her about them - years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "ago,' she said jerkily. 'If you mean my mum","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and dad, why don't you use their names?' said Harry loudly but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia ignored him. She seemed horribly flustered. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was stunned. Except for one outburst years ago, in the course of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "which Aunt Petunia had screamed that Harry's mother had been a freak,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "he had never heard her mention her sister. He was astounded that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "she had remembered this scrap of information about the magical world for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "so long, when she usually put all her energies, into pretending it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "didn't exist. Uncle Vernon opened his mouth, closed it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "again, opened it once more, shut it, then, apparently struggling to remember","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "how to talk, opened it for a third time and croaked, 'So","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- so - they - er - they - er - they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "actually exist, do they - er - Dementy-whatsits?' Aunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Petunia nodded. Uncle Vernon looked from Aunt Petunia to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dudley to Harry as if hoping somebody was going to shout 'April","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Fool!' When nobody did, he opened his mouth yet again, but was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "spared the struggle to find more words by the arrival of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "third owl of the evening. It zoomed through the still-open window like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "a feathery cannon-ball and landed with a clatter on the kitchen table,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "causing all three of the Dursleys to jump with fright. Harry tore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "a second official-looking envelope from the owl's beak and ripped it open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "as the owl swooped back out into the night. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'Enough - effing - owls,' muttered Uncle Vernon distractedly, stomping over to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the window and slamming it shut again.Dear Mr Potter,Further to our letter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "official decision will be taken. Following discussions with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from- school pending further enquiries.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " With best wishes, Yours sincerely, ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Mafalda Hopkirk Improper Use of Magic Office","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Ministry of MagicHarry read this letter through three times","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "in quick succession. The miserable knot in his chest loosened slightly with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the relief of knowing he was not yet definitely expelled, though his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "fears were by no means banished. Everything seemed to hang on this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "hearing on the twelfth of August. 'Well?' said Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Vernon, recalling Harry to his surroundings. 'What now? Have they sentenced you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to anything? Do your lot have the death penalty?' he added as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "a hopeful afterthought. 'I've got to go to a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "hearing,' said Harry. 'And they'll sentence you there?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'I suppose so.' 'I won't give up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "hope, then,' said Uncle Vernon nastily. 'Well, if that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "all,' said Harry, getting to his feet. He was desperate to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "alone, to think, perhaps to send a letter to Ron, Hermione or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Sirius. 'NO, IT RUDDY WELL IS NOT ALL!' bellowed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon. 'SIT BACK DOWN!' 'What now?' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "impatiently. 'DUDLEY!' roared Uncle Vernon. 'I want to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "exactly what happened to my son!' 'FINE!' yelled Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and in his temper, red and gold sparks shot out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "end of his wand, still clutched in his hand. All three Dursleys","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "flinched, looking terrified. 'Dudley and I were in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk,' said Harry, speaking fast, fighting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to control his temper. 'Dudley thought he'd be smart with me, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "pulled out my wand but didn't use it. Then two Dementors turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "up - ' 'But what ARE Dementoids?' asked Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Vernon furiously. 'What do they DO?' 'I told you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- they suck all the happiness out of you,' said Harry, 'and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "if they get the chance, they kiss you - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Kiss you?' said Uncle Vernon, his eyes popping slightly. 'Kiss you?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'It's what they call it when they suck the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "soul out of your mouth.' Aunt Petunia uttered a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "soft scream. 'His soul? They didn't take - he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "still got his - ' She seized Dudley by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the shoulders and shook him, as though testing to see whether she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "could hear his soul rattling around inside hint. 'Of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "course they didn't get his soul, you'd know if they had,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry, exasperated. 'Fought 'em off, did you, son?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon loudly, with the appearance of a man struggling to bring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the conversation back on to a plane he understood. 'Gave 'em the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "old one-two, did you?' 'You can't give a Dementor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the old one-two,' said Harry through clenched teeth. 'Why's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "he all right, then?' blustered Uncle Vernon. 'Why isn't e all empty,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "then?' 'Because I used the Patronus - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " WHOOSH. With a clattering, a whirring of wings and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "soft fall of dust, a fourth owl came shooting out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "kitchen fireplace. 'FOR GOD'S SAKE!' roared Uncle Vernon, pulling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "great clumps of hair out of his moustache, something he hadn't been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "driven to do in a long time. 'I WILL NOT HAVE OWLS","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "HERE, I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS, I TELL YOU!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "But Harry was already pulling a roll of parchment from the owl's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "leg. He was so convinced that this letter had to be from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dumbledore, explaining everything - the Dementors, Mrs Figg, what the Ministry was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "up to, how he, Dumbledore, intended to sort everything out - that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "for the first time in his life he was disappointed to see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Sirius's handwriting. Ignoring Uncle Vernons ongoing rant about owls, and narrowing his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "eyes against a second cloud of dust as the most recent owl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "took off back up the chimney, Harry read Sirius's message. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Arthur has just told us what's happened. Don't leave the house","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "again, whatever you do. Harry found this such an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "inadequate response to everything that had happened tonight that he turned the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "piece of parchment over, looking for the rest of the letter, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "there was nothing else. And now his temper was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "rising again. Wasn't anybody going to say 'well done' for fighting off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "two Dementors single-handed? Both Mr Weasley and Sirius were acting as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "he'd misbehaved, and were saving their tellings-off until they could ascertain how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "much damage had been done. '. . . a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "peck, I mean, pack of owls shooting in and out of my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "house. I won't have it, boy, I won't - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'I can't stop the owls coming,' Harry snapped, crushing Sirius's letter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "in his fist. 'I want the truth about what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "happened tonight!' barked Uncle Vernon. 'If it was Demenders who hurt Dudley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "how come you've been expelled? You did you-know-what, you've admitted, it!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Harry took a deep, steadying breath. His head was beginning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to ache again. He wanted more than anything to get out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the kitchen, and away from the Dursleys. 'I did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the Patronus Charm to get rid of the Dementors,' he said, forcing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "himself to remain calm. 'It's the only thing that works against them.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'But what were Dementoids doing in Little Whinging?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon in an outraged tone. 'Couldn't tell you,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said Harry wearily. 'No idea.' His head was pounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "in the glare of the strip-lighting now. His anger was ebbing away.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "He felt drained, exhausted. The Dursleys were all staring at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'It's you,' said Uncle Vernon forcefully. 'It's got something to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "do with you, boy, I know it. Why else would they turn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "up here? Why else would they be down that alleyway? You've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to be the only - the only - ' Evidently, he couldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "bring himself to say the word 'wizard'. The only you-know-what for miles.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'I don't know why they were here.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " But at Uncle Vernon's words, Harry's exhausted brain had ground back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "into action. Why had the Dementors come to Little Whinging? How could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "it be coincidence that they had arrived in the alleyway where Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was? Had they been sent? Had the Ministry of Magic lost control","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of the Dementors? Had they deserted Azkaban and joined Voldemort, as Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "had predicted they would? 'These Demembers guard some weirdo","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "prison?' asked Uncle Vernon, lumbering along in the wake of Harry's train","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of thought. 'Yes,' said Harry. If","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "only his head would stop hurting, if only he could just leave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the kitchen and get to his dark bedroom and think . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" ". 'Oho! They were coming to arrest you!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon, with the triumphant air of a man reaching an unassailable","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "conclusion. That's it, isn't it, boy? You're on the run from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "law!' 'Of course I'm not,' said Harry, shaking his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "head as though to scare off a fly, his mind racing now.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Then why - ?' 'He must","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "have sent them,' said Harry quietly, more to himself than to Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Vernon. 'What's that? Who must have sent them?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Lord Voldemort,' said Harry. He registered dimly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "how strange it was that the Dursleys, who flinched, winced and squawked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "if they heard words like 'wizard', 'magic' or 'wand', could hear the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "name of the most evil wizard of all time without the slightest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "tremor. 'Lord - hang on,' said Uncle Vernon, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "face screwed up, a look of dawning comprehension coming into his piggy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "eyes. 'I've heard that name . . . that was the one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "who - ' 'Murdered my parents, yes,' Harry said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "dully. 'But he's gone,' said Uncle Vernon impatiently, without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the slightest sign that the murder of Harry's parents might be a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "painful topic. That giant bloke said so. He's gone.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'He's back,' said Harry heavily. It felt very strange","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to be standing here in Aunt Petunia's surgically clean kitchen, beside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "top'-of-the-range fridge and the wide-screen television, talking calmly of Lord Voldemort to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Uncle Vernon. The arrival of the Dementors in Little Whinging seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "have breached the great, invisible wall that divided the relentlessly non-magical world","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of Privet Drive and the world beyond. Harry's two lives had somehow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "become fused and everything had been turned upside-down; the Dursleys were asking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "for details about the magical world, and Mrs Figg knew Albus Dumbledore;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dementors were soaring around Little Whinging, and he might never return to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Hogwarts. Harry's head throbbed more painfully. 'Back?' whispered Aunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Petunia. She was looking at Harry as she had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "never looked at him before. And all of a sudden, for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "very first time in his life, Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "was his mother's sister. He could not have said why this hit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "him so very powerfully at this moment. All he knew was that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "he was not the only person in the room who had an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "inkling of what Lord Voldemort being back might mean. Aunt Petunia had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "never in her life looked at him like that before. Her large,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "pale eyes (so unlike her sisters) were not narrowed in dislike or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "anger, they were wide and fearful. The furious pretence that Aunt Petunia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "had maintained all Harry's life - that there was no magic and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "no world other than the world she inhabited with Uncle Vernon -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "seemed to have fallen away. 'Yes,' Harry said, talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "directly to Aunt Petunia now. ;He came back a month ago. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "saw him.' Her hands found Dudley's massive leather-clad shoulders","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and clutched them. 'Hang on,' said Uncle Vernon, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "from his wife to Harry and back again, apparently dazed and confused","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "by the unprecedented understanding that seemed to have sprung up between them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'Hang on. This Lord Voldything's back, you say.' 'Yes.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " The one who murdered your parents.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'Yes.' 'And now he's sending Dismembers after you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Looks like it,' said Harry. T see,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said Uncle Vernon, looking from his white-faced wife to Harry and hitching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "up his trousers. He seemed to be swelling, his ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "great purple face stretching before Harry's eyes. 'Well, that settles it,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said, his shirt front straining as he inflated himself, 'you can get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "out of this house, boy!' 'What?' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'You heard me - OUT!' Uncle Vernon bellowed, and even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia and Dudley jumped. 'OUT! OUT! I should've done this years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "ago! Owls treating the place like a rest home, puddings exploding, half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the lounge destroyed, Dudley's tail, Marge bobbing around on the ceiling and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "that flying Ford Anglia - OUT! OUT! You've had it! You're history!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "You're not staying here if some loony's after you, you're not endangering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "my wife and son, you're not bringing trouble down on us. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "you're going the same way as your useless parents, I've had it!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "OUT!' Harry stood rooted to the spot. The letters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "from the Ministry, Mr Weasley and Sirius were all crushed in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "left hand. Don't leave the house again, whatever you do. DO NOT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. 'You heard me!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said Uncle Vernon, bending forwards now, his massive purple face coming so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "close to Harry's, he actually felt flecks of spit hit his face.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'Get going! You were all keen to leave half an hour ago!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "I'm right behind you! Get out and never darken our doorstep again!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Why we ever kept you in the first place, I don't know,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Marge was right, it should have been the orphanage. We were too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "damn soft for our own good, thought we could squash it out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "of you, thought we could turn you normal, but you've been rotten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "from the beginning and I've had enough - owls!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "The fifth owl zoomed down the chimney so fast it actually hit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the floor before zooming into the air again with a loud screech.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry raised his hand to seize the letter, which was in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "scarlet envelope, but it soared straight over his head, flying directly at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Aunt Petunia, who let out a scream and ducked, her arms over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "her face. The owl dropped the red envelope on her head, turned,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "and flew straight back up the chimney. Harry darted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "forwards to pick up the letter, but Aunt Petunia beat him to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "it. 'You can open it if you like,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Harry, 'but I'll hear what it says anyway. That's a Howler.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Let go of it, Petunia!' roared Uncle Vernon. 'Don't touch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "it, it could be dangerous!' 'It's addressed to me,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "said Aunt Petunia in a shaking voice. 'It's addressed to me, Vernon,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "look! Mrs Petunia Dursley, The Kitchen, Number Four, Privet Drive - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " She caught her breath, horrified. The red envelope had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "begun to smoke. 'Open it!' Harry urged her. 'Get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "it over with! It'll happen anyway.' 'No.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Aunt Petunia's hand was trembling. She looked wildly around the kitchen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "as though looking for an escape route, but too late - the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "envelope burst into flames. Aunt Petunia screamed and dropped it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " An awful voice filled the kitchen, echoing in the confined space,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "issuing from the burning letter on the table. 'Remember","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "my last, Petunia.' Aunt Petunia looked as though she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "might faint. She sank into the chair beside Dudley, her face in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "her hands. The remains of the envelope smouldered into ash in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "silence. 'What is this?' Uncle Vernon said hoarsely. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "- I don't - 'Petunia?' Aunt Petunia said nothing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "Dudley was staring stupidly at his mother, his mouth hanging open. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "silence spiralled horribly. Harry was watching his aunt, utterly bewildered, his head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "throbbing fit to burst. 'Petunia, dear?' said Uncle Vernon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "timidly. 'P-Petunia?' She raised her head. She was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "trembling. She swallowed. 'The boy - the boy will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "have to stay, Vernon,' she said weakly. 'W-what?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'He stays,' she said. She was not looking at Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "She got to her feet again. 'He . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" ". but Petunia . . .' 'If we throw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "him out, the neighbours will talk,' she said. She was rapidly regaining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "her usual brisk, snappish manner, though she was still very pale. 'They'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "ask awkward questions, they'll want to know where he's gone. We'll have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "to keep him.' Uncle Vernon was deflating like an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "old tyre. 'But Petunia, dear - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " Aunt Petunia ignored him. She turned to Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "'You're to stay in your room,' she said. 'You're not to leave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "the house. Now get to bed.' Harry didn't move.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Who was that Howler from?' 'Don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "ask questions,' Aunt Petunia snapped. 'Are you in touch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" "with wizards?' 'I told you to get to bed!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'What did it mean? Remember the last what?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'Go to bed!' 'How come - ?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " 'YOU HEARD YOUR AUNT, NOW GO UP TO BED!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-2" " The Advance Guard I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "just been attacked by Dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "I want to know what's going on and when I'm going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "get out of here. Harry copied these words on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to three separate pieces of parchment the moment he reached the desk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in his dark bedroom. He addressed the first to Sirius, the second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to Ron and the third to Hermione. His owl, Hedwig, was off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "hunting; her cage stood empty on the desk. Harry paced the bedroom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "waiting for her to come back, his head pounding, his brain too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "busy for sleep even though his eyes stung and itched with tiredness.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "His back ached from hauling Dudley home, and the two lumps on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his head where the window and Dudley had hit him were throbbing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "painfully. Up and down he paced, consumed with anger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and frustration, grinding his teeth and clenching his fists, casting angry looks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "out at the empty, star-strewn sky every time he passed the window.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Dementors sent to get him, Mrs Figg and Mundungus Fletcher tailing him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in secret, then suspension from Hogwarts and a hearing at the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of Magic - and still no one was telling him what was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "going on. And what, what, had that Howler been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "about? Whose voice had echoed so horribly, so menacingly, through the kitchen?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Why was he still trapped here without information? Why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "was everyone treating him like some naughty kid? Don't do any more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "magic, stay in the house . . . He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "kicked his school trunk as he passed it, but far from relieving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his anger he felt worse, as he now had a sharp pain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in his toe to deal with in addition to the pain in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the rest of his body Just as he limped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "past the window, Hedwig soared through it with a soft rustle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "wings like a small ghost. 'About time!' Harry snarled,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "as she landed lightly on top of her cage. 'You can put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "that down, I've got work for you!' Hedwig's large,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "round, amber eyes gazed at him reproachfully over the dead frog clamped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in her beak. 'Come here,' said Harry, picking up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the three small rolls of parchment and a leather thong and tying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the scrolls to her scaly leg. Take these straight to Sirius, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and Hermione and don't come back here without good long replies. Keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "pecking them till they've written decent-length answers if you've got to. Understand?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Hedwig gave a muffled hooting noise, her beak still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "full of frog. 'Get going, then,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " She took off immediately. The moment she'd gone, Harry threw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "himself down on his bed without undressing and stared at the dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "ceiling. In addition to every other miserable feeling, he now felt guilty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "that he'd been irritable with Hedwig; she was the only friend he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "had at number four, Privet Drive But he'd make it up to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "her when she came back with the answers from Sirius, Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Hermione. They were bound to write back quickly; they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "couldn't possibly ignore a Dementor attack. He'd probably wake up tomorrow to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "three fat letters full of sympathy and plans for his immediate removal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to The Burrow. And with that comforting idea, sleep rolled over him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "stifling all further thought.*But Hedwig didn't return next morning. Harry spent the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "day in his bedroom, leaving it only to go to the bathroom.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Three times that day Aunt Petunia shoved food into his room through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the cat-Flap Uncle Vernon had installed three summers ago. Every time Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "heard her approaching he tried to question her about the Howler, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "he might as well have interrogated the doorknob for all the answers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "he got. Otherwise, the Dursleys kept well clear of his bedroom. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "couldn't see the point of forcing his company on them; another row","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "would achieve nothing except perhaps make him so angry he'd perform more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "illegal magic. So it went on for three whole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "days. Harry was alternately filled with restless energy that made him unable","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to settle to anything, during which time he paced his bedroom, furious","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "at the whole lot of them for leaving him to stew in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "this mess; and with a lethargy so complete that he could lie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "on his bed for an hour at a time, staring dazedly into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "space, aching with dread at the thought of the Ministry hearing. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " What if they ruled against him? What if he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "expelled and his wand was snapped in half? What would he do,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "where would he go? He could not return to living full-time with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the Dursleys, not now he knew the other world, the one to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "which he really belonged. Might he be able to move into Sirius's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "house, as Sirius had suggested a year ago, before he had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "forced to flee from the Ministry? Would Harry be allowed to live","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "there alone, given that he was still underage? Or would the matter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of where he went next be decided for him? Had his breach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of the International Statute of Secrecy been severe enough to land him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in a cell in Azkaban? Whenever this thought occurred, Harry invariably slid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "off his bed and began pacing again. On the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "fourth night after Hedwig's departure Harry was lying in one of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "apathetic phases, staring at the ceiling, his exhausted mind quite blank, when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his uncle entered his bedroom. Harry looked slowly around at him. Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Vernon was wearing his best suit and an expression of enormous smugness.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'We're going out,' he said. 'Sorry?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'We - that is to say, your aunt, Dudley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and I - are going out.' 'Fine,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "dully, looking back at the ceiling. 'You are not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to leave your bedroom while we are away.' 'OK.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'You are not to touch the television, the stereo,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "or any of our possessions.' 'Right.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'You are not to steal food from the fridge.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'OK.' 'I am going to lock your door.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'You do that.' Uncle Vernon glared at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry, clearly suspicious of this lack of argument, then stomped out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the room and closed the door behind him. Harry heard the key","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "turn in the lock and Uncle Vernon's footsteps walking heavily down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "stairs. A few minutes later he heard the slamming of car doors,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the rumble of an engine, and the unmistakeable sound of the car","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "sweeping out of the drive. Harry had no particular","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "feeling about the Dursleys leaving. It made no difference to him whether","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "they were in the house or not. He could not even summon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the energy to get up and turn on his bedroom light. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "room grew steadily darker around him as he lay listening to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "night sounds through the window he kept open all the time, waiting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "for the blessed moment when Hedwig returned. The empty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "house creaked around him. The pipes gurgled. Harry ay there in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "kind of stupor, thinking of nothing, suspended in misery. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Then, quite distinctly, he heard a crash in the kitchen below. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " He sat bolt upright, listening intently. The Dursleys couldn't be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "back, it was much too soon, and in any case he hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "heard their car. There was silence for a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "seconds, then voices. Burglars, he thought, sliding off the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "bed on to his feet - but a split second later it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "occurred to him that burglars would keep their voices down, and whoever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "was moving around in the kitchen was certainly not troubling to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "so. He snatched up his wand from the bedside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "table and stood lacing his bedroom door, listening with all his might.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Next moment, he jumped as the lock gave a loud click and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his door swung open. Harry stood motionless, staring through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the open doorway at the dark upstairs landing, straining his ears for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "further sounds, but none came. He hesitated for a moment, then moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "swiftly and silently out of his room to the head of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "stairs. His heart shot upwards into his throat. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "were people standing in the shadowy hall below, silhouetted against the streetlight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "glowing through the glass door; eight or nine of them, all, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "far as he could see, looking up at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'Lower your wand, boy, before you take someone's eye out,' said a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "low, growling voice. Harry's heart was thumping uncontrollably. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "knew that voice, but he did not lower his wand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Professor Moody?' he said uncertainly. 'I don't know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "so much about `Professor`,' growled the voice, 'never got round to much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "teaching, did I? Get down here, we want to see you properly.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Harry lowered his wand slightly but did not relax","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his grip on it, nor did he move. He had very good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "reason to be suspicious. He had recently spent nine months in what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "he had thought was Mad-Eye Moody's company only to find out that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "it wasn't Moody at all, but an impostor; an impostor, moreover, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "had tried to kill Harry before being unmasked. But before he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "make a decision about what to do next, a second, slightly hoarse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "voice floated upstairs. 'It's all right, Harry. We've come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to take you away.' Harry's heart leapt. He knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "that voice, too, though he hadn't heard it for over a year.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'P-Professor Lupin?' he said disbelievingly. 'Is that you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Why are we all standing in the dark?' said a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "third voice, this one completely unfamiliar, a woman's. 'Lumos.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "A wand-tip flared, illuminating the hall with magical light. Harry blinked. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "people below were crowded around the loot of the stairs, gazing up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "at him intently, some craning their heads for a better look. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Remus Lupin stood nearest to him. Though still quite young,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Lupin looked tired and rather ill; he had more grey hairs than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "when Harry had last said goodbye to him and his robes were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "more patched and shabbier than ever. Nevertheless, he was smiling broadly at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry, who tried to smile back despite his state of shock. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Oooh, he looks just like I thought he would,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the witch who was holding her lit wand aloft. She looked the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "youngest there; she had a pale heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet. Wotcher, Harry!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Yeah, I see what you mean, Remus,' said a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "bald black wizard standing furthest back - he had a deep, slow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "voice and wore a single gold hoop in his ear - 'he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "looks exactly like James.' 'Except the eyes,' said a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "wheezy-voiced, silver-haired wizard at the back. 'Lily's eyes.' Mad-Eye","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Moody, who had long grizzled grey hair and a large chunk missing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "from his nose, was squinting suspiciously at Harry through his mismatched eyes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "One eye was small, dark and beady, the other large, round and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "electric blue - the magical eye that could see through walls, doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and the back of Moody's own head. 'Are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "quite sure it's him, Lupin?' he growled. 'I'I'd be a nice lookout","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "if we bring back some Death Eater impersonating him. We ought to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "ask him something only the real Potter would know. Unless anyone brought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "any Veritaserum?' 'Harry, what form does your Patronus take?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Lupin asked. 'A stag,' said Harry nervously. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " That's him, Mad-Eye,' said Lupin. Very conscious of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "everybody still staring at him, Harry descended the stairs, stowing his wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in the back pocket of his jeans as he came. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Don't put your wand there, boy!' roared Moody. 'What if it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "ignited? Better wizards than you have lost buttocks, you know!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Who d'you know who's lost a buttock?' the violet-haired woman asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Mad-Eye interestedly. 'Never you mind, you just keep your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "wand out of your back pocket!' growled Mad-Eye. 'Elementary wand-safety, nobody bothers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "about it any more.' He stumped off towards the kitchen. 'And I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "saw that,' he added irritably, as the woman rolled her eyes towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the ceiling. Lupin held out his hand and shook","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry's. 'How are you?' he asked, looking closely at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry. 'F-fine . . .' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "could hardly believe this was real. Four weeks with nothing, not the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "tiniest hint of a plan to remove him from Privet Drive, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "suddenly a whole bunch of wizards was standing matter-of-factly in the house","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "as though this was a long-standing arrangement. He glanced at the people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "surrounding Lupin; they were still gazing avidly at him. He felt very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "conscious of the fact that he had riot combed his hair for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "four days. 'I'm - you're really lucky the Dursleys","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "are out . . .' he mumbled. 'Lucky, ha!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said the violet-haired woman. 'It was me who lured them out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the way. Sent a letter by Muggle post telling them ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " they'd been short-listed for the All-England Best Kept Suburban Lawn Competition.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "They're heading off to the prize-giving right now . . . or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "they think they are.' Harry had a fleeting vision","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of Uncle Vernon's face when he realised there was no All-England Best","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Kept Suburban Lawn Competition. 'We are leaving, aren't we?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "he asked. 'Soon?' 'Almost at once,' said Lupin, 'we're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "just waiting for the all-clear.' 'Where are we going?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "The Burrow?' Harry asked hopefully. 'Not The Burrow, no,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said Lupin, motioning Harry towards the kitchen; the little knot of wizards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "followed, all still eyeing Harry curiously. Too risky. We've set up Headquarters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "somewhere un-detectable. It's taken a while . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Mad-Eye Moody was now sitting at the kitchen table swigging from a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "hip flask, his magical eye spinning in all directions, taking in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Dursleys' many labour-saving appliances. This is Alastor Moody, Harry,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Lupin continued, pointing towards Moody. 'Yeah, I know,' said Harry uncomfortably. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "felt odd to be introduced to somebody he'd thought he'd known for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a year. 'And this is Nymphadora - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Don't call me Nymphadora, Remus,' said the young witch with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a shudder, 'it's Tonks.' 'Nymphadora Tonks, who prefers to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "be known by her surname only,' finished Lupin. 'So","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "would you if your fool of a mother had called you Nymphadora,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "muttered Tonks. 'And this is Kingsley Shacklebolt.' He indicated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the tall black wizard, who bowed. 'Elphias Doge.' The wheezy-voiced wizard nodded.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'Dedalus Diggle - ' 'We've met before,' squeaked the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "excitable Diggle, dropping his violet-coloured top hat. 'Emmeline Vance.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "A stately-looking witch in an emerald green shawl inclined her head. 'Sturgis","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Podmore.' A square-jawed wizard with thick straw-coloured hair winked. 'And Hestia Jones.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "A pink-cheeked, black-haired witch waved from next to the toaster. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Harry inclined his head awkwardly at each of them as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "were introduced. He wished they would look at something other than him;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "it was as though he had suddenly been ushered on-stage. He also","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "wondered why so many of their, were there. 'A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "surprising number of people volunteered to come and get you,' said Lupin,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "as though he had read Harry's mind; the corners of his mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "twitched slightly. 'Yeah, well, the more the better,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Moody darkly. 'We're your guard, Potter.' 'We're just waiting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "for the signal to tell us it's safe to set off,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Lupin, glancing out of the kitchen window. 'We've got about fifteen minutes.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Very clean, aren't they, these Muggles?' said the witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "called Tonks, who was looking around the kitchen with great interest. 'My","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "dad's Muggle-born and he's a right old slob. I suppose it varies,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "just as it does with wizards?' 'Er - yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said Harry. 'Look - ' he turned back to Lupin, 'what's going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "on, I haven't heard anything from anyone, what's Vol-?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Several of the witches and wizards made odd hissing noises; Dedalus Diggle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "dropped his hat again and Moody growled, 'Shut up!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'What?' said Harry. 'We're not discussing anything here, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "too risky,' said Moody, turning his normal eye on Harry. His magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "eye remained focused on the ceiling. 'Damn it,' he added angrily, putting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a hand up to the magical eye, 'it keeps getting stuck -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "ever since that scum wore it.' And with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "nasty squelching sound much like a plunger being pulled from a sink,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "he popped out his eye. 'Mad-Eye, you do know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "that's disgusting, don't you?' said Tonks conversationally. 'Get me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a glass of water, would you, Harry,' requested Moody. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry crossed to the dishwasher, took out a clean glass and filled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "it with water at the sink, still watched eagerly by the band","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of wizards. Their relentless staring was starting to annoy him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Cheers,' said Moody, when Harry handed him the glass. He dropped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the magical eyeball into the water and prodded it up and down;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the eye whizzed around, staring at them all in turn. 'I want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "three hundred and sixty degrees visibility on the return journey.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'How're we getting - wherever we're going?' Harry asked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Brooms,' said Lupin. 'Only way. You're too young to Apparate, they'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "be watching the Floo Network and it's more than our life's worth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to set up an unauthorised Portkey.' 'Remus says you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a good flier,' said Kingsley Shacklebolt in his deep voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'He's excellent,' said Lupin, who was checking his watch. 'Anyway, you'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "better go and get packed, Harry, we want to be ready to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "go when the signal comes.' 'I'll come and help","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "you,' said Tonks brightly. She followed Harry back into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the hall and up the stairs, looking around with much curiosity and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "interest. 'Funny place,' she said. 'It's a bit too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "clean, d'you know what I mean? Bit unnatural. Oh, this is better,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "she added, as they entered Harry's bedroom and he turned on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "light. His room was certainly much messier than the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "rest of the house. Confined to it for four days in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "very bad mood, Harry had not bothered tidying up after himself. Most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of the books he owned were strewn over the floor where he'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "tried to distract himself with each in turn and thrown it aside;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Hedwig's cage needed cleaning out and was starting to smell; and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "trunk lay open, revealing a jumbled mixture of Muggle clothes and wizards'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "robes that had spilled on to the floor around it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Harry started picking up books and throwing them hastily into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "trunk. Tonks paused at his open wardrobe to look critically at her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "reflection in the mirror on the inside of the door. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'You know, I don't think violets really my colour,' she said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "pensively, tugging at a lock of spiky hair. 'D'you think it makes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "me look a bit peaky?' 'Er - ' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry, looking up at her over the top of Quidditch Teams of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Britain and Ireland. 'Yeah, it does,' said Tonks decisively.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "She screwed up her eyes in a strained expression as though she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "was struggling to remember something. A second later, her hair had turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "bubble-gum pink. 'How did you do that?' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "gaping at her as she opened her eyes again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'I'm a Metamorphmagus,' she said, looking back at her reflection and turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "her head so that she could see her hair from all directions.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'It means I can change my appearance at will,' she added, spotting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry's puzzled expression in the mirror behind her. 'I was born one.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "I got top marks in Concealment and Disguise during Auror training without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "any study at all, it was great.' 'You're an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Auror?' said Harry, impressed. Being a Dark-wizard-catcher was the only career he'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "ever considered after Hogwarts. 'Yeah,' said Tonks, looking proud.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'Kingsley is as well, he's a bit higher up than me, though.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "I only qualified a year ago. Nearly failed on Stealth and Tracking.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "I'm dead clumsy, did you hear me break that plate when we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "arrived downstairs?' 'Can you learn how to be a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Metamorphmagus?' Harry asked her, straightening up, completely forgetting about packing. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Tonks chuckled. 'Bet you wouldn't mind hiding that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "scar sometimes, eh?' Her eyes found the lightning-shaped scar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "on Harry's forehead. 'No, I wouldn't mind,' Harry mumbled,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "turning away. He did rot like people staring at his scar. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Well, you'll have to learn the hard way, I'm afraid,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said Tonks. 'Metamorphmagi are really rare, they're born, not made. Most wizards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "reed to use a wand, or potions, to change their appearance. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "we've got to get going, Harry, we're supposed to be packing,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "added guiltily, looking around at all the mess on the floor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Oh - yeah,' said Harry, grabbing a few more books.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Don't be stupid, it'll be much quicker if I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "- pack!' cried Tonks, waving her wand in a long, sweeping movement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "over the floor. Books, clothes, telescope and scales all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "soared into the air and flew pell-mell into the trunk. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'It's not very neat,' said Tonks, walking over to the trunk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and looking down at the jumble inside. 'My mum's got this knack","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of getting stuff to fit itself in neatly - she even gets","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the socks to fold themselves - but I've never mastered how she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "does it - it's a kind of flick - ' She flicked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "her wand hopefully. One of Harry's socks gave a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "feeble sort of wiggle and flopped back on top of the mess","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in the trunk. 'Ah, well,' said Tonks, slamming the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "trunk's lid shut, 'at least it's all in. That could do with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a bit of cleaning, too.' She pointed her wand at Hedwig's cage.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'Scourgify.' A few feathers and droppings vanished. Well, that's a bit better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "- I've never quite got the hang of these householdy sort of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "spells. Right - got everything? Cauldron? Broom? Wow! - A Firebolt?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Her eyes widened as they fell on the broomstick in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry's right hand. It was his pride and joy, a gift from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Sirius, an international-standard broomstick. 'And I'm still riding a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Comet Two Sixty,' said Tonks enviously. 'Ah well . . . wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "still in your jeans? Both buttocks still on? OK, let's go. Locomotor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "trunk.' Harry's trunk rose a few inches into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "air. Holding her wand like a conductors baton, Tonks made the trunk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "hover across the room and out of the door ahead of them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Hedwig's cage in her left hand. Harry followed her down the stairs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "carrying his broomstick. Back in the kitchen Moody had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "replaced his eye, which was spinning so fast after its cleaning it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "made Harry feel sick to look at it. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sturgis","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Podmore were examining the microwave and Hestia Jones was laughing at a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "potato peeler she had come across while rummaging in the drawers. Lupin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "was sealing a letter addressed to the Dursleys. 'Excellent,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said Lupin, looking up as Tonks and Harry entered. 'We've got about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a minute, I think. We should probably get out into the garden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "so we're ready. Harry, I've left a letter telling your aunt and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "uncle not to worry - ' They won't,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Harry. ' - that you're safe - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " That'll just depress them.' - and you'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "see them next summer.' 'Do I have to?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Lupin smiled but made no answer. 'Come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "here, boy,' said Moody gruffly, beckoning Harry towards him with his wand.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'I need to Disillusion you.' 'You need to what?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said Harry nervously. 'Disillusionment Charm,' said Moody, raising his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "wand. 'Lupin says you've got an Invisibility Cloak, but it won't stay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "on while we're flying; this'll disguise you better. Here you go -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "' He rapped him hard on the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the head and Harry felt a curious sensation as though Moody had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "just smashed an egg there; cold trickles seemed to be running down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his body from the point the wand had struck. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'Nice one, Mad-Eye,' said Tonks appreciatively, staring at Harry's midriff. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Harry looked down at his body, or rather, what had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his body, for it didn't look anything like his any more. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "was not invisible; it had simply taken on the exact colour and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "texture of the kitchen unit behind him. He seemed to have become","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "a human chameleon. 'Come on,' said Moody, unlocking the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "back door with his wand. They all stepped outside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "on to Uncle Vernon's beautifully kept lawn. 'Clear night,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "grunted Moody, his magical eye scanning the heavens. 'Could've done with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "bit more cloud cover. Right, you,' he barked at Harry, 'we're going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to be flying in close formation. Tonks'll be right in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "you, keep close on her tail. Lupin'll be covering you from below.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "I'm going to be behind you. The rest'll be circling us. We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "don't break ranks for anything, got me? If one of us is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "killed - ' 'Is that likely?' Harry asked apprehensively,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "but Moody ignored him. ' - the others keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "flying, don't stop, don't break ranks. If they take out all of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "us and you survive, Harry, the rear guard are standing by to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "take over; keep flying east and they'll join you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'Stop being so cheerful, Mad-Eye, he'll think we're not taking this seriously,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said Tonks, as she strapped Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "harness hanging from her broom. 'I'm just telling the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "boy the plan,' growled Moody. 'Our job's to deliver him safely to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Headquarters and if we die in the attempt - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'No one's going to die,' said Kingsley Shacklebolt in his deep,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "calming voice. 'Mount your brooms, that's the first signal!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "said Lupin sharply, pointing into the sky. Far, far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "above them, a shower of bright red sparks had flared among the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "stars. Harry recognised them at once as wand sparks. He swung his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "right leg over his Firebolt, gripped its handle tightly and felt it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "vibrating very slightly, as though it was as keen as he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to be up in the air once more. 'Second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "signal, let's go!' said Lupin loudly as more sparks, green this time,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "exploded high above them. Harry kicked off hard from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the ground. The cool night air rushed through his hair as the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "neat square gardens of Privet Drive fell away, shrinking rapidly into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "patchwork of dark greens and blacks, and every thought of the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "hearing was swept from his mind as though the rush of air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "had blown it out of his head. He felt as though his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "heart was going to explode with pleasure; he was flying again, flying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "away from Privet Drive as he'd been fantasising about all summer, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "was going home . . . for a few glorious moments, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "his problems seemed to recede to nothing, insignificant in the vast, starry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "sky. 'Hard left, hard left, there's a Muggle looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "up!' shouted Moody from behind him. Tonks swerved and Harry followed her,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "watching his trunk swinging wildly beneath her broom. 'We need more height","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" ". . . give it another quarter of a mile!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Harry's eyes watered in the chill as they soared upwards: he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "could see nothing below now but tiny pinpricks of light that were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "car headlights and streetlamps. Two of those tiny lights might belong to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Uncle Vernon's car . . . the Dursleys would be heading back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to their empty house right now, full of rage about the nonexistent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Lawn Competition . . . and Harry laughed aloud at the thought,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "though his voice was drowned by the flapping robes of the others,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the creaking of the harness holding his trunk and the cage, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the whoosh of the wind in their ears as they sped through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the air. He had not felt this alive in a month, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "this happy. 'Bearing south!' shouted Mad-Eye. Town ahead!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " They soared right to avoid passing directly over the glittering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "spider's web of lights below. 'Bear southeast and keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "climbing, there's some low cloud ahead we can lose ourselves in!' called","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Moody. 'We're not going through clouds!' shouted Tonks angrily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'we'll get soaked, Mad-Eye!' Harry was relieved to hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "her say this; his hands were growing numb on the Firebolt's handle.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "He wished he had thought to put on a coat; he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "starting to shiver. They altered their course every now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and then according to Mad-Eye's instructions. Harry's eyes were screwed up against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the rush of icy wind that was starting to make his ears","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "ache; he could remember being this cold on a broom only once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "before, during the Quidditch match against Hufflepuff in his third year, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "had taken place in a storm. The guard around him was circling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "continuously like giant birds of prey. Harry lost track of time. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "wondered how long they had been flying, it felt like an hour","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "at least. 'Turning southwest!' yelled Moody 'We want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "avoid the motorway!' Harry was now so chilled he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "thought longingly of the snug, dry interiors of the cars streaming along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "below, then, even more longingly, of travelling by Floo powder; it might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "be uncomfortable to spin around in fireplaces but it was at least","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "warm in the flames . . . Kingsley Shacklebolt swooped around him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "bald pate and earring gleaming slightly in the moonlight .., now Emmeline","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Vance was on his right, her wand out, her head turning left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and right . . . then she, too, swooped over him, to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "be replaced by Sturgis Podmore . . . 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "ought to double back for a bit, just to make sure we're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "not being followed!' Moody shouted. 'ARE YOU MAD, MAD-EYE?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Tonks screamed from the front. 'We're all frozen to our brooms! If","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "we keep going off-course we're not going to get there until next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "week! Besides, we're nearly there now!' 'Time to start","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the descent!' came Lupin's voice. 'Follow Tonks, Harry!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "followed Tonks into a dive. They were heading for the Largest collection","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of lights he had yet seen, a huge, sprawling crisscrossing mass, glittering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "in lines and grids, interspersed with patches of deepest black. Lower and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "lower they flew, until Harry could see individual headlights and streetlamps, chimneys","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "and television aerials. He wanted to reach the ground very much, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "he felt sure someone would have to unfreeze him from his broom.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Here we go!' called Tonks, and a few seconds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "later she had landed. Harry touched down right behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "her and dismounted on a patch of unkempt grass in the middle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of a small square Tonks was already unbuckling Harry's trunk. Shivering, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "looked around. The grimy fronts of the surrounding houses were not welcoming;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "some of them had broken windows, glimmering dully in the light from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the streetlamps, paint was peeling from many of the doors and heaps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "of rubbish lay outside several sets of front steps. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "'Where are we?' Harry asked, but Lupin said quietly, 'In a minute.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Moody was rummaging in his cloak, his gnarled hands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "clumsy with cold. 'Got it,' he muttered, raising what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "looked like a silver cigarette lighter into the air and clicking it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " The nearest streetlamp went out with a pop. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "clicked the unlighter again; the next lamp went out; he kept clicking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "until every lamp in the square was extinguished and the only remaining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "light came from curtained windows and the sickle moon overhead. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " 'Borrowed it from Dumbledore,' growled Moody, pocketing the Put-Outer. That'll take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "care of any Muggles looking out of the window, see? Now come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "on, quick.' He took Harry by the arm and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "led him from the patch of grass, across the road and on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "to the pavement; Lupin and Tonks followed, carrying Harry's trunk between them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "the rest of the guard, all with their wands out, flanking them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " The muffled pounding of a stereo was coming from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "an upper window in the nearest house. A pungent smell of rotting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "rubbish came from the pile of bulging bin-bags just inside the broken","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "gate. 'Here,' Moody muttered, thrusting a piece of parchment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "towards Harry's Disillusioned hand and holding his lit wand close to it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "so as to illuminate the writing. 'Read quickly and memorise.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Harry looked down at the piece of paper. The narrow handwriting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "was vaguely familiar. It said: The Headquarters of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" "Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-3" " Number Twelve,Grimmauld Place 'What's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the Order of the - ?' Harry began. 'Not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "here, boy!' snarled Moody. Wait till we're inside!' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "pulled the piece of parchment out of Harry's hand and set fire","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to it with his wand-tip. As the message curled into flames and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "floated to the ground, Harry looked around at the houses again. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "were standing outside number eleven; he looked to the left and saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "number ten; to the right, however, was number thirteen. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'But where's - ?' 'Think about what you've just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "memorised,' said Lupin quietly. Harry thought, and no sooner","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "had he reached the part about number twelve, Grimmauld Place, than a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "battered door emerged out of nowhere between numbers eleven and thirteen, followed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "swiftly by dirty walls and grimy windows. It was as though an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "extra house had inflated, pushing those on either side out of its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "way. Harry gaped at it. The stereo in number eleven thudded on.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Apparently the Muggles inside hadn't felt anything. 'Come on,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "hurry,' growled Moody, prodding Harry in the back. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "walked up the worn stone steps, staring at the newly materialised door.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Its black paint was shabby and scratched. The silver doorknocker was in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the form of a twisted serpent. There was no keyhole or letterbox.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Lupin, pulled out his wand and tapped the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "once. Harry heard many loud, metallic clicks and what sounded like the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "clatter o' a chain. The door creaked open. 'Get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "in quick, Harry,' Lupin whispered, 'but don't go far inside and don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "touch anything.' Harry stepped over the threshold into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "almost total darkness of the hall. He could smell damp, dust and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a sweetish, rotting smell; the place had the feeling of a derelict","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "building. He looked over his shoulder and saw the others filing in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "behind him, Lupin and Tonks carrying his trunk and Hedwig's cage. Moody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "was standing on the top step releasing the balls of light the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Put-Outer had stolen from the streetlamps; they flew back to their bulbs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and the square glowed momentarily with orange light before Moody limped inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and closed the front door, so that the darkness in the hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "became complete. 'Here - ' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "rapped Harry hard over the head with his wand; Harry felt as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "though something hot was trickling down his back this time and knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "that the Disillusionment Charm must have lifted. 'Now stay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "still, everyone, while I give us a bit of light in here,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Moody whispered. The others' hushed voices were giving Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "an odd feeling of foreboding; it was as though they had just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "entered the house of a dying person. He heard a soft hissing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "noise and then old-fashioned gas lamps sputtered into life all along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "walls, casting a flickering insubstantial light over the peeling wallpaper and threadbare","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "carpet of a long, gloomy hallway, where a cobwebby chandelier glimmered overhead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and age-blackened portraits hung crooked on the walls. Harry heard something scuttling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "behind the skirting board. Both the chandelier and the candelabra on a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "rickety table nearby were shaped like serpents. There were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "hurried footsteps and Ron's mother, Mrs Weasley, emerged from a door at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the far end of the hall. She was beaming in welcome as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "she hurried towards them, though Harry noticed that she was rather thinner","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and paler than she had been last time he had seen her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Oh, Harry, it's lovely to see you!' she whispered,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "pulling him into a rib-cracking hug before holding him at arm's length","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and examining him critically. 'You're looking peaky; you need feeding up, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "you'll have to wait a bit for dinner, I'm afraid.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " She turned to the gang of wizards behind him and whispered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "urgently, 'He's just arrived, the meeting's started.' The wizards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "behind Harry all made noises of interest and excitement and began filing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "past him towards the door through which Mrs Weasley had just come.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Harry made to follow Lupin, but Mrs Weasley held him back. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'No, Harry, the meeting's only for members of the Order.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Ron and Hermione are upstairs, you can wait with them until the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "meetings over, then we'll have dinner. And keep your voice down in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the hall,' she added in an urgent whisper. 'Why?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'I don't want anything to wake up.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'What d'you - ?' 'I'll explain later, I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "got to hurry, I'm supposed to be at the meeting - I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "just show you where you're sleeping.' Pressing her finger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to her lips, she led him on tiptoe past a pair of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "long, moth-eaten curtains, behind which Harry supposed there must be another door,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and after skirting a large umbrella stand that looked as though it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "had been made from a severed troll's leg they started up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "dark staircase, passing a row of shrunken heads mounted on plaques on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the wall. A closer look showed Harry that the heads belonged to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "house-elves. All of them had the same rather snout-like nose. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Harry's bewilderment deepened with every step he took. What on earth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "were they doing in a house that looked as though it belonged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to the Darkest of wizards? 'Mrs Weasley, why -?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Ron and Hermione will explain everything, dear, I've really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "got to dash,' Mrs Weasley whispered distractedly. There - ' they had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "reached the second landing, ' - you're the door on the right.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "I'll call you when it's over.' And she hurried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "off downstairs again. Harry crossed the dingy landing, turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the bedroom doorknob, which was shaped like a serpent's head, and opened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the door. He caught a brief glimpse of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "gloomy high-ceilinged, twin-bedded room; then there was a loud twittering noise, followed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "by an even louder shriek, and his vision was completely obscured by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a large quantity of very bushy hair. Hermione had thrown herself on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to him in a hug that nearly knocked him flat, while Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "tiny owl, Pigwidgeon, zoomed excitedly round and round their heads. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'HARRY! Ron, he's here, Harry's here! We didn't hear you arrive!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Oh, how are you? Are you all right? Have you been furious","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "with us? I bet you have, I know our letters were useless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "- but we couldn't tell you anything, Dumbledore made us swear we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "wouldn't, oh, we've got so much to tell you, and you've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "things to tell us - 'the Dementors! When we heard - and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "that Ministry hearing - it's just outrageous, I've looked it all up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "they can't expel you, they just can't, there's provision in the Decree","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery for the use of magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "in life-threatening situations - ' 'Let him breathe, Hermione,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Ron, grinning as he closed the door behind Harry. He seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to have grown several more inches during their month apart, making him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "taller and more gangly looking than ever, though the long nose, bright","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "red hair and freckles were the same. Still beaming,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Hermione let go of Harry, but before she could say another word","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "there was a soft whooshing sound and something white soared from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "top of a dark wardrobe and landed gently on Harry's shoulder. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Hedwig!' The snowy owl clicked her beak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and nibbled his ear affectionately as Harry stroked her feathers. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'She's been in a right state,' said Ron. 'Pecked us half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to death when she brought your last letters, look at this -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "' He showed Harry the index finger of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "right hand, which sported a half-healed but clearly deep cut. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Oh, yeah,' Harry said. 'Sorry about that, but I wanted answers,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "you know - ' 'We wanted to give them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to you, mate,' said Ron. 'Hermione was going spare, she kept saying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "you'd do something stupid if you were stuck all on your own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "without news, but Dumbledore made us - ' '-","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "swear not to tell me,' said Harry. 'Yeah, Hermione's already said.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " The warm glow that had flared inside him at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "sight of his two best friends was extinguished as something icy flooded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the pit of his stomach. All of a sudden - after yearning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to see them for a solid month - he felt he would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "rather Ron and Hermione left him alone. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a strained silence in which Harry stroked Hedwig automatically, not looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "either of the others. 'He seemed to think it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "was best,' said Hermione rather breathlessly. 'Dumbledore, I mean.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Right,' said Harry. He noticed that her hands, too, bore the marks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "of Hedwig's beak and found that he was not at all sorry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'I think he thought you were safest with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Muggles -' Ron began. 'Yeah?' said Harry, raising his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "eyebrows. 'Have either of you been attacked by Dementors this summer?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Well, no - but that's why he's had people from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the Order of the Phoenix tailing you all the time - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Harry felt a great jolt in his guts as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "though he had just missed a step going downstairs. So everyone had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "known he was being followed, except him. 'Didn't work","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "that well, though, did it?' said Harry, doing his utmost to keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "his voice even. 'Had to look after myself after all, didn't I?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'He was so angry,' said Hermione, in an almost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "awestruck voice. 'Dumbledore. We saw him. When he found out Mundungus had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "left before his shift had ended. He was scary.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Well, I'm glad he left,' Harry said coldly 'II he hadn't, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "wouldn't have done magic and Dumbledore would probably have left me at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Privet Drive all summer.' 'Aren't you . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "aren't you worried about the Ministry of Magic hearing?' said Hermione quietly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'No,' Harry lied defiantly. He walked away from them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "looking around, with Hedwig nestled contentedly on his shoulder, but this room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "was not likely to raise his spirits. It was dank and dark.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "A blank stretch of canvas in an ornate picture frame was all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "that relieved the bareness of the peeling walls, and as Harry passed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "it he thought he heard someone, who was lurking out of sight,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "snigger. 'So why's Dumbledore been so keen to keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "me in the dark?' Harry asked, still trying hard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to keep his voice casual. 'Did you - er - bother to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "ask him at all?' He glanced up just in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "time to see them exchanging a look that told him he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "behaving just as they had feared he would. It did nothing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "improve his temper. 'We told Dumbledore we wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "tell you what was going on,' said Ron. 'We did, mate. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he's really busy now, we've only seen him twice since we came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "here and he didn't have much time, he just made us swear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "not to tell you important stuff when we wrote, he said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "owls might be intercepted.' 'He could still've kept me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "informed if he'd wanted to,' Harry said shortly. 'You're not telling me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he doesn't know ways to send messages without owls.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Hermione glanced at Ron and then said, 'I thought that, too. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he didn't want you to know anything.' 'Maybe he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "thinks I can't be trusted,' said Harry, watching their expressions. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Don't be thick,' said Ron, looking highly disconcerted. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Or that I can't take care of myself.' 'Of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "course he doesn't think that!' said Hermione anxiously. 'So","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "how come I have to stay at the Dursleys' while you two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "get to join in everything that's going on here?' said Harry, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "words tumbling over one another in a rush, his voice growing louder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "with every word. 'How come you two are allowed to know everything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "that's going on?' 'We're not!' Ron interrupted. 'Mum won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "let us near the meetings, she says we're too young - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " But before he knew it, Harry was shouting. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE MEETINGS, BIG DEAL! YOU'VE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "STILL BEEN HERE, HAVEN'T YOU? YOU'VE STILL BEEN TOGETHER! ME, I'VE BEEN","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "STUCK AT THE DURSLEYS' FOR A MONTH! AND I'VE HANDLED MORE THAN","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "YOU TWO'VE EVER MANAGED AND DUMBLEDORE KNOWS IT - 'WHO SAVED THE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "PHILOSOPHER'S STONE? WHO GOT RID OF RIDDLE? WHO SAVED BOTH YOUR SKINS","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "FROM THE DEMENTORS?' Every bitter and resentful thought Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "had had in the past month was pouring out of him: his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "frustration at the lack of news, the hurt that they had all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "been together without him, his fury at being followed and not told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "about it - all the feelings he was half-ashamed of finally burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "their boundaries. Hedwig took fright at the noise and soared off to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the top of the wardrobe again; Pigwidgeon twittered in alarm and zoomed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "even faster around their heads. 'WHO HAD TO GET","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "PAST DRAGONS AND SPHINXES AND EVERY OTHER FOUL THING LAST YEAR? WHO","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "SAW HIM COME BACK? WHO HAD TO ESCAPE FROM HIM? ME!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Ron was standing there with his mouth half-open, clearly stunned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and at a loss for anything to say, whilst Hermione looked on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the verge of tears. 'BUT WHY SHOULD I KNOW","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY SHOULD ANYONE BOTHER TO TELL ME WHAT'S BEEN","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "HAPPENING?' 'Harry, we wanted to tell you, we really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "did - ' Hermione began. 'CAN'T'VE WANTED TO THAT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "MUCH, CAN YOU, OR YOU'D HAVE SENT ME AN OWL, BUT DUMBLEDORE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "MADE YOU SWEAR - ' 'Well, he did -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "' 'FOUR WEEKS I'VE BEEN STUCK IN PRIVET DRIVE,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "NICKING PAPERS OUT OF BINS TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT'S BEEN","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "GOING ON - ' 'We wanted to - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'I SUPPOSE YOU'VE BEEN HAVING A REAL LAUGH, HAVEN'T YOU,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "ALL HOLED UP HERE TOGETHER - ' 'No, honest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "- ' 'Harry, we're really sorry!' said Hermione desperately,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "her eyes now sparkling with tears. 'You're absolutely right, Harry - I'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "be furious if it was me!' Harry glared at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "her, still breathing deeply, then turned away from them again, pacing up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and down. Hedwig hooted glumly from the top of the wardrobe. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "was a long pause, broken only by the mournful creak of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "floorboards below Harry's feet. 'What is this place, anyway?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he shot at Ron and Hermione. 'Headquarters of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Order of the Phoenix,' said Ron at once. 'Is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "anyone going to bother telling me what the Order of the Phoenix","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "- ?' 'It's a secret society,' said Hermione quickly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Dumbledore's in charge, he founded it. It's the people who fought against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "You-Know-Who last time.' 'Who's in it?' said Harry coming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to a halt with his hands in his pockets. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Quite a few people - ' 'We've met about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "twenty of them,' said Ron, 'but we think there are more.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Harry glared at them. 'Well?' he demanded,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "looking from one to the other. 'Er,' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Well what?' 'Voldemort!' said Harry furiously, and both Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and Hermione winced. 'What's happening? What's he up to? Where is he?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "What are we doing to stop him?' 'We've told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "you, the Order don't let us in on their meetings,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "nervously 'So we don't know the details - but we've got a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "general idea,' she added hastily, seeing the look on Harry's face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Fred and George have invented Extendable Ears, see,' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "They're really useful.' 'Extendable - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Ears, yeah. Only we've had to stop using them lately because Mum","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "found out and went berserk. Fred and George had to hide them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "all to stop Mum binning them. But we got a good bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "of use out of them before Mum realised what was going on.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "We know some of the Order are following known Death Eaters, keeping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "tabs on them, you know - ' 'Some of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "them are working on recruiting more people to the Order - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Hermione. 'And some of them are standing guard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "over something,' said Ron. They're always talking about guard duty.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Couldn't have been me, could it?' said Harry sarcastically. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Oh, yeah,' said Ron, with a look of dawning comprehension. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Harry snorted. He walked around the room again, looking anywhere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "but at Ron and Hermione. 'So, what have you two been doing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "if you're not allowed in meetings?' he demanded. 'You said you'd been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "busy.' 'We have,' said Hermione quickly. 'We've been decontaminating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "this house, it's been empty for ages and stuff's been breeding in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "here. We've managed to clean out the kitchen, most of the bedrooms","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and I think we're doing the drawing room tomo- AARGH!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " With two loud cracks, Fred and George, Ron's elder twin brothers,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "had materialised out of thin air in the middle of the room.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Pigwidgeon twittered more wildly than ever and zoomed off to join Hedwig","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "on top of the wardrobe. 'Stop doing that!' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said weakly to the twins, who were as vividly red-haired as Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "though stockier and slightly shorter. 'Hello, Harry' said George,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "beaming at him. 'We thought we heard your dulcet tones.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'You don't want to bottle up your anger like that, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "let it all out,' said Fred, also beaming. There might be a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "couple of people fifty miles away who didn't hear you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'You two passed your Apparation tests, then?' asked Harry grumpily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'With distinction,' said Fred, who was holding what looked like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a piece of very long, flesh-coloured string. 'It would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "have taken you about thirty seconds longer to walk down the stairs,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Ron. 'Time is Galleons, little brother,' said Fred.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Anyway, Harry, you're interfering with reception. Extendable Ears,' he added in response","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to Harry's raised eyebrows, and held up the string which Harry now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "saw was trailing out on to the landing. 'We're trying to hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "what's going on downstairs.' 'You want to be careful,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Ron, staring at the Ear, 'if Mum sees one of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "again . . .' 'It's worth the risk, that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a major meeting they're having,' said red. The door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "opened and a long mane of red hair appeared. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Oh, hello, Harry!' said Ron's younger sister, Ginny, brightly. 'I thought I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "heard your voice.' Turning to Fred and George, she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said, 'Its no-go with the Extendable Ears, she's gone and put an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door.' 'How d'you know?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said George, looking crestfallen. 'Tonks told me how to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "find out,' said Ginny. 'You just chuck stuff at the door and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "if it can't make contact the door's been Imperturbed. I've been flicking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Dungbombs at it from the top of the stairs and they just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "soar away from it, so there's no way the Extendable Ears will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "be able to get under the gap.' Fred heaved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a deep sigh. 'Shame. I really fancied finding out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "what old Snape's been up to.' 'Snape!' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "quickly. 'Is he here?' 'Yeah,' said George, carefully closing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the door and sitting down on one of the beds; Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Ginny followed. 'Giving a report. Top secret.' 'Git,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Fred idly 'He's on our side now,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "reprovingly. Ron snorted. 'Doesn't stop him being a git.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "The way he looks at us when he sees us.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Bill doesn't like him, either,' said Ginny, as though that settled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the matter. Harry was not sure his anger had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "abated yet; but his thirst for information was now overcoming his urge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to keep shouting. He sank on to the bed opposite the others.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Is Bill here?' he asked. 'I thought he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "working in Egypt?' 'He applied for a desk job","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "so he could come home and work for the Order,' said Fred.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'He says he misses the tombs, but,' he smirked, 'there are compensations.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'What d'you mean?' 'Remember old Fleur","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Delacour?' said George. 'She's got a job at Gringotts to eemprove 'er","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Eeenglish - 'And Bill's been giving her a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "of private lessons,' sniggered Fred. 'Charlie's in the Order,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "too,' said George, 'but he's still in Romania. Dumbledore wants as many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "foreign wizards brought in as possible, so Charlie's trying to make contacts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "on his days off.' 'Couldn't Percy do that?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "asked. The last he had heard, the third Weasley brother was working","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "in the Department of International Magical Co-operation at the Ministry of Magic.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " At Harry's words, all the Weasleys and Hermione exchanged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "darkly significant looks. 'Whatever you do, don't mention Percy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "in front of Mum and Dad,' Ron told Harry in a tense","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "voice. 'Why not?' 'Because every time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Percy's name's mentioned, Dad breaks whatever he's holding and Mum starts crying,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Fred said. 'It's been awful,' said Ginny sadly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'I think we're well shot of him,' said George, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "an uncharacteristically ugly look on his face. 'What's happened?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Harry said. 'Percy and Dad had a row,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Fred. 'I've never seen Dad row with anyone like that. It's normally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Mum who shouts.' 'It was the first week back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "after term ended,' said Ron. 'We were about to come and join","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the Order. Percy came home and told us he'd been promoted.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'You're kidding?' said Harry. Though he knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "perfectly well that Percy was highly ambitious, Harry's impression was that Percy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "had not made a great success of his first job at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Ministry of Magic. Percy had committed the fairly large oversight of failing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to notice that his boss was being controlled by Lord Voldemort (not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "that the Ministry had believed it - they all thought Mr Crouch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "had gone mad). 'Yeah, we were all surprised,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "George, 'because Percy got into a load of trouble about Crouch, there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "was an inquiry and everything. They said Percy ought to have realised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Crouch was off his rocker and informed a superior. But you know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Percy, Crouch left him in charge, he wasn't going to complain.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'So how come they promoted him?' That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "exactly what we wondered,' said Ron, who seemed very keen to keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "normal conversation going now that Harry had stopped yelling. 'He came home","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "really pleased with himself - 'even more pleased than usual, if you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "can imagine that - and told Dad he'd been offered a position","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "in Fudge's own office. A really good one for someone only a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "year out of Hogwarts: Junior Assistant to the Minister. He expected Dad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to be all impressed, I think.' 'Only Dad wasn't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Fred grimly. 'Why not?' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Well, apparently Fudge has been storming round the Ministry checking that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "nobody's having any contact with Dumbledore,' said George. 'Dumbledore's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "name is mud with the Ministry these days, see,' said Fred. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "all think he's just making trouble saying You-Know-Who's back.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Dad says Fudge has made it clear that anyone who's in league","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "with Dumbledore can clear out their desks,' said George. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Trouble is, Fudge suspects Dad, he knows he's friendly with Dumbledore, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he's always thought Dad's a bit of a weirdo because of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Muggle obsession.' 'But what's that got to do with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Percy?' asked Harry, confused. 'I'm coming to that. Dad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "reckons Fudge only wants Percy in his office because he wants to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "use him to spy on the family - and Dumbledore.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Harry let out a low whistle. 'Bet Percy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "loved that.' Ron laughed in a hollow sort of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "way. 'He went completely berserk. He said - well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he said loads of terrible stuff. He said he's been having to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "struggle against Dad's lousy reputation ever since he joined the Ministry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "that Dad's got no ambition and that's why we've always been -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "you know - 'not had a lot of money, I mean -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "' 'What?' said Harry in disbelief, as Ginny made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a noise like an angry cat. 'I know,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Ron in a low voice. 'And it got worse. He said Dad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "was an idiot to run around with Dumbledore, that Dumbledore was heading","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "for big trouble and Dad was going to go down with him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and that he - Percy - knew where his loyalty lay and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "it was with the Ministry. And if Mum and Dad were going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to become traitors to the Ministry he was going to make sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "everyone knew he didn't belong to our family any more. And he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "packed his bags the same night and left. He's living here in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "London now.' Harry swore under his breath. He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "always liked Percy least of Ron's brothers, but he had never imagined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he would say such things to Mr Weasley. 'Mums","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "been in a right state,' said Ron dully. 'You know - crying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and stuff. She came up to London to try and talk to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Percy but he slammed the door in her face. I dunno what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "he does if he meets Dad at work - ignores him, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "s'pose.' 'But Percy must know Voldemort's back,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "slowly. 'He's not stupid, he must know your mum and dad wouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "risk everything without proof.' 'Yeah, well, your name got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "dragged into the row,' said Ron, shooting Harry a furtive look. 'Percy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said the only evidence was your word and . . . I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "dunno . . . he didn't think it was good enough.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Percy takes the Daily Prophet seriously,' said Hermione tartly, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the others all nodded. 'What are you talking about?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Harry asked, looking around at them all. They were all regarding him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "warily. 'Haven't - haven't you been getting the Daily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Prophet?' Hermione asked nervously. 'Yeah, I have!' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Have you - er - been reading it thoroughly?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Hermione asked, still more anxiously. 'Not cover to cover,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Harry defensively. 'If they were going to report anything about Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "it would be headline news, wouldn't it?' The others","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "flinched at the sound of the name. Hermione hurried on, 'Well, you'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "need to read it cover to cover to pick it up, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "they - um - they mention you a couple of times a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "week.' 'But I'd have seen - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Not if you've only been reading the front page, you wouldn't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Hermione, shaking her head. 'I'm not talking about big articles. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "just slip you in, like you're a standing joke.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'What d'you - ?' 'It's quite nasty, actually,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Hermione in a voice of forced calm. They're just building on Rita's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "stuff.' 'But she's not writing for them any more,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "is she?' 'Oh, no, she's kept her promise -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "not that she's got any choice,' Hermione added with satisfaction. 'But she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "laid the foundation for what they're trying to do now.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Which is what?' said Harry impatiently. 'OK, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "know she wrote that you were collapsing all over the place and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "saying your scar was hurting and all that?' 'Yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Harry, who was not likely to forget Rita Skeeter's stories about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "him in a hurry. 'Well, they're writing about you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "as though you're this deluded, attention-seeking person who thinks he's a great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "tragic hero or something,' said Hermione, very fast, as though it would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "be less unpleasant for Harry to hear these facts quickly. 'They keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "slipping in snide comments about you. If some far-fetched story appears, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "say something like, `A tale worthy of Harry Potter`, and if anyone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "has a funny accident or anything it's, `Let's hope he hasn't got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a scar on his forehead or we'll be asked to worship him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "next` - ' 'I don't want anyone to worship","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "- ' Harry began hotly. 'I know you don't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Hermione quickly, looking frightened. 'I know, Harry. But you see what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "they're doing? They want to turn you into someone nobody will believe.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Fudge is behind it, I'll bet anything. They want wizards on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "street to think you're just some stupid boy who's a bit of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "a joke, who tells ridiculous tall stories because he loves being famous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and wants to keep it going.' 'I didn't ask","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "- I didn't want - Voldemort killed my parents!' Harry spluttered. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "got famous because he murdered my family but couldn't kill me! Who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "wants to be famous for that? Don't I hey think I'd rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "it'd never- ' 'We know, Harry' said Ginny earnestly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'And of course, they didn't report a word about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the Dementors attacking you,' said Hermione. 'Someone's told them to keep that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "quiet. That should've been a really big story, out-of-control Dementors. They haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "even reported that you broke the International Statute of Secrecy. We thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "they would, it would be in so well with this image of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "you as some stupid show-off. We think they're biding their time until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "you're expelled, then they're really going to go to town - I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "mean, if you're expelled, obviously,' she went on hastily. 'You really shouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "be, not if they abide by their own laws, there's no case","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "against you.' They were back on the hearing and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Harry did not want to think about that. He cast around for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "another change of subject, but was saved the necessity of finding one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "by the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "'Uh oh.' Fred gave the Extendable Ear a hearty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "tug; there was another loud crack and he and George vanished. Seconds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "later, Mrs Weasley appeared in the bedroom doorway. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "meetings over, you can come down and have dinner now. Everyone's dying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to see you, Harry. And who's left all those Dungbombs outside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "kitchen door?' 'Crookshanks,' said Ginny unblushingly. 'He loves playing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "with them.' 'Oh,' said Mrs Weasley, 'I thought it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "might have been Kreacher, he keeps doing odd things like that. Now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "don't forget to keep your voices down in the hall. Ginny, your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "hands are filthy, what have you been doing? Go and wash them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "before dinner, please.' Ginny grimaced at the others and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "followed her mother out of the room, leaving Harry alone with Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and Hermione. Both of them were watching him apprehensively, as though they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "feared he would start shouting again now that everyone else had gone.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "The sight of them looking so nervous made him feel slightly ashamed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Look . . .' he muttered, but Ron shook","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "his head, and Hermione said quietly, 'We knew you'd be angry, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "we really don't blame you, but you've got to understand, we did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "try to persuade Dumbledore - 'Yeah, I know,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Harry shortly. He cast around for a topic that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "didn't involve his headmaster, because the very thought of Dumbledore made Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "insides burn with anger again. Who's Kreacher?' he asked.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " The house-elf who lives here,' said Ron. 'Nutter. Never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "met one like him.' Hermione frowned at Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'He's not a nutter, Ron.' 'His life's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "ambition is to have his head cut off and stuck up on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "plaque just like his mother,' said Ron irritably. 'Is that normal, Hermione?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Well - well, if he is a bit strange,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "it's not his fault.' Ron rolled his eyes at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Harry. 'Hermione still hasn't given up on SPEW.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'It's not SPEW!' said Hermione heatedly. 'It's the Society for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. And it's not just me, Dumbledore says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "we should be kind to Kreacher too.' 'Yeah, yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "said Ron. 'C'mon, I'm starving.' He led the way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "out of the door and on to the landing, but be ore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "they could descend the stairs - ' 'Hold it!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Ron breathed, flinging out an arm to stop Harry and Hermione walking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "any further. They're still in the hall, we might be able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "hear something.' The three of them looked cautiously over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the banisters. The gloomy hallway below was packed with witches and wizards,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "including all of Harry's guard. They were whispering excitedly together. In the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "very centre of the group Harry saw the dark, greasy-haired head and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "prominent nose of his least favourite teacher at Hogwarts, Professor Snape. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "leant further over the banisters. He was very interested in what Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "was doing for the Order of the Phoenix . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " A thin piece of flesh-coloured string descended in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Harry's eyes. Looking up, he saw Fred and George on the landing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "above, cautiously lowering the Extendable Ear towards the dark knot of people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "below. A moment later, however, they all began to move towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "front door and out of sight. 'Dammit,' Harry heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Fred whisper, as he hoisted the Extendable Ear back up again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " They heard the front door open, then close. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Snape never eats here,' Ron told Harry quietly. Thank Clod. C'mon.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'And don't forget to keep your voice down in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the hall, Harry,' Hermione whispered. As they passed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "row of house-elf heads on the wall, they saw Lupin, Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and Tonks at the front door, magically sealing its many locks and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "bolts behind those who had just left. 'We're eating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "down in the kitchen,' Mrs Weasley whispered, meeting them at the bottom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "of the stairs. 'Harry, dear, if you'll just tiptoe across the hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "it's through this door here - ' CRASH. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Tonks!' cried Mrs Weasley in exasperation, turning to look behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "her. 'I'm sorry!' wailed Tonks, who was lying flat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "on the floor. 'It's that stupid umbrella stand, that's the second time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "I've tripped over - ' But the rest of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "her words were drowned by a horrible, ear-splitting, blood-curdling screech. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " The moth-eaten velvet curtains Harry had passed earlier had flown apart,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "but there was no door behind them. For a split second, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "thought he was looking through a window, a window behind which an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "old woman in a black cap was screaming and screaming as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "she were being tortured - then he realised it was simply a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "life-size portrait, but the most realistic, and the most unpleasant, he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "ever seen in his life. The old woman was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "drooling, her eyes were rolling, the yellowing skin of her face stretched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "taut as she screamed; and all along the hall behind them, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "other portraits awoke and began to yell, too, so that Harry actually","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "screwed up his eyes at the noise and clapped his hands over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "his ears. Lupin and Mrs Weasley darted forward and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "tried to tug the curtains shut over the old woman, but they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "would not close and she screeched louder than ever, brandishing clawed hands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "as though trying to tear at their faces. 'Filth!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " Tonks apologised over and over again, dragging the huge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "heavy troll's leg back off the floor; Mrs Weasley abandoned the attempt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "to close the curtains and hurried up and down the hall, Stunning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "all the other portraits with her wand; and a man with long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "black hair came charging out of a door facing Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Shut up, you horrible old hag, shut UP!' he roared, seizing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the curtain Mrs Weasley had abandoned. The old woman's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "face blanched. 'Yoooou!' she howled, her eyes popping at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "the sight of the man. 'Blood traitor, abomination, shame of my flesh!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'I said - shut - UP!' roared the man,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "and with a stupendous effort he and Lupin managed to force the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "curtains closed again. The old woman's screeches died and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "an echoing silence tell. Panting slightly and sweeping his long dark hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" "out of his eyes, Harry's godfather Sirius turned to face him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " 'Hello, Harry,' he said grimly, 'I see you've met my mother.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-4" " The Order of The Phoenix ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Your - ?' 'My dear old mum, yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Sirius. 'We've been trying to get her down for a month","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "but we think she put a Permanent. Sticking Charm on the back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of the canvas. Lets get downstairs, quick, before they all wake up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "again.' 'But what's a portrait of your mother doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "here?' Harry asked, bewildered, as they went through the door from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "hall and led the way down a flight of narrow stone steps,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the others just behind them. 'Hasn't anyone told you?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "This was my parents' house,' said Sirius. 'But I'm the last Black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "left, so it's mine now. I offered it to Dumbledore for Headquarters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "- about the only useful thing I've been able to do.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " Harry, who had expected a better welcome, noted how hard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and bitter Sirius's voice sounded. He followed his godfather to the bottom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of the steps and through a door leading into the basement kitchen.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " It was scarcely less gloomy than the hall above,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "a cavernous room with rough stone walls. Most of the light was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "coming from a large fire at the far end of the room.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "A haze of pipe smoke hung in the air like battle fumes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "through which loomed the menacing shapes of heavy iron pots and pans","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "hanging from the dark ceiling. Many chairs had been crammed into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "room for the meeting and a long wooden table stood in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "middle of them, littered with rolls of parchment, goblets, empty wine bottles,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and a heap of what appeared to be rags. Mr Weasley and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "his eldest son Bill were talking quietly with their heads together at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the end of the table. Mrs Weasley cleared her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "throat. Her husband, a thin, balding, red-haired man who wore horn-rimmed glasses,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "looked around and jumped to his feet. 'Harry!' Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Weasley said, hurrying forward to greet him, and shaking his hand vigorously.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Good to see you!' Over his shoulder Harry saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Bill, who still wore his long hair in a ponytail, hastily rolling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "up the lengths of parchment left on the table. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Journey all right, Harry?' Bill called, trying to gather up twelve scrolls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "at once. 'Mad-Eye didn't make you come via Greenland, then?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'He tried,' said Tonks, striding over to help Bill and immediately","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "toppling a candle on to the last piece of parchment. 'Oh no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "- sorry - ' 'Here, dear,' said Mrs Weasley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "sounding exasperated, and she repaired the parchment with a wave of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "wand. In the flash of light caused by Mrs Weasley's charm Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "caught a glimpse of what looked like the plan of a building.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " Mrs Weasley had seen him looking. She snatched the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "plan off the table and stuffed it into Bill's already overladen arms.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " This sort of thing ought to be cleared away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "promptly at the end of meetings,' she snapped, before sweeping off towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "an ancient dresser from which she started unloading dinner plates. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " Bill took out his wand, muttered, 'Evanesce!' and the scrolls vanished.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Sit down, Harry' said Sirius. 'You've met Mundungus, haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "you?' The thing Harry had taken to be a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "pile of rags gave a prolonged, grunting snore, then jerked awake. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Some'n say m'name?' Mundungus mumbled sleepily. 'I agree with Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" ". . .' He raised a very grubby hand in the air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "as though voting, his droopy, bloodshot eyes unfocused. Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "giggled. The meeting's over, Dung,' said Sirius, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "all sat down around him at the table. 'Harry's arrived.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Eh?' said Mundungus, peering bale fully at Harry through his matted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "ginger hair. 'Blimey, so 'e 'as. Yeah . . . you all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "right, 'Airy?' 'Yeah,' said Harry. Mundungus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "fumbled nervously in his pockets, still staring at Harry, and pulled out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "a grimy black pipe. He stuck it in his mouth, ignited the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "end of it with his wand and took a deep pull on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "it. Great billowing clouds of greenish smoke obscured him within seconds. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Owe you a 'pology,' grunted a voice from the middle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of the smelly cloud. 'For the last time, Mundungus,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "called Mrs Weasley, 'will you please not smoke that thing in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "kitchen, especially not when we're about to eat!' 'Ah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Mundungus. 'Right. Sorry, Molly.' The cloud of smoke","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "vanished as Mundungus stowed his pipe back in his pocket, but an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "acrid smell of burning socks lingered. 'And if you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "want dinner before midnight I'll need a hand,' Mrs Weasley said to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the room at large. 'No, you can stay where you are, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "dear, you've had a long journey.' 'What can I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "do, Molly?' said Tonks enthusiastically, bounding forwards. Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "hesitated, looking apprehensive. 'Er - no, it's all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Tonks, you have a rest too, you've done enough today.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'No, no, I want to help!' said Tonks brightly, knocking over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "a chair as she hurried towards the dresser, from which Ginny was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "collecting cutlery. Soon, a series of heavy knives were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "chopping meat and vegetables of their own accord, supervised by Mr Weasley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "while Mrs Weasley stirred a cauldron dangling over the fire and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "others took out plates, more goblets and food from the pantry. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "was left at the table with Sirius and Mundungus, who was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "blinking at him mournfully. 'Seen old Figgy since?' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "asked. 'No,' said Harry, 'I haven't seen anyone.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'See, I wouldn't 'ave left,' said Mundungus, leaning forward, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "pleading note in his voice, 'but I 'ad a business opportunity -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "' Harry felt something brush against his knees and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "started, but it was only Crookshanks, Hermione's bandy-legged ginger cat, who wound","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "himself once around Harry's legs, purring, then jumped on to Sirius's lap","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and curled up. Sirius scratched him absent-mindedly behind the ears as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "turned, still grim-faced, to Harry. 'Had a good summer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "so far?' 'No, it's been lousy,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " For the first time, something like a grin flitted across","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius's free. 'Don't know what you're complaining about, myself.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'What?' said Harry incredulously. 'Personally, I'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "have welcomed a Dementor attack. A deadly struggle for my soul would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "have broken the monotony nicely. You think you've had it bad, at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "least you've been able to get out and about, stretch your legs,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "get into a few fights . . . I've been stuck inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "for a month.' 'How come?' asked Harry, frowning. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Because the Ministry of Magic's still after me, and Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "will know all about me being an Animagus by now, Wormtail will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "have told him, so my big disguise is useless. There's not much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "I can do for the Order of the Phoenix . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "or so Dumbledore feels.' There was something about the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "slightly flattened tone of voice in which Sirius uttered Dumbledore's name that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "told Harry that Sirius, too, was not very happy with the Headmaster.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Harry felt a sudden upsurge of affection for his godfather. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'At least you've known what's been going on,' he said bracingly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Oh yeah,' said Sirius sarcastically. 'Listening to Snape's reports,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "having to take all his snide hints that he's out there risking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "his life while I'm sat on my backside here having a nice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "comfortable time . . . asking me how the cleaning's going -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "' 'What cleaning?' asked Harry. Trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "to make this place fit for human habitation,' said Sirius, waving a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "hand around the dismal kitchen. 'No one's lived here for ten years,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "not since my dear mother died, unless you count her old house-elf,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and he's gone round the twist - hasn't cleaned anything in ages.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Sirius,' said Mundungus, who did not appear to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "paid any attention to the conversation, but had been closely examining an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "empty goblet. This solid silver, mate?' 'Yes,' said Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "surveying it with distaste. 'Finest fifteenth-century goblin-wrought silver, embossed with the Black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "family crest.' 'That'd come orf, though,' muttered Mundungus, polishing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "it with his cuff. 'Fred - George - NO,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "JUST CARRY THEM!' Mrs Weasley shrieked. Harry, Sirius and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Mundungus looked round and, within a split second, they had dived away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "from the table. Fred and George had bewitched a large cauldron of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "stew, an iron flagon of Butterbeer and a heavy wooden breadboard, complete","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "with knife, to hurtle through the air towards them. The stew skidded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the length of the table and came to a halt just before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the end, leaving a long black burn on the wooden surface; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "flagon of Butterbeer fell with a crash, spilling its contents everywhere; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "bread knife slipped off the board and landed, point down and quivering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "ominously, exactly where Sirius's right hand had been seconds before. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!' screamed Mrs Weasley. THERE WAS NO NEED -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS - JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "MAGIC NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WHIP YOUR WANDS OUT FOR EVERY","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "TINY LITTLE THING!' 'We were just trying to save","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "a bit of time!' said Fred, hurrying forward to wrench the bread","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "knife out of the table. 'Sorry, Sirius, mate - didn't mean to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "- ' Harry and Sirius were both laughing; Mundungus,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "who had toppled backwards off his chair, was swearing as he got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "to his feet; Crookshanks had given an angry hiss and shot off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "under the dresser, from where his large yellow eyes glowed in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "darkness. 'Boys,' Mr Weasley said, lifting the stew back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "into the middle of the table, 'your mother's right, you re supposed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "to show a sense f responsibility now you've come of age -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "' 'None of your brothers caused this sort of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "trouble!' Mrs Weasley raged at the twins as she slammed a fresh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "flagon of Butterbeer on lo the table, and spilling almost as much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "again. 'Bill didn't feel the need to Apparate every few feet! Charlie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "didn't charm everything he met! Percy - ' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "stopped dead, catching her breath with a frightened look at her husband,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "whose expression was suddenly wooden. 'Let's eat,' said Bill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "quickly. 'It looks wonderful, Molly,' said Lupin, ladling stew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "on to a plate lor her and handing it across the table.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " For a few minutes there was silence but for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the chink of plates and cutlery and the scraping of chairs as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "everyone settled down to their food. Then Mrs Weasley turned to Sirius.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'I've been meaning to tell you, Sirius, there's something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "trapped in that writing desk in the drawing room, it keeps rattling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and shaking. Of course, it could just be a Boggart, but I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "thought we ought to ask Alastor to have a look at it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "before we let it out.' 'Whatever you like,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius indifferently. The curtains in there are full of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Doxys, too,' Mrs Weasley went on. 'I thought we might try and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "tackle them tomorrow.' 'I look forward to it,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius. Harry heard the sarcasm in his voice, but he was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "sure that anyone else did. Opposite Harry, Tonks was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "entertaining Hermione and Ginny by transforming her nose between mouthfuls. Screwing up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "her eyes each time with the same pained expression she had worn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "back in Harry's bedroom, her nose swelled to a beak-like protuberance that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "resembled Snape's, shrank to the size of a button mushroom and then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "sprouted a great deal of hair from each nostril. Apparently this was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "a regular mealtime entertainment, because Hermione and Ginny were soon requesting their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "favourite noses. 'Do that one like a pig snout,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Tonks.' Tonks obliged, and Harry, looking up, had the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "fleeting impression that a female Dudley was grinning at him from across","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "- 'he table. Mr Weasley, Bill and Lupin were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "having an intense discuss on about goblins. They're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "giving anything away yet,' said Bill. 'I still can't work out whether","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "or not they believe he's back. Course, they might prefer not to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "take sides at all. Keep out of it.' 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "sure they'd never go over to You-Know-Who,' said Mr Weasley, shaking his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "head. They've suffered losses too; remember that goblin family he murdered last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "time, somewhere near Nottingham?' 'I think it depends what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "they're offered,' said Lupin. 'And I'm not talking about gold. If they're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "offered the freedoms we've been denying them for centuries they're going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "be tempted. Have you still not had any luck with Ragnok, Bill?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'He's feeling pretty anti-wizard at the moment,' said Bill,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'he hasn't stopped raging about the Bagman business, he reckons the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "did a cover-up, those goblins never got their gold from him, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "know - ' A gale of laughter from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "middle of the table drowned the rest of Bill's words. Fred, George,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Ron and Mundungus were rolling around in their seats. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'. . . and then,' choked Mundungus, tears running down his face,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'and then, if you'll believe it, 'e says to me, 'e says,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "' `Ere, Dung, where didja get all them toads from? 'Cos some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "son of a Sludger's gone and nicked all mine!` And I says,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "`Nicked all your toads, Will, what next? So you'll be wanting some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "more, then?` And if you'll believe me, lads, the gormless gargoyle buys","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "all 'is own toads back orf me for a lot more'n what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'e paid in the first place - ' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "don't think we need to hear any more of your business dealings,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "thank you very much, Mundungus,' said Mrs Weasley sharply, as Ron slumped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "forwards on to the table, howling with laughter. 'Beg","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "pardon, Molly,' said Mundungus at once, wiping his eyes and winking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Harry. 'But, you know, Will nicked 'em orf Warty Harris in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "first place so I wasn't really doing nothing wrong.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'I don't know where you learned about right and wrong, Mundungus, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "you seem to have missed a few crucial lessons,' said Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "coldly. Fred and George buried their faces in their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "goblets of Butterbeer; George was hiccoughing. For some reason, Mrs Weasley threw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "a very nasty look at Sirius before getting to her feet and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "going to fetch a large rhubarb crumble for pudding. Harry looked round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "at his godfather. 'Molly doesn't approve of Mundungus,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius in an undertone. 'How come he's in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Order?' Harry said, very quietly. 'He's useful,' Sirius muttered.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Knows all the crooks - well, he would, seeing as he's one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "himself. But he's also very loyal to Dumbledore, who helped him out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of a tight spot once. It pays to have someone like Dung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "around, he hears things we don't. But Molly thinks inviting him to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "stay for dinner is going too far. She hasn't forgiven him for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "slipping off duty when he was supposed to be tailing you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " Three helpings of rhubarb crumble and custard later and I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he waistband on Harry's jeans was feeling uncomfortably tight (which was saying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "something as the jeans had once been Dudley's). As he laid down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "his spoon there was a lull in the general conversation: Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "was leaning back in his chair, looking replete and relaxed; Tonks was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "yawning widely, her nose now back to normal; and Ginny, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "lured Crookshanks out from under the dresser, was sitting cross-legged on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "floor, rolling Butterbeer corks for him to chase. 'Nearly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "time for bed, I think,' said Mrs Weasley with a yawn. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Not just yet, Molly,' said Sirius, pushing away his empty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "plate and turning to look at Harry. 'You know, I'm surprised at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "you. I thought the first thing you'd do when you got here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "would be to start asking questions about Voldemort.' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "atmosphere in the room changed with the rapidity Harry associated with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "arrival of Dementors. Where seconds before it had been sleepily relaxed, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "was now alert, even tense. A frisson had gone around the table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "at the mention of Voldemort's name. Lupin, who had been about to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "take a sip of wine, lowered his goblet slowly, looking wary. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'I did!' said Harry indignantly. 'I asked Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "but they said we're not allowed in the Order, so - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'And they're quite right,' said Mrs Weasley. 'You're too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "young.' She was sitting bolt upright in her chair,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "her fists clenched an its arms, every trace of drowsiness gone. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Since when did someone have to be in the Order","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of the Phoenix to ask questions?' asked Sirius. 'Harry's been trapped in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "that Muggle house for a month. He's got the right to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "what's been happen-' 'Hang on!' interrupted George loudly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'How come Harry gets his questions answered?' said Fred angrily.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'We've been trying to get stuff out of you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "for a month and y du haven't told us a single stinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "thing!' said George. ' `You're too young, you're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "in the Order,` ' said Fred, in a high-pitched voice that sounded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "uncannily like his mother's. 'Harry's not even of age!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'It's not my fault you haven't been told what the Order's doing,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Sirius calmly, 'that's your parents' decision. Harry, on the other hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "- ' 'It's not down to you to decide","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "what's good for Harry!' said Mrs Weasley sharply. The expression on her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "normally kind face looked dangerous. 'You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "suppose?' 'Which bit?' Sirius asked politely, but with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "air of a man readying himself for a fight. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "The bit about not telling Harry more than he needs to know,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Mrs Weasley, placing a heavy emphasis on the last three words.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " Ron, Hermione, Fred and Georges heads swivelled from Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "to Mrs Weasley as though they were following a tennis rally. Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "was kneeling amid a pile of abandoned Butterbeer corks, watching the conversation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "with her mouth slightly open. Lupin's eyes were fixed on Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'I don't intend to tell him more than he needs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "to know, Molly,' said Sirius. 'But as he was the one who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "saw Voldemort come back' (again, there was a collective shudder around the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "table at the name) 'he has more right than most to -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "' 'He's not a member of the Order of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the Phoenix!' said Mrs Weasley. 'He's only fifteen and - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'And he's dealt with as much as most in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Order,' said Sirius, 'and more than some.' 'No one's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "denying what he's done!' said Mrs Weasley, her voice rising, her fists","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "trembling on the arms of her chair. 'But he's still - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'He's not a child!' said Sirius impatiently. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'He's not an adult either!' said Mrs Weasley, the colour rising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "in her cheeks. 'He's not James, Sirius!' 'I'm perfectly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "clear who he is, thanks, Molly,' said Sirius coldly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'I'm not sure you are!' said Mrs Weasley. 'Sometimes, the way you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "talk about him, it's as though you think you've got your best","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "friend back!' 'What's wrong with that?' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'What's wrong, Harry, is that you are not your father,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "however much you might look like him!' said Mrs Weasley, her eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "still boring into Sirius. 'You are still at school and adults responsible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "for you should not forget it!' 'Meaning I'm an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "irresponsible godfather?' demanded Sirius, his voice rising. 'Meaning you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "have been known to act rashly, Sirius, which is why Dumbledore keeps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "reminding you to stay at home and - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'We'll leave my instructions from Dumbledore out of this, if you please!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Sirius loudly. 'Arthur!' said Mrs Weasley rounding on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "her husband. 'Arthur, back me up!' Mr Weasley did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "not speak at once. He took off his glasses and cleaned them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "slowly on his robes, not looking at his wife. Only when he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "had replaced them carefully on his nose did he reply. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Dumbledore knows the position has changed, Molly. He accepts that Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "will have to be filled in, to a certain extent, now that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he is staying at Headquarters.' 'Yes, but there's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "difference between that and inviting him to ask whatever he likes!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Personally,' said Lupin quietly, looking away from Sirius at last,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "as Mrs Weasley turned quickly to him, hopeful that finally she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "about to get an ally, 'I think it better that Harry gets","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the facts - 'not all the facts, Molly, but the general picture","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "- from us, rather than a garbled version from . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "others.' His expression was mild, but Harry felt sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Lupin, at least, knew that some Extendable Ears had survived Mrs Weasley's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "purge. 'Well,' said Mrs Weasley, breathing deeply and looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "around the table for support that did not come, 'well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" ". I can see I' going to be overruled. I'll just say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "this: Dumbledore must have had his reasons for not wanting Harry to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "know too much, and speaking as someone who has Harry's best interests","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "at heart -' 'He's not your son,' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "quietly. 'He's as good as,' said Mrs Weasley fiercely.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Who else has he got?' 'He's got me!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Yes,' said Mrs Weasley, her lip curling, 'the thing is,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "it's been rather difficult for you to look after him while you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "been locked up in Azkaban, hasn't it?' Sirius started","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "to rise from his chair. 'Molly, you're not the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "only person at this table who cares about Harry,' said Lupin sharply.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Sirius, sit down.' Mrs Weasleys lower lip was trembling.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius sank slowly back into his chair, his face white. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'I think Harry ought to be allowed a say in this,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Lupin continued, 'he's old enough to decide for himself.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'I want to know what's been going on,' Harry said at once.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " He did not look at Mrs Weasley. He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "been touched by what she had said about his being as good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "as a son, but he was also impatient with her mollycoddling. Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "was right, he was not a child. 'Very well,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Mrs Weasley, her voice cracking. 'Ginny - Ron - Hermione -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Fred - George - I want, you out of this kitchen, now.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " There was instant uproar. 'We're of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "age!' Fred and George bellowed together. 'If Harry's allowed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "why can't I?' shouted Ron. 'Mum, I want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "hear!' wailed Ginny 'NO!' shouted Mrs Weasley, standing up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "her eyes overbright. 'I absolutely forbid - ' 'Molly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "you can't stop Fred and George,' said Mr Weasley wearily. They are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of age.' They're still at school.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'But they're legally adults now,' said Mr Weasley, in the same tired","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "voice. Mrs Weasley was now scarlet in the face.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'I - oh, all right then, Fred and George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "can stay, but Ron - ' 'Harry'll tell me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and Hermione everything you say anyway!' said Ron hotly. 'Won't - won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "you?' he added uncertainly, meeting Harry's eyes. For a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "split second, Harry considered telling Ron that he wouldn't tell him a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "single word, that he could try a taste of being kept in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the dark and see how he liked it. But the nasty impulse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "vanished as they looked at each other. 'Course I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "will,' Harry said. Ron and Hermione beamed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Fine!' shouted Mrs Weasley. 'Fine! Ginny - BED!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Ginny did not go quietly. They could hear her raging and storming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "at her mother all the way up the stairs, and when she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "reached the hall Mrs Blacks ear-splitting shrieks were added to the din.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Lupin hurried off to the portrait: to restore calm. It was only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "after he had returned, closing the kitchen door behind him and taking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "his seat at the table again, that Sirius spoke. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'OK, Harry . . . what do you want to know?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " Harry took a deep breath and asked the question that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "had obsessed him for the last month. 'Where's Voldemort?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he said, ignoring the renewed shudders and winces at the name. 'What's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he doing? I've been trying to watch the Muggle news, and there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "hasn't been anything that looks like him yet, no funny deaths or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "anything.' That's because there haven't been any funny deaths","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "yet,' said Sirius, 'not as far as we know, anyway . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" ". and we know quite a let.' 'More than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he thinks we do, anyway,' said Lupin. 'How come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he's stopped killing people?' Harry asked. He knew Voldemort had murdered more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "than once in the last year alone. 'Because he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "doesn't want to draw attention to himself,' said Sirius. 'It would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "dangerous for him. His comeback didn't come off quite the way he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "wanted it to, you see. He messed it up.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Or rather, you messed it up for him,' said Lupin, with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "satisfied smile. 'How?' Harry asked, perplexed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'You weren't supposed to survive!' said Sirius. 'Nobody apart from his Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Eaters was supposed to know he'd come back. But you survived to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "bear witness.' 'And the very last person he wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "alerted to his return the moment he got back was Dumbledore,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Lupin. 'And you made sure Dumbledore knew at once.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'How has that helped?' Harry asked. 'Are you kidding?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Bill incredulously. 'Dumbledore was the only one You-Know-Who was ever scared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of!' Thanks to you, Dumbledore was able to recall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the Order of the Phoenix about an hour after Voldemort returned,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius. 'So, what's the Order been doing?' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "looking around at them all. 'Working as hard as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "we can to make sure Voldemort can't carry out his plans,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius. 'How d'you know what his plans are?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "asked quickly. 'Dumbledore's got a shrewd idea,' said Lupin,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'and Dumbledore's shrewd ideas normally turn out to be accurate.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'So what does Dumbledore reckon he's planning?' 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "firstly, he wants to build up his army again,' said Sirius. 'In","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the old days he had huge numbers at his command: witches and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "wizards he'd bullied or bewitched into following him, his faithful Death Eaters,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "a great variety of Dark creatures. You heard him planning to recruit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the giants; well, they'll be just one of the groups he's after.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "He's certainly not going to try and take on the Ministry of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Magic with only a dozen Death Eaters.' 'So you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "trying to stop him getting more followers?' 'We're doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "our best,' said Lupin. 'How?' 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the main thing is to try and convince as many people as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "possible that You-Know-Who really has returned, to put them on their guard,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Bill. 'It's proving tricky, though.' 'Why?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Because of the Ministry's attitude,' said Tonks. 'You saw Cornelius Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "after You-Know-Who came back, Harry. Well, he hasn't shifted his position at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "all. He's absolutely refusing to believe it's happened.' 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "why?' said Harry desperately. 'Why's he being so stupid? If Dumbledore -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "' 'Ah, well, you've put your finger on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "problem,' said Mr Weasley with a wry smile. 'Dumbledore.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Fudge is frightened of him, you see,' said Tonks sadly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Frightened of Dumbledore?' said Harry incredulously. 'Frightened of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "what he's up to,' said Mr Weasley. 'Fudge thinks Dumbledore's plotting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "overthrow him. He thinks Dumbledore wants to be Minister for Magic.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'But Dumbledore doesn't want - ' 'Of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "course he doesn't,' said Mr Weasley. 'He's never wanted the Minister's job,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "even though a lot of people wanted him to take it when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Millicent Bagnold retired. Fudge came to power instead, but ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he's never quite forgotten how much popular support Dumbledore had, even though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Dumbledore never applied for the job.' 'Deep down, Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "knows Dumbledore's much cleverer than he is, a much more powerful wizard,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and in the early days of his Ministry he was forever asking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Dumbledore for help and advice,' said Lupin. 'But it seems he's become","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "fond of power, and much more confident. He loves being Minister for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Magic and he's m; n-aged to convince himself that he's the clever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "one and Dumbledore's simply stirring up trouble for the sake of it.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'How can he think that?' said Harry angrily. 'How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "can he think Dumbledore would just make it all up - that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "I'd make it all up?' 'Because accepting that Voldermort's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "back would mean trouble like the Ministry hasn't had to cope with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "for nearly fourteen yea 's,' said Sirius bitterly. 'Fudge just can't bring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "himself to face it. It's so much more comfortable to convince himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Dumbledore's lying to destabilise him.' 'You see the problem,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "said Lupin. 'While the Ministry insists there is nothing to fear from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Voldemort it's hard to convince people he's back, especially as they really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "don't want to believe it in the first place. What's more, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Ministry's leaning heavily on the Daily Prophet not to report any of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "what they're calling Dumbledore's rumour-mongering, so most of the wizarding community are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "completely unaware anything's happened, and that makes them easy targets for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Death Eaters if they're using the Imperius Curse.' 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "you're telling people, aren't you?' said Harry, looking around at Mr Weasley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Sirius, Bill, Mundungus, Lupin and Tonks. 'You're letting people know he's back?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " They all smiled humourlessly. 'Well, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "everyone thinks I'm a mad mass-murderer and the Ministry's put a ten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "thousand Galleon price on my head, I can hardly stroll up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "street and start handing out leaflets, can I?' said Sirius restlessly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'And I'm not a very popular dinner guest with most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of the community,' said Lupin. 'It's an occupational hazard of being a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "werewolf.' 'Tonks and Arthur would lose their jobs at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the Ministry if they started shooting their mouths off,' said Sirius, 'and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "it's very important for us to have spies inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the Ministry, because you can bet Voldemort will have them.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'We've managed to convince a couple of people, though,' said Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Weasley. Tonks here, for one - she's too young to have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "in the Order of the Phoenix last time, and having Aurors on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "our side is a huge advantage - Kingsley Shacklebolt's been a real","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "asset, too; he's in charge of the hunt for Sirius, so he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "been feeding the Ministry information that Sirius is in Tibet.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'But if none of you are putting the news out that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Voldemort's back - ' Harry began. 'Who said none","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "of us are putting the news out?' said Sirius. 'Why d'you think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Dumbledore's in such trouble?' 'What d'you mean?' Harry asked.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " They're trying to discredit him,' said Lupin. 'Didn't you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "see the Daily Prophet last week? They reported that he'd been voted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "out of the Chairmanship of the International Confederation of Wizards because he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "getting old and losing his grip, but it's not true; he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "voted out by Ministry wizards after he made a speech announcing Voldemort's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "return. They've demoted him from Chief Warlock on the Wizengamot - that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the Wizard High Court - and they're talking about taking away his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Order of Merlin, First Class, too.' 'But Dumbledore says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he doesn't care what they do as long as they don't take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "him off the Chocolate Frog Cards,' said Bill, grinning. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'It's no laughing matter,' said Mr Weasley sharply. 'If he carries on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "defying the Ministry like this he could end up in Azkaban, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the last thing we want is to have Dumbledore locked up. While","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "You-Know-Who knows Dumbledore's out there and wise to what he's up to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "he's going to go cautiously. If Dumbledore's out of the way -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "well, You-Know-Who will have a clear field.' 'But if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Voldemort's trying to recruit more Death Eaters it's bound to get out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "that he's come back, isn't it?' asked Harry desperately. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "'Voldemort doesn't march up to people's houses and bang on their front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "doors, Harry,' said Sirius. 'He tricks, jinxes and blackmails them. He's well-practised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "at operating in secret. In any case, gathering followers is only one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "thing he's interested in. He's got other plans too, plans he can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "put into operation very quietly indeed, and he's concentrating on those for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "the moment.' 'What's he after apart from followers?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "asked swiftly. He thought he saw Sirius and Lupin exchange the most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "fleeting of looks before Sirius answered. 'Stuff he can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "only get by stealth.' When Harry continued to look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "puzzled, Sirius said, 'Like a weapon. Something he didn't have last time.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'When he was powerful before?' 'Yes.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " 'Like what kind of weapon?' said Harry. 'Something worse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "than the Avada Kedavra - ?' That's enough!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " Mrs Weasley spoke from the shadows beside the door. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "hadn't noticed her return from taking Ginny upstairs. Her arms were crossed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and she looked furious. 'I want you in bed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "now. All of you,' she added, looking around at Fred, George, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and Hermione. 'You can't boss us - ' Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "began. 'Watch me,' snarled Mrs Weasley. She was trembling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "slightly as she looked at Sirius. 'You've given Harry plenty of information.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Any more and you might just as well induct him into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Order straightaway.' 'Why not?' said Harry quickly. 'I'll join,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "I want to join, I want to fight.' 'No.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " It was not Mrs Weasley who spoke this time,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "but Lupin. The Order is comprised only of overage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "wizards,' he said. 'Wizards who have left school,' he added, as Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "and George opened their mouths. There are dangers involved of which you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "can have no idea, any of you . . . I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "Molly's right, Sirius. We've said enough.' Sirius half-shrugged but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "did not argue. Mrs Weasley beckoned imperiously to her sons and Herrnione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" "One by one they stood up and Harry, recognising defeat, followed suit. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-5" " The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Mrs Weasley followed them upstairs looking grim. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'I want you all to go straight to bed, no talking,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "she said as they reached the first landing, 'we've got a busy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "clay tomorrow. I expect Ginny's asleep,' she added to Hermione, 'so try","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "not to wake her up.' 'Asleep, yeah, right,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Fred in an undertone, after Hermione bade them goodnight and they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "climbing to the next floor. 'If Ginny's not lying awake waiting for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Hermione to tell her everything they said downstairs then I'm a Flobberworm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ". . .' 'All right, Ron, Harry,' said Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Weasley on the second landing, pointing them into their bedroom. 'Off to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "bed with you.' `Night,' Harry and Ron said to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the twins. 'Sleep tight,' said Fred, winking. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Mrs Weasley closed the door behind Harry with a sharp snap.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "The bedroom looked, if anything, even danker and gloomier than it had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "on first sight. The blank picture on the wall was now breathing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "very slowly and deeply, as though its invisible occupant was asleep. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "put on his pyjamas, took off his glasses and climbed into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "chilly bed while Ron threw Owl Treats up on top of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "wardrobe to pacify Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, who were clattering around and rustling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "their wings restlessly. 'We can't let them out to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "hunt every night,' Ron explained as he pulled on his maroon pyjamas.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Dumbledore doesn't want too many owls swooping around the square, thinks it'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "look suspicious. Oh yeah . . . I forgot . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " He crossed to the door and bolted it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'What're you doing that for?' 'Kreacher,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Ron as he turned off the light. 'First night I was here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he came wandering in at three in the morning. Trust me, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "don't want to wake up and find him prowling around your room.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Anyway . . .' he got into his bed, settled down under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the co\ers then turned to look at Harry in the darkness; Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "could see his outline by the moonlight filtering in through the grimy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "window, 'what d'you reckon?' Harry didn't need to ask","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "what Ron meant. 'Well, they didn't tell us much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "we couldn't have guessed, did they?' he said, thinking of all that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "had been said downstairs. 'I mean, all they've really said is that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the Order's trying to stop pec pie joining Vol-' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "There was a sharp intake of breath from Ron. -demon,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "firmly. 'When are you going to start using his name? Sirius and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Lupin do.' Ron ignored this last comment. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Yeah, you're right,' he said, 'we already knew nearly everything they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "told us, from using the Extendable Ears. The only new bit was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- ' Crack. 'OUCH!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Keep your voice down, Ron, or Mum'll be back up here.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'You two just Apparated on my knees!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Yeah, well, it's harder in the dark.' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "saw the blurred outlines of Fred and George leaping down from Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "bed. There was a groan of bedsprings and Harry's mattress descended a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "few inches as George sat down near his feet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'So, got there yet?' said George eagerly. The weapon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Sirius mentioned?' said Harry. 'Let slip, more like,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Fred with relish, now sitting next to Ron. 'We didn't hear about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "that on the old Extendables, did we?' 'What d'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "reckon it is?' said Harry. 'Could be anything,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Fred. 'But there can't be anything worse than the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Avada Kedavra Curse, can there?' said Ron. 'What's worse than death?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Maybe it's something that can kill loads of people at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "once,' suggested George. 'Maybe it's some particularly painful way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of killing people,' said Ron learfully. 'He's got the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Cruciatus Curse for causing pain,' said Harry, 'he doesn't need anything more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "efficient than that.' There was a pause and Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "knew that the others, like him, were wondering what horrors this weapon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "could perpetrate. 'So who d'you think's got it now?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "asked George. 'I hope it's our side,' said Ron, sounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "slightly nervous. 'If it is, Dumbledore's probably keeping it,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said Fred. 'Where?' said Ron quickly. 'Hogwarts?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Bet it is!' said George. That's where he hid the Philosopher's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Stone.' 'A weapons going to be a lot bigger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "than the Stone, though!' said Ron. 'Not necessarily,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Fred. 'Yeah, size is no guarantee of power,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "George. 'Look at Ginny' 'What d'you mean?' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'You've never been on the receiving end of one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of her Bat-Bogey Hexes, have you?' 'Shhh!' said Fred,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "half-rising from the bed. 'Listen!' They fell silent. Footsteps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "were coming up the stairs. 'Mum,' said George and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "without further ado there was a loud crack and Harry felt the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "weight vanish from the end of his bed. A few seconds later,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "they heard the floorboard creak outside their door; Mrs Weasley was plainly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "listening to check whether or not they were talking. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Hedwig and Pigwidgeon hooted dolefully. The floorboard creaked again and they heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "her heading upstairs to check on Fred and George. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'She doesn't trust us at all, you know,' said Ron regretfully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Harry was sure he would not be able to fall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "asleep; the evening had been so packed with things to think about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "that he fully expected to lie awake for hours mulling it all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "over. He wanted to continue talking to Ron, but Mrs Weasley was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "now creaking back downstairs again, and once she had gone he distinctly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "heard others making their way upstairs . . . in fact, many-legged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "creatures were cantering softly up and down outside the bedroom door, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Hagrid the Care of Magical Creatures teacher was saying, 'Beauties, aren'ti they,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "eh, Harry? We'll be studyin' weapons this term . . .' and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Harry saw hat the creatures had cannons for heads and were wheeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to ace him . . . he ducked . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " The next thing he knew, he was curled into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "warm ball under his bedclothes and George's loud voice was filling the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "room. 'Mum says get up, your breakfast is in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the kitchen and then she needs you in the drawing room, there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "are loads more Doxys than she thought and she's found a nest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of dead Puffskeins under the sofa.' Half an hour","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "later Harry and Ron, who had dressed and breakfasted quickly, entered the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "drawing room, a long, high-ceilinged room on the first floor with olive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "green walls covered in dirty .ap-estries. The carpet exhaled little clouds of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "dust every time someone put their foot on it and the long,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "moss green velvet curtains were buzzing as though swarming with invisible bees.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "It was aroand these that Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "were grouped, all looking rather peculiar as they had each tied a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "cloth over their nose and mouth. Each of them was also holding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a large bottle of black liquid with a nozzle at the end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Cover your faces and take a spray,' Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said to Harry and Ron the moment she saw them, pointing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "two more boitles of black liquid standing on a spindle-legged table. 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Doxycide. I've never seen an infestation this bad - what that house-elf's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Veen doing for the last ten years - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Hermione's face was half concealed by a tea towel but Harry distinctly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "saw her throw a reproachful look at Mrs Weasley. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Kreachers really old, he probably couldn't manage - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'You'd be surprised what Kreacher can manage when he wnnts to, Hermione,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said Sirius, who had just entered the room carrying a bloodstained bag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of what appeared to be dead rats. 'I've just been feeding Buckbeak,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he added, in reply to Harry's enquiring look. 'I keep him upstairs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in my mother's bedroom. Anyway . . . this writing desk .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ". .' He dropped the bag of rats into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "an armchair, then bent over to examine the locked cabinet which, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "now noticed for the first time, was shaking slightly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Well, Molly, I'm pretty sure this is a Boggart,' said Sirius, peering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "through the keyhole, 'but perhaps we ought to let Mad-Eye have a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "shifty at it before we let it out - knowing my mother,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "it could be something much worse.' 'Right you are, Sirius,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said Mrs Weasley. They were both speaking in carefully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "light, polite voices that told Harry quite plainly that neither had forgotten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "their disagreement of the night before. A loud, clanging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "bell sounded from downstairs, followed at once by the cacophony of screams","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and wails that had been triggered the previous night by Tonks knocking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "over the umbrella stand. 'I keep telling them not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to ring the doorbell!' said Sirius exasperatedly, hurrying out of the room.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "They heard him thundering clown the stairs as Mrs Black's screeches echoed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "up through the house once more: 'Stains of dishonour,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "filthy half-breeds, blood traitors, children of flith . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Close the door, please, Harry,' said Mrs Weasley. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Harry took as much time as he dared to close the drawing-room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "door; he wanted to listen to what was going on downstairs. Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "had obviously managed to shut the curtains over his mothers portrait because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "she had stopped screaming. He heard Sirius walking down the hall, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the clattering of the chain on the front door, and then a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "deep voice he recognised as Kingsley Shacklebolt's saying, 'Hestia's just relieved me,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "so she's got Moody's Cloak now, thought I'd leave a report for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Dumbledore . . .' Feeling Mrs Weasley's eyes on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the back of his head, Harry regretfully closed the drawing-room door and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "rejoined the Doxy party. Mrs Weasley was bending over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to check the page on Doxys in Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Pests, which was lying open on the sofa. 'Right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "you lot, you need to be careful, because Doxys bite and their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "teeth are poisonous. I've got a bottle of antidote here, but I'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "rather nobody needed it.' She straightened up, positioned herself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "squarely in front of the curtains and beckoned them all forward. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'When I say the word, start spraying immediately,' she said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "They'll come flying out at us, I expect, but it says on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the sprays one good squirt will paralyse them. When they're immobilized, just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "throw them in this bucket.' She stepped carefully out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of their line of fire, and raised her own spray. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'All right - squirt!' Harry had been spraying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "only a few seconds when a fully-grown Doxy came soaring out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a fold in the material, shiny beetle-like wings whirring, tiny needle-sharp teeth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "bared, its fairy-like body covered with thick black hair and its four","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "tiny fists clenched with fury. Harry caught it full in the face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "with a blast of Doxycide. It froze in midair and fell, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a surprisingly loud thunk, on to the worn carpet below. Harry picked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "it up and threw it in the bucket. 'Fred,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "what are you doing?' said Mrs Weasley sharply. 'Spray that at once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and throw it away!' Harry looked round. Fred was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "holding a struggling Doxy between his forefinger and thumb. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Right-o,' Fred said brightly, spraying the Doxy quickly in the face so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "that it fainted, but the moment Mrs Weasley's back was turned he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "pocketed it with a wink. 'We want to experiment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "with Doxy venom for our Skiving Snackboxes,' George told Harry under his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "breath. Deftly spraying two Doxys at once as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "soared straight for his nose, Harry moved closer to George and muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "out of the corner of his mouth, 'What are Skiving Snackboxes?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Range of sweets to make you ill,' George whispered, keeping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a wary eye on Mrs Weasley's back. 'Not seriously ill, mind, just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "ill enough to get you out of a class when you feel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "like it. Fred and I have been developing them this summer. They're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "double-ended, colour-coded chews. If you eat the orange half of the Puking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Pastilles, you throw up. Moment you've been rushed out of the lesson","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "for the hospital wing, you swallow the purple half - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " ' ` - which restores you to full fitness, enabling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "you to pursue the leisure activity of your own choice during an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "hour that would otherwise have been devoted to unprofitable boredom.` That's what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "we're putting in the adverts, anyway,' whispered Fred, who had edged over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "out of Mrs Weasley's line of vision and was now sweeping a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "few stray Doxys from the floor and adding them to his pocket. 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "they still need a bit of work. At the moment our testers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "are having a bit of trouble stopping themselves puking long enough to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "swallow the purple end.' Testers?' 'Us,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said Fred. 'We take it in turns. George did the Fainting Fancies","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- we both tried the Nosebleed Nougat - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Mum thought we'd been duelling,' said George. 'Joke shop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "still on, then?' Harry muttered, pretending to be adjusting the nozzle on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "his spray. 'Well, we haven't had a chance to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "get premises yet,' said Fred, dropping his voice even lower as Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Weasley mopped her brow with her scarf before returning to the attack,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'so we're running it as a mail-order service at the moment. We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "put advertisements in the Daily Prophet last week.' 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "thanks to you, mate,' said George. 'But don't worry . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Mum hasn't got a clue. She won't read the Daily Prophet any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "more, 'cause of it telling lies about you and Dumbledore.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Harry grinned. He had forced the Weasley twins to take the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "thousand Galleons prize money he had won in the Triwizard Tournament to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "help them realise their ambition to open a joke shop, but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was still glad to know that his part in furthering their plans","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was unknown to Mrs Weasley. She did not think running a joke","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "shop was a suitable career for two of her sons. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " The de-Doxying of the curtains took most of the morning. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was past midday when Mrs Weasley finally removed her protective scarf, sank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "into a sagging armchair and sprang up again with a cry of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "disgust, having sat on the bag of dead rats. The curtains were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "no longer buzzing; they hung limp and damp from the intensive spraying.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "At the foot of them unconscious Doxys lay crammed in the bucket","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "beside a bowl of their black eggs, at which Crook-shanks was now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sniffing and Fred and George were shooting covetous looks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'I think we'll tackle (hose after lunch.' Mrs Weasley pointed at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "dusty glass-fronted cabinets standing on either side of the mantelpiece. They were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "crammed with an odd assortment of objects: a selection of rusty daggers,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "claws, a coiled snakeskin, a number of tarnished silver boxes inscribed with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "languages Harry could lot understand and, least pleasant of all, an ornate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "crystal bottle with a large opal set into the stopper, full of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "what Harry was quite sure was blood. The clanging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "doorbell rang again. Everyone looked at Mrs Weasley 'Stay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "here,' she said firmly, snatching up the bag of rats as Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Blacks screeches started up again from down below. 'I'll bring up some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sandwiches.' She left the room, closing the door carefully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "behind her. At once, everyone dashed over to the window to look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "down on the doorstep. They could see the top of an unkempt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "gingery head and a suck of precariously balanced cauldrons. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Mundungus!' said Hermione. 'What's he brought all those cauldrons for?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Probably looking for a safe place to keep them,' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Isn't that what he was doing the night he was supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "be tailing me? Picking up dodgy cauldrons?' 'Yeah, you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "right!' said Fred, as the front door opened; Mundungus heaved his cauldrons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "through it and disappeared from view. 'Blimey, Mum won't like that .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ". .' He and George crossed to the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and stood beside it, listening closely. Mrs Black's screaming had stopped. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Mundungus is talking to Sirius and Kingsley,' Fred muttered, frowning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "with concentration. 'Can't hear properly . . . d'you reckon we can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "risk the Extendable Ears?' 'Might be worth it,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "George. 'I could sneak upstairs and get a pair - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " But at that precise moment there was an explosion of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sound from downstairs that rendered Extendable Ears quite unnecessary. All of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "could hear exactly what Mrs Weasley was shouting at the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "her voice. 'WE ARE NOT RUNNING A HIDEOUT FOR","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "STOLEN GOODS!' 'I love hearing Mum shouting at someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "else,' said Fred, with a satisfied smile on his face as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "opened the door an inch or so to allow Mrs Weasley's voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to permeate the room better, 'it makes such a nice change.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " ' - COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE, AS IF WE HAVEN'T GOT ENOUGH TO","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "WORRY ABOUT WITHOUT YOU DRAGGING STOLEN CAULDRONS INTO THE HOUSE - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " The idiots are letting her get into her stride,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said George, shaking his head. 'You've got to head her off early","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "otherwise she builds up a head of steam and goes on for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "hours. And she's been dying to have a go at Mundungus ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "since he sneaked off when he was supposed to be following you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Harry - and there goes Sirius's mum again.' Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Weasley's voice was lost amid fresh shrieks and screams from the portraits","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in the hall. George made to shut the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to drown the noise, but before he could do so, a house-elf","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "edged into the room. Except for the filthy rag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "tied like a loincloth around its middle, it was completely naked. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "looked very old. Its skin seemed to be several times too big","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "for it and, though it was bald like all house-elves, there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a quantity of white hair growing out of its large, batlike ears.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Its eyes were a bloodshot and watery grey and its fleshy nose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was large and rather snoutlike. The elf took absolutely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "no notice of Harry and the rest. Acting as though it could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "not see them, it shuffled hunchbacked, slowly and doggedly, towards the far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "end of the room, all the while muttering under its breath in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a hoarse, deep voice like a bullfrog's. '. .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ". smells like a drain and a criminal to boot, but she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "no better, nasty old blood traitor with her brats messing up my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "mistress's house, oh, my poor mistress, if she knew, if she knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the scum they've let into her house, what would she say to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "old Kreacher, oh, the shame of it, Mudbloods and werewolves and traitors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and thieves, poor old Kreacher, what can he do . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Hello, Kreacher,' said Fred very loudly, closing the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "with a snap. The house-elf froze in his tracks,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "stopped muttering, and gave a very pronounced and very unconvincing start of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "surprise. 'Kreacher did not see young master,' he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "turning around and bowing to Fred. Still lacing the carpet, he added,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "perfectly audibly, 'Nasty little brat of a blood traitor it is.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Sorry?' said George. 'Didn't catch that last bit.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Kreacher said nothing,' said the elf, with a second box to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "George, adding in a clear undertone, 'and there its twin, unnataral little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "beasts they are.' Harry didn't know whether to laugh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "or not. The elf straightened up, eyeing them all malevolently, and apparently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "convinced that they could not hear him as he continued to mutter.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " '. . . and there's the Mudblood, standing there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "bold as brass, oh if my mistress knew, oh, how she'd cry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and there's a new boy, Kreacher doesn't know his name. What is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he doing here? Kreacher doesn't know . . .` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "This is Harry, Kreacher,' said Hermione tentatively. 'Harry Potter.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Kreacher's pale eyes widened and he muttered faster and more furiously than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "ever. The Mudblood is talking to Kreacher as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "she is my friend, if Kreacher's mistress saw him in such company,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "oh, what would she say - ' 'Don't call","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "her a Mudblood!' said Ron and Ginny together, very angrily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'It doesn't matter,' Hermione whispered, 'he's not in his tight mind,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he doesn't know what he's - ' 'Don't kid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "yourself, Hermione, he knows exactly what he's saying,' said Fred, eyeing Kreacher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "with great dislike. Kreacher was still muttering, his eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "on Harry. 'Is it true? Is it Harry Potter?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Kreacher can see the scar, it must be true, that's the boy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "who stopped the Dark Lord, Kreacher wonders how he did it -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "' 'Don't we all, Kreacher,' said Fred. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'What do you want, anyway?' George asked. Kreacher's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "huge eyes darted towards George. 'Kreacher is cleaning,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said evasively. 'A likely story,' said a voice behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Harry. Sirius had come back; he was glowering at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the elf from the doorway. The noise in the hall had abated;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "perhaps Mrs Weasley and Mundungus had moved their argument down into the kitchen.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " At the sight of Sirius, Kreacher flung himself into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a ridiculously low bow that flattened his snoutlike nose on the floor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Stand up straight,' said Sirius impatiently. 'Now, what are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "you up to?' 'Kreacher is cleaning,' the elf repeated.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Kreacher lives to serve lie Noble House of Black - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'And it's getting blacker every day, it's filthy,' said Sirius.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Master always liked his little joke,' said Kreacher, bowing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "again, and continuing in an undertone, 'Master was a nasty ungrateful swine","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "who broke his mother's heart - ' 'My mother","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "didn't have a heart, Kreacher,' snapped Sirius. 'She kept herself alive out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of pure spite.' Kreacher bowed again as he spoke.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Whatever Master says,' he muttered furiously. 'Master is not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "fit to wipe slime from his mother's boots, oh, my poor mistress,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "what would she say if she saw Kreacher serving him, how she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "hated him, what a disappointment he was - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'I asked you what you were up to,' said Sirius coldly. 'Every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "time you show up pretending to be cleaning, you sneak something off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to your room so we can't throw it out.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Kreacher would never move anything from its proper place in Master's house,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said the elf, then muttered very fast, 'Mistress would never forgive Kreacher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "if the tapestry was thrown out, seven centuries it's been in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "family, Kreacher must save it, Kreacher will not let Master and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "blood traitors and the brats destroy it - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'I thought it might be that,' said Sirius, casting a disdainful look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "at the opposite wall. 'She'll have put another Permanent Sticking Charm on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the back of it, I don't doubt, but if I can get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "rid of it I certainly will. Now go away, Kreacher.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " It seemed that Kreacher did not dare disobey a direct order;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "nevertheless, the look he gave Sirius as he shuffled out past him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was full of deepest loathing and he muttered all the way out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of the room. ' - comes back from Azkaban","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "ordering Kreacher around, oh, my poor mistress, what would she say if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "she saw the house now, scum living in it, her treasures thrown","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "out, she swore he was no son of hers and he's back,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "they say he's a murderer too - ' 'Keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "muttering and I will be a murderer!' said Sirius irritably as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "slammed the door shut on the elf. 'Sirius, he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "not right in the head,' Hermione pleaded, 'I don't think he realises","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "we can hear him.' 'He's been alone too long,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said Sirius, 'taking mad orders from my mothers portrait and talking to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "himself, but he was always a foul little - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'If you could just set him free,' said Hermione hopefully, 'maybe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- ' 'We can't set him free, he knows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "too much about the Order; said Sirius curtly. 'And anyway, the shock","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "would kill him. You suggest to him that he leaves this house,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "see how he takes it.' Sirius walked across the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "room to where the tapestry Kreacher had been trying to protect hung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the length of the wall. Harry and the others followed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " The tapestry looked immensely old; it was laded and looked as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "though Doxys had gnawed it in places. Nevertheless, the golden thread with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "which it was embroidered still glinted brightly enough to show them a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sprawling family tree dating back (as far as Harry could tell) to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the Middle Ages. Large words at the very top of the tapestry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "read:The Noble and Most Ancient House of BlackToujours pur''You're not on here!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said Harry, after scanning the bottom of the tree closely. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'I used to be there,' said Sirius, pointing at a small,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "round, charred hole in the tapestry, rather like a cigarette burn. 'My","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sweet old mother blasted me off after I ran away from home","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- Kreacher's quite fond of muttering the story under his breath.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'You ran away from home?' 'When I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was about sixteen,' said Sirius. 'I'd had enough.' 'Where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "did you go?' asked Harry, staring at him. 'Your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "dad's place,' said Sirius. 'Your grandparents were really good about it; they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sort of adopted me as a second son. Yeah, I camped out at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "your dads in the school holidays, and when I was seventeen I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "got a place of my own. My Uncle Alphard had left me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a decent bit of gold - he's been wiped off here, too,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "that's probably why - anyway, after that I looked after myself. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was always welcome at Mr and Mrs Potters for Sunday lunch, though.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'But . . . why did you . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ".?' 'Leave?' Sirius smiled bitterly and ran his fingers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "through his long, unkempt hair. 'Because I hated the whole lot of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "them: my parents, with their pure-blood mania, convinced that to be a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Black made you practically royal . . . my idiot brother, soft","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "enough to believe them . . . that's him.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Sirius jabbed a finger at the very bottom of the tree, at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the name 'Regulus Black'. A date of death (some fifteen years previously)","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "followed the date of birth. 'He was younger than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "me,' said Sirius, 'and a much better son, as I was constantly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "reminded.' 'But he died,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Yeah,' said Sirius. 'Stupid idiot . . . he joined the Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Eaters.' 'You're kidding!' 'Come on, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "haven't you seen enough of this house to tell what kind of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "wizards my family were?' said Sirius testily. 'Were -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "were your parents Death Eaters as well?' 'No, no,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "but believe me, they thought Voldemort had the right idea, they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "all for the purification of the wizarding race, getting rid of Muggle-borns","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and having pure-bloods in charge. They weren't alone, either, there were quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a few people, before Voldemort showed his true colours, who thought he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "had the right idea about things . . . they got cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "power, though. But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "little hero for joining up at first.' 'Was he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "killed by an Auror?' Harry asked tentatively. 'Oh, no,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said Sirius. 'No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "more likely; I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he got in so far, then panicked about what he: was being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "death.' 'Lunch,' said Mrs Weasley's voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "She was holding her wand high in front of her, balancing a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "huge tray loaded with sandwiches and cake on its tip. She was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "very red in the face and still looked angry. The others moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "over to her, eager for some food, but Harry remained with Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "who had bent closer to the tapestry. 'I haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "looked at this for years. There's Phineas Nigellu; . . . my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "great-great-grandfather, see? . . . least popular Headmaster Hogwarts ever had .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ". . and Araminta Meliflua . . . cousin of my mother's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ". . . tried to force through a Ministry Bill to make","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Muggle-hunting legal . . . and dear Aunt Elladora . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "she started the family tradition of beheading house-elves when they got too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "old to carry tea trays . . . of course, any time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the family produced someone halfway decent they were disowned. I see Tonks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "isn't on here. Maybe that's why Kreacher won't take orders from her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- he's supposed to do whatever anyone in the family asks him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- ' 'You and Tonks are related?' Harry asked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "surprised. 'Oh, yeah, her mother Andromeda was my favourite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "col sin, said Sirius, examining the tapestry closely. 'No, Andromeda's not on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "here either, look - ' He pointed to another","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "small round burn mark between two names, Bellatrix and Narcissa. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Andromeda's sisters are still here because they made lovely, respectable pure-blood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "marriages, but Andromeda married a Muggle-born, Ted Tonks, so - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Sirius mimed blasting the tapestry with a wand and laughed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sourly. Harry, however, did not laugh; he was too busy staring at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the names to the right of Andromeda's burn mark. A double line","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "of gold embroidery linked Narcissa Black with Lucius Malfoy and a single","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "vertical gold line from their names led to the name Draco. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'You're related to the Malfoy's!' The pure-blood families","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "are all interrelated, said Sirius. 'If you're only going to let your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sons and daughters marry pure-bloods our choice is very limited; there are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "hardly any of us left. Molly and I are cousins by marriage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and Arthur's something like my second cousin once removed. But there's no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "point looking for then on here - if ever a family was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a bunch of blood traitors it's the Weaseys.' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Harry was now looking at the name to the left of Andromeda's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "burn: Bellatrix Black, which was connected by a double line to Rodolphus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Lestrange. 'Lestrange . . .' Harry said aloud. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "name had stirred something in his memory; he knew it from somewhere,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "but for a moment he couldn't think where, though it gave him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "an odd, creeping sensation in the pit of his stomach. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'They're in Azkaban,' said Sirius shortly. Harry looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "at him curiously. 'Bellatrix and her husband Rodolphus came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in with Barty Crouch junior,' said Sirius, in the same brusque voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'Rodolphuss brother Rabastan was with them, too.' Then Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "remembered. He had seen Bellatrix Lestrange inside Dumbledore's Pensieve, the strange device","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in which thoughts and memories could be stored: a tall dark woman","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "with heavy-lidded eyes, who had stood at her trial and proclaimed her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "continuing allegiance to Lord Voldemort, her pride that she had tried to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "find him after his downfall and her conviction that she would one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "day be rewarded for her loyalty. 'You never said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "she was your - ' 'Does it matter if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "she's my cousin?' snapped Sirius. 'As far as I'm concerned, they're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "my family. She's certainly not my family. I haven't seen her since","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "I was your age, unless you count a glimpse of her coming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "into Azkaban. D'you think I'm proud of having a relative like her?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Sorry,' said Harry quickly, 'I didn't mean - I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was just surprised, that's all - ' 'It doesn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "matter, don't apologise,' Sirius mumbled. He turned away from the tapestry, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "hands deep in his pockets. 'I don't like being back here,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "said, staring across the drawing room. 'I never thought I'd be stuck","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in this house again.' Harry understood completely. He knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "how he would feel, when he was grown up and thought he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was free of the place for ever, to return and live at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "number four, Privet Drive. 'It's ideal for Headquarters, of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "course; Sirius said. 'My father put every security measure known to wizardkind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "on it when he lived here. It's unplottable, so Muggles could never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "come and call - as if they d ever have wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- and now Dumbledore's added his protection, you'd be hard put to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "find a safer house anywhere. Dumbledore is Secret Keeper for the Order,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "you know - nobody can find Headquarters unless he tells them personally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "where it is - that note Moody showed you last night, that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was from Dumbledore . . .' Sirius gave a short, bark-like laugh.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "'If my parents could see the use their house was being put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to now . . . well, my mothers portrait should give you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "some idea. He scowled for a moment, then sighed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'I wouldn't mind if I could just get out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "occasionally and do something useful. I've asked Dumbledore whether I can escort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "you, to your hearing - as Snuffles, obviously - so I can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "give you a bit of moral support, what d'you think?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Harry felt as though his stomach had sunk through the dusty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "carpet. He had not thought about the hearing once since dinner the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "previous evening; in the excitement of being back with the people he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "liked best, and hearing everything that was going on, it had completely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "flown his mind. At Sirius's words, however, the crushing sense of dread","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "returned to him. He stared at Hermione and the Weasleys, all tucking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "into their sandwiches, and thought how he would feel if they went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "back to Hogwarts without him. 'Don't worry,' Sirius said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Harry looked up and realised that Sirius had been watching him. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sure they'll clear you, there's definitely something in the International Statute of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Secrecy about being allowed to use magic to save your own life.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " But if they do expel me,' said Harry quietly, 'can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "I come back here and live with you?' Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "smiled sadly. 'We'll see.' 'I'd feel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a lot better about the hearing if I knew I didn't have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to go back to the Dursleys',' Harry pressed him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "They must be bad if you prefer this place,' said Sirius gloomily.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'Hurry up, you two, or there won't be any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "food left,' Mrs Weasley called. Sirius heaved another great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sigh, cast a dark look at the tapestry, then he and Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "went to join the others. Harry tried his best","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "not to think about the hearing while he emptied the glass-fronted cabinets","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "that afternoon. Fortunately for him, it was a job that required a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "lot of concentration, as many of the objects in there seemed very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "reluctant to leave their dusty shelves. Sirius sustained a bad bite from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "a silver snuffbox; within seconds his bitten hand had developed an unpleasant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "crusty covering like a tough brown glove. 'Its OK,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he said, examining the hand with interest before tapping it lightly with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "his wand and restoring its skin to normal, 'must be Wartcap powder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in there.' He threw the box aside into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sack where they were depositing the debris from the cabinets; Harry saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "George wrap his own hand carefully in a cloth moments later and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sneak the box into his already Doxy-filled pocket. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "found an unpleasant-looking silver instrument, something like a many-legged pair of tweezers,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "which scuttled up Harry's arm like a spider when he picked it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "up, and attempted to puncture his skin. Sirius seized it and smashed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "it with a heavy book entitled Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "was a musical box that emitted a faintly sinister, tinkling tune when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "wound, and they all found themselves becoming curiously weak and sleepy, until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Ginny had the sense to slam the lid shut; a heavy locket","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "that none of them could open; a number of ancient seals; and,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in a dusty box, an Order of Merlin, First Class, that had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "been awarded to Sirius's grandfather for 'services to the Ministry'. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " 'It means he gave them a load of gold,' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "contemptuously throwing the medal into the rubbish sack. Several","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "times Kreacher sidled into the room and attempted to smuggle things away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "under his loincloth, muttering horrible curses every time they caught him at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "it. When Sirius wrested a large go den ring bearing the Black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "crest from his grip, Kreacher actually burst into furious tears and left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the room sobbing under his breath and calling Sirius names Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "never heard before. 'It was my father's,' said Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "throwing the ring into the sack. 'Kreacher wasn't quite as devoted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "him as to my mother, but I still caught him snogging a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "pair of my father's old trousers last week.'*Mrs Weasley kept them all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "working very hard over the next few days. The drawing room took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "three days to decontaminate. Finally, the only undesirable things left in it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "were the tapestry of the Black family tree, which resisted all their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "attempts to remove it from the wall, and the rattling writing desk.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Moody had not dropped by Headquarters yet, so they could not be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "sure what was inside it. They moved from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "drawing room to a dining room on the ground floor where they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "found spiders as large as saucers lurking in the dresser (Ron left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the room hurriedly to make a cup of tea and did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "return for an hour and a half). The china, which bore the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Black crest and motto, was all thrown unceremoniously into a sack by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Sirius, and the same fate met a set of old photographs in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "tarnished silver frames, all of whose occupants squealed shrilly as the glass","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "covering them smashed. Snape might refer to their work","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "as 'cleaning', but in Harry's opinion they were really waging war on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the house, which was putting up a very good fight, aided and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "abetted by Kreacher. The house-elf kept appearing wherever they were congregated, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "muttering becoming more and more offensive as he attempted to remove anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he could from the rubbish sacks. Sirius went as far as to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "threaten him with clothes, but Kreacher fixed him with a watery stare","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and said, 'Master must do as Master wishes,' before turning away and muttering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "very loudly, 'but Master will not turn Kreacher away, no, because Kreacher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "knows what they are up to, oh yes, he is plotting against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the Dark Lord, yes, with these Mudblood and traitors and scum .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" ". .' At which Sirius, ignoring Hermione's protests, seized","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Kreacher by the back of his loincloth and threw him bodily from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the room. The doorbell rang several times a day,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "which was the cue for Sirius's mother to start shrieking again, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "for Harry and the others to attempt to eavesdrop on the visitor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "though they gleaned very little from the brief glimpses and snatches of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "conversation they were able to sneak before Mrs Weasley recalled them to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "their tasks. Snape flitted in and out of the house several times","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "more, though to Harry's relief they never came face to face; Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "also caught sight of his Transfiguration teacher Professor McGonagall, looking very odd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "in a Muggle dress and coat, and she also seemed too busy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to linger. Sometimes, however, the visitors stayed to help. Tonks joined them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "for a memorable afternoon in which they found a murderous old ghoul","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "lurking in an upstairs toilet, and Lupin, who was staying in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "house with Sirius but who left it for long periods to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "mysterious work for the Order, helped them repair a grandfather clock that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "had developed the unpleasant habit of shooting heavy bolts at passers-by. Mundungus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "redeemed himself slightly in Mrs Weasley's eyes by rescuing Ron from an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "ancient set of purple robes that had tried to strangle him when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "he removed them from their wardrobe. Despite the fact","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "that he was still sleeping badly, still having dreams about corridors and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "locked doors that made his scar prickle, Harry was managing to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "fun for the first time all summer. As long as he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "busy he was happy; when the action abated, however, whenever he dropped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "his guard, or lay exhausted in bed watching blurred shadows move across","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "the ceiling, the thought of the looming Ministry hearing returned to him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Fear jabbed at his insides like needles as he wondered what was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "going to happen to him if he was expelled. The idea was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "so terrible that he did not dare voice it aloud, not even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to Ron and Hermione, who, though he often saw them whispering together","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and casting anxious looks in his direction, followed his lead in not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "mentioning it. Sometimes, he could not prevent his imagination showing him a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "faceless Ministry official who was snapping his wand in two and ordering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "him back to the Dursleys' . . . but he would not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "go. He was determined on that. He would come back here to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Grimmauld Place and live with Sirius. He felt as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "though a brick had dropped into his stomach when Mrs Weasley turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "to him during dinner on Wednesday evening and said quietly, 'I've ironed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "your best clothes for tomorrow morning, Harry, and I want you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "wash your hair tonight, too. A good first impression can work wonders.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny all stopped talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "and looked over at him. Harry nodded and tried to keep eating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "his chop, but his mouth had become so dry he could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "chew. 'How am I getting there?' he asked Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Weasley, trying to sound unconcerned. 'Arthur's taking you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "work with him,' said Mrs Weasley gently. Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "smiled encouragingly at Harry across the table. 'You can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "wait in my office until it's time for the hearing,' he said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Harry looked over at Sirius, but before he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "ask the question, Mrs Weasley had answered it. 'Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "Dumbledore doesn't think it's a good idea for Sirius to go with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "you, and I must say I - ' '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "- think he's quite right,' said Sirius through clenched teeth. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Mrs Weasley pursed her lips. 'When did Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "tell you that?' Harry said, staring at Sirius. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "came last night, when you were in bed,' said Mr Weasley ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " Sirius stabbed moodily at a potato with his fork. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "lowered his own eyes to his plate. The thought that Dumbledore had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "been in the house on the eve of his hearing and not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" "asked to see him made him feel, if it were possible, even worse. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-6" " The Ministry of Magic Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "awoke at half past five the next morning as abruptly and completely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "as if somebody had yelled in his ear. For a few moments","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "he lay immobile as the prospect of the disciplinary hearing filled every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "tiny particle of his brain, then, unable to bear it, he leapt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "out of bed and put on his glasses. Mrs Weasley had laid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "out his freshly laundered jeans and T-shirt at the foot of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "bed. Harry scrambled into them. The blank picture on the wall sniggered.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Ron was lying sprawled on his back with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "mouth wide open, fast asleep. He did not stir as Harry crossed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the room, stepped out on to the landing and closed the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "softly behind him. Trying net to think of the next time he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "would see Ron, when they might no longer be fellow students at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Hogwarts, Harry walked quietly down the stairs, past the heads of Kreacher's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "ancestors, and down into the kitchen. He had expected","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "it to be empty, but when he reached the door he heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the soft rumble of voices on the other side. He pushed it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "open and saw Mr and Mrs Weasley, Sirius, Lupin and Tonks sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "there almost as though they were waiting for him. All were fully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "dressed except Mrs Weasley, who was wearing a quilted purple dressing gown.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "She leapt to her feet the moment Harry entered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'Breakfast,' she said as she pulled out her wand and hurried over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to the fire. 'M - m - morning, Harry,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "yawned Tonks. Her hair was blonde and curly this morning. 'Sleep all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "right?' 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'I've b","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "- b - been up all night,' she said, with another shuddering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "yawn. 'Come and sit down . . .' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "drew out a chair, knocking over the one beside it ir the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "process. 'What do you want, Harry?' Mrs Weasley called.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'Porridge? Muffins? Kippers? Bacon and eggs? Toast?' 'Just -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "just toast, thanks,' said Harry. Lupin glanced at Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "then said to Tonks, 'What were you saying about Scrimgeour?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Oh . . . yeah . . . well, we need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to be a bit more careful, he's been asking Kingsley and me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "funny questions . . .' Harry felt vaguely grateful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "that he was not required to join in the conversation. His insides","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "were squirming. Mrs Weasley placed a couple of pieces of toast and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "marmalade in front of him; he tried to eat, but it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "like chewing carpet. Mrs Weasley sat down on his other side and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "started fussing with his T-shirt, tucking in the label and smoothing out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the creases across his shoulders. He wished she wouldn't. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'. . . and I'll have to tell Dumbledore I can't do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "night duty tomorrow, I'm just t - t - too tired,' Tonks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "finished, yawning hugely again. 'Ill cover for you,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Mr Weasley. 'I'm OK, I've got a report to finish anyway ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Mr Weasley was not wearing wizards' robes but a pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of pinstriped trousers and an old bomber jacket. He turned from Tonks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to Harry. 'How are you feeling?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Harry shrugged. 'It'll all be over soon,' Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said bracingly. 'In a few hours' time you'll be cleared.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Harry said nothing. The hearings on my floor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "in Amelia Bones's office. She's Head of the Department of Magical Law","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Enforcement, and the one who'll be questioning you.' 'Amelia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Bones is OK, Harry,' said Tonks earnestly. 'She's fair, she'll hear you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "out.' Harry nodded, still unable to think of anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to say. 'Don't lose your temper,' said Sirius abruptly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'Be polite and stick to the facts.' Harry nodded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "again. The law's on your side,' said Lupin quietly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'Even underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Something very cold trickled down the back of Harry's neck;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "for a moment he thought someone was putting a Disillusionment Charm on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "him, then he realised that Mrs Weasley was attacking his hair with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "wet comb. She pressed hard on the top of his head. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Doesn't it ever lie flat?' she said desperately. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Harry shook his head. Mr Weasley checked his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "watch and looked up at Harry. I think we'll go now,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said. 'We're a bit early, but I think you 11 be better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "off at the Ministry than hanging around here.' 'OK,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said Harry automatically, dropping his toast and getting to his feet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'You'll be all right, Harry,' said Tonks, palling him on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the arm. 'Good luck,' said Lupin. 'I'm sure it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "will be fine.' 'And if it's not,' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "grimly, 'I'll see to Amelia Bones for you . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Harry smiled weakly. Mrs Weasley hugged him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'We've all got our fingers crossed,' she said. 'Right,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said Harry. 'Well . . . see you later then.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " He followed Mr Weasley upstairs and along the hall. He could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "hear Sirius's mother grunting in her sleep behind her curtains. Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "unbolted the door and they stepped out into the cold, grey dawn.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'You don't normally walk to work, do you?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "asked him, as they set off briskly around the square. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'No, I usually Apparate,' said Mr Weasley, 'but obviously you can't,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "and I think it's best we arrive in a thoroughly non-magical fashion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". . . makes a better impression, given what you're being disciplined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "for . . .' Mr Weasley kept his hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "inside his jacket as they walked. Harry knew it was clenched around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "his wand. The run-down streets were al most deserted, but when they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "arrived at the miserable little underground station they found it already lull","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of early-morning commuters. As ever when he found himself in close proximity","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to Muggles going about their daily business, Mr Weasley was hard put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to contain his enthusiasm. 'Simply fabulous,' he whispered, indicating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the automatic ticket machines. 'Wonderfully ingenious.' They're out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "order,' said Harry, pointing at the sign. 'Yes, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "even so . . .' said Mr Weasley, beaming at them fondly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " They bought their tickets instead from a sleepy-looking guard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "(Harry handled the transaction, as Mr Weasley was not very good with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Muggle money) and five minutes later they were boarding an underground train","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "that rattled them off towards the centre of London. Mr Weasley kept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "anxiously checking and re-checking the Underground Map above the windows. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Four more stops, Harry . . . Three stops led now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". . . Two stops to go, Harry . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " They got off at a station in the very heart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of London, and were swept from the train in a tide of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "besuited men and women carrying briefcases. Up the escalator they went, through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the ticket barrier (Mr Weasley delighted with the way the stile swallowed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "his ticket), and emerged on to a broad street lined with imposing-looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "buildings and already full of traffic. 'Where are we?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said Mr Weasley blankly, and for one heart-stopping moment Harry thought they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "had got off at the wrong station despite Mr Weasley's continual references","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to the map; but a second later he said, 'Ah yes .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". . this way, Harry,' and led him down a side road.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Sorry,' he said, 'but I never come by train","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "and it all looks rather different from a Muggle perspective. As a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "matter of fact, I've never even used the visitors' entrance before.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " The further they walked, the smaller and less imposing the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "buildings became, until finally they reached a street that contained several rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "shabby-looking offices, a pub and an overflowing skip. Harry had expected a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "rather more impressive location for the Ministry of Magic. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'Here we are,' said Mr Weasley brightly, pointing at an old red","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "telephone box, which was missing several panes of glass and stood before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a heavily graffitied wall. 'After you, Harry.' He opened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the telephone-box door. Harry stepped inside, wondering what on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "earth this was about. Mr Weasley folded himself in beside Harry and closed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the door. It was a tight fit; Harry was jammed against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "telephone apparatus, which was hanging crookedly from the wall as though a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "vandal had tried to rip it off. Mr Weasley reached past Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "for the receiver. 'Mr Weasley, I think this might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "be out of order, too,' Harry said. 'No, no,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "I'm sure its fine,' said Mr Weasley, holding the receiver above his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "head and peering at the dial. 'Let's see . . . six","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". . .' he dialled the number, 'two . . . four","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". . . and another four . . . and another two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". . .' As the dial whirred smoothly back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "into place, a cool female voice sounded inside the telephone box, not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "from the receiver in Mr Weasley's hand, but as loudly and plainly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "as though an invisible woman were standing right beside them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "business.' 'Er . . .' said Mr Weasley, clearly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "uncertain whether or not he should talk into the receiver. He compromised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "by holding the mouthpiece to his ear, 'Arthur Weasley, Misuse of Muggle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Artefacts Office, here to escort Harry Potter, who has been asked to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "attend a disciplinary hearing . . .' 'Thank you,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said the cool female voice. 'Visitor, please take the badge and attach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "it to the front of your robes.' There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a click and a rattle, and Harry saw something slide out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the metal chute where returned coins usually appeared. He picked it up:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "it was a square silver badge with Harry Potter, Disciplinary Hearing on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "it. He pinned it to the front of his T-shirt as the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "female voice spoke again. 'Visitor to the Ministry, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "are required to submit to a search and present your wand for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of the Atrium ' The floor of the telephone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "box shuddered. They were sinking slowly into the ground. Harry watched apprehensively","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "as the pavement seemed to rise up past the glass windows of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the telephone box until darkness closed over their heads. Then he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "see nothing at all; he could hear only a dull grinding noise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "as the telephone box made its way down through the earth. After","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "about a minute, though it felt much longer to Harry, a chink","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of golden light illuminated his feet and, widening, rose up his body,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "until it hit him in the face and he had to blink","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to stop his eyes watering. 'The Ministry of Magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "wishes you a pleasant day,' said the woman's voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "The door of the telephone box sprang open and Mr Weasley stepped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "out of it, followed by Harry, whose mouth had fallen open. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " They were standing at one end of a very long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that kept moving and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "changing like some enormous heavenly noticeboard. The wall's on each side were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "panelled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "them. Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh. On the right-hand side,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "short queues were forming before each fireplace, waiting to depart. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Halfway down the hall was a fountain. A group of golden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "statues, larger than life-size, stood in the middle of a circular pool.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Tallest of them all was a noble-looking wizard with his wand pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "straight up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful witch,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a centaur, a goblin and a house-elf. The last three were all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "locking adoringly up at the witch and wizard. Glittering jets of water","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "were flying from the ends of their wands, the point of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "centaurs a tow, the tip of the goblin's hat and each of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the house-elf's ears, so that the tinkling hiss of falling water was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "added to the pops and cracks of the Apparators and the clatter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards, most of whom were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "wearing glum, early-morning looks, strode towards a set of golden gates at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the far end of the hall 'This way,' said Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Weasley. They joined the throng, wending their way between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the Ministry workers, some of whom were carrying tottering piles of parchment,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "others battered briefcases; still others were reading the Daily Prophet while they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "walked. As they passed the fountain Harry saw silver Sickles and bronze","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Knuts glinting up at him from the bottom of the pool. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "small smudged sign beside it read:ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF MAGICAL","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "BRETHREN WILL BE GIVEN TO ST MUNGO'S HOSPITAL FOR MAGICAL MALADIES AND","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "INJURIES.If I'm not expelled from Hogwarts, I'll put in ten Galleons, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "found himself thinking desperately. 'Over here, Harry,' said Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Weasley, and they stepped out of the stream of Ministry employees heading","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "for the golden gates. Seated at a desk to the left, beneath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a sign saying Security, a badly-shaven wizard in peacock blue robes looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "up as they approached and put down his Daily Prophet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'I'm escorting a visitor,' said Mr Weasley, gesturing towards Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Step over here,' said the wizard in a bored voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Harry walked closer to him and the wizard held","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "up a long golden rod, thin and flexible as a car aerial,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "and passed it up and down Harry's front and back. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Wand,' grunted the security wizard at Harry, putting down the golden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "instrument and holding out his hand. Harry produced his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "wand. The wizard dropped it on to a strange brass instrument, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "looked something like a set of scales with only one dish. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "began to vibrate. A narrow strip of parchment came speeding out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a slit in the base. The wizard tore this off and read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the writing on it. 'Eleven inches, phoenix-feather core, been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "in use four years. That correct?' 'Yes,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "nervously. 'I keep this,' said the wizard, impaling the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "slip of parchment on a small brass spike. 'You get this back,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "he added, thrusting the wand at Harry. Thank you.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Hang on . . .' said the wizard slowly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " His eyes had darted from the silver visitor's badge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "on Harry's chest to his forehead. Thank you, Eric,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said Mr Weasley firmly, and grasping Harry by the shoulder he steered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "him away from the desk and back into the stream of wizards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "and witches walking through the golden gates. Jostled slightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "by the crowd, Harry followed Mr Weasley through the gates into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "smaller hall beyond, where at least twenty lifts stood behind wrought golden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "grilles. Harry and Mr Weasley joined the crowd around one of them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Nearby, stood a big bearded wizard holding a large cardboard box which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "was emitting rasping noises. 'All right, Arthur?' said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "wizard, nodding at Mr Weasley. What've you got there,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Bob?' asked Mr Weasley, looking at the box. 'We're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "not sure,' said the wizard seriously. 'We thought it was a bog-standard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "chicken until it started breathing fire. Looks like a serious breach of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the Ban on Experimental Breeding to me.' With a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "great jangling and clattering a lift descended in front of them; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "golden grille slid back and Harry and Mr Weasley stepped into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "lift with the rest of the crowd and Harry found himself jammed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "against the back wall. Several witches and wizards were looking at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "curiously; he stared at his feet to avoid catching anyone's eye, flattening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "his fringe as he did so. The grilles slid shut with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "crash and the lift ascended slowly, chains rattling, while the same cool","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "female voice Harry had heard in the telephone box rang out again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Level Seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club and Ludicrous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Patents Office.' The lift doors opened. Harry glimpsed an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "untidy-looking corridor, with various posters of Quidditch teams tacked lopsidedly on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "walls. One of the wizards in the lift, who was carrying an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "armful of broomsticks, extricated himself with difficulty and disappeared down the corridor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "The doors closed, the lift juddered upwards again and the woman's voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "announced: 'Level Six, Department of Magical Transportation, incorporating the Floo","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office and Apparation Test Centre.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Once again the lift doors opened and four or five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "witches and wizards got out; at the same time, several paper aeroplanes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "swooped into the lift. Harry stared up at them as they flapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "idly around above his head; they were a pale violet colour and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "he could see Ministry of Magic stamped along the edge of their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "wings. 'Just inter-departmental memos,' Mr Weasley muttered to him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'We used to use owls, but the mess was unbelievable . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". droppings a I over the desks As they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "clattered upwards again the memos flapped around the lamp swaying from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "lift's ceiling. 'Level Five, Department of International Magical Co-operation,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "incorporating the International Magical Trading Standards Body, the International Magical Office of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Law and the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "When the doors opened, two of the memos zoomed out with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "few more of the witches and wizards, but several more memos zoomed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "in, so that the light from the lamp flickered and flashed overhead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "as they darted around it. 'Level Four, Department for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being and Spirit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office and Pest Advisory Bureau. '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'S'cuse,' said the wizard carrying the fire-breathing chicken and he left the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "lift pursued by a little flock of memos. The doors clanged shut","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "yet again. 'Level Three, Department of Magical Accidents and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Catastrophes, including the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, Obliviator Headquarters and Muggle-Worthy Excuse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Committee.' Everybody left the lift on this floor except","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Mr Weasley, Harry and a witch who was reading an extremely long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "piece of parchment that was trailing on the floor. The remaining memos","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "continued to soar around the lamp as the lift juddered upwards again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "then the doors opened and the voice made its announcement. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'This is us, Harry,' said Mr Weasley, and they followed the witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "out of the lift into a corridor lined with doors. 'My office","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "is on the other side of the floor.' 'Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Weasley,' said Harry, as they passed a window through which sunlight was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "streaming, 'aren't we still underground?' 'Yes, we are,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Mr Weasley. Those are enchanted windows. Magical Maintenance decide what weather we'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "get every day. We had two months of hurricanes last time they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "were angling for a pay rise . . . Just round here,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Harry.' They turned a corner, walked through a pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of heavy oak doors and emerged in a cluttered open area divided","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "into cubicles, which was buzzing with talk and laughter. Memos were zooming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "in and out of cubicles like miniature rockets. A lopsided sign on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the nearest cubicle read: Auror Headquarters. Harry looked surreptitiously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "through the doorways as they passed. The Aurors had covered their cubicle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "walls with everything From pictures of wanted wizards and photographs of their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "families, to posters of their favourite Quidditch teams and articles from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Daily Prophet. A scarlet-robed man with a ponytail longer than Bill's was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "sitting with his boots up on his desk, dictating a report to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "his quill. A little further along, a witch with a patch over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "one eye was talking over the top of her cubicle wall to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Kingsley Shacklebolt. 'Morning, Weasley,' said Kingsley carelessly, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "drew nearer. I've been wanting a word with you, have you got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a second?' 'Yes, if it really is a second,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "said Mr Weasley, 'I'm in rather a hurry.' They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "were talking as though they hardly knew each other and when Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "opened his mouth to say hello to Kingsley, Mr We ashy stood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "on his foot. They followed Kingsley along the row and into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "very last cubicle. Harry received a slight shock; blinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "down at him from every direction was Sirius's face. Newspaper cuttings and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "old photographs - even the one of Sirius being best man at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the Potters' wedding - 'papered the walls. The only Sirius-free space was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a map of the world in which little red pins were glowing like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "jewels. 'Here,' said Kingsley brusquely to Mr Weasley, shoving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a sheaf of parchment into his hand. 'I need as much information","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "as possible on flying Muggle vehicles sighted in the last twelve months.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "We've received information that Black might still be using his old motorcycle.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " Kingsley tipped Harry an enormous wink and added, in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a whisper, 'Give him the magazine, he might find it interesting.' Then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "he said in normal tones, 'And don't take too long, Weasley, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "delay on that firelegs report held our investigation up for a month.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'If you had read my report you would know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "that the term is firearms,' said Mr Weasley coolly. 'And I'm afraid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "you'll have to wait for information on motorcycles; we're extremely busy at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the moment.' He dropped his voice and said, 'If you can get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "away before seven, Molly's making meatballs.' He beckoned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Harry and led him out of Kingsley's cubicle, through a second set","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of oak doors, into another passage, turned left, marched along another corridor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "turned right into a dimly lit and distinctly shabby corridor, and finally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "reached a dead end, where a door on the left stood ajar,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "revealing a broom cupboard, and a door on the right bore a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "tarnished brass plaque reading: Misuse of Muggle Artefacts. Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Weasley's dingy office seemed to be slightly smaller than the broom cupboard.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Two desks had been crammed inside it and there was barely space","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to move around them because of all the overflowing filing cabinets lining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the walls, on top of which were tottering piles of files. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "little wall space available bore witness to Mr Weasley's obsessions: several posters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of cars, including one of a dismantled engine; two illustrations of postboxes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "he seemed to have cut out of Muggle children's books; and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "diagram showing how to wire a plug. Sitting on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "top of Mr Weasley's overflowing in-tray was an old toaster that was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "hiccoughing in a disconsolate way and a pair of empty leather gloves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "that were twiddling their thumbs. A photograph of the Weasley family stood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "beside the in-tray. Harry noticed that Percy appeared to have walked out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "of it. 'We haven't got a window,' said Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Weasley apologetically, taking off his bomber jacket and placing it on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "back of his chair. 'We've asked, but they don't seem to think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "we need one. Have a seat, Harry, doesn't look as if Perkins","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "is in yet.' Harry squeezed himself into the chair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "behind Perkins's desk while Mr Weasley riffled through the sheaf of parchment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Kingsley Shacklebolt had given him. 'Ah,' he said, grinning,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "as he extracted a copy of a magazine entitled The Quibbler from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "its midst, 'yes . . .' He flicked through it. 'Yes, he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "right, I'm sure Sirius will find that very amusing - oh dear,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "what's this now?' A memo had just zoomed in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "through the open door and fluttered to rest on top of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "hiccoughing toaster. Mr Weasley unfolded it and read it aloud. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " `Third regurgitating public toilet reported in Bethnal Green, kindly investigate immediately.`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "This is getting ridiculous . . .' 'A regurgitating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "toilet?' 'Anti-Muggle pranksters,' said Mr Weasley, frowning. 'We had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "two last week, one in Wimbledon, one in Elephant and Castle. Muggles","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "are pulling the flush and instead of everything disappearing - well, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "can imagine. The poor things keep calling in those - pumbles, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "think they're called - you know, the ones who mend pipes and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "things.' 'Plumbers?' 'Exactly, yes, but of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "course they're flummoxed, f only hope we can catch whoever's doing it.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Will it be Aurors who catch them?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Oh no, this is too trivial for Aurors, it'll be the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "ordinary Magical Law Enforcement Patrol - ah, Harry, this is Perkins.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " A stooped, timid-looking old wizard with fluffy white hair had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "just entered the room, panting. 'Oh, Arthur!' he said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "desperately, without looking at Harry. Thank goodness, I didn't know what to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "do for the best, whether to wait here for you or not.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "I've just sent an owl to your home but you've obviously missed it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "- an urgent message came ten minutes ago - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'I know about the regurgitating toilet,' said Mr Weasley. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'No, no, it's not the toilet, it's the Potter boy's hearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "- they've changed the time and venue - it starts at eight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "o'clock now and it's down in old Courtroom Ten - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Down in old - but they told me - Merlin's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "beard!' Mr Weasley looked at his watch, let out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a yelp and leapt from his chair. 'Quick, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "we should have been there five minutes ago!' Perkins","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "flattened himself against the filing cabinets as Mr Weasley left the office","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "at a run, Harry close on his heels. 'Why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "have they changed the time?' Harry said breathlessly, as they hurtled past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the Auror cubicles; people poked out their heads and stared as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "streaked past. Harry felt as though he'd felt all his insides back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "at Perkins's desk. 'I've no idea, but thank goodness","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "we got here so early, if you'd missed it, it would have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "been catastrophic!' Mr Weasley skidded to a halt beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the lifts and jabbed impatiently at the 'down' button. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'Come ON!' The lift clattered into view and they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "hurried inside. Every time it stopped Mr Weasley cursed furiously and pummelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "the number nine button. 'Those courtrooms haven't been used","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "in years,' said Mr Weasley angrily. 'I can't think why they're doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "it down there - unless - but no - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " A plump witch carrying a smoking goblet entered the lift","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "at that moment, and Mr Weasley did not elaborate. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'The Atrium,' said the cool female voice and the golden grilles slid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "open, showing Harry a distant glimpse of the golden statues in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "fountain. The plump witch got out and a sallow-skinned wizard with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "very mournful face got in. 'Morning, Arthur,' he said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "in a sepulchral voice as the lift began to descend. 'Don't often","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "see you down here.' 'Urgent business, Bode,' said Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Weasley, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet and throwing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "anxious looks over at Harry. 'Ah, yes,' said Bode,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "surveying Harry unblinkingly. 'Of course.' Harry barely had emotion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to spare for Bode, but his unfaltering gaze did not make him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "feel any more comfortable. 'Department of Mysteries,' said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "cool female voice, and left it at that. 'Quick,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Harry,' said Mr Weasley as the lift doors rattled open, and they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "sped up a corridor that was quite different from those above. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "walls were bare; there were no windows and no doors apart from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "a plain black one set at the very end of the corridor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Harry expected them to go through it, but instead Mr Weasley seized","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "him by the arm and dragged him to the left, where there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "was an opening leading to a flight of steps. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "'Down here, down here,' panted Mr Weasley, taking two steps at a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "time. The lift doesn't even come down this far . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "why they're doing it down there I , . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " They reached the bottom of the steps and ran along yet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "another corridor, which bore a great resemblance to the one that led","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "to Snape's dungeon at Hogwarts, with rough stone walls and torches in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "brackets. The doors they passed here were heavy wooden ones with iron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "bolts and keyholes. 'Courtroom . . . Ten .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" ". . I think . . . we're nearly . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "yes.' Mr Weasley stumbled to a halt outside a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "grimy dark door with an immense iron lock and slumped against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "wall, clutching at a stitch in his chest. 'Go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "on,' he panted, pointing his thumb at the door. 'Get in there.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'Aren't - aren't you coming with - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " 'No, no, I'm not allowed. Good luck!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "Harry's heart was beating a violent tattoo against his Adams apple. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" "swallowed hard, turned the heavy iron door handle and stepped inside the courtroom. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-7" " The Hearing Harry gasped; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "could not help himself. The large dungeon he had entered was horribly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "familiar. He had not only seen it before, he had been here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "before. This was the place he had visited inside Dumbledore's Pensieve, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "place where he had watched the Lestranges sentenced to life imprisonment in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Azkaban. The walls were made of dark stone, dimly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "lit by torches. Empty benches rose on either side of him, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "ahead, in the highest benches of all, were many shadowy figures. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "had been talking in low voices, but as the heavy door swung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "closed behind Harry an ominous silence fell. A cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "male voice rang across the courtroom. 'You're late.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Sorry,' said Harry nervously. 'I - I didn't know the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "time had been changed.' 'That is not the Wizengamot's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "fault,' said the voice. 'An owl was sent to you this morning.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Take your seat.' Harry dropped his gaze to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "chair in the centre of the room, the arms of which were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "covered in chains. He had seen those chains spring to life and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "bind whoever sat between them. His footsteps echoed loudly as he walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "across the stone floor. When he sat gingerly on the edge of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the chair the chains clinked threateningly, but did not bind him. Feeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "rather sick, he looked up at the people seated at the bench","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "above. There were about fifty of them, all, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "far as he could see, wearing plum-coloured robes with an elaborately worked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "silver 'W' on the left-hand side of the chest and all staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "down their noses at him, some with very austere expressions, others looks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of frank curiosity. In the very middle of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "front row sat Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. Fudge was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "portly man who often sported a lime-green bowler hat, though today he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "had dispensed with it; he had dispensed, too, with the indulgent smile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "he had once worn when he spoke to Harry. A broad, square-jawed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "witch with very short grey hair sat on Fudges left; she wore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a monocle and looked forbidding. On Fudges right was another witch, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "she was sitting so far back on the bench that her face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "was in shadow. 'Very well,' said Fudge. 'The accused","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "being present - finally - let us begin. Are you ready?' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "called down the row. 'Yes, sir,' said an eager","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "voice Harry knew. Ron's brother Percy was sitting at the very end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of the front bench. Harry looked at Percy, expecting some sign of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "recognition from him, but none came. Percy's eyes, behind his horn-rimmed glasses,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "were fixed on his parchment, a quill poised in his hand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August,' said Fudge in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a ringing voice, and Percy began taking notes at once, 'into offences","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry-James Potter, resident at number four,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. 'Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Percy Ignatius Weasley - ' 'Witness for the defence,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,' said a quiet voice from behind Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " Dumbledore was striding serenely across the room wearing long midnight-blue robes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "and a perfectly calm expression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "in the torchlight as he drew level with Harry and looked up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "at Fudge through the half-moon spectacles that rested halfway down his very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "crooked nose. The members of the Wizengamot were muttering.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "All eyes were now on Dumbledore. Some looked annoyed, others slightly frightened;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "two elderly witches in the back row, however, raised their hands and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "waved in welcome. A powerful emotion had risen in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Harry's chest at the sight of Dumbledore, a fortified, hopeful feeling rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "like that which phoenix song gave him. He wanted to catch Dumbledore's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "eye, but Dumbledore was not looking his way; he was continuing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "look up at the obviously flustered Fudge. 'Ah,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. 'Dumbledore. Yes. You - er - got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "our - er - message that the time and - er -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "place of the hearing had been changed, then?' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "must have missed it,' said Dumbledore cheerfully. 'However, due to a lucky","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "done.' 'Yes - well - I suppose we'll need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "another chair - I - Weasley, could you - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Not to worry, not to worry,' said Dumbledore pleasantly; he took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "out his wand, gave it a little flick, and a squashy chintz","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "armchair appeared out of nowhere next to Harry. Dumbledore sat down, out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the tips of his long fingers together and surveyed Fudge over them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "with an expression of polite interest. The Wizengamot was still muttering and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "fidgeting restlessly; only when Fudge spoke again did they settle down. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Yes,' said Fudge again, shuffling his notes. 'Well, then. So.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "The charges. Yes.' He extricated a piece of parchment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "from the pile before him, took a deep breath, and read out,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "The charges against the accused are as follows: That","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "he did knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of the illegality of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "in the presence of a Muggle, on the second of August at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offence under Paragraph C of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?' Fudge said, glaring at Harry over the top","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of his parchment. 'Yes,' Harry said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "three years ago, did you not?' 'Yes, but -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "' 'And yet you conjured a Patronus on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "night of the second of August?' said Fudge. 'Yes,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "said Harry, 'but - ' 'Knowing that you are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "age of seventeen?' 'Yes, but - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Yes, but - ' 'Fully aware that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "you were in close proximity to a Muggle at the time?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Yes,' said Harry angrily, 'but I only used it because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "we were - ' The witch with the monocle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "cut across him in a booming voice. 'You produced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a fully-fledged Patronus?' 'Yes,' said Harry, 'because - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'A corporeal Patronus?' 'A - what?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "said Harry. 'Your Patronus had a clearly defined form?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "I mean to say, it was more than vapour or smoke?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Yes,' said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightly desperate, 'it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a stag, it's always a stag.' 'Always?' boomed Madam","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Bones. 'You have produced a Patronus before now?' 'Yes,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "said Harry, 'I've been doing it for over a year.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'And you are fifteen years old?' 'Yes, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "- ' 'You learned this at school?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Yes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the - ' 'Impressive,' said Madam Bones, staring down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "at him, 'a true Patronus at his age . . . very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "impressive indeed.' Some of the wizards and witches around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "her were muttering again; a few nodded, but others were frowning and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "shaking their heads. 'It's not a question of how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "impressive the magic was,' said Fudge in a testy voice, 'in fact,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the more impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " Those who had been frowning now murmured in agreement, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "it was the sight of Percy's sanctimonious little nod that goaded Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "into speech. 'I did it because of the Dementors!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "he said loudly, before anyone could interrupt him again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "He had expected more muttering, but the silence that fell seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "be somehow denser than before. 'Dementors?' said Madam Bones","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "after a moment, her thick eyebrows rising until her monocle looked in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "danger of falling out. 'What do you mean, boy?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'I mean there were two Dementors down that alleyway and they went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "for me and my cousin!' 'Ah,' said Fudge again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "smirking unpleasantly as he looked around at the Wizengamot, as though inviting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "them to share the joke. 'Yes. Yes, I thought we'd be hearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "something like this.' 'Dementors in Little Whinging?' Madam Bones","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "said, in a tone of great surprise. 'I don't understand - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Don't you, Amelia?' said Fudge, still smirking. 'Let me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "explain. He's been thinking it through and decided Dementors would make a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "very nice little cover story very nice indeed. Muggles can't see Dementors,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "can they, boy? Highly convenient, highly convenient . . . so it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "just your word and no witnesses . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'I'm not lying!' said Harry loudly, over another outbreak of muttering from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the court. There were two of them, coming from opposite ends of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the alley everything went dark and cold and my cousin felt them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "and ran for it - ' 'Enough, enough!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Fudge, with a very supercilious look on his face. 'I'm sorry to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "interrupt what I'm sure would have been a very well-rehearsed story -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "' Dumbledore cleared his throat. The Wizengamot fell silent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "again. 'We do, in fact, have a witness to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the presence of Dementors in that alleyway,' he said, 'other than Dudley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Dursley, I mean.' Fudges plump face seemed to slacken,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "as though somebody had let air out of it. He stared down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "at Dumbledore for a moment or two, then, with the appearance of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a man pulling himself back together, said, 'We haven't got time to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "listen to more tarradiddles, I'm afraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "quickly - ' 'I may be wrong,' said Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "pleasantly, 'but I am sure that under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the accused has the right to present witnesses for his or her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "case? Isn't that the policy of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Madam Bones?' he continued, addressing the witch in the monocle. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'True,' said Madam Bones. 'Perfectly true.' 'Oh, very well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "very well,' snapped Fudge. 'Where is this person?' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "brought her with me,' said Dumbledore. 'She's just outside the door. Should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "I - ?' 'No - Weasley, you go,' Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "barked at Percy, who got up at once, ran down the stone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "steps from the judge's balcony and hurried past Dumbledore and Harry without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "glancing at them. A moment later, Percy returned, followed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "by Mrs Figg. She looked scared and more batty than ever. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "wished she had thought to change out of her carpet slippers. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " Dumbledore stood up and gave Mrs Figg his chair, conjuring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a second one for himself. 'Full name?' said Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "loudly, when Mrs Figg had perched herself nervously on the very edge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of her seat. 'Arabella Doreen Figg,' said Mrs Figg","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "in her quavery voice. 'And who exactly are you?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "said Fudge, in a bored and lofty voice 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a resident of Little Whinging, close to where Harry Potter lives,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Mrs Figg. 'We have no record of any witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "or wizard living in Little Whinging, other than Harry Potter,' said Madam","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Bones at once 'That situation has always been closely monitored, given .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" ". . given past events.' 'I'm a Squib,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Mrs Figg. 'So you wouldn't have me registered, would you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'A Squib, eh?' said Fudge, eyeing her closely. 'We'll be checking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "that. You'll leave details of your parentage with my assistant Weasley. Incidentally,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "can Squibs see Dementors?' he added, looking left and right along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "bench. `Yes, we can!' said Mrs Figg indignantly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " Fudge looked back down at her, his eyebrows raised. 'Very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "well,' he said aloofly. 'What is your story?' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "had gone out to buy cat food from the corner shop at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the end of Wisteria Walk, around about nine o'clock, on the evening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of the second of August,' gabbled Mrs Figg at once, as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "she had learned what she was saying by heart, 'when I heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a disturbance down the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. On","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "approaching the mouth of the alleyway I saw Dementors running - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Running?' said Madam Bones sharply. 'Dementors don't run, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "glide.' 'That's what I meant to say,' said Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Figg quickly, patches of pink appearing in her withered cheeks. 'Gliding along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the alley towards what looked like two boys.' 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "did they look like?' said Madam Bones, narrowing her eyes so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the edge of the monocle disappeared into her flesh. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'Well, one was very large and the other one rather skinny -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "' 'No, no,' said Madam Bones impatiently. 'The Dementors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" ". . . describe them.' 'Oh,' said Mrs Figg,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the pink flush creeping up her neck now. They were big. Big","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "and wearing cloaks. Harry felt a horrible sinking in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the pit of his stomach. Whatever Mrs Figg might say, it sounded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "to him as though the most she had ever seen was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "picture of a Dementor, and a picture could never convey the truth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of what these beings were like: the eerie way they moved, hovering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "inches over the ground; or the rotting smell of them; or that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "terrible rattling noise they made as they sucked on the surrounding air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" ". . . In the second row, a dumpy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "wizard with a large black moustache leaned close to whisper in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "ear of his neighbour, a frizzy-haired witch. She smirked and nodded. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Big and wearing cloaks,' repeated Madam Bones coolly, while Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "snorted derisively. 'I see. Anything else?' 'Yes,' said Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Figg. 'I felt them. Everything went cold, and this was a very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "warm summer's night, mark you. And I felt . . . as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "though all happiness had gone from the world . . . and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "I remembered . . . dreadful things . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " Her voice shook and died. Madam Bones's eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "widened slightly. Harry could see red marks under her eyebrow where the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "monocle had dug into it. 'What did the Dementors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "do?' she asked, and Harry felt a rush of hope. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " They went for the boys,' said Mrs Figg, her voice stronger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "and more confident now, the pink flush ebbing away from her face.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'One of them had fallen. The other was backing away, trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "repel the Dementor. That was Harry. He tried twice and produced only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "silver vapour. On the third attempt, he produced a Patronus, which charged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "down the first Dementor and then, with his encouragement, chased the second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "one away from his cousin. And that . . . that is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "what happened,' Mrs Figg finished, somewhat lamely. Madam Bones","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "looked down at Mrs Figg in silence. Fudge was not looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "her at all, but fidgeting with his papers. Finally, he raised his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "eyes and said, rather aggressively, That's what you saw, is it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " That is what happened,' Mrs Figg repeated. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'Very well,' said Fudge. 'You may go.' Mrs Figg","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "cast a frightened look from Fudge to Dumbledore, then got up and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "shuffled off towards the door. Harry heard it thud shut behind her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Not a very convincing witness,' said Fudge loftily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Oh, I don't know,' said Madam Bones, in her booming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "voice. 'She certainly described the effects of a Dementor attack very accurately. And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "I can't imagine why she would say they were there if they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "weren't.' 'But Dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "just happening to come across a wizard?' snorted Fudge. The odds on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "that must be very, very long. Even Bagman wouldn't have bet -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "' 'Oh, I don't think any of us believe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the Dementors were there by coincidence,' said Dumbledore lightly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "The witch sitting to the right of Fudge, with her face in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "shade w, moved slightly but everyone else was quite still and silent.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'And what is that supposed to mean?' Fudge asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "icily. 'It means that I think they were ordered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "there,' said Dumbledore. 'I think we might have a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "record of it if someone had ordered a pair of Dementors to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "go strolling through Little Whinging!' barked Fudge. 'Not if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the Dementors are taking orders from someone other than the Ministry of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Magic these days,' said Dumbledore calmly. 'I have already given you my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "views on this matter, Cornelius.' 'Yes, you have,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Fudge forcefully, 'and I have no reason to believe that your views","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "are anything other than bilge, Dumbledore. The Dementors remain in place in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Azkaban and are doing everything we ask them to.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Then,' said Dumbledore, quietly but clearly, 'we must ask ourselves why somebody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "within the Ministry ordered a pair of Dementors into that alleyway on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the second of August.' In the complete silence that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "greeted these words, the witch to the right of Fudge leaned forwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "so that Harry saw her for the first time. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "He thought she looked just like a large, pale toad. She was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "rather squat with a broad, flabby face, as little neck as Uncle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Vernon and a very wide, slack mouth. Her eyes were large, round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "and slightly bulging. Even the little black velvet bow perched on top","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of her short curly hair put him in mind of a large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "fly she was about to catch on a long sticky tongue. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " The Chair recognises Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Minister,' said Fudge. The witch spoke in a fluttery,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "girlish, high-pitched voice that took Harry aback; he had been expecting a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "croak. 'I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Dumbledore,' she said, with a simper that felt her big, round eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "as cold as ever. 'So silly of me. But it sounded for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a teensy moment as though you were suggesting that the Ministry of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Magic had ordered an attack on this boy!' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "gave a silvery laugh that made the hairs on the back of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Harry's neck stand up. A few other members of the Wizengamot laughed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "with her. It could not have been plainer that not one of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "them was really amused. 'If it is true that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the Dementors are taking orders only from the Ministry of Magic, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "it is also true that two Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a week ago, then it follows logically that somebody at the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "might have ordered the attacks,' said Dumbledore politely. 'Of course, these particular","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Dementors may have been outside Ministry control - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'There are no Dementors outside Ministry control! snapped Fudge, who had turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "brick red. Dumbledore inclined his head in a little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "bow. 'Then undoubtedly the Ministry will be making a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "full inquiry into why two Dementors were so very far from Azkaban","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "and why they attacked without authorisation.' 'It is not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "for you to decide what the Ministry of Magic does or does","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "not do, Dumbledore!' snapped Fudge, now a shade of magenta of which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Uncle Vernon would have been proud. 'Of course it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "isn't,' said Dumbledore mildly. 'I was merely expressing my confidence that this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "matter will not go uninvestigated.' He glanced at Madam","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Bones, who readjusted her monocle and stared back at him, frowning slightly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'I would remind everybody that the behaviour of these","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Dementors, if indeed they are not figments of this boy's imagination, is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "not the subject of this hearing!' said Fudge. 'We are here to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "examine Harry Potter's offences under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Underage Sorcery!' 'Of course we are,' said Dumbledore, 'but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the presence of Dementors in that alleyway is highly relevant. Clause Seven","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of the Decree states that magic may be used before Muggles in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "exceptional circumstances, and as those exceptional circumstances include situations which threaten the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "life of the wizard or witch him- or herself, or any witches,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "wizards or Muggles present at the time of the - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'We are familiar with Clause Seven, thank you very much!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "snarled Fudge. 'Of course you are,' said Dumbledore courteously.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Then we are in agreement that Harry's use of the Patronus Charm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "in these circumstances falls precisely into the category of exceptional circumstances the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "clause describes?' 'If there were Dementors, which I doubt.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'You have heard it from an eyewitness,' Dumbledore interrupted.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'If you still doubt her truthfulness, call her back,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "question her again. I am sure she would not object.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'I - that - not -' blustered Fudge, fiddling with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "papers before him. 'It's - I want this over with today, Dumbledore!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'But naturally, you would not care how many times","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "you heard from a witness, if the alternative was a serious miscarriage of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "justice,' said Dumbledore. 'Serious miscarriage, my hat!' said Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "at the top of his voice. 'Have you ever bothered to tot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "up the number of cock-and-bull stories this boy has come out with,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Dumbledore, while trying to cover up his flagrant misuse of magic out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of school? I suppose you've forgotten the Hover Charm he used three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "years ago - ' 'That wasn't me, it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a house-elf!' said Harry. 'YOU SEE?' roared Fudge, gesturing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "flamboyantly in Harry's direction. 'A house-elf! In a Muggle house! I ask","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "you.' The house-elf in question is currently in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "employ of Hogwarts School,' said Dumbledore. 'I can summon him here in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "an instant to give evidence if you wish.' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "- not - I haven't got time to listen to house-elves! Anyway,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "that's not the only - he blew up his aunt, for Gods","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "sake!' Fudge shouted, banging his fist on the judge's bench and upsetting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a bottle of ink. 'And you very kindly did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "not press charges on that occasion, accepting, I presume, that even the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "best wizards cannot always control their emotions,' said Dumbledore calmly, as Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "attempted to scrub the ink off his notes. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "I haven't even started on what he gets up to at school.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'But, as the Ministry has no authority to punish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Hogwarts students for misdemeanours at school, Harry's behaviour there is not relevant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "to this hearing,' said Dumbledore, as politely as ever, but now with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a suggestion of coolness behind his words. 'Oho!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Fudge. 'Not our business what he does at school, eh? You think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "so?' The Ministry does not have the power to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "expel Hogwarts students, Cornelius, as I reminded you on the night of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the second of August,' said Dumbledore. 'Nor does it have the right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "to confiscate wands until charges have been successfully proven; again, as I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "reminded you on the night of the second of August, in your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "admirable haste to ensure that the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "I am sure, to have overlooked a few laws yourself.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " 'Laws can be changed,' said Fudge savagely. 'Of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "course they can,' said Dumbledore, inclining his head. 'And you certainly seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "to be making many changes, Cornelius. Why, in the few short weeks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "since I was asked to leave the Wizengamot, it has already become","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the practice to hold a full criminal trial to deal with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "simple matter of underage magic!' A few of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "wizards above them shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Fudge turned a slightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "deeper shade of puce. The toadlike witch on his right, however, merely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "gazed at Dumbledore, her face quite expressionless. 'As far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "as I am aware,' Dumbledore continued, 'there is no law yet in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "place that says this court's job is to punish Harry for every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "bit of magic he has ever performed. He has been charged with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "a specific offence and he has presented his defence. All he and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "I can do now is to await your verdict.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Dumbledore put his fingertips together again and said no more. Fudge glared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "at him, evidently incensed. Harry glanced sideways at Dumbledore, seeking reassurance; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "was not at all sure that Dumbledore was right in telling the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Wizengamot, in effect, that it was about time they made a decision.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "Again, however, Dumbledore seemed oblivious to Harry's attempt to catch his eye.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "He continued to look up at the benches where the entire Wizengamot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "had fallen into urgent, whispered conversations. Harry looked at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "his feet. His heart, which seemed to have swollen to an unnatural","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "size, was thumping loudly under his ribs. He had expected the hearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "to last longer than this. He was not at all sure that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "he had made a good impression. He had not really said very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "much. He ought to have explained more fully about the Dementors, about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "how he had fallen over, about how both he and Dudley had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "nearly been kissed . . . Twice he looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "up at Fudge and opened his mouth to speak, but his swollen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "heart was now constricting his air passages and both times he merely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "took a deep breath and looked back down at his shoes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " Then the whispering stopped. Harry wanted to look up at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the judges, but found that it was really much, much easier to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "keep examining his laces. 'Those in favour of clearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "the witness of all charges?' said Madam Boness booming voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " Harry's head jerked upwards. There were hands in the air, many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of them . . . more than half! Breathing very fast, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "tried to count, but before he could finish, Madam Bones had said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "'And those in favour of conviction?' Fudge raised his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "hand; so did half a dozen others, including the witch on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "right and the heavily-moustached wizard and the frizzy-haired witch in the second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "row. Fudge glanced around at them all, looking as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "though there was something large stuck in his throat, then lowered his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "own hand. He took two deep breaths and said, in a voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "distorted by suppressed rage, 'Very well, very well . . . cleared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "of all charges.' 'Excellent,' said Dumbledore briskly, springing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "his feel, pulling out his wand and causing the two chintz armchairs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "to vanish. 'Well, I must be getting along. Good-day to you all.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" " And without looking once at Harry, he swept from the dungeon.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-8" "The Woes of Mrs WeasleyDumbledore's abrupt departure took Harry completely by surprise.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "He remained sitting where he was in the chained chair, struggling with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his feelings of shock and relief. The Wizengamot were all getting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "their feet, talking, gathering up their papers and packing them away. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "stood up. Nobody seemed to be paying him the slightest bit of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "attention, except the toadlike witch on Fudge's right, who was now gazing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "down at him instead of at Dumbledore. Ignoring her, he tried to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "catch Fudge's eye, or Madam Bones's, wanting to ask whether he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "free to go, but Fudge seemed quite determined not to notice Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and Madam Bones was busy with her briefcase, so he took a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "lew tentative steps towards the exit and, when nobody called him back,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "broke into a very fast walk. He took the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "last lew steps at a run, wrenched open the door and almost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "collided with Mr Weasley, who was standing right outside, looking pale and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "apprehensive. 'Dumbledore didn't say - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Cleared,' Harry said, pulling the door closed behind him, 'of all charges!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Beaming, Mr Weasley seized Harry by the shoulders. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Harry, that's wonderful! Well, of course, they couldn't have found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you guilty, not on the evidence, but even so, I can't pretend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I wasn't - ' But Mr Weasley broke off,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "because the courtroom door had ust opened again. The Wizengamot were filing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "out. 'Merlin's beard!' exclaimed Mr Weasley wonderingly, pulling Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "aside to let them all pass. 'You were tried by the lull","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "court?' 'I think so,' said Harry quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " One or two of the wizards nodded to Harry as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "passed and a few, including Madam Bones, said, 'Morning, Arthur,' to Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Weasley, but most averted their eyes. Cornelius Fudge and the toadlike witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "were almost the last to leave the dungeon. Fudge acted as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Mr Weasley and Harry were part of the wall, hut again, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "witch looked almost appraisingly at Harry as she passed. Last of all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to pass was Percy. Like Fudge, he completely ignored his father and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry; he marched past clutching a large roll of parchment and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "handful of spare quills, his back rigid and his nose in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "air. The lines around Mr Weasley's mouth tightened slightly, but other than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "this he gave no sign that he had seen his third son.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'I'm going to take you straight back so you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "can tell the others the good news,' he said, beckoning Harry forwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "as Percy's heels disappeared up the steps to Level Nine. 'I'll drop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you off on the way to that toilet in Bethnal Green. Come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "on . . .' 'So, what will you have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to do about the toilet?' Harry asked, grinning. Everything suddenly seemed five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "times funnier than usual. It was starting to sink in: he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "cleared, he was going back to Hogwarts. 'Oh, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a simple enough anti-jinx,' said Mr Weasley as they mounted the stairs,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'but it's not so much having to repair the damage, it's more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the attitude behind the vandalism, Harry. Muggle-baiting might strike some wizards as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "funny, but it's an expression of something much deeper and nastier, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I for one - ' Mr Weasley broke off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "in mid-sentence. They had just reached the ninth-level corridor and Cornelius Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was standing a few feet away from them, talking quietly to a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "tall man with sleek blond hair and a pointed, pale face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " The second man turned at the sound of their footsteps.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "He, too, broke off in mid-conversation, his cold grey eyes narrowed and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "fixed upon Harry's face. 'Well, well, well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". Patronus Potter,' said Lucius Malfoy coolly. Harry felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "winded, as though he had just walked into something solid. He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "last seen those cold grey eyes through slits in a Death Hater's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "hood, and last heard that man's voice jeering in a dark graveyard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "while Lord Voldemort tortured him. Harry could not believe that Lucius Malfoy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "dared look him in the face; he could not believe that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was here, in the Ministry of Magic, or that Cornelius Fudge was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "talking to him, when Harry had told Fudge mere weeks ago that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Malfoy was a Death Eater. The Minister was just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "telling me about your lucky escape, Potter,' drawled Mr Malfoy. 'Quite astonishing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the way you continue to wriggle out of very tight holes .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . snakelike, in fact.' Mr Weasley gripped Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "shoulder in warning. 'Yeah,' said Harry, 'yeah, I'm good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "at escaping.' Lucius Malfoy raised his eyes to Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Weasley's face. 'And Arthur Weasley too! What are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "doing here, Arthur?' 'I work here,' said Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "curtly. 'Not here, surely?' said Mr Malfoy, raising his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "eyebrows and glancing towards the door over Mr Weasley's shoulder. 'I thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you were up on the second floor . . . don't you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "do something that involves sneaking Muggle artefacts home and bewitching them?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'No,' Mr Weasley snapped, his fingers now biting into Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "shoulder. 'What are you doing here, anyway?' Harry asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Lucius Malfoy. 'I don't think private matters between myself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and the Minister are any concern of yours, Potter,' said Malfoy, smoothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the front of his robes. Harry distinctly heard the gentle clinking of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "what sounded like a full pocket of gold. 'Really, just because you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "are Dumbledore's favourite boy, you must not expect the same indulgence from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the rest of us . . . shall we go up to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "your office, then, Minister?' 'Certainly,' said Fudge, turning his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "back on Harry and Mr Weasley. This way, Lucius.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "They strode off together, talking in low voices. Mr Weasley did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "let go of Harry's shoulder until they had disappeared into the lift.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Why wasn't he waiting outside Fudge's office if they've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "got business to do together?' Harry burst out furiously. What was he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "doing down here?' 'Trying to sneak down to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "courtroom, if you ask me,' said Mr Weasley, looking extremely agitated and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "glancing over his shoulder as though making sure they could not be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "overheard. Trying to find out whether you'd been expelled or not. I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "leave a note for Dumbledore when I drop you off, he ought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to know Malfoy's been talking to Fudge again.' 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "private business have they got together, anyway?' 'Gold, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "expect,' said Mr Weasley angrily. 'Malfoy's been giving generously to all sorts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of things for years . . . gets him in with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "right people . . . then he can ask favours . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". delay laws he doesn't want passed . . . oh, he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "very well-connected, Lucius Malfoy.' The lift arrived; it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "empty except for a flock of memos that flapped around Mr Weasley's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "head as he pressed the button for the Atrium and the doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "clanged shut. He waved them away irritably. 'Mr Weasley,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Harry slowly, 'if Fudge is meeting Death Eaters like Malfoy, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he's seeing them alone, how do we know they haven't put the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Imperius Curse on him?' 'Don't think it hasn't occurred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to us, Harry,' said Mr Weasley quietly. 'But Dumbledore thinks Fudge is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "acting of his own accord at the moment - which, as Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "says, is not a lot of comfort. Best not talk about it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "any more just now, Harry.' The doors slid open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and they stepped out into the now almost-deserted Atrium. Eric the watchwizard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was hidden behind his Daily Prophet again. They had walked straight past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the golden fountain before Harry remembered. 'Wait . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ".' he told Mr Weasley, and, pulling his moneybag from his pocket,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he turned back to the fountain. He looked up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "into the handsome wizard's face, but close-to Harry thought he looked rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "weak and foolish. The witch was wearing a vapid smile like a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "beauty contestant, and from what Harry knew of goblins and centaurs, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "were most unlikely to be caught staring so soppily at humans of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "any description. Only the house-elf's attitude of creeping servility looked convincing. With","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a grin at the thought of what Hermione would say if she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "could see the statue of the elf, Harry turned his moneybag upside-down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and emptied not just ten Galleons, but the whole contents into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "pool.*'I knew it!' yelled Ron, punching the air. 'You always get away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "with stuff!' 'They were bound to clear you,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Hermione, who had looked positively faint with anxiety when Harry had entered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the kitchen and was now holding a shaking hand over her eyes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'there was no case against you, none at all.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering you all knew I'd get off,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Harry, smiling. Mrs Weasley was wiping her face on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "her apron, and Fred, George and Ginny were doing a kind of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "war dance to a chant that went: 'He got off, he got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "off, he got off . . .' That's enough!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Settle down!' shouted Mr Weasley, though he too was smiling. 'Listen, Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry - ' 'What?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Sirius sharply. 'He got off, he got off,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he got off . . .' 'Be quiet, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "three! Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on Level Nine, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Absolutely,' said Sirius. 'We'll tell him, don't worry.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Well, I'd better get going, there's a vomiting toilet waiting for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "me in Bethnal Green. Molly, I'll be late, I'm covering for Tonks,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "but Kingsley might be dropping in for dinner - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'He got off, he got off, he got off . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ".' That's enough - Fred - George - Ginny!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Mrs Weasley, as Mr Weasley left the kitchen. 'Harry, dear, come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and sit down, have some lunch, you hardly ate breakfast.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Ron and Hermione sat themselves down opposite him, looking happier than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "they had done since he had first arrived at Grimmauld Place, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry's feeling of giddy relief, which had been somewhat dented by his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "encounter with Lucius Malfoy, swelled again. The gloomy house seemed warmer and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "more welcoming all of a sudden; even Kreacher looked less ugly as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he poked his snoutlike nose into the kitchen to investigate the source","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of all the noise. 'Course, once Dumbledore turned up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "on your side, there was no way they were going to convict","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you,' said Ron happily, now dishing great mounds of mashed potato on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to everyone's plates. 'Yeah, he swung it for me,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Harry. He felt it would sound highly ungrateful, not to mention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "childish, to say, 'I wish he'd talked to me, though. Or even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "looked at me.' And as he thought this, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "scar on his forehead burned so badlyt:hat he clapped his hand to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it.. 'What's up?' said Hermione, looking alarmed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Scar,' Harry mumbled. 'But it's nothing . . . it happens","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "all the time now . . .' None of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the others had noticed a thing; all of them were now helping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "themselves to food while gloating over Harry's narrow escape; Fred, George and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ginny were still singing. Hermione looked rather anxious, but before she could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "say anything, Ron had said happily, 'I bet Dumbledore turns up this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "evening, to celebrate with us, you know.' '[ don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "think he'll be able to, Ron,' said Mrs Weasley, setting a huge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "plate of roast chicken down in front of Harry. 'He's really very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "busy at the moment.' 'HE GOT OFF, HE GOT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "OFF. HE GOT OFF' 'SHUT UP!' roared Mrs Weasley.*Over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the next few days Harry could not help noticing that there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "one person within number twelve, Grimmauld Place, who did not seem wholly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "overjoyed that he would be returning to Hogwarts. Sirius had put up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a very good show of happiness on first hearing the news, wringing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry's hand and beaming just like the rest of them. Soon, however,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he was moodier and surlier than before, talking less to everybody, even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry, and spending increasing amounts of time shut up in his mother's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "room with Buckbeak. 'Don't you go feeling guilty!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Hermione sternly, after Harry had confided some of his feelings to her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and Ron while they scrubbed out a mouldy cupboard on the third","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "floor a few days later. 'You belong at Hogwarts and Sirius knows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it. Personally, I think he's being selfish.' 'That's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bit harsh, Hermione,' said Ron, frowning as he attempted to prise off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a bit of mould that had attached itself firmly to his finger,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'you wouldn't want to be stuck inside this house without any company.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'He'll have company!' said Hermione. 'It's Headquarters to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Order of the Phoenix, isn't it? He just got his hopes up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "that Harry would be coming to live here with him.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'I don't think that's true,' said Harry, wringing out his cloth.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'He wouldn't give me a straight answer when I asked him if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I could.' 'He just didn't want to get his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "own hopes up even more,' said Hermione wisely. 'And he probably felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a bit guilty himself, because I think a part of him was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "really hoping you'd be expelled. Then you'd both be outcasts together.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Come off it!' said Harry and Ron together, but Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "merely shrugged. 'Suit yourselves. But I sometimes think Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "mum's right and Sirius gets confused about whether you're you or your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "father, Harry.' 'So you think he's touched in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "head?' said Harry heatedly. 'No, I just think he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "been very lonely for a long time,' said Hermione simply. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " At this point, Mrs Weasley entered the bedroom behind them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Still not finished?' she said, poking her head into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "cupboard. 'I thought you might be here to tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "us to have a break!' said Ron bitterly. 'D'you know how much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "mould we've got rid of since we arrived here?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'You were so keen to help the Order,' said Mrs Weasley, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "can do your bit by making Headquarters fit to live in.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'I feel like a house-elf,' grumbled Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Well, now you understand what dreadful lives they lead, perhaps you'll be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a bit more active in SPEW!' said Hermione hopefully, as Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "left them to it. 'You know, maybe it wouldn't be a bad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "idea to show people exactly how horrible it is to clean all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the time - we could do a sponsored scrub of Gryffindor common","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "room, all proceeds to SPEW, it would raise awareness as well as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "funds.' 'I'll sponsor you to shut up about SPEW,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ron muttered irritably, but only so Harry could hear him.*Harry found himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "daydreaming about Hogwarts more and more as the end of the holidays","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "approached; he could not wait to see Hagrid again, to play Quidditch,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "even to stroll across the vegetable patches to the Herbology greenhouses; it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "would be a treat just to leave this dusty, musty house, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "half of the cupboards were still bolted shut and Kreacher wheezed insults","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "out of the shadows as you passed, though Harry was careful not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to say any of this within earshot of Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "The fact as that living at the Headquarters of the anti-Voldemort movement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was not nearly as interesting or exciting as Harry would have expected","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "before he'd experienced it. Though members of the Order of the Phoenix","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "came and went regularly, sometimes staying for meals, sometimes only for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "few minutes of whispered conversation, Mrs Weasley made sure that Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the others were kept well out of earshot (whether Extendable or normal)","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and nobody, not even Sirius, seemed to feel that Harry needed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "know anything more than he had heard on the night of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "arrival. On the very last day of the holidays","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry was sweeping up Hedwig's owl droppings from the top of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "wardrobe when Ron entered their bedroom carrying a couple of envelopes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Booklists have arrived,' he said, throwing one of the envelopes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "up to Harry, who was standing on a chair. 'About time, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "thought they'd forgotten, they usually come much earlier than this . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ".' Harry swept the last of the droppings into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a rubbish bag and threw the bag over Ron's head into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "wastepaper basket in the corner, which swallowed it and belched loudly. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "then opened his letter. It contained two pieces of parchment: one the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "usual reminder that term started on the first of September; the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "telling him which books he would need for the coming year. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Only two new ones,' he said, reading the list, The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda Goshawk, and Defensive Magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard.' Crack. Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and George Apparated right beside Harry. He was so used to them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "doing this by now that he didn't even fall off his chair.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'We were just wondering who set the Slinkhard book,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Fred conversationally 'Because it means Dumbledore's found a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher,' said George. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'And about time too,' said Fred. 'What d'you mean?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry asked, jumping down beside them. Well, we overheard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Mum and Dad talking on the Extendable Ears a few weeks back,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Fred told Harry, 'and from what they were saying, Dumbledore was having","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "real trouble finding anyone to do the job this year.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Not surprising, is it, when you look at what's happened to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "last four?' said George. 'One sacked, one dead, one's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "memory removed and one locked in a trunk for nine months,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry, counting them off on his fingers. 'Yeah, I see what you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "mean.' 'What's up with you, Ron?' asked Fred. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Ron did not answer. Harry looked round. Ron was standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Hogwarts. 'What's the matter?' said Fred impatiently, moving around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ron to look over his shoulder at the parchment. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Fred's mouth fell open, too. 'Prefect?' he said, staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "incredulously at the letter. 'Prefect?' George leapt forwards, seized","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the envelope in Ron's other hand and turned it upside-down. Harry saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "something scarlet and gold fall into George's palm. 'No","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "way,' said George in a hushed voice. 'There's been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a mistake,' said Fred, snatching the letter out of Ron's grasp and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "holding it up to the light as though checking for a watermark.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " The twins' heads turned in unison and both of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "stared at Harry. 'We thought you were a cert!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Fred, in a tone that suggested Harry had tricked them in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "some way. 'We thought Dumbledore was bound to pick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you!' said George indignantly. 'Winning the Triwizard and everything!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Fred. 'I suppose all the mad stuff must've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "counted against him,' said George to Fred. 'Yeah,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Fred slowly. 'Yeah, you've caused too much trouble, mate. Well, at least","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "one of you's got their priorities right.' He strode","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "over to Harry and clapped him on the back while giving Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a scathing look. 'Prefect . . . ickle Ronnie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the Prefect.' 'Ohh, Mum's going to be revolting,' groaned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "George, thrusting the prefect badge back at Ron as though it might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "contaminate him. Ron, who still had not said a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "word, took the badge, stared at it for a moment, then held","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it out to Harry as though asking mutely for confirmation that it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was genuine. Harry took it. A large 'P' was superimposed on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Gryffindor lion. He had seen a badge just like this on Percy's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "chest on his very first day at Hogwarts. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "door banged open. Hermione came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Did you - did you get - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " She spotted the badge in Harry's hand and let out a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "shriek. 'I knew it!' she said excitedly, brandishing her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "letter. 'Me too, Harry, me too!' 'No,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "quickly, pushing the badge back into Ron's hand. 'It's Ron, not me.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'It - what?' 'Ron's prefect, not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "me,' Harry said. 'Ron?' said Hermione, her jaw dropping.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'But . . . are you sure? I mean - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " She turned red as Ron looked round at her with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a defiant expression on his lace. 'It's my name","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "on the letter,' he said. 'I . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Hermione, looking thoroughly bewildered. 'I . . . well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". wow! Well done, Ron! That's really - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Unexpected,' said George, nodding. 'No,' said Hermione, blushing harder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "than ever, 'no it's not . . . Ron's done loads of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . . he's really . . .' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "door behind her opened a little wider and Mrs Weasley bucked into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the room carrying a pile of freshly laundered robes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Ginny said the booklists had come at last,' she said, glancing around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "at all the envelopes as she made her way over to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bed and started sorting the robes into two piles. 'If you give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "them to me I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and get your books while you're packing. Ron, I'll have to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you more pyjamas, these are at least six inches too short, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "can't believe how fast you're growing . . . what colour would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you like?' 'Get him red and gold to match","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his badge,' said George, smirking. 'Match his what?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Mrs Weasley absently, rolling up a pair of maroon socks and placing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "them on Ron's pile. 'His badge,' said Fred, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the air of getting the worst over quickly. 'His lovely shiny new","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "prefect's badge.' Fred's words took a moment to penetrate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Mrs Weasley's preoccupation with pyjamas. 'His . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "but . . . Ron, you're not . . .?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Ron held up his badge. Mrs Weasley let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "out a shriek just like Hermione's. 'I don't believe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "everyone in the family!' 'What are Fred and I,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "next-door neighbours?' said George indignantly, as his mother pushed him aside and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "flung her arms around her youngest son. 'Wait until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "your father hears! Ron, I'm so proud of you, what wonderful news,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you could end up Head Boy just like Bill and Percy, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the first step! Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of all this worry, I'm just thrilled, oh, Ronnie - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Fred and George were both making loud retching noises behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "her back but Mrs Weasley did not notice; arms tight around Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "neck, she was kissing him all over his face, which had turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a brighter scarlet than his badge. 'Mum . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". don't . . . Mum, get a grip . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he muttered, trying to push her away. She let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "go of him and said breathlessly, 'Well, what will it be? We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "gave Percy an owl, but you've already got one, of course.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'W-what do you mean?' said Ron, looking as though he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "did not dare believe his ears. 'You've got to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "have a reward for this!' said Mrs Weasley fondly. 'How about a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "nice new set of dress robes?' 'We've already bought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "him some,' said Fred sourly, who looked as though he sincerely regretted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "this generosity. 'Or a new cauldron, Charlie's old one's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "rusting through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Mum,' said Ron hopefully, 'can I have a new broom?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Mrs Weasley's face fell slightly; broomsticks were expensive. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Not a really good one!' Ron hastened to add. 'Just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "- just a new one for a change , . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Mrs Weasley hesitated, then smiled. 'Of course","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you can . . . well, I'd better get going if I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "got a broom to buy too. I'll see you all later .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . little Ronnie, a prefect! And don't forget to pack your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "trunks . . . a prefect . . . oh, I'm all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of a dither!' She gave Ron yet another kiss","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "on the cheek, sniffed loudly, and bustled from the room. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Fred and George exchanged looks. 'You don't mind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "if we don't kiss you, do you, Ron?' said Fred in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "falsely anxious voice. 'We could curtsey, if you like,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said George. 'Oh, shut up,' said Ron, scowling at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "them. 'Or what?' said Fred, an evil grin spreading","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "across his face. 'Going to put us in detention?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'I'd love to see him try' sniggered George. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "could if you don't watch out!' said Hermione angrily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Fred and George burst out laughing, and Ron muttered, 'Drop it, Hermione.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'We're going to have to watch our step, George,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Fred, pretending to tremble, 'with these two on our case .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". .' 'Yeah, it looks like our law-breaking days","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "are finally over,' said Cieorge, shaking his head. And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "with another loud crack, the twins Disapparated. 'Those two!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Hermione furiously, staring up at the ceiling, through which they could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "now hear Fred and George roaring with laughter in the room upstairs.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Don't pay any attention to them, Ron, they're only jealous!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'I don't think they are,' said Ron doubtfully, also looking up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "at the ceiling. They've always said only prats become prefects . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". still,' he added on a happier note, 'they've never had new","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "brooms! I wish I could go with Mum and choose . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". she'll never be able to afford a Nimbus, but there's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "new Cleansweep out, that'd be great . . . yeah, I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I'll go and tell her I like the Cleansweep, just so she knows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . .' He dashed from the room, leaving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry and Hermione alone. For some reason, Harry found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he did not want to look at Hermione. He turned to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bed, picked up the pile of clean robes Mrs Weasley had laid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "on it and crossed the room to his trunk. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Harry?' said Hermione tentatively. 'Well done, Hermione,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "so heartily it did not sound like his voice at all, and,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "still not looking at her, 'brilliant. Prefect. Great.' 'Thanks,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Hermione. 'Erm - Harry - could I borrow Hedwig so I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "can tell Mum and Dad? They'll be really pleased - I mean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "prefect is something they can understand.' 'Yeah, no problem,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Harry, still in the horrible hearty voice that did not belong","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to him. Take her!' He leaned over his trunk,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "laid the robes on the bottom of it and pretended to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "rummaging for something while Hermione crossed to the wardrobe and called Hedwig","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "down. A few moments passed; Harry heard the door close but remained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bent double, listening; the only sounds he could hear were the blank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "picture on the wall sniggering again and the wastepaper basket in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "corner coughing up the owl droppings. He straightened up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and looked behind him. Hermione had left and Hedwig had gone. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "hurried across the room, closed the door, then returned slowly to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bed and sank on to it, gazing unseeingly at the foot of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the wardrobe. He had forgotten completely about prefects being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "chosen in the fifth year. He had been too anxious about the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "possibility of being expelled to spare a thought for the fact that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "badges must be winging their way towards certain people. But if he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "had remembered . . . if he had thought about it .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . what would he have expected? Not this,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said a small and truthful voice inside his head. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry screwed up his face and buried it in his hands. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "could not lie to himself; if he had known the prefect badge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was on its way, he would have expected it to come to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "him, not Ron. Did this make him as arrogant as Draco Malfoy?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Did he think himself superior to everyone else? Did he really believe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he was better than Ron? No, said the small","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "voice defiantly. Was that true? Harry wondered, anxiously probing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his own feelings. I'm better at Quidditch, said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "voice. But I'm not better at anything else. That","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was definitely true, Harry thought; he was no better than Ron in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "lessons. But what about outside lessons? What about those adventures he, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and Hermione had had together since starting at Hogwarts, often risking much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "worse than expulsion? Well, Ron and Hermione were with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "me most of the time, said the voice in Harry's head. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Not all the time, though, Harry argued with himself. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "didn't fight Quirrell with me. They didn't take on Riddle and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Basilisk. They didn't get rid of all those Dementors the night Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "escaped. They weren't in that graveyard with me, the night Voldemort returned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . . And the same feeling of ill-usage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "that had overwhelmed him on the night he had arrived rose again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I've definitely done more, Harry thought indignantly. I've done more than either","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of them! But maybe, said the small voice fairly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "maybe Dumbledore doesn't choose prefects because they've got themselves into a load","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of dangerous situations . . . maybe he chooses them for other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "reasons . . . Ron must have something you don't . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". Harry opened his eyes and stared through his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "fingers at the wardrobe's clawed feet, remembering what. Fred had said: 'No","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ".' Harry gave a small snort of laughter. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "second later he felt sickened with himself. Ron had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "not asked Dumbledore to give him the prefect badge. This was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ron's fault. Was he, Harry, Ron's best friend in the world, going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to sulk because he didn't, have a badge, laugh with the twins","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "behind Ron's back, ruin this for Ron when, for the first time,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he had beaten Harry at something? At this point","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry heard Ron's footsteps on the stairs again. He stood up, straightened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his glasses, and hitched a grin on to his face as Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bounded back through the door. 'Just caught her!' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said happily. 'She says she'll get the Cleansweep if she can.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Cool,' Harry said, and he was relieved to hear that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his voice had stopped sounding hearty. 'Listen - Ron - well done,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "mate.' The smile faded off Ron's face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'I never thought it would be me!' he said, shaking his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "head. 'I thought it would be you!' 'Nah, I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "caused too much trouble,' Harry said, echoing Fred. 'Yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Ron, 'yeah, I suppose . . . well, we'd better get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "our trunks packed, hadn't we?' It was odd how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "widely their possessions seemed to have scattered themselves since they had arrived.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "It took them most of the afternoon to retrieve their books and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "belongings from all over the house and stow them back inside their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "school trunks. Marry noticed that Ron kept moving his prefect's badge around,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "first placing it on his bedside table, then putting it into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "jeans pocket, then taking it out and lying it on his folded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "robes, as though to see the effect of the red on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "black. Only when Fred and George dropped in and offered to attach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it to his forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he wrap","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his trunk.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Mrs Weasley returned from Diagon Alley around six o'clock,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "laden with books and carrying a long package wrapped in thick brown","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "paper that Ron took from her with a moan of longing. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Never mind unwrapping it now, people are arriving for dinner,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I want you all downstairs,' she said, but the moment she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "out of sight Ron ripped off the paper in a frenzy and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "examined every inch of his new broom, an ecstatic expression on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "face. Down in the basement Mrs Weasley had hung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a scarlet banner over the heavily laden dinner table, which read:CONGRATULATIONSRON AND","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "HERMIONENEW PREFECTSShe looked in a better mood than Harry had seen her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "all holiday. 'I thought we'd have a little party","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "not a sit-down dinner,' she told Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ginny as they entered the room. 'Your father and Bill are on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "their way, Ron. I've sent them both owls and they're thrilled,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "added, beaming. Fred rolled his eyes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Sirius, Lupin, Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt were already there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and Mad-Eye Moody stumped in shortly after Harry had got himself a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Butterbeer. 'Oh, Alastor, I am glad you're here,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Mrs Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his travelling cloak. 'We've been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "wanting to ask you for ages - could you have a look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "in the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us what's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "inside it? We haven't wanted to open it. just in case it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "something really nasty.' 'No problem, Molly . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Moody's electric-blue eye swivelled upwards and stared fixedly through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the ceiling of the kitchen. Drawing room . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ".' he growled, as the pupil contracted. 'Desk in the corner? Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I see it . . . yeah, it's a Boggart . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " No, no, I'll do it myself later,' beamed Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Weasley, 'you have your drink. We're having a little bit of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "celebration, actually . . .' She gestured at the scarlet banner. 'Fourth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "prefect in the family!' she said fondly, ruffling Ron's hair. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Prefect, eh?' growled Moody, his normal eye on Ron and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "magical eye swivelling around to gaze into the side of his head.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry had the very uncomfortable feeling it was looking at him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "moved away towards Sirius and Lupin. 'Well, congratulations,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Moody, still glaring at Ron with his normal eye, 'authority figures always","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you can withstand most major","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "jinxes or he wouldn't have appointed you . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Ron looked rather startled at this view of the matter but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was saved the trouble of responding by the arrival of his father","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and eldest brother. Mrs Weasley was in such a good mood she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "did not even complain that they had brought Mundungus with them; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was wearing a long overcoat that seemed oddly lumpy in unlikely places and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "declined the offer to remove it and put it with Moody's travelling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "cloak. 'Well, I think a toast is in order,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Mr Weasley, when everyone had a drink. He raised his goblet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "To Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and Hermione beamed as everyone drank to them, and then applauded. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'I was never a prefect myself,' said Tonks brightly from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "behind Harry as everybody moved towards the table to help themselves to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "food. Her hair was tomato red and waist-length today; she looked like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ginny's older sister. 'My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "qualities.' 'Like what?' said Ginny, who was choosing a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "baked potato. 'Like the ability to behave myself,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Tonks. Ginny laughed; Hermione looked as though she did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "not know whether to smile or not and compromised by taking an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "extra large gulp of Butterbeer and choking on it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'What about you, Sirius?' Ginny asked, thumping Hermione on the back. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Sirius, who was right beside Harry, let out his usual","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bark-like laugh. 'No one would have made me a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "prefect, I spent too much time in detention with James. Lupin was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the good boy, he got the badge.' 'I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Dumbledore might have hoped I would be able to exercise some control","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "over my best friends,' said Lupin. 'I need scarcely say that I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "failed dismally.' Harry's mood suddenly lifted. His father had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "not been a prefect either. All at once the party seemed much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "more enjoyable; he loaded up his plate, feeling doubly fond of everyone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "in the room. Ron was rhapsodising about his new","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "broom to anybody who would listen. '. . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "nought to seventy in ten seconds, not bad, is it? When you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "think the Comet Two Ninety's only nought to sixty and that's with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a decent tailwind according to Which Broomstick?' Hermione was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "talking very earnestly to Lupin about her view of elf rights. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'I mean, it's the same kind of nonsense as werewolf","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "segregation, isn't it? It all stems from this horrible thing wizards have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of thinking they're superior to other creatures . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Mrs Weasley and Bill were having their usual argument about Bill's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "hair. '. . . getting really out of hand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and you're so good-looking, it would look much better shorter, wouldn't it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry?' Oh - I dunno - ' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "slightly alarmed at being asked his opinion; he slid away from them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "in the direction of Fred and George, who were huddled in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "corner with Mundungus. Mundungus stopped talking when he saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry, but Fred winked and beckoned Harry closer. 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "OK,' he told Mundungus, 'we can trust Harry, he's our financial backer.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Look what Dung's got us,' said George, holding out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his hand to Harry. It was full of what looked like shrivelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "black pods. A faint rattling noise was coming from them, even though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "they were completely stationary. 'Venomous Tentacula seeds,' said George.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'We need them for the Skiving Snackboxes but they're a Class C","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Non-Tradeable Substance so we've been having a bit of trouble getting hold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of them.' 'Ten Galleons the lot, then, Dung?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Fred. 'Wiv all the trouble I went to to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "get 'em?' said Mundungus, his saggy, bloodshot eyes stretching even wider. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "sorry, lads, but I'm not taking a Knut under twenty.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Dung likes his little joke,' Fred said to Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Yeah, his best one so far has been six Sickles for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a bag of Knarl quills,' said George. 'Be careful,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry warned them quietly. 'What?' said Fred. 'Mum's busy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "cooing over Prefect Ron, we're OK.' 'But Moody could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "have his eye on you.' Harry pointed out. Mundungus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "looked nervously over his shoulder. 'Good point, that,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "grunted. 'All right, lads, ten it is, if you'll take 'em quick.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Cheers, Harry!' said Fred delightedly, when Mundungus had emptied","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his pockets into the twins' outstretched hands and scuttled off towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "food. 'We'd better get these upstairs . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry watched them go, feeling slightly uneasy. It had just occurred to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "him that Mr and Mrs Weasley would want to know how Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and George were financing their joke shop business when, as was inevitable,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "they finally found out about it. Giving the twins his Triwizard winnings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "had seemed a simple thing to do at the time, but what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "if it led to another family row and a Percy-like estrangement? Would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Mrs Weasley still feel that Harry was as good as her son","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "if she found out he had made it possible for Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "George to start a career she thought quite unsuitable? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Standing where the twins had left him, with nothing but a guilty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "weight in the pit of his stomach for company, Harry caught the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "sound of his own name. Kingsley Shacklebolts deep voice was audible even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "over the surrounding chatter. '. . . why Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "didn't make Potter a prefect?' said Kingsley. 'He'll have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "had his reasons,' replied Lupin. 'But it would've shown","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "confidence in him. It's what I'd've done,' persisted Kingsley, ' 'specially with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the Daily Prophet having a go at him every few days .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". .' Harry did not look round; he did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "not want Lupin or Kingsley to know he had heard. Though not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "remotely hungry, he followed Mundungus back towards the table. His pleasure in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the party had evaporated as quickly as it had come; he wished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he were upstairs in bed. Mad-Eye Moody was sniffing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "at a chicken-leg with what remained of his nose; evidently he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "not detect any trace of poison, because he then tore a strip","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "off it with his teeth. '. . . the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "handle's made of Spanish oak with anti-jinx varnish and in-built vibration control","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "- ' Ron was saying to Tonks. Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "yawned widely. 'Well, I think I'll sort out that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Boggart before I turn in . . . Arthur, I don't want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "this lot up too late, all right? Night, Harry, dear.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " She left the kitchen. Harry set down his plate and wondered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "whether he could follow her without attracting attention. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "all right, Potter?' grunted Moody. 'Yeah, fine,' lied Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Moody took a swig from his hipflask, his electric-blue","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "eye staring sideways at Harry. 'Come here, I've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "something that might interest you,' he said. From an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "inner pocket of his robes Moody pulled a very tattered old wizarding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "photograph. 'Original Order of the Phoenix,' growled Moody. 'Found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it last night when I was looking for my spare Invisibility Cloak,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "seeing as Podmore hasn't had the manners to return my best one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . . thought people might like to see it.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Harry took the photograph. A small crowd of people, some waving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "at him, others lifting their glasses, looked back up at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'There's me,' said Moody, unnecessarily pointing at himself. The Moody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "in the picture was unmistakeable, though his hair was slightly less grey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and his nose was intact. 'And there's Dumbledore beside me, Dedalus Diggle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "on the other side . . . that's Marlene McKinnon, she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "killed two weeks after this was taken, they got her whole family.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "That's Frank and Alice Longbottom - ' Harry's stomach,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "already uncomfortable, clenched as he looked at Alice Longbottom; he knew her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "round, friendly face very well, even though he had never met her,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "because she was the image of her son, Neville. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "' - poor devils,' growled Moody. 'Better dead than what happened to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "them . . . and that's Emmeline Vance, you've met her, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "that there's Lupin, obviously . . . Benjy Fenwick, he copped it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "too, we only ever found bits of him . . . shift","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "aside there,' he added, poking the picture, and the little photographic people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "edged sideways, so that those who were partially obscured could move to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the front. 'That's Edgar Bones . . . brother","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of Amelia Bones, they got him and his family, too, he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a great wizard . . . Sturgis Podmore, blimey, he looks young","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . . Caradoc Dearborn, vanished six months after this, we never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "found his body . . . Hagrid, of course, looks exactly the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "same as ever . . . Elphias Doge, you've met him, I'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "forgotten he used to wear that stupid hat . . . Gideon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Prewett, it took five Death Eaters to kill him and his brother","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Fabian, they fought like heroes . . . budge along, budge along .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". .' The little people in the photograph jostled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "among themselves and those hidden right at the back appeared at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "forefront of the picture. That's Dumbledore's brother Aberforth, only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "time I ever met him, strange bloke . . . that's Dorcas","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Meadowes, Voldemort killed her personally . . . Sirius, when he still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "had short hair . . . and . . . there you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "go, thought that would interest you!' Harry's heart turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "over. His mother and father were beaming up at him, sitting on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "either side of a small, watery-eyed man whom Harry recognised at once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "as Wormtail, the one who had betrayed his parents' whereabouts to Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and so helped to bring about their deaths. 'Eh?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Moody. Harry looked up into Moody s heavily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "scarred and pitted face. Evidently Moody was under the impression he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "just given Harry a bit of a treat. 'Yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Harry, once again attempting to grin. 'Er . . . listen,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "I've just remembered, I haven't packed my . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " He was spared the trouble of inventing an object he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "not packed. Sirius had just said, 'What's that you've got there, Mad-Eye?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and Moody had turned towards him. Harry crossed the kitchen, slipped through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the door and up the stairs before anyone could call him back.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " He did not know why it had been such","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "a shock; he had seen pictures of his parents before, after all,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and he had met Wormtail . . . but to have them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "sprung on him like that, when he was least expecting it .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . no one would like that, he thought angrily . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". And then, to see them surrounded by all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "those other happy faces . . . Benjy Fenwick, who had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "found in bits, and Gideon Prewett, who had died like a hero,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and the Longbottoms, who had been tortured into madness . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "all waving happily out of the photograph forever more, not knowing that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "they were doomed . . . well, Moody might find that interesting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . . he, Harry, found it disturbing . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Harry tiptoed up the stairs in the hall past the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "stuffed elf-heads, glad to be on his own again, but as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "approached the first landing he heard noises. Someone was sobbing in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "drawing room. 'Hello?' Harry said. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was no answer but the sobbing continued. He climbed the remaining stairs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "two at a time, walked across the landing and opened the drawing-room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "door. Someone was cowering against the dark wall, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "wand in her hand, her whole body shaking with sobs. Sprawled on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the dusty old carpet in a patch of moonlight, clearly dead, was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ron. All the air seemed to vanish from Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "lungs; he felt as though he were falling through the floor; his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "brain turned icy cold - Ron dead, no, it couldn't be -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "' But wait a moment, it couldn't be -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Ron was downstairs - 'Mrs Weasley?' Harry croaked.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'R - r - riddikulus!' Mrs Weasley sobbed, pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "her shaking wand at Ron's body. Crack, ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Ron's body turned into Bill's, spread-eagled on his back, his eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "wide open and empty. Mrs Weasley sobbed harder than ever. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'R - riddikulus!' she sobbed again. Crack. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Mr Weasley's body replaced Bill's, his glasses askew, a trickle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of blood running down his face. 'No!' Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "moaned. 'No . . . riddikulus! Riddikulus! RID-DIKULUS!' Crack.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead Harry . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Mrs Weasley, just get out of here!' shouted Harry, staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "down at his own dead body on the floor. 'Let someone else","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "- ' 'What's going on?' Lupin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "had come running into the room, closely followed by Sirius, with Moody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "stumping along behind them. Lupin looked from Mrs Weasley to the dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Harry on the floor and seemed to understand in an instant. Pulling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "out his own wand, he said, very firmly and clearly: ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Riddikulus!' Harry's body vanished. A silvery orb hung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "in the air over the spot where it had lain. Lupin waved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "his wand once more and the orb vanished in a puff of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "smoke. 'Oh - oh - oh!' gulped Mrs Weasley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and she broke into a storm of crying, her face in her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "hands. 'Molly' said Lupin bleakly, walking over to her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Molly don't . . .' Next second, she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "sobbing her heart out on Lupin's shoulder. 'Molly it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "was just a Boggart,' he said soothingly, patting her on the head.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'Just a stupid Boggart . , .' 'I see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "them d - d - dead all the time!' Mrs Weasley moaned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "into his shoulder. 'All the t - t - time! I d","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "- d - dream about it . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Sirius was staring at the patch of carpet where the Boggart, pretending","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to be Harry's body, had lain. Moody was looking at Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "avoided his gaze. He had a funny feeling Moody's magical eye had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "followed him all the way out of the kitchen. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "'D - d - don't tell Arthur,' Mrs Weasley was gulping now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "mopping her eyes frantically with her cuffs. 'I d - d -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "don't want him to know . . . being silly . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ".' Lupin handed her a handkerchief and she blew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "her nose. 'Harry, I'm so sorry. What must you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "think of me?' she said shakily. 'Not even able to get rid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of a Boggart . . .' 'Don't be stupid,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "said Harry, trying to smile. 'I'm just s -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "s - so worried,' she said, tears spilling out of her eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "again. 'Half the f - f - family's in the Order, it'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "b - b - be a miracle if we all come through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "this . . . and P - P - Percy's not talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to us . . . what if something d-d - dreadful happens","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "and we've never m - m - made it up with him?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "And what's going to happen if Arthur and I get killed, who's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "g - g - going to look after Ron and Ginny?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Molly, that's enough,' said Lupin firmly. This isn't like last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "time. The Order are better prepared, we've got a head start, we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "know what Voldemort's up to - ' Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "gave a little squeak of fright at the sound of the name.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Oh, Molly, come on, it's about time you got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "used to hearing his name - look, I can't promise no one's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "going to get hurt, nobody can promise that, but we're much better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "off than we were last time. You weren't in the Order then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "you don't understand. Last time we were outnumbered twenty to one by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the Death Eaters and they were picking us off one by one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" ". . .' Harry thought of the photograph again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of his parents' beaming faces. He knew Moody was still watching him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " 'Don't worry about Percy,' said Sirius abruptly. 'He'll come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "round. It's only a matter of time before Voldemort moves into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "open; once he does, the whole Ministry's going to be begging us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "to forgive them. And I'm not sure I'll be accepting their apology,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "he added bitterly. 'And as for who's going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "look after Ron and Ginny if you and Arthur died,' said Lupin,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "smiling slightly, 'what do you think we'd do, let them starve?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" " Mrs Weasley smiled tremulously. 'Being silly,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "muttered again, mopping her eyes. But Harry, closing his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "bedroom door behind him some ten minutes later, could not think Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Weasley silly. He could still see his parents beaming up at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "from the battered old photograph, unaware that their lives, like so many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of those around them, were drawing to a close. The image of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the Boggart posing as the corpse of each member of Mrs Weasley's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "family in turn kept flashing before his eyes. Without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "warning, the scar on his forehead seared with pain again and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "stomach churned horribly. 'Cut it out,' he said firmly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "rubbing the scar as the pain receded. 'First sign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "of madness, talking to your own head,' said a sly voice from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "the empty picture on the wall. Harry ignored it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "He felt older than he had ever felt in his life and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "it seemed extraordinary to him that barely an hour ago he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "been worried about a joke shop and who had got a prefects badge. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-9" "Luna LovegoodHarry had a troubled nights sleep. His parents wove in and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "out of his dreams, never speaking; Mrs Weasley sobbed over Kreacher's dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "body, watched by Ron and Hermione who were wearing crowns, and yet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "again Harry found himself walking clown a corridor ending in a locked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "door. He awoke abruptly with his scar prickling to find Ron already","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "dressed and talking to him. '. . . better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hurry up, Mums going ballistic, she says we're going to miss the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "train . . .' There was a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "of commotion in the house. From what he heard as he dressed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "at top speed, Harry gathered that Fred and George had bewitched their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "trunks to fly downstairs to save the bother of carrying them, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the result that they had hurtled straight into Ginny and knocked her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "down two flights of stairs into the hall; Mrs Black and Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Weasley were both screaming at the top of their voices. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " ' - COULD HAVE DONE HER A SERIOUS INJURY, YOU IDIOTS","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "- ' ' - FILTHY HALF-BREEDS, BESMIRCHING THE HOUSE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "OF MY FATHERS - ' Hermione came hurrying into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the room looking flustered, just as Harry was putting on his trainers.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Hedwig was swaying or her shoulder, and she was carrying a squirming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Crookshanks in her arms. 'Mum and Dad just sent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Hedwig back.' The owl fluttered obligingly over and perched on top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "her cage. Are you ready yet?' 'Nearly. Is Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "all right?' Harry asked, shoving on his glasses. 'Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Weasley's patched her up,' said Hermione. 'But now Mad-Eye's complaining that we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "can't leave unless Sturgis Podmore's here, otherwise the guard will be one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "short.' 'Guard?' said Harry. 'We have to go to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "King's Cross with a guard?' 'You have to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to King's Cross with a guard,' Hermione corrected him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'Why?' said Harry irritably. 'I thought Voldemort was supposed to be lying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "low, or are you telling me he's going to jump out from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "behind a dustbin to try and do me in.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'I don't know, it's just what Mad-Eye says,' said Hermione distractedly, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "at her watch, 'but if we don't leave soon we're definitely going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to miss the train . . .' 'WILL YOU","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE!' Mrs Weasley bellowed and Hermione jumped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "as though scalded and hurried out of the room. Harry seized Hedwig,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "stuffed her unceremoniously into her cage, and set off downstairs after Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "dragging his trunk. Mrs Black's portrait was howling with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "rage but nobody was bothering to close the curtains over her; all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the noise in the hall was bound to rouse her again, anyway.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Harry, you're to come with me and Tonks,' shouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Mrs Weasley over the repeated screeches of 'MUDBLOODS! SCUM! CREATURES OF DIRT!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "- 'Leave your trunk and your owl, Alastor's going to deal with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the luggage . . . oh, for heavens sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "no!' A bear-like black dog had appeared at Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "side as he was clambering over the various trunks cluttering the hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to get to Mrs Weasley. 'Oh honestly . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ".' said Mrs Weasley despairingly. 'Well, on your own head be it!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " She wrenched open the front door and stepped out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "into the weak September sunlight. Harry and the dog followed her. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "door slammed behind them and Mrs Black's screeches were cut off instantly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Where's Tonks?' Harry said, looking round as they went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "down the stone steps of number twelve, which vanished the moment they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "reached the pavement. 'She's waiting for us just up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "here,' said Mrs Weasley stiffly, averting her eyes from the lolloping black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "dog beside Harry. An old woman greeted them on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the corner. She had tightly curled grey hair and wore a purple","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hat shaped like a pork pie. 'Wotcher, Harry,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said, winking. 'Better hurry up, hadn't we, Molly?' she added, checking her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "watch. 'I know, I know,' moaned Mrs Weasley, lengthening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "her stride, 'but Mad-Eye wanted to wait for Sturgis . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "if only Arthur could have got us cars from the Ministry again .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . but Fudge won't let him borrow so much as an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "empty ink bottle these days . . . how Muggles can stand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "travelling without magic . . .' But the great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "black dog gave a joyful bark and gambolled around them, snapping at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "pigeons and chasing its own tail. Harry couldn't help laughing. Sirius had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "been trapped inside for a very long time. Mrs Weasley pursed her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "lips in an almost Aunt Petunia-ish way. It took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "them twenty minutes to reach King's Cross on foot and nothing more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "eventful happened during that time than Sirius scaring a couple of cats","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "for Harry's entertainment. Once inside the station they lingered casually beside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "barrier between platforms nine and ten until the coast was clear, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "each of them leaned against it in turn and fell easily through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "on to platform nine and three-quarters, where the Hogwarts Express stood belching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "sooty steam over a platform packed with departing students and their families.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Harry inhaled the familiar smell and felt his spirits soar . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". he was really going back . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'I hope the others make it in time,' said Mrs Weasley anxiously,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "staring behind her at the wrought-iron arch spanning the platform, through which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "new arrivals would come. 'Nice dog, Harry!' called a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "tall boy with dreadlocks. Thanks, Lee,' said Harry, grinning,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "as Sirius wagged his tail frantically. 'Oh good,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Mrs Weasley, sounding relieved, 'here's Alastor with the luggage, look . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ".' A porter's cap pulled low over his mismatched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "eyes, Moody came limping through the archway pushing a trolley loaded with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "their trunks. 'All OK,' he muttered to Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and Tonks, 'don't think we were followed . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Seconds later, Mr Weasley emerged on to the platform with Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and Hermione. They had almost unloaded Moody's luggage trolley when Fred, George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and Ginny turned up with Lupin. 'No trouble?' growled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Moody. 'Nothing,' said Lupin. 'I'll still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore,' said Moody, 'that's the second time he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "not turned up in a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Well, look after yourselves,' said Lupin, shaking hands all round.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "He reached Harry last and gave him a clap on the shoulder.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'You too, Harry. Be careful.' 'Yeah, keep your head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "down and your eyes peeled,' said Moody, shaking Harry's hand too. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "don't forget, all of you - careful what you put in writing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'It's been great meeting all of you,' said Tonks, hugging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Hermione and Ginny. 'We'll see you soon, I expect.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "A warning whistle sounded; the students still on the platform started hurrying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "on to the train. 'Quick, quick,' said Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "distractedly, hugging them at random and catching Harry twice, 'Write . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". be good . . . if you've forgotten anything we'll send","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "it on . . . on to the train, now, hurry .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". .' For one brief moment, the great black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "dog reared on to its hind legs and placed its front paws","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "on Harry's shoulders, but Mrs Weasley shoved Harry away towards the train","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "door, hissing, 'For heaven's sake, act more like a dog, Sirius!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'See you!' Harry called out of the open window as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the train began to move, while Ron, Hermione and Ginny waved beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "him. The figures of Tonks, Lupin, Moody and Mr and Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "shrank rapidly but the black dog was bounding alongside the window, wagging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "its tail; blurred people on the platform were laughing to see it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "chasing the train, then they rounded a bend, and Sirius was gone.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'He shouldn't have come with us,' said Hermione in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "a worried voice. 'Oh, lighten up,' said Ron, 'he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hasn't seen daylight for months, poor bloke.' 'Well,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Fred, clapping his hands together, 'can't stand around chatting all day, we've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "got business to discuss with Lee. See you later,' and he and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "George disappeared down the corridor to the right. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "train was gathering still more speed, so that the houses outside the window","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "flashed past, and they swayed where they stood. 'Shall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "we go and find a compartment, then?' Harry asked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Ron and Hermione exchanged looks. 'Er,' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'We're - well - Ron and I are supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "go into the prefect carnage,' Hermione said awkwardly. Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "wasn't looking at Harry; he seemed to have become intensely interested in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the fingernails on his left hand. 'Oh,' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'Right. Fine.' 'I don't think we'll have to stay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "there all journey,' said Hermione quickly. 'Our letters said we just get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "instructions from the Head Boy and Girl and then patrol the corridors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "from time to time.' 'Fine,' said Harry again. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "I - I might see you later, then.' 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "definitely,' said Ron, casting a shifty, anxious look at Harry. 'It's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "pain having to go down there, I'd rather - but we have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to - 'I mean, I'm not enjoying it, I'm not Percy,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "finished defiantly. 'I know you're not,' said Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he grinned. But as Hermione and Ron dragged their trunks, Crookshanks and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "a caged Pigwidgeon off towards the engine end of the train, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "felt an odd sense of loss. He had never travelled on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Hogwarts Express without Ron. 'Come on,' Ginny told him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'if we get a move on we'll be able to save them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "places.' 'Right,' said Harry, picking up Hedwig's cage in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "one hand and the handle of his trunk in the other. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "struggled off down the corridor, peering through the glass-panelled doors into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "compartments they passed, which were already full. Harry could not help noticing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "that a lot of people stared back at him with great interest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and that several of them nudged their neighbours and pointed him out.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "After he had met this behaviour in five consecutive carriages he remembered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "that the Daily Prophet had been telling its readers all summer what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "a lying show-off he was. He wondered dully whether the people now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "staring and whispering believed the stories. In the very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "last carriage they met Neville Longbottom, Harry's fellow fifth-year Gryffindor, his round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "face shining with the effort of pulling his trunk along and maintaining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "a one-handed grip on his struggling toad, Trevor. 'Hi,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Harry,' he panted. 'Hi, Ginny . . . everywhere's full . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". I can't find a seat . . . ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'What are you talking about?' said Ginny, who had squeezed past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Neville to peer into the compartment behind him. There's room in this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "one, there's only Loony Lovegood in here - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Neville mumbled something about not wanting to disturb anyone. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'Don't be silly,' said Ginny, laughing, 'she's all right.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "She slid the door open and pulled her trunk inside. Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Neville followed. 'Hi, Luna.' said Ginny, 'is it OK","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "if we take these seats?' The girl beside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "window looked up. She had straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "eyebrows and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "knew at once why Neville had chosen to pass this compartment by.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "The girl gave oil an aura of distinct dottiness. Perhaps it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the fact that she had stuck her wand behind her left ear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "for safekeeping, or that she had chosen to wear a necklace of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Butterbeer corks, or that she was reading a magazine upside-down. Her eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "ranged over Neville and came to rest on Harry. She nodded. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Thanks,' said Ginny, smiling at her. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and Neville stowed the three trunks and Hedwig's cage in the luggage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "rack and sat down. Luna watched them over her upside-down magazine, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was called The Quibbler. She did not seem to need to blink","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "as much as normal humans. She stared and stared at Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "had taken the seat opposite her and now wished he hadn't. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Had a good summer, Luna?' Ginny asked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'Yes,' said Luna dreamily, without taking her eyes off Harry. 'Yes, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was quite enjoyable, you know. You're Harry Potter,' she added. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'I know I am,' said Harry. Neville chuckled. Luna","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "turned her pale eyes on him instead. 'And I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "don't know who you are.' 'I'm nobody,' said Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hurriedly. 'No you're not,' said Ginny sharply. 'Neville Longbottom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "- Luna Lovegood. Luna's in my year, but in Ravenclaw.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure,' said Luna in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "singsong voice. She raised her upside-down magazine high enough","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to hide her face and fell silent. Harry and Neville looked at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "each other with their eyebrows raised. Ginny suppressed a giggle. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " The train rattled onwards, speeding them out into open country. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was an odd, unsettled sort of day; one moment the carriage was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "full of sunlight and the next they were passing beneath ominously grey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "clouds. 'Guess what I got for my birthday?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Neville. 'Another Remembrall?' said Harry, remembering the marble-like device","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Neville's grandmother had sent him in an effort to improve his abysmal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "memory. 'No,' said Neville. 'I could do with one,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "though, I lost the old one ages ago . . . no,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "look at this . . .' He dug the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hand that was not keeping a firm grip on Trevor into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "schoolbag and after a little bit of rummaging pulled out what appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to be a small grey cactus in a pot, except that it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was covered with what looked like boils rather than spines. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Mimbulus mimbletonia,' he said proudly. Harry stared at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the thing. It was pulsating slightly, giving it the rather sinister look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "of some diseased internal organ. 'It's really, really rare,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Neville, beaming. 'I don't know if there's one in the greenhouse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "at Hogwarts, even. I can't wait to show it to Professor Sprout.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "My Great Uncle Algie got it for me in Assyria. I'm going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to see if I can breed from it.' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "knew that Neville's favourite subject was Herbology but for the life of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "him he could not see what he would want with this stunted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "little plant. 'Does it - er - do anything?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he asked. 'Loads of stuff!' said Neville proudly. 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "got an amazing defensive mechanism. Here, hold Trevor for me . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ".' He dumped the toad into Harry's lap and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "took a quill from his schoolbag. Luna Lovegood's popping eyes appeared over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the top of her upside-down magazine again, to watch what Neville was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " doing. Neville held the Mimbulus mimblctonia up to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "eyes, his tongue between his teeth, chose his spot, and gave the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "plant a sharp prod with the tip of his quill. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Liquid squirted from every boil on the plant; thick, stinking, dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "green jets of it. They hit the ceiling, the windows, and spattered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Luna Lovegood's magazine; Ginny, who had flung her arms up in front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "of her face just in time, merely looked as though she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "wearing a slimy green hat, but Harry, whose hands had been busy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "preventing Trevor's escape, received a faceful. It smelled like rancid manure. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Neville, whose face and torso were also drenched, shook his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "head to get the worst out of his eyes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'S - sorry,' he gasped. 'I haven't tried that before . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". didn't realise it would be quite so . . . don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "worry, though, Stinksap's not poisonous,' he added nervously, as Harry spat a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "mouthful on to the floor. At that precise moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the door of their compartment slid open. 'Oh .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . hello, Harry,' said a nervous voice. 'Urn . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "bad time?' Harry wiped the lenses of his glasses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "with his Trevor-free hand. A very pretty girl with long, shiny black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hair was standing in the doorway smiling at him: Cho Chang, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Seeker on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. 'Oh . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". hi,' said Harry blankly. 'Um . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Cho. 'Well . . . just thought I'd say hello .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . bye then.' Rather pink in the face,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "she closed the door and departed. Harry slumped back in his seat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and groaned. He would have liked Cho to discover him sitting with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "group of very cool people laughing their heads off at a joke","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he had just told; he would not have chosen to be sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "with Neville and Loony Lovegood, clutching a toad and dripping in Stinksap.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Never mind,' said Ginny bracingly. 'Look, we can easily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "get rid of all this.' She pulled out her wand. 'Scourgify!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " The Stinksap vanished. 'Sorry.' said Neville again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "in a small voice. Ron and Hermione did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "turn up for nearly an hour, by which time the food trolley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "had already gone by. Harry, Ginny and Neville had finished their pumpkin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "pasties and were busy swapping Chocolate Frog Cards when the compartment door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "slid open and they walked in, accompanied by Crookshanks and a shrilly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hooting Pigwidgeon in his cage. 'I'm starving,' said Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "stowing Pigwidgeon next to Hedwig, grabbing a Chocolate Frog from Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "throwing himself into the seat next to him. He ripped open the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "wrapper, bit off the frog's head and leaned back with his eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "closed as though he had had a very exhausting morning. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Well, there are two fifth-year prefects from each house,' said Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "looking thoroughly disgruntled as she took her seat. 'Boy and girl from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "each.' 'And guess who's a Slytherin prefect?' said Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "still with his eyes closed. 'Malfoy,' replied Harry at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "once, certain his worst fear would be confirmed. 'Course,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Ron bitterly, stuffing the rest of the Frog into his mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and taking another. 'And that complete cow Pansy Parkinson,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Hermione viciously. 'How she got to be a prefect when she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "thicker than a concussed troll . . . 'Who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "are Hufflepuff's?' Harry asked. 'Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Ron thickly. 'And Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "for Ravenclaw,' said Hermione. 'You went to the Yule","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Ball with Padma Patil,' said a vague voice. Everyone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "turned to look at Luna Lovegood, who was gazing unblinkingly at Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "over the top of The Quibbler. He swallowed his mouthful of Frog.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Yeah, I know I did,' he said, looking mildly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "surprised. 'She didn't enjoy it very much,' Luna informed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "him. 'She doesn't think you treated her very well, because you wouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "dance with her. I don't think I'd have minded,' she added thoughtfully,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'I don't like dancing very much.' She retreated behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "The Quibbler again. Ron stared at the cover with his mouth hanging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "open for a few seconds, then looked around at Ginny for some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "kind of explanation, but Ginny had stuffed her knuckles in her mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to stop herself giggling. Ron shook his head, bemused, then checked his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "watch. 'We're supposed to patrol the corridors every so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "often,' he told Harry and Neville, 'and we can give out punishments","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "if people are misbehaving. I can't wait to get Crabbe and Goyle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "for something . . . ' 'You're not supposed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to abuse your position, Ron!' said Hermione sharply. 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "right, because Malfoy won't abuse it at all,' said Ron sarcastically. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'So you're going to descend to his level?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'No, I'm just going to make sure I get his mates","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "before he gets mine.' 'For heavens sake, Ron -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "' 'I'll make Goyle do lines, it'll kill him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he hates writing,' said Ron happily. He lowered his voice to Goyle's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "low grunt and, screwing up his face in a look of pained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "concentration, mimed writing in midair. 'I . . . must. . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "not. . . look . . .like . . . a .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . baboon's . . . backside.' Everyone laughed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "but nobody laughed harder than Luna Lovegood. She let out a scream","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "of mirth that caused Hedwig to wake up and flap her wings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "indignantly and Crookshanks to leap up into the luggage rack, hissing. Luna","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "laughed so hard her magazine slipped out of her grasp, slid down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "her legs and on to the floor. 'That was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "funny!' Her prominent eyes swam with tears as she gasped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "for breath, staring at Ron. Utterly nonplussed, he looked around at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "others, who were now laughing at the expression on Ron's face and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "at the ludicrously prolonged laughter of Luna Lovegood, who was rocking backwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and forwards, clutching her sides. 'Are you taking the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "mickey?' said Ron, frowning at her. 'Baboon's . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". backside!' she choked, holding her ribs. Everyone else","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was watching Luna laughing, but Harry, glancing at the magazine on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "floor, noticed something that made him dive for it. Upside-down it had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "been hard to tell what the picture on the front was, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Harry now realised i! was a fairly bad cartoon of Cornelius Fudge;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Harry only recognised him because of the lime-green bowler hat. One of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Fudges hands was clenched around a bag of gold; the other hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was throttling a goblin. The cartoon was captioned: How Far Will Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Go to Gain Gringotts? Beneath this were listed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "titles of other articles inside the magazine.Corruption in the Quidditch League:How the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Tornados are Taking ControlSecrets of the Ancient Runes RevealedSirius Black: Villain or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Victim?'Can I have a look at this?' Harry asked Luna eagerly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " She nodded, still gazing at Ron, breathless with laughter. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Harry opened the magazine and scanned the index. Until this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "moment he had completely forgotten the magazine Kingsley had handed Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to give to Sirius, but it must have been this edition of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "The Quibbler. He found the page, and turned excitedly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to the article. This, too, was illustrated by a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "rather bad cartoon; in fact, Harry would not have known it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "supposed to be Sirius if it hadn't been captioned. Sirius was standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "on a pile of human bones with his wand out. The headline","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "on the article said:SIRIUS - BLACK AS HE'S PAINTED?Notorious mass murderer or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "innocent singing sensation?Harry had to read this first sentence several times before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he was convinced that he had not misunderstood it. Since when had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Sirius been a singing sensation?For fourteen years Sirius Black has been believed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "guilty of the mass murder of twelve innocent Muggles and one wizard.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Black's audacious escape from Azkaban two years ago has led to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "widest manhunt ever conducted by the Ministry of Magic. None of us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "has ever questioned that he deserves to be recaptured and handed back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to the Dementors. BUT DOES HE? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Startling new evidence has recently come to light that Sirius Black may","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "not have committed the crimes for which he was sent to Azhaban.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "In fact, says Doris Purkiss, of 18 Acanthia Way, Little Norton, Black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "may not even have been present at the killings. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'What people don't realise is that Sirius Black is a false name,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "says Mrs Purkiss. 'The man people believe to be Sirius Black is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "actually Stubby Boardman, lead singer of popular singing group The Hobgoblins, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "retired from public life after being struck on the ear by a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "turnip at a concert in Little Norton Church Hall nearly fifteen years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "ago. I recognised him the moment I saw his picture in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "paper. Now, Stubby couldn't possibly have committed those crimes, because on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "day in question he happened to be enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "with me. I have written to the Minister for Magic and am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "expecting him to give Stubby, alias Sirius, a full pardon any day","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "now.'Harry finished reading and stared at the page in disbelief. Perhaps it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was a joke, he thought, perhaps the magazine often printed spoof items.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "He flicked back a few pages and found the piece on Fudge.Cornelius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Fudge, the Minister for Magic, denied that he had any plans to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "take over the running of the Wizarding Bank, Gringotts, when he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "elected Minister for Magic jive years ago. Fudge has always insisted that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he wants nothing more than to 'co-operate peacefully' with the guardians of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "our gold. BUT DOES HE? Sources","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "close to the Minister have recently disclosed that Fudge's dearest ambition is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to seize control of the goblin gold supplies and that he will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "not hesitate to use force if need be. 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "wouldn't be the first time, either,' said a Ministry insider. 'Cornelius `Goblin-Crusher`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Fudge, that's what his friends call him. If you could hear him when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he thinks no one's listening, oh, he's always talking about the goblins","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "he's had done in; he's had them drowned, he's had them dropped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "off buildings, he's had them poisoned, he's had them cooked in pies","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . .'Harry did not read any further. Fudge might have many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "faults but Harry found it extremely hard to imagine him ordering goblins","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to be cooked in pies. He flicked through the rest of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "magazine. Pausing every few pages, he read: an accusation that the Tutshill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Tornados were winning the Quidditch League by a combination of blackmail, illegal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "broom-tampering and torture; an interview with a wizard who claimed to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "flown to the moon on a Cleansweep Six and brought back a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "bag of moon frogs to prove it; and an article on ancient","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "runes which at least explained why Luna had been reading The Quibbler","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "upside-down. According to the magazine, if you turned the runes on their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "heads they revealed a spell to make your enemy's ears turn into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "kumquats. In fact, compared to the rest of the articles in The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Quibbler, the suggestion that Sirius might really be the lead singer of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "The Hobgoblins was quite sensible. 'Anything good in there?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "asked Ron as Harry closed the magazine. 'Of course","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "not,' said Hermione scathingly, before Harry could answer. The Quibbler's rubbish, everyone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "knows that.' 'Excuse me,' said Luna; her voice had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "suddenly lost its dreamy quality. 'My father's the editor.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'I - oh,' said Hermione, looking embarrassed. 'Well . . . it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "got some interesting . . . I mean, it's quite ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'I'll have it back, thank you,' said Luna coldly, and leaning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "forwards she snatched it out of Harry's hands. Riffling through it to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "page fifty-seven, she turned it resolutely upside-down again and disappeared behind it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "just as the compartment door opened for the third time. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Harry looked around; he had expected this, but that did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "make the sight of Draco Malfoy smirking at him from between his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "cronies Crabbe and Goyle any more enjoyable. 'What?' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said aggressively, before Malfoy could open his mouth. 'Manners,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention,' drawled Malfoy, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "sleek blond hair and pointed chin were just like his father's. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Yeah,' said Harry, 'but you, unlike me, are a git, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "get out and leave us alone.' Ron, Hermione, Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and Neville laughed. Malfoy's lip curled. 'Tell me, how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "does it feel being second-best to Weasley, Potter?' he asked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Shut up, Malfoy,' said Hermione sharply. 'I seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to have touched a nerve,' said Malfoy, smirking. 'Well, just watch yourself,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Potter, because I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you step out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "of line.' 'Get out!' said Hermione, standing up. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Sniggering, Malfoy gave Harry a last malicious look and departed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "with Crabbe and Goyle lumbering along in his wake. Hermione slammed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "compartment door behind them and turned to look at Harry, who knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "at once that she, like him, had registered what Malfoy had said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and been just as unnerved by it. 'Chuck us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "another Frog,' said Ron, who had clearly noticed nothing. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Harry could not talk freely in front of Neville and Luna. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "exchanged another nervous look with Hermione, then stared out of the window.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " He had thought Sirius coming with him to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "station was a bit of a laugh, but suddenly it seemed reckless,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "if not downright dangerous . . . Hermione had been right .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . Sirius should not have come. What if Mr Malfoy had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "noticed the black dog and told Draco? What if he had deduced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "that the Weasleys, Lupin, Tonks and Moody knew where Sirius was hiding?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Or had Malfoy's use of the word 'dogging' been a coincidence? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " The weather remained undecided as they travelled further and farther","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "north. Rain spattered the windows in a half-hearted way, then the sun","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "put in a feeble appearance before clouds drifted over it once more.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "When darkness fell and lamps came on inside the carriages, Luna rolled up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "The Quibbler, put it carefully away ii her bag and took to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "staring at everyone in the compartment instead. Harry was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "sitting with his forehead pressed against the train window, trying to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "a first distant glimpse of Hogwarts, but it was a moonless night","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and the rain-streaked window was grimy. 'We'd better change,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Hermione at last, and all of them opened their trunks with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "difficulty and pulled on their school robes. She and Ron pinned their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "prefect badges carefully to their chests. Harry saw Ron checking his reflection","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "in the black window. At last, the train began","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to slow down and they heard the usual racket up and down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "it as everybody scrambled to get their luggage and pets assembled, ready","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to get on. As Ron and Hermione were supposed to supervise all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "this, they disappeared from the carriage again, leaving Harry and the others","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to look after Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon. 'I'll carry that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "owl, if you like,' said Luna to Harry, reaching out for Pigwidgeon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "as Neville stowed Trevor carefully in an inside pocket. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'Oh - er - thanks,' said Harry, handing her the cage and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "hoisting Hedwig's more securely into his arms. They shuffled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "out of the compartment feeling the first sting of the night air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "on their faces as they joined the crowd in the corridor. Slowly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "they moved towards the doors. Harry could smell the pine trees that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "lined the path down to the lake. He stepped down on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the platform and looked around, listening for the familiar call of 'firs'-years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "over 'ere . . . firs'-years . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "But it did not come. Instead, a quite different voice, a brisk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "female one, was calling out, 'First-years line up over here, please! All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "first-years to me!' A lantern came swinging towards Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "and by its light he saw the prominent chin and severe haircut","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "of Professor Grubbly-Plank, the witch who had taken over Hagrid's Care of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Magical Creatures lessons for a while the previous year. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'Where's Hagrid?' he said out loud. 'I don't know,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Ginny, 'but we'd better get out of the way, we're blocking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the door.' 'Oh, yeah . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Harry and Ginny became separated as they moved off along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "platform and out through the station. Jostled by the crowd, Harry squinted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "through the darkness for a glimpse of Hagrid; he had to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "here, Harry had been relying on it - seeing Hagrid again was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "one of the things he'd been looking forward to most. But there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was no sign of him. He can't have left,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Harry told himself as he shuffled slowly through a narrow doorway on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to the road outside with the rest of the crowd. He's just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "got a cold or something . . . He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "looked around for Ron or Hermione, wanting to know what they thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "about the reappearance of Professor Grubbly-Plank, but neither of them was anywhere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "near him, so he allowed himself to be shunted forwards on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the dark rain-washed road outside Hogsmeade Station. Here stood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the hundred or so horseless stagecoaches that always took the students above","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "first year up to the castle. Harry glanced quickly at them, turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "away to keep a lookout for Ron and Hermione, then did a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "double-take. The coaches were no longer horseless. There were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "creatures standing between the carriage shafts. If he had had to give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "them a name, he supposed he would have called them horses, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "there was something reptilian about them, too. They were completely fleshless, their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "black coats clinging to their skeletons, of which every bone was visible.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Their heads were dragonish, and their pupil-less eyes white and staring. Wings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "sprouted from each wither - vast, black leathery wings that looked as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "though they ought to belong to giant bats. Standing still and quiet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "in the gathering gloom, the creatures looked eerie and sinister. Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "not understand why the coaches were being pulled by these horrible horses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "when they v/ere quite capable of moving along by themselves. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Where's Pig?' said Ron's voice, right behind Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "That Luna girl was carrying him,' said Harry, turning quickly, eager to consult","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Ron about Hagrid. 'Where d'you reckon - ' '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "- Hagrid is? I dunno,' said Ron, sounding worried. 'He'd better be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "OK . . .' A short distance away, Draco","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Malfoy, followed by a small gang of cronies including Crabbe, Goyle and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Pansy Parkinson, was pushing some timid-looking second-years out of the way so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "that he and his friends could get a coach to themselves. Seconds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "later, Hermione emerged panting from the crowd. 'Malfoy was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "being absolutely foul to a first-year back there. I swear I'm going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "to report him, he's only had his badge three minutes and he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "using it to bully people worse than ever . . . where's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Crookshanks?' 'Ginny's got him,' said Harry. There she is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . .' Ginny had just emerged from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "crowd, clutching a squirming Crookshanks, Thanks,' said Hermione, relieving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Ginny of the cat. 'Come on, let's get a carriage together before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "they all fill up . . .' 'I haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "got Pig yet!' Ron said, but Hermione was already heading off towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the nearest unoccupied coach. Harry remained behind with Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'What are those things, d'you reckon?' he asked Ron, nodding at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "horrible horses as the other students surged past them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'What things?' 'Those horse - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Luna appeared holding Pigwidgeon's cage in her arms; the tiny owl was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "twittering excitedly as usual. 'Here you are,' she said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'He's a sweet little owl, isn't he?' 'Er .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . yeah . . . he's all right,' said Ron gruffly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'Well, come on then, let's get in . . . what were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "you saying, Harry?' 'I was saying, what are those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "horse things?' Harry said, as he, Ron and Luna made for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "carriage in which Hermione and Ginny were already sitting. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "'What horse things?' 'The horse things pulling the carriages!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Harry impatiently. They were, after all, about three feet from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "nearest one; it was watching them with empty white eyes. Ron, however,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "gave Harry a perplexed look. 'What are you talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "about?' 'I'm talking about - look!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Harry grabbed Ron's arm and wheeled him about so that he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "face to face with the winged horse. Ron stared straight at it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "for a second, then looked back at Harry. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "am I supposed to be looking at?' 'At the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "- there, between the shafts! Harnessed to the coach! It's right there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "in front - ' But as Ron continued to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "look bemused, a strange thought occurred to Harry. 'Can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". . . can't you see them?' 'See what?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Can't you see what's pulling the carriages?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " Ron looked seriously alarmed now. 'Are you feeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "all right, Harry?' 'I . . . yeah .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" ". .' Harry felt utterly bewildered. The horse was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "there in front of him, gleaming solidly in the dim light issuing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "from the station windows behind them, vapour rising from its nostrils in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "the chilly night air. Yet, unless Ron was faking - and it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "was a very feeble joke if he was - Ron could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "see it at all. 'Shall we get in, then?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Ron uncertainly, looking at Harry as though worried about him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'Yeah, go on . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" " 'It's all right,' said a dreamy voice from beside Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "as Ron vanished into the coach's dark interior. 'You're not going mad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "or anything. I can see them, too.' 'Can you?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "said Harry desperately, turning to Luna. He could see the bat-winged horses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "reflected in her wide silvery eyes. 'Oh, yes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "Luna, 'I've been able to see them ever since my first day","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "here. They've always pulled the carriages. Don't worry. You're just as sane","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "as I am.' Smiling faintly, she climbed into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "musty interior of the carriage alter Ron. Not altogether reassured, Harry followed her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-10" "The Sorting Hat'sNew SongHarry did not want to tell the others that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "he and Luna were having the same hallucination, if that was what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "it was, so he said nothing more about the horses as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "sat down inside the carriage and slammed the door behind him. Nevertheless,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "he could not help watching the silhouettes of the horses moving beyond","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the window. 'Did everyone see that Grubbly-Plank woman?' asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Ginny. 'What's she doing back here? Hagrid can't have left, can he?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'I'll be quite glad if he has,' said Luna,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'he isn't a very good teacher, is he?' 'Yes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "he is!' said Harry, Ron and Ginny angrily. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "glared at Hermione. She cleared her throat and quickly said, 'Erm .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ". . yes . . . he's very good.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Well, we in Ravenclaw think he's a bit of a joke,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Luna, unfazed. 'You've got a rubbish sense of humour","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "then,' Ron snapped, as the wheels below them creaked into motion. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Luna did not seem perturbed by Ron's rudeness; on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "contrary, she simply watched him for a while as though he were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "a mildly interesting television programme. Rattling and swaying, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "carriages moved in convoy up the road. When they passed between the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "tall stone pillars topped with winged boars on either side of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "gates to the school grounds, Harry leaned forwards to try and see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "whether there were any lights on in Hagrid's cabin by the Forbidden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Forest, but the grounds were in complete darkness. Hogwarts Castle, however, loomed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "ever closer: a towering mass of turrets, jet black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "against the dark sky, here and there a window blazing fiery bright","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "above them. The carriages jingled to a halt near","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the stone steps leading up to the oak front doors and Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "got out of the carriage first. He turned again to look for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "lit windows down by the Forest, but there was definitely no sign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of life within Hagrid's cabin. Unwillingly, because he had half-hoped they would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "have vanished, he turned his eyes instead upon the strange, skeletal creatures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "standing quietly in the chill night air, their blank white eyes gleaming.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Harry had once before had the experience of seeing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "something that Ron could not, but that had been a reflection in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "a mirror, something much more insubstantial than a hundred very solid-looking beasts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "strong enough to pull a fleet of carriages. If Luna was to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be believed, the beasts had always been there but invisible. Why, then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "could Harry suddenly see them, and why could Ron not? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Are you coming or what?' said Ron beside him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Oh . . . yeah,' said Harry quickly and they joined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the crowd hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " The Entrance Hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to the right, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " The four long house tables in the Great Hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly, exchanging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses, eyeing one another's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "new haircuts and robes. Again, Harry noticed people putting their heads together","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to whisper as he passed; he gritted his teeth and tried to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "act as though he neither noticed nor cared. Luna","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "drifted away from them at the Ravenclaw table. The moment they reached","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Gryffindor's, Ginny was hailed by some fellow fourth-years and left to sit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "with them; Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville found seats together about halfway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "down the table between Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor house ghost, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, the last two of whom gave Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "airy, overly-friendly greetings that made him quite sure they had stopped talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "about him a split second before. He had more important things to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "worry about, however: he was looking over the students' heads to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "staff table that ran along the top wall of the Hall. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'He's not there.' Ron and Hermione scanned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the staff table too, though there was no real need; Hagrid's size","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "made him instantly obvious in any lineup. 'He can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "have left,' said Ron, sounding slightly anxious. 'Of course","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "he hasn't,' said Harry firmly. 'You don't think he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ". . . hurt, or anything, do you?' said Hermione uneasily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'No,' said Harry at once. 'But where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "is he, then?' There was a pause, then Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "said very quietly, so that Neville, Parvati and Lavender could not hear,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Maybe he's not back yet. You know - from his mission -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the thing he was doing over the summer for Dumbledore.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Yeah . . . yeah, that'll be it,' said Ron, sounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "reassured, but Hermione bit her lip, looking up and down the staff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "table as though hoping for some conclusive explanation of Hagrid's absence. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Who's that?' she said sharply, pointing towards the middle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the staff table. Harry's eyes followed hers. They lit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "first upon Professor Dumbledore, sitting in his high-backed golden chair at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "centre of the long staff table, wearing deep-purple robes scattered with silvery","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "stars and a matching hat. Dumbledore's head was inclined towards the woman","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "sitting next to him, who was talking into his ear. She looked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Harry thought, like somebody's maiden aunt: squat, with short, curly, mouse-brown hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "in which she had placed a horrible pink Alice band that matched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the fluffy pink cardigan she wore over her robes. Then she turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "her face slightly to take a sip from her goblet and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "saw, with a shock of recognition, a pallid, toadlike face and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "pair of prominent, pouchy eyes. 'It's that Umbridge woman!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Who?' said Hermione. 'She was at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "my hearing, she works for Fudge!' 'Nice cardigan,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Ron, smirking. 'She works for Fudge!' Hermione repeated, frowning.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'What on earth's she doing here, then?' 'Dunno .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ". .' Hermione scanned the staff table, her eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "narrowed. 'No,' she muttered, 'no, surely not . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ".' Harry did not understand what she was talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "about but did not ask; his attention had been caught by Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Grubbly-Plank who had just appeared behind the staff table; she worked her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "way along to the very end and took the seat that ought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to have been Hagrid's. That meant the first-years must have crossed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "lake and reached the castle, and sure enough, a few seconds later,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the doors from the Entrance Hall opened. A long line of scared-looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "first-years entered, led by Professor McGonagall, who was carrying a stool on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "which sat an ancient wizards hat, heavily patched and darned with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "wide rip near the frayed brim. The buzz of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "talk in the Great Hall faded away. The first-years lined up in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "front of the staff table facing the rest of the students, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them, then stood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "back. The first-years' faces glowed palely in the candlelight.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "A small boy right in the middle of the row looked as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "though he was trembling. Harry recalled, fleetingly, how terrified he had felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "when he had stood there, waiting for the unknown test that would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "determine to which house he belonged. The whole school","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "waited with bated breath. Then the rip near the hat's brim opened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat burst into song:In times","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of old when I was newAnd Hogwarts barely startedThe founders of our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "noble schoolThought never to be parted:United by a common goal,They had the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "selfsame yearning,To make the world's best magic schoolAnd pass along their learning.'Together","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "we will build and teach!'The four good friends decidedAnd never did they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "dream that theyMight some day be divided,For were there such friends anywhereAs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Slytherin and Gryffindor?Unless it was the second pairOf Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?So how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "could it have gone so wrong?How could such friendships fail?Why, I was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "there and so can tellThe whole sad, sorry tale.Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "just thoseWhose ancestry is purest.'Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whoseIntelligence is surest.'Said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Gryffindor, 'We'll teach all thoseWith brave deeds to their name,'Said Hufflepuff, 'I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "teach the lot,And treat them just the same.'These differences caused little strifeWhen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "first they came to light,For each of the four founders hadA house","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "in which they mightTake only those they wanted, so,For instance, SlytherinTook only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "pure-blood wizardsOf great cunning, just like him,And only those of sharpest mindWere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "taught by RavenclawWhile the bravest and the boldestWent to daring Gryffindor.Good Hufflepuff,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "she took the rest,And taught them all she knew,Thus the houses and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "their foundersRetained friendships firm and true.So Hogwarts worked in harmonyFor several happy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "years,But then discord crept among usFeeding on our faults and fears.The houses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "that, like pillars four,Had once held up our school,Now turned upon each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "other and,Divided, sought to rule.And for a while it seemed the schoolMust","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "meet an early end,What with duelling and with fightingAnd the clash of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "friend on friendAnd at last there came c morningWhen old Slytherin departedAnd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "though the fighting then died outHe left us quite downhearted.And never since","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the founders fourWere whittled down to threeHave the houses been unitedAs they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "once were meant to be.And now the Sorting Hat is hereAnd you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "all know the score:I sort you into housesBecause that is what I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "for,But this year I'll go further,Listen closely to my song:Though condemned I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "am to split youStill I worry that it's wrong,Though I must fulfil","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "my dutyAnd must quarter every yearStill I wonder whether SortingMay not bring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the end I fear.Oh, know the perils, read the signs,The warning history","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "shows,For our Hogwarts is in dangerFrom external, deadly foesAnd we must unite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "inside herOr we'll crumble from withinI have told you, I have warned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "you . . .Let the Sorting now begin.The Hat became motionless once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "more; applause broke out, though it was punctured, for the first time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "in Harry's memory, with muttering and whispers. All across the Great Hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "students were exchanging remarks with their neighbours, and Harry, clapping along with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "everyone else, knew exactly what they were talking about. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Branched out a bit this year, hasn't it?' said Ron, his eyebrows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "raised. Too right it has,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " The Sorting Hat usually confined itself to describing the different qualities","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "looked for by each of the four Hogwarts houses and its own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "role in Sorting them. Harry could not remember it ever trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "give the school advice before. 'I wonder if it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "ever given warnings before?' said Hermione, sounding slightly anxious. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Yes, indeed,' said Nearly Headless Nick knowledgeably, leaning across Neville towards her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "(Neville winced; it was very uncomfortable to have a ghost lean through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "you). The Hat feels itself honour-bound to give the school due warning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "whenever it feels - ' But Professor McGonagall, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "was waiting to read out the list of first-years' names, was giving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the whispering students the sort of look that scorches. Nearly Headless Nick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "placed a see-through finger to his lips and sat primly upright again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "as the muttering came to an abrupt end. With a last frowning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "look that swept the lour house tables, Professor McGonagall lowered her eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to her long piece of parchment and called out the first name.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Abercrombie, Euan.' The terrified-looking boy Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "had noticed earlier stumbled forwards and put the Hat on his head;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "it was only prevented from falling right down to his shoulders by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "his very prominent ears. The Hat considered for a moment, then the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "rip near the brim opened again and shouted: 'Gryffindor!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Harry clapped loudly with the rest of Gryffindor house","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "as Euan Abercrombie staggered to their table and sat down, looking as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "though he would like very much to sink through the floor and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "never be looked at again. Slowly, the long line","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of first-years thinned. In the pauses between the names and the Sorting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Hat's decisions, Harry could hear Ron's stomach rumbling loudly. Finally, 'Zeller, Rose'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "was Sorted into Hufflepuff, and Professor McGonagall picked up the Hat and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "stool and marched them away as Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Whatever his recent bitter feelings had been towards his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Headmaster, Harry was somehow soothed to see Dumbledore standing before them all.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Between the absence of Hagrid and the presence of those dragonish horses,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "he had felt that his return to Hogwarts, so long anticipated, was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "full of unexpected surprises, like jarring notes in a familiar song. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "this, at least, was how it was supposed to be: their Headmaster","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "rising to greet them all before the start-of-term feast. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'To our newcomers,' said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "wide and a beaming smile on his lips, 'welcome! To our old","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "hands - welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "is not it. Tuck in!' There was an appreciative","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "out of the way of his plate - for food had appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "out of nowhere, so that the five long tables were groaning under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread and sauces and flagons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of pumpkin juice. 'Excellent,' said Ron, with a kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of groan of longing, and he seized the nearest plate of chops","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and began piling them on to his plate, watched wistfully by Nearly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Headless Nick. 'What were you saying before the Sorting?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Hermione asked the ghost. 'About the Hat giving warnings?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Oh, yes,' said Nick, who seemed glad of a reason to turn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "away from Ron, who was now eating roast potatoes with almost indecent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "enthusiasm. 'Yes, I have heard the Hat give several warnings before, always","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "And always, of course, its advice is the same: stand together, be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "strong from within.' 'Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "said Ron. His mouth was so full Harry thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "it was quite an achievement for him to make any noise at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "all. 'I beg your pardon?' said Nearly Headless Nick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "politely, while Hermione looked revolted. Ron gave an enormous swallow and said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'How can it know if the school's in danger if it's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Hat?' 'I have no idea,' said Nearly Headless Nick.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Of course, it lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "things up there.' 'And it wants all the houses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to be friends?' said Harry, looking over at the Slytherin table, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Draco Malfoy was holding court. 'Fat chance.' 'Well, now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "you shouldn't take that attitude,' said Nick reprovingly. 'Peaceful co-operation, that's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate houses, maintain links of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "friendship. In spite of the competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Only because you're terrified of him,' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Nearly Headless Nick looked highly affronted. Terrified? I hope","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins -' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'What blood?' asked Ron. 'Surely you haven't still got -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "?' 'It's a figure of speech!' said Nearly Headless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Nick, now so annoyed his head was trembling ominously on his partially","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "severed neck. 'I assume I am still allowed to enjoy the use","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of whichever words I like, even if the pleasures of eating and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "drinking are denied me! But I am quite used to students poking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "fun at my death, I assure you!' 'Nick, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "wasn't really laughing at you!' said Hermione, throwing a furious look at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Ron. Unfortunately, Ron's mouth was packed to exploding point","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "again and all he could manage was 'Node iddum eentup sechew,' which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Nick did not seem to think constituted an adequate apology. Rising into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the air, he straightened his feathered hat and swept away from them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to the other end of the table, coming to rest between the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Creevey brothers, Colin and Dennis. 'Well done, Ron,' snapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Hermione 'What?' said Ron indignantly, having managed, finally, to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "swallow his food. Tin not allowed to ask a simple question?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Oh, forget it,' said Hermione irritably, and the pair of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "them spent the rest of the meal in huffy silence. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Harry was too used to their bickering to bother trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "reconcile them; he felt it was a better use of his time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to eat his way steadily through his steak and kidney pie, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "a large plateful of his favourite treacle tart. When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Hall was starting to creep upwards again, Dumbledore got to his feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the Headmaster.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Harry was feeling pleasantly drowsy now. His four-poster bed was waiting somewhere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "above, wonderfully warm and soft . . . 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices,' said Dumbledore.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to students - and a few of our older students ought to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "know by now, too.' (Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged smirks.) ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "me is the four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "fastened to Mr Filch's office door. 'We have had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the Dark Arts teacher.' There was a round of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause, during which Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "slightly panicked looks; Dumbledore had not said for how long Grubbly-Plank would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be teaching. Dumbledore continued, 'Tryouts for the house Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "teams will take place on the - ' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "broke off, looking enquiringly at Professor Umbridge. As she was not much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "taller standing than sitting, there was a moment when nobody understood why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge cleared her throat, 'Hem,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "hem,' and it became clear that she had got to her feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and was intending to make a speech. Dumbledore only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat down smartly and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to listen to her talk. Other members of staff were not as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "adept at hiding their surprise. Professor Sprout's eyebrows had disappeared into her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "flyaway hair and Professor McGonagall's mouth was as thin as Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "ever seen it. No new teacher had ever interrupted Dumbledore before. Many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of the students were smirking; this woman obviously did not know how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "things were done at Hogwarts. Thank you, Headmaster,' Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Umbridge simpered, 'for those kind words of welcome.' Her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "voice was high-pitched, breathy and little-girlish and, again, Harry felt a powerful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "rush of dislike that he could not explain to himself; all he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "knew was that he loathed everything about her, from her stupid voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to her fluffy pink cardigan. She gave another little throat-clearing cough ('hem,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "hem') and continued. 'Well, it is lovely to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "back at Hogwarts, I must say!' She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'And to see such happy little faces looking up at me!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Harry glanced around. None of the faces he could see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "looked happy. On the contrary, they all looked rather taken-aback at being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "addressed as though they were five years old. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "I'm sure we'll be very good friends!' Students exchanged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "looks at this; some of them were barely concealing grins. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "borrow that cardigan,' Parvati whispered to Lavender, and both of them lapsed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "into silent giggles. Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "('hem, hem'), but when she continued, some of the breathiness had vanished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "from her voice. She sounded much more businesslike and now her words","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "had a dull learned-by-heart sound to them. The Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "instruction. The ancient skills unique to the wizarding community must be passed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "down the generations lest we lose them for ever. The treasure trove","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "teaching.' Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "bow to her fellow staff members, none of whom bowed back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "her. Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows had contracted so that she looked positively","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "hawklike, and Harry distinctly saw her exchange a significant glance with Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Sprout as Umbridge gave another little 'hem, hem' and went on with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "her speech. 'Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and that is as it should be, for without progress there will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and innovation . . .' Harry found his attentiveness","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "ebbing, as though his brain was slipping in and out of tune.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "The quiet that always filled the Hall when Dumbledore was speaking was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "breaking up as students put t heir heads together, whispering and giggling.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Over on the Ravenclaw table Cho Chang was chatting animatedly with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "friends. A few seats along from Cho, Luna Lovegood had got out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "The Quibbler again. Meanwhile, at the Hufflepuff table Ernie Macmillan was one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of the few still staring at Professor Umbridge, but he was glassy-eyed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and Harry was sure he was only pretending to listen in an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "attempt to live up to the new prefect's badge gleaming on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "chest. Professor Umbridge did not seem to notice the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "restlessness of her audience. Harry had the impression that a full-scale riot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "could have broken out under her nose and she would have ploughed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "on with her speech. The teachers, however, were still listening very attentively,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and Hermione seemed to be drinking in every word Umbridge spoke, though,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "judging by her expression, they were not at all to her taste.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " '. . . because some changes will be for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be recognised as errors of judgement. Meanwhile, some old habits will be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to be prohibited.' She sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "staff followed his lead, though Harry noticed that several of them brought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "their hands together only once or twice before stopping. A few students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "joined in, but most had been taken unawares by the end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the speech, not having listened to more than a few words of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "it, and before they could start applauding properly, Dumbledore had stood up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "again. Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "most illuminating,' he said, bowing to her. 'Now, as I was saying,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Quidditch tryouts will be held . . .' 'Yes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "it certainly was illuminating,' said Hermione in a low voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'You're not telling me you enjoyed it?' Ron said quietly, turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "a glazed face towards Hermione. That was about the dullest speech I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "ever heard, and I grew up with Percy.' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "said illuminating, not enjoyable,' said Hermione. 'It explained a lot.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Did it?' said Harry in surprise. 'Sounded like a load of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "waffle to me.' There was some important stuff hidden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "in the waffle,' said Hermione grimly. 'Was there?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Ron blankly. 'How about: `progress for progress's sake must","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be discouraged`? How about: `pruning wherever we find practices that ought to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be prohibited`?' 'Well, what does that mean?' said Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "impatiently. 'I'll tell you what it means,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "through gritted teeth. 'It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " There was a great clattering and banging all around them; Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "had obviously just dismissed the school, because everyone was standing up ready","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to leave the Hall. Hermione jumped up, looking flustered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Ron, we're supposed to show the first-years where to go!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Oh yeah,' said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. 'Hey - hey,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "you lot! Midgets!' 'Ron!' 'Well, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "are, they're titchy . . .' 'I know, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "you can't call them midgets! - First-years!' Hermione called commandingly along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "table. 'This way, please!' A group of new students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "walked shyly up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of them trying hard not to lead the group. They did indeed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "seem very small; Harry was sure he had not appeared that young","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "when he had arrived here. He grinned at them. A blond boy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "next to Euan Abercrombie looked petrified; he nudged Euan and whispered something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "in his ear. Euan Abercrombie looked equally frightened and stole a horrified","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "look at Harry, who felt the grin slide off his face like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Stinksap. 'See you later,' he said dully to Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and Hermione and he made his way out of the Great Hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "alone, doing everything he could to ignore more whispering, staring and pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "as he passed. He kept his eyes fixed ahead as he wove","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "his way through the crowd in the Entrance Hall, then he hurried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "up the marble staircase, took a couple of concealed short cuts and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "had soon left most of the crowds behind. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "had been stupid not to expect this, he thought angrily as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "walked through the much emptier upstairs corridors. Of course everyone was staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "at him; he had emerged from the Triwizard maze two months previously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "clutching the dead body of a fellow student and claiming to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "seen Lord Voldemort return to power. There had not been time last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "term to explain himself before they'd all had to go home -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "even if he had felt up to giving the whole school a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "detailed account of the terrible events in that graveyard. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Harry had reached the end of the corridor to the Gryffindor common","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "room and come to a halt in front of the portrait of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the Fat Lady before he realised that he did not know the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "new password. 'Er . . .' he said glumly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "staring up at the Fat Lady, who smoothed the folds of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "pink satin dress and looked sternly back at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'No password, no entrance,' she said loftily. 'Harry, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "know it!' Someone panted up behind him and he turned to see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Neville jogging towards him. 'Guess what it is? I'm actually going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be able to remember it for once - ' He waved the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "stunted little cactus he had shown them on the train. 'Mimbuius mimbletonia!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Correct,' said the Fat Lady, and her portrait swung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "open towards them like a door, revealing a circular hole in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "wall behind, through which Harry and Neville now climbed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "The Gryffindor common room looked as welcoming as ever, a cosy circular","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "tower room full of dilapidated squashy armchairs and rickety old tables. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "fire was crackling merrily in the grate and a few people were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "warming their hands by it before going up to their dormitories; on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the other side of the room Fred and George Weasley were pinning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "something up on the noticeboard. Harry waved goodnight to them and headed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "straight for the door to the boys' dormitories; he was not in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "much of a mood for talking at the moment. Neville followed him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan had reached the dormitory","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "first and were in the process of covering the walls beside their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "beds with posters and photographs. They had been talking as Harry pushed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "open the door but stopped abruptly the moment they saw him. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "wondered whether they had been talking about him, then whether he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "being paranoid. 'Hi,' he said, moving across to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "own trunk and opening it. 'Hey, Harry,' said Dean,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "who was putting on a pair of pyjamas in the West Ham","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "colours. 'Good holiday?' 'Not bad,' muttered Harry, as a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "true account of his holiday would have taken most of the night","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "to relate and he could not face it. 'You?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'Yeah, it was OK,' chuckled Dean. 'Better than Seamus's, anyway, he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "just telling me.' 'Why, what happened, Seamus?' Neville asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "as he placed his Mimbuius mimbletonia tenderly on his bedside cabinet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Seamus did not answer immediately; he was making rather a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "meal of ensuring that his poster of the Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "was quite straight. Then he said, with his back still turned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Harry, 'Me mam didn't want me to come back.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'What?' said Harry, pausing in the act of pulling off his robes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'She didn't want me to come back to Hogwarts.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Seamus turned away from his poster and pulled his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "own pyjamas out of his trunk, still not looking at Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'But - why?' said Harry, astonished. He knew that Seamus's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "mother was a witch and could not understand, therefore, why she should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "have come over so Dursleyish. Seamus did not answer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "until he had finished buttoning his pyjamas. 'Well,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "said in a measured voice, I suppose . . . because of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "you.' What d'you mean?' said Harry quickly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " His heart was beating rather fast. He felt vaguely as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "something was closing in on him. Well,' said Seamus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "again, still avoiding Harry's eye, she . . . er . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ". well, it's not just you, it's Dumbledore, too . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'She believes the Daily Prophet?' said Harry. 'She thinks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "I'm a liar and Dumbledore's an old fool?' Seamus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "looked up at him. 'Yeah, something like that.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Harry said nothing. He threw his wand down on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "his bedside table, pulled off his robes, stuffed them angrily into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "trunk and pulled on his pyjamas. He was sick of it: sick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of being the person who is stared at and talked about all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the time. If any of them knew, if any of them had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the faintest idea what it felt like to be the one all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "these things had happened to . . . Mrs Finnigan had no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "idea, the stupid woman, he thought savagely. He got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "into bed and made to pull the hangings closed around him, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "before he could do so, Seamus said, 'Look . . . what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "did happen that night when . . . you know, when .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ". . with Cedric Diggory and all?' Seamus sounded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "nervous and eager at the same time. Dean, who had been bending","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "over his trunk trying to retrieve a slipper, went oddly still and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Harry knew he was listening hard. 'What are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "asking me for?' Harry retorted. 'Just read the Daily Prophet like your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "mother, why don't you? That'll tell you all you need to know.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Don't you have a go at my mother,' Seamus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "snapped. 'I'll have a go at anyone who calls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "me a liar,' said Harry. 'Don't talk to me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "like that!' 'I'll talk to you how I want,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "said Harry, his temper rising so fast he snatched his wand back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "from his bedside table. 'If you've got a problem sharing a dormitory","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "with me, go and ask McGonagall if you can be moved .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ". . stop your mummy worrying - ' 'Leave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "my mother out of this, Potter!' 'What's going on?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Ron had appeared in the doorway. His wide eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "travelled from Harry, who was kneeling on his bed with his wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "pointing at Seamus, to Seamus, who was standing there with his fists","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "raised. 'He's having a go at my mother!' Seamus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "yelled. What?' said Ron. 'Harry wouldn't do that -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "we met your mother, we liked her . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'That's before she started believing every word the stinking Daily Prophet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "writes about me!' said Harry at the top of his voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " 'Oh,' said Ron, comprehension dawning across his freckled face. 'Oh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" ". . . right.' 'You know what?' said Seamus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "heatedly, casting Harry a venomous look. 'He's right, I don't want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "share a dormitory with him any more, he's mad.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'That's out of order, Seamus,' said Ron, whose ears were starting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "glow red - always a danger sign. 'Out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "order, am I?' shouted Seamus, who in contrast with Ron was going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "pale. 'You believe all the rubbish he's come out with about You-Know-Who,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "do you, you reckon he's telling the truth?' 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "I do!' said Ron angrily. 'Then you're mad, too,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "said Seamus in disgust. 'Yeah? Well, unfortunately for you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "pal, I'm also a prefect!' said Ron, jabbing himself in the chest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "with a finger. 'So unless you want detention, watch your mouth!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Seamus looked for a few seconds as though detention would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "be a reasonable price to pay to say what was going through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "his mind; but with a noise of contempt he turned on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "heel, vaulted into bed and pulled the hangings shut with such violence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "that they were ripped from the bed and fell in a dusty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "pile to the floor. Ron glared at Seamus, then looked at Dean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "and Neville. 'Anyone else's parents got a problem with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Harry?' he said aggressively. 'My parents are Muggles, mate,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "said Dean, shrugging. They don't know nothing about no deaths at Hogwarts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "because I'm not stupid enough to tell them.' 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "don't know my mother, she'd weasel anything out of anyone!' Seamus snapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "at him. 'Anyway, your parents don't get the Daily Prophet. They don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "know our Headmaster's been sacked from the Wizengamot and the International Confederation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "of Wizards because he's losing his marbles - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "'My gran says that's rubbish,' piped up Neville. 'She says it's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Daily Prophet that's going downhill, not Dumbledore. She's cancelled our subscription. We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "believe Harry,' said Neville simply. He climbed into bed and pulled the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "covers up to his chin, looking owlishly over them at Seamus. 'My","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "grans always said You-Know-Who would come back one day. She says if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Dumbledore says he's back, he's back.' Harry felt a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "rush of gratitude towards Neville. Nobody else said anything. Seamus got out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "his wand, repaired the bed hangings and vanished behind them. Dean got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "into bed, rolled over and fell silent. Neville, who appeared to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "nothing more to say either, was gazing fondly at his moonlit cactus.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" " Harry lay back on his pillows while Ron bustled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "around the next bed, putting his things away. He fell, shaken by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "the argument with Seamus, whom he had always liked very much. How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "many more people were going to suggest that he was lying, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "unhinged? Had Dumbledore suffered like this all summer, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "first the Wizengamot, then the International Confederation of Wizards had thrown him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "from their ranks? Was it anger at Harry, perhaps, that had stopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Dumbledore getting in touch with him for months? The two of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "were in this together, after all; Dumbledore had believed Harry, announced his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "version of events to the whole school and then to the wider","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "wizarding community. Anyone who thought Harry was a liar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "had to think that Dumbledore was, too, or else that Dumbledore had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "been hoodwinked . . . They'll know we're right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "in the end, thought Harry miserably, as Ron got into bed and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "extinguished the last candle in the dormitory. But he wondered how many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "more attacks like Seamus's he would have to endure before that time came.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-11" "Professor UmbridgeSeamus dressed at top speed next morning and left the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "dormitory before Harry had even put on his socks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Does he think he'll turn into a nutter if he stays in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a room with me too long?' asked Harry loudly as the hem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of Seamus's robes wnipped out of sight. 'Don't worry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "about it, Harry,' Dean muttered, hoisting his schoolbag on to his shoulder,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'he's just . . .' But apparently he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "unable to say exactly what Seamus was, and after a slightly awkward","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "pause followed him out of the room. Neville and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ron both gave Harry an it's-his-problem-not-yours look, but Harry was not much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "consoled. How much more of this would he have to take? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'What's the matter?' asked Hermione five minutes later, catching up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "with Harry and Ron halfway across the common room as they all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "headed towards breakfast. 'You look absolutely - Oh for heavens sake.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " She was staring at the common-room noticeboard, where a large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "new sign had been put up.GALLONS OF GALLEONS!Pocket money failing to keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "pace with your outgoings?Like to earn a little extra gold?Contact Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "George Weasley, Gryffindor common room,for simple, part-time, virtually painless jobs.(We regret that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "all work is undertaken at applicant's own risk.)'They are the limit,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Hermione grimly, taking down the sign, which Fred and George had pinned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "up ewer a poster giving the date of the first Hogsmeade weekend,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "which was to be in October. 'We'll have to talk to them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ron.' Ron looked positively alarmed. 'Why?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Because we're prefects!' said Hermione, as they climbed out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "through the portrait hole. 'It's up to us to stop this kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of thing!' Ron said nothing; Harry could tell from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "his glum expression that the prospect of stopping Fred and George doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "exactly what they liked was not one he found inviting. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Anyway, what's up, Harry?' Hermione continued, as they walked down a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "flight of stairs lined with portraits of old witches and wizards, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of whom ignored them, being engrossed in their own conversation. 'You look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "really angry about something.' 'Seamus reckons Harry's lying about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "You-Know-Who,' said Ron succinctly, when Harry did not respond. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Hermione, who Harry had expected to react angrily on his behalf, sighed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Yes, Lavender thinks so too,' she said gloomily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Been having a nice little chat with her about whether","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "or not I'm a lying, attention-seeking prat, have you?' Harry said loudly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'No,' said Hermione calmly. 'I told her to keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her big fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "quite nice if you stopped jumping down our throats, Harry, because in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "case you haven't noticed, Ron and I are on your side.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " There was a short pause. 'Sorry,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry in a low voice. That's quite all right,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Hermione with dignity. Then she shook her head. 'Don't you remember","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "what Dumbledore said at the last end-of-term feast?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and Ron both looked at her blankly and Hermione sighed again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'About You-Know-Who. He said his `gift for spreading discord and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "equally strong bond of friendship and trust - ` ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'How do you remember stuff like that?' asked Ron, looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her in admiration. 'I listen, Ron,' said Hermione, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a touch of asperity. 'So do I, but I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "still couldn't tell you exactly what - ' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "point,' Hermione pressed on loudly, 'is that this sort of thing is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "exactly what Dumbledore was talking about. You-Know-Who's only been back two months","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and we've already started fighting among ourselves. And the Sorting Hat's warning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was the same: stand together, be united - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'And Harry got it right last night,' retorted Ron. 'If that means","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "we're supposed to get matey with the Slytherins - fat chance.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Well, I think it's a pity we're not trying for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a bit of inter-house unity,' said Hermione crossly. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "had reached the foot of the marble staircase. A line of fourth-year","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ravenclaws was crossing the Entrance Hall; they caught sight of Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "hurried to form a tighter group, as though frightened he might attack","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "stragglers. 'Yeah, we really ought to be trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "make friends with people like that,' said Harry sarcastically. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "They followed the Ravenclaws into the Great Hall, all looking instinctively at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the staff table as they entered. Professor Grubbly-Plank was chatting to Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher, and Hagrid was once again conspicuous only by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "his absence. The enchanted ceiling above them echoed Harry's mood; it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a miserable rain-cloud grey. 'Dumbledore didn't even mention how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "long that Grubbly-Plank woman's staying,' he said, as they made their way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "across to the Gryffindor table. 'Maybe . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Hermione thoughtfully. 'What?' said both Harry and Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "together. 'Well . . . maybe he didn't want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to draw attention to Hagrid not being here.' 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "d'you mean, draw attention to it?' said Ron, half-laughing. 'How could we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "not notice?' Before Hermione could answer, a tall black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "girl with long braided hair had marched up to Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Hi, Angelina.' 'Hi,' she said briskly, 'good summer?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "And without waiting for an answer, 'Listen, I've been made Gryffindor Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Captain.' 'Nice one,' said Harry, grinning at her; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "suspected Angelina's pep talks might not be as long-winded as Oliver Wood's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "had been, which could only be an improvement. 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "well, we need a new Keeper now Oliver's left. Tryouts are on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Friday at five o'clock and I want the whole team there, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "right? Then we can see how the new person'll fit in.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'OK,' said Harry. Angelina smiled at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and departed. 'I'd forgotten Wood had left,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "vaguely as she sat down beside Ron and pulled a plate of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "toast towards her. 'I suppose that will make quite a difference to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the team?' 'I s'pose,' said Harry, taking the bench","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "opposite. 'He was a good Keeper . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Still, it won't hurt to have some new blood, will it?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ron. With a whoosh and a clatter, hundreds of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "owls came soaring in through the upper windows. They descended all over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the Hall, bringing letters and packages to their owners and showering the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "breakfasters with droplets of water; it was clearly raining hard outside. Hedwig","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was nowhere to be seen, but Harry was hardly surprised; his only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "correspondent was Sirius, and he doubted Sirius would have anything new to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "tell him after only twenty-four hours apart. Hermione, however, had to move","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her orange juice aside quickly to make way gor a large damp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "barn owl bearing a sodden Daily Prophet in its beak. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " What are you still getting that for?' said Harry irritably, thinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of Seamus as Hermione placed a Knut in the leather pouch on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the owl's leg and it took off again. 'I'm not bothering .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" ". . load of rubbish.' 'It's best to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "what the enemy is saying,' said Hermione darkly, and she unfurled the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "newspaper and disappeared behind it, not emerging until Harry and Ron had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "finished eating. 'Nothing,' she said simply, rolling up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "newspaper and laying it down by her plate. 'Nothing about you or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Dumbledore or anything.' Professor McGonagall was now moving along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the table handing out timetables. 'Look at today!' groaned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ron. 'History of Magic, double Potions, Divination and double","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Defence Against the Dark Arts . . . Binns, Snape, Trelawney and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "that Umbridge woman all in one day! I wish Fred and George'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "hurry up and get those Skiving Snackboxes sorted . . .` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Do mine ears deceive me?' said Fred, arriving with George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and squeezing on to the bench beside Harry. 'Hogwarts prefects surely don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "wish to skive off lessons?' 'Look what we've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "today,' said Ron grumpily, shoving his timetable under Fred's nose. 'That's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "worst Monday I've ever seen.' 'Fair point, little bro,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Fred, scanning the column. 'You can have a bit of Nosebleed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Nougat cheap if you like.' 'Why's it cheap?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ron suspiciously. 'Because you'll keep bleeding till you shrivel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "up, we haven't got an antidote yet,' said George, helping himself to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a kipper. 'Cheers,' said Ron moodily, pocketing his timetable,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'but I think I'll take the lessons.' 'And speaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of your Skiving Snackboxes,' said Hermione, eyeing Fred and George beadily, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "can't advertise for testers on the Gryffindor noticeboard.' 'Says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "who?' said George, looking astonished. 'Says me,' said Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'And Ron.' 'Leave me out of it,' said Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "hastily. Hermione glared at him. Fred and George sniggered.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'You'll be singing a different tune soon enough, Hermione,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Fred, thickly buttering a crumpet. 'You're starting your fifth year, you'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "be begging us for a Snackbox before long.' 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "why would starting fifth year mean I want a Skiving Snackbox?' asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Hermione. 'Fifth year's OWL year,' said George. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'So?' 'So you've got your exams coming up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "haven't you? They'll be keeping your noses so hard to that grindstone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "they'll be rubbed raw,' said Fred with satisfaction. 'Half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "our year had minor breakdowns coming up to OWLs,' said George happily.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Tears and tantrums . . . Patricia Stimpson kept coming over faint","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" ". . .' 'Kenneth Towler came out in boils,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "d'you remember?' said Fred remmiscently. That's 'cause you put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Bulbadox powder in his pyjamas,' said George. 'Oh yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Fred, grinning. 'I'd forgotten . . . hard to keep track","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "sometimes, isn't it?' 'Anyway, it's a nightmare of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "year, the fifth,' said George. 'If you care about exam results, anyway.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Fred and I managed to keep our peckers up somehow.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Yeah . . . you got, what was it, three OWLs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "each?' said Ron. 'Yep,' said Fred unconcernedly. 'But we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "feel our futures lie outside the world of academic achievement.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'We seriously debated whether we were going to bother coming back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "for our seventh year,' said George brightly, 'now that we've got- ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " He broke off at a warning look from Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "knew George had been about to mention the Triwizard winnings he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "given them. ' - now that we've got our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "OWLs,' George said hastily. 'I mean, do we really need NEWTs? But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "we didn't think Mum could take us leaving school early not on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "top of Percy turning out to be the world's biggest prat.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " We're not going to waste our last year here, though,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Fred, looking affectionately around at the Great Hall. 'We're going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "use it to do a bit of market research, find out exactly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "what the average Hogwarts student requires from a joke shop, carefully evaluate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the results of our research, then produce products to fit the demand.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'But where are you going to get the gold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to start a joke shop?' Hermione asked sceptically. 'You're going to need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "all the ingredients and materials - and premises too, I suppose .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" ". .' Harry did not look at the twins.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "His face felt hot; he deliberately dropped his fork and dived down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to retrieve it. He heard Fred say overhead, 'Ask us no questions","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and we'll tell you no lies, Hermione. C'mon, George, if we get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "there early we might be able to sell a few Extendable Ears","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "before Herbology.' Harry emerged from under the table to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "see Fred and George walking away, each carrying a stack of toast.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'What did that mean?' said Hermione, looking from Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to F.on. ' `Ask us no questions . . .` Does that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "mean they've already got some gold to start a joke shop?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'You know, I've been wondering about that,' said Ron, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "brow furrowed. 'They bought me a new set of dress robes this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "summer and I couldn't understand where they got the Galleons . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" ".' Harry decided it was time to steer the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "conversation out of these dangerous waters. 'D'you reckon it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "true this year's going to be really tough? Because of the exams?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Oh, yeah,' said Ron. 'Bound to be, isn't it?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "OWLs are really important, affect the jobs you can apply for and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "everything. We get career advice, too, later this year, Bill told me.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "So you can choose what NEWTs you want to do next year.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'D'you know what you want to do after Hogwarts?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry asked the other two, as they left the Great Hall shortly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "afterwards and set off towards their History of Magic classroom. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Not really,' said Ron slowly. 'Except . . . well .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" ". .' He looked slightly sheepish. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "What?' Harry urged him. Well, it'd be cool to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "be an Auror,' said Ron in an off-hand voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Yeah, it would,' said Harry fervently. 'But they're, like,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the elite,' said Ron. 'You've got to be really good. What about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you, Hermione?' 'I don't know,' she said. 'I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "I'd like to do something really worthwhile.' 'An Aurors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "worthwhile!' said Harry. 'Yes, it is, but it's not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the only worthwhile thing,' said Hermione thoughtfully, 'I mean, if I could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "take SPEW further . . .' Harry and Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "carefully avoided looking at each other. History of Magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was by common consent the most boring subject ever devised by wizardkind.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Professor Binns, their ghost teacher, had a wheezy, droning voice that was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "almost guaranteed to cause severe drowsiness within ten minutes, five in warm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "weather. He never varied the form of their lessons, but lectured them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "without pausing while they took notes, or rather, gazed sleepily into space.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry and Ron had so far managed to scrape passes in this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "subject only by copying Hermione's notes before exams; she alone seemed able","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to resist the soporific power of Binns's voice. Today,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "they suffered an hour and a half's droning on the subject of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "giant wars. Harry heard just enough within the first ten minutes to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "appreciate dimly that in another teacher's hands this subject might have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "mildly interesting, but then his brain disengaged, and he spent the remaining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "hour and twenty minutes playing hangman on a corner of his parchment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "with Ron, while Hermione shot them filthy looks out of the corner","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of her eye. 'How would it be,' she asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "them coldly, as they left the classroom for break (Binns drifting away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "through the blackboard), 'if I refused to lend you my notes this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "year?' 'We'd fail our OWL, said Ron. 'If you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "want that on your conscience, Hermione . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Well, you'd deserve it,' she snapped. 'You don't even try to listen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to him, do you?' 'We do try,' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'We just haven't got your brains or your memory or your concentration","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "- you're just cleverer than we are - is it nice to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "rub it in?' 'Oh, don't give me that rubbish,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Hermione, but she looked slightly mollified as she led the way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "out into the damp courtyard. A fine misty drizzle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was falling, so that the people standing in huddles around the edges","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of the yard looked blurred at the edges. Harry, Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "chose a secluded corner under a heavily dripping balcony, turning up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "collars of their robes against the chilly September air and talking about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "what Snape was likely to set them in the first lesson of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the year. They had got as far as agreeing that it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "likely to be something extremely difficult, just to catch them off guard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "after a two-month holiday, when someone walked around the corner towards them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Hello, Harry!' It was Cho Chang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and, what was more, she was on her own again. This was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "most unusual: Cho was almost always surrounded by a gang of giggling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "girls; Harry remembered the agony of trying to get her by herself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to ask her to the Yule Ball. 'Hi,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry, feeling his face grow hot. At least you're not covered in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Stinksap this time, he told himself. Cho seemed to be thinking along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the same lines. 'You got that stuff off, then?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Yeah,' said Harry, trying to grin as though the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "memory of their last meeting was funny as opposed to mortifying. 'So,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "did you . . . er . . . have a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "summer?' The moment he had said this he wished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "he hadn't - Cedric had been Cho's boyfriend and the memory of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "his death must have affected her holiday almost as badly as it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "had affected Harry's. Something seemed to tauten in her face, but she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said, 'Oh, it was all right, you know . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Is that a Tornados badge?' Ron demanded suddenly, pointing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the front of Cho's robes, where a sky-blue badge emblazoned with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "double gold 'T' was pinned. 'You don't support them, do you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Yeah, I do,' said Cho. 'Have you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "always supported them, or just since they started winning the league?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ron, in what Harry considered an unnecessarily accusatory tone of voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'I've supported them since I was six,' said Cho coolly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Anyway . . . see you, Harry.' She walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "away. Hermione waited until Cho was halfway across the courtyard before rounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "on Ron. 'You are so tactless!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'What? I only asked her if - ' 'Couldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you tell she wanted to talk to Harry on her own?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'So? She could've done, I wasn't stopping - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Why on earth were you attacking her about her Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "team?' 'Attacking? I wasn't attacking her, I was only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "- ' 'Who cares if she supports the Tornados?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Oh, come on, half the people you see wearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "those badges only bought them last season - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'But what does it matter?' 'It means they're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "real fans, they're just jumping on the bandwagon - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " That's the bell,' said Harry dully, because Ron and Hermione were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "bickering too loudly to hear it. They did not stop arguing all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the way down to Snapes dungeon, which gave Harry plenty of time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to reflect that between Neville and Ron he would be lucky ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to have two minutes of conversation with Cho that he could look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "back on without wanting to leave the country. And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "yet, he thought, as they joined the queue lining up outside Snape's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "classroom door, she had chosen to come and talk to him, hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "she? She had been Cedric's girlfriend; she could easily have hated Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "for coming out of the Triwizard maze alive when Cedric had died,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "yet she was talking to him in a perfectly friendly way, not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "as though she thought him mad, or a liar, or in some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "horrible way responsible for Cedric's death . . . yes, she had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "definitely chosen to come and talk to him, and that made the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "second time in two days . . . and at this thought,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry's spirits rose. Even the ominous sound of Snape's dungeon door creaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "open did not puncture the small, hopeful bubble that seemed to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "swelled in his chest. He filed into the classroom behind Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Hermione and followed them to their usual table at the back, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "he sat down between Ron and Hermione and ignored the huffy, irritable","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "noises now issuing from both of them. 'Settle down,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Snape coldly, shutting the door behind him. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was no real need for the call to order; the moment the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "class had heard the door close, quiet had fallen and all fidgeting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "stopped. Snape's mere presence was usually enough to ensure a class's silence.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Before we begin today's lesson,' said Snape, sweeping over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to his desk and staring around at them all, 'I think it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an `Acceptable` in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "your OWL, or suffer my . . . displeasure.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "His gaze lingered this time on Neville, who gulped. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "me,' Snape went on. 'I take only the very best into my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "NEWT Potions class, which means that some of us will certainly be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "saying goodbye.' His eyes rested on Harry and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "lip curled. Harry glared back, feeling a grim pleasure at the idea","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "that he would be able to give up Potions after fifth year.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'But we have another year to go before that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "happy moment of farewell,' said Snape softly, 'so, whether or not you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "are intending to attempt NEWT, I advise all of you to concentrate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "your efforts upon maintaining the high pass level I have come to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "expect from my OWL students. 'Today we will be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "warned: if you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "need to pay close attention to what you are doing.' On Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "left, Hermione sat up a little straighter, her expression one of utmost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "attention. The ingredients and method - ' Snape flicked his wand '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "- are on the blackboard - (they appeared there) ' - you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "will find everything you need - ' he flicked his wand again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "' - in the store cupboard - ' (the door of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said cupboard sprang open) ' - you have an hour and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "half . . . start.' Just as Harry, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and Hermione had predicted, Snape could hardly have set them a more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "difficult, fiddly potion. The ingredients had to be added to the cauldron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "in precisely the right order and quantities; the mixture had to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "stirred exactly the right number of times, firstly in clockwise, then in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "anti-clockwise directions; the heat of the flames on which it was simmering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "had to be lowered to exactly the right level for a specific","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "number of minutes before the final ingredient was added. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'A light silver vapour should now be rising from your potion,' called","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Snape, with ten minutes left to go. Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was sweating profusely, looked desperately around the dungeon. His own cauldron was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "issuing copious amounts of dark grey steam; Ron's was spitting green sparks.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Seamus was feverishly prodding the flames at the base of his cauldron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "with the tip of his wand, as they seemed to be going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "out. The surface of Hermione's potion, however, was a shimmering mist of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "silver vapour, and as Snape swept by he looked down his hooked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "nose at it without comment, which meant he could find nothing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "criticise. At Harry's cauldron, however, Snape stopped, and looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "down at it with a horrible smirk on his face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Potter, what is this supposed to be?' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Slytherins at the front of the class all looked up eagerly; they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "loved hearing Snape taunt Harry. 'The Draught of Peace,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Harry tensely. 'Tell me, Potter,' said Snape softly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'can you read?' Draco Malfoy laughed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Yes, I can,' said Harry, his fingers clenched tightly around his wand.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Read the third line of the instructions for me,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Potter.' Harry squinted at the blackboard; it was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "easy to make out the instructions through the haze of multi-coloured steam","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "now filling the dungeon. ' `Add powdered moonstone, stir","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "three times counter-clockwise, allow to simmer for seven minutes then add two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "drops of syrup of hellebore.` ' His heart sank.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "He had not added syrup of hellebore, but had proceeded straight to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the fourth line of the instructions after allowing his potion to simmer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "for seven minutes. 'Did you do everything on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "third line, Potter?' 'No,' said Harry very quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'I beg your pardon?' 'No,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "more loudly. 'I forgot the hellebore.' 'I know you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "did, Potter, which means that this mess is utterly worthless. Evanesce.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " The contents of Harry's potion vanished; he was left standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "foolishly beside an empty cauldron. 'Those of you who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "have managed to read the instructions, fill one flagon with a sample","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of your potion, label it clearly with your name and bring it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "up to my desk for testing,' said Snape. 'Homework: twelve inches of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "parchment on the properties of moonstone and its uses in potion-making, to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "be handed in on Thursday.' While everyone around him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "filled their flagons, Harry cleared away his things, seething. His potion had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "been no worse than Ron's, which was now giving off a foul","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "odour of bad eggs; or Neville's, which had achieved the consistency of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "just-mixed cement and which Neville was now having to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "gouge out of his cauldron; yet it was he, Harry, who would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "be receiving zero marks for the day's work. He stuffed his wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "back into his bag and slumped down on to his seat, watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "everyone else march up to Snape's desk with filled and corked flagons.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "When at long last the bell rang, Harry was first out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the dungeon and had already started his lunch by the time Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and Hermione joined him in the Great Hall. The ceiling had turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "an even murkier grey during the morning. Rain was lashing the high","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "windows. That was really unfair,' said Hermione consolingly, sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "down next to Harry and helping herself to shepherd's pie. 'Your potion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "wasn't nearly as bad as Goyle's; when he put it in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "flagon the whole thing shattered and set his robes on fire.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Yeah, well,' said Harry, glowering at his plate, 'since when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "has Snape ever been fair to me?' Neither of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the others answered; all three of them knew that Snape and Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "mutual enmity had been absolute from the moment Harry had set foot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "in Hogwarts. 'I did think he might be a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "bit better this year,' said Hermione in a disappointed voice. 'I mean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" ". . . you know . . .' she looked around carefully;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "there were half a dozen empty seats on either side of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and nobody was passing the table ' . . . now he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "in the Order and everything.' 'Poisonous toadstools don't change","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "their spots,' said Ron sagely. 'Anyway, I've always thought Dumbledore was cracked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to trust Snape. Where's the evidence he ever really stopped working for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "You-Know-Who?' 'I think Dumbledore's probably got plenty of evidence,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "even if he doesn't share it with you, Ron,' snapped Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Oh, shut up, the pair of you,' said Harry heavily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "as Ron opened his mouth to argue back. Hermione and Ron both","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "froze, looking angry and offended. 'Can't you give it a rest?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry. 'You're always having a go at each other, it's driving me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "mad.' And abandoning his shepherd's pie, he swung his schoolbag back over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "his shoulder and left them sitting there. He walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "up the marble staircase two steps at a time, past the many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "students hurrying towards lunch. The anger that had just flared so unexpectedly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "still blazed inside him, and the vision of Ron and Hermione's shocked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "faces afforded him a sense of deep satisfaction. Serve them right, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "thought, why can't they give it a rest . . . bickering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "all the time . . . it's enough to drive anyone up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the wall . . . He passed the large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "picture of Sir Cadogan the knight on a landing; Sir Cadogan drew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "his sword and brandished it fiercely at Harry, who ignored him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Come back, you scurvy dog! Stand fast and fight!' yelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Sir Cadogan in a muffled voice from behind his visor, but Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "merely walked on and when Sir Cadogan attempted to follow him by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "running into a neighbouring picture, he was rebuffed by its inhabitant, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "large and angry-looking wolfhound. Harry spent the rest of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the lunch hour sitting alone underneath the trapdoor at the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "North Tower. Consequently, he was the first to ascend the silver ladder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "that led to Sybill Trelawney's classroom when the bell rang. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " After Potions, Divination was Harry's least favourite class, which was due","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "mainly to Professor Trelawney's habit of predicting his premature death every few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "lessons. A thin woman, heavily draped in shawls and glittering with strings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of beads, she always reminded Harry of some kind of insect, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her glasses hugely magnifying her eyes. She was busy putting copies of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "battered leather-bound books on each of the spindly little tables with which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her room was littered when Harry entered the room, but the light","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "cast by the lamps covered by scarves and the low-burning, sickly-scented fire","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was so dim she appeared not to notice him as he took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a seat in the shadows. The rest of the class arrived over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the next five minutes. Ron emerged from the trapdoor, looked around carefully,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "spotted Harry and made directly for him, or as directly as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "could while having to wend his way between tables, chairs and overstuffed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "pouffes. 'Hermione and me have stopped arguing,' he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "sitting down beside Harry. 'Good,' grunted Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'But Hermione says she thinks it would be nice if you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "stopped taking out your temper on us,' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'I'm not - ' 'I'm just passing on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "message,' said Ron, talking over him. 'But I reckon she's right. It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "not our fault how Seamus and Snape treat you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'I never said it - ' 'Good-day,' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Trelawney in her usual misty, dreamy voice, and Harry broke off, again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "feeling both annoyed and slightly ashamed of himself. 'And welcome back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Divination. I have, of course, been following your fortunes most carefully over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the holidays, and am delighted to see that you have all returned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to Hogwarts safely - as, of course, I knew you would. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'You will find on the tables before you copies of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "The Dream Oracle, by Inigo Imago. Dream interpretation is a most important","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "means of divining the future and one that may very probably be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "tested in your OWL. Not, of course, that I believe examination passes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "or failures are of the remotest importance when it comes to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "sacred art of divination. If you have the Seeing Eye, certificates and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "grades matter very little. However, the Headmaster likes you to sit the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "examination, so . . .' Her voice trailed away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "delicately, leaving them all in no doubt that Professor Trelawney considered her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "subject above such sordid matters as examinations. Turn, please,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to the introduction and read what Imago has to say on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "matter of dream interpretation. Then, divide into pairs. Use The Dream Oracle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to interpret each other's most recent dreams. Carry on.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "The one good thing to be said for this lesson was that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "it was not a double period. By the time they had all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "finished reading the introduction of the book, they had barely ten minutes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "left for dream interpretation. At the table next to Harry and Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Dean had paired up with Neville, who immediately embarked on a long-winded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "explanation of a nightmare involving a pair of giant scissors wearing his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "grandmother's best hat; Harry and Ron merely looked at each other glumly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'I never remember my dreams,' said Ron, 'you say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "one.' 'You must remember one of them,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "impatiently. He was not going to share his dreams","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "with anyone. He knew perfectly well what his regular nightmare about a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "graveyard meant, he did not need Ron or Proiessor Trelawney or the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "stupid Dream Oracle to tell him. 'Well, I dreamed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "I was playing Quidditch the other night,' said Ron, screwing up his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "face in an effort to remember. 'What d'you reckon that means?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Probably that you're going to be eaten by a giant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "marshmallow or something,' said Harry, turning the pages of The Dream Oracle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "without interest. It was very dull work looking up bits of dreams","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "in the Oracle and Harry was not cheered up when Professor Trelawney","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "set them the task of keeping a dream diary for a month","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "as homework. When the bell went, he and Ron led the way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "back down the ladder, Ron grumbling loudly. 'D'you realise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "how much homework we've got already? Binns set us a foot-and-a-half-long essay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "on giant wars, Snape wants a foot on the use of moonstones,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and now we've got a month's dream diary from Trelawney! Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "George weren't wrong about OWL year, were they? That Umbridge woman had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "better not give us any . . .' When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "they entered the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom they found Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Umbridge already seated at the teachers desk, wearing the fluffy pink cardigan","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of the night before and the black velvet bow on top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her head. Harry was again reminded forcibly of a large fly perched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "unwisely on top of an even larger toad. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "class was quiet as it entered the room; Professor Umbridge was, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "yet, an unknown quantity and nobody knew how strict a disciplinarian she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was likely to be. 'Well, good afternoon!' she said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "when finally the whole class had sat down. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "few people mumbled 'good afternoon' in reply. 'Tut, tut,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Professor Umbridge. 'That won't do, now, will it? I should like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you, please, to reply `Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge`. One more time, please.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Good afternoon, class!' 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,' they chanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "back at her. There, now,' said Professor Umbridge sweetly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " Many of the class exchanged gloomy looks; the order","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'wands away' had never yet been followed by a lesson they had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "found interesting. Harry shoved his wand back inside his bag and pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "cut quill, ink and parchment. Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, extracted her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "own wand, which was an unusually short one, and tapped the blackboard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once:Defence Against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Dark ArtsA Return to Basic Principles'Well now, your teaching in this subject","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?' stated Professor Umbridge, turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her. The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "far below the standard we would expect to see in your OWL","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "year. 'You will be pleased to know, however, that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "carefully structured, theory-centred, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the following, please.' She rapped the blackboard again; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "first message vanished and was replaced by the 'Course Aims'.1. Understanding the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "principles underlying defensive magic.2. Learning to recognise situations in which defensive magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "can legallyhe used3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "for practical use.For a couple of minutes the room was full of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the sound of scratching quills on parchment. When everyone had copied down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Professor Umbridge's three course aims she asked, 'Has everybody got a copy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?' There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a dull murmur of assent throughout the class. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "think we'll try that again,' said Professor Umbridge. 'When I ask you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a question, I should like you to reply, `Yes, Professor Umbridge`, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "`No, Professor Umbridge'. So: has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?' 'Yes, Professor Umbridge,' rang through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the room. 'Good,' said Professor Umbridge. I should like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you to turn to page five and read `Chapter One, Basics for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Beginners`. There will be no need to talk.' Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Umbridge left the blackboard and settled herself in the chair behind the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "teacher's desk, observing them all closely with those pouchy toad's eyes. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "turned to page five of his copy of Defensive Magical Theory and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "started to read. It was desperately dull, quite as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "bad as listening to Professor Binns. He felt his concentration sliding away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "from him; he had soon read the same line half a dozen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "times without taking in more than the first few words. Several silent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "minutes passed. Next to him, Ron was absent-mindedly turning his quill over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and over in his fingers, staring at the same spot on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "page. Harry looked right and received a surprise to shake him out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of his torpor. Hermione had not even opened her copy of Defensive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Magical Theory. She was staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "in the air. Harry could not remember Hermione ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "neglecting to read when instructed to, or indeed resisting the temptation to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "open any book that came under her nose. He looked at her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "enquiringly, but she merely shook her head slightly to indicate that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was not about to answer questions, and continued to stare at Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Umbridge, who was looking just as resolutely in another direction. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " After several more minutes had passed, however, Harry was not the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "only one watching Hermione. The chapter they had been instructed to read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was so tedious that more and more people were choosing to watch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Hermione's mute attempt to catch Professor Umbridge's eye rather than struggle on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "with 'Basics for Beginners'. When more than half the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "class were staring at Hermione rather than at their books, Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "seemed to decide that she could ignore the situation no longer. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Not about the chapter, no,' said Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Well, we're reading just now,' said Professor Umbridge, showing her small pointed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "teeth. 'If you have other queries we can deal with them at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the end of class.' 'I've got a query about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "your course aims,' said Hermione. Professor Umbridge raised her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "eyebrows. 'And your name is?' 'Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Granger,' said Hermione. 'Well, Miss Granger, I think the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "I don't,' said Hermione bluntly. There's nothing written up there about using","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "defensive spells.' There was a short silence in which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "many members of the class turned their heads to frown at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "three course aims still written on the blackboard. 'Using","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "defensive spells?' Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. 'Why, I can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "attacked during class?' 'We're not going to use magic?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ron exclaimed loudly. 'Students raise their hands when they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "wish to speak in my class, Mr - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Weasley,' said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Professor Umbridge, smiling still more widely, turned her back or. him. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and Hermione immediately raised their hands too. Professor Umbridge's pouchy eyes lingerec.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "on Harry for a moment before she addressed Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something else?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Yes,' said Hermione. 'Surely the whole point of Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Arts is to practise defensive spells?' 'Are you a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Granger?' asked Professor Umbridge, in her falsely sweet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "voice. 'No, but - ' 'Well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the `whole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "point` of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "have devised our new programme of study. You will be learning about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'What use is that?' said Harry loudly. 'If we're going to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "attacked, it won't be in a - ' 'Hand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Mr Potter!' sang Professor Umbridge. Harry thrust his fist","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "in the air. Again, Professor Umbridge promptly turned away from him, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "now several other people had their hands up, too. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'And your name is?' Professor Umbridge said to Dean. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Dean Thomas.' 'Well, Mr Thomas?' 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "it's like Harry said, isn't it?' said Dean. 'If we're going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "be attacked, it won't be risk free.' 'I repeat,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "said Professor Umbridge, smiling in a very irritating fashion at Dean, 'do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you expect to be attacked during my classes?' 'No,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "but - ' Professor Umbridge talked over him. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "do not wish to criticise the way things have been run in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "this school,' she said, an unconvincing smile stretching her wide mouth, 'but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "very irresponsible indeed - not to mention,' she gave a nasty little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "laugh, 'extremely dangerous half-breeds.' 'If you mean Professor Lupin,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "piped up Dean angrily, 'he was the best we ever - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Hand, Mr Thomas! As I was saying - you have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "been introduced to spells that have been complex, inappropriate to your age","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "group and potentially lethal. You have been frightened into believing that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'No we haven't,' Hermione said, 'we just - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Your hand is not up, Miss Granger!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Hermione put up her hand. Professor Umbridge turned away from her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'It is my understanding that my predecessor not only performed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "illegal curses in front of you, he actually performed them on you.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Well, he turned out to be a maniac, didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "he?' said Dean hotly. 'Mind you, we still learned loads.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Your hand is not up, Mr Thomas!' trilled Professor Umbridge. 'Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "it is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "all, is what school is all about. And your name is?' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "added, staring at Parvati, whose hand had just shot up. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Parvati Patil, and isn't there a practical bit in our Defence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Against the Dark Arts OWL? Aren't we supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "show that we can actually do the counter-curses and things?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "is no reason why you should not be able to perform the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "spells under carefully controlled examination conditions,' said Professor Umbridge dismissively. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Without ever practising them beforehand?' said Parvati incredulously. Are you telling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "us that the first time we'll get to do the spells will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "be during our exam?' 'I repeat, as long as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you have studied the theory hard enough - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "And what good's theory going to be in the real world?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry loudly, his fist in the air again. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Umbridge looked up. 'This is school, Mr Potter, not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the real world,' she said softly. 'So we're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "supposed to be prepared for what's waiting for us out there?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'There is nothing waiting out there, Mr Potter.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Oh, yeah?' said Harry. His temper, which seemed to have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "bubbling just beneath the surface all day, was reaching boiling point. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "enquired Professor Umbridge in a horribly honeyed voice. 'Hmm,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "let's think . . .' said Harry in a mock thoughtful voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Maybe . . . Lord Voldemort?' Ron gasped; Lavender","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Brown uttered a little scream; Neville slipped sideways off his stool. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Umbridge, however, did not flinch. She was staring at Harry with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "grimly satisfied expression on her face. 'Ten points from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Gryffindor, Mr Potter.' The classroom was silent and still.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Harry. 'Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "let me make a few things quite plain.' Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Umbridge stood up and leaned towards them, her stubby-fingered hands splayed on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "her desk. 'You have been told that a certain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Dark wizard has returned from the dead - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'He wasn't dead,' said Harry angrily, 'but yeah, he's returned!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Mr-Potter-you-have-already-lost-your-house-ten-points-do-not-make-matters-worse-for-yourself,' said Professor Umbridge in one breath without looking at him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'As I was saying, you have been informed that a certain Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "wizard is at large once again. This is a lie.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'It is NOT a lie!' said Harry. 'I saw him, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "fought him!' 'Detention, Mr Potter!' said Professor Umbridge triumphantly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "will kindly continue your reading. Page five, `Basics for Beginners`.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " Professor Umbridge sat down behind her desk. Harry, however, stood up.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Everyone was staring at him; Seamus looked half-scared, half-fascinated. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Harry, no!' Hermione whispered in a warning voice, tugging at his sleeve,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "but Harry jerked his arm out of her reach. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "did he?' Harry asked, his voice shaking. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a collective intake of breath from the class, for none of them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "apart from Ron and Hermione, had ever heard Harry talk about what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "had happened on the night Cedric had died. They stared avidly from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry to Professor Umbridge, who had raised her eyes and was staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "at him without a trace of a fake smile on her face.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident,' she said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "coldly. 'It was murder,' said Harry. He could feel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "himself shaking. He had hardly spoken to anyone about this, least of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "all thirty eagerly listening classmates. 'Voldemort killed him and you know it.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " Professor Umbridge's face was quite blank. For a moment,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry thought she was going to scream at him. Then she said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "in her softest, most sweetly girlish voice, 'Come here, Mr Potter, dear.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " He kicked his chair aside, strode around Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Hermione and up to the teacher's desk. He could feel the rest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of the class holding its breath. He felt so angry he did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "not care what happened next. Professor Umbridge pulled a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "small roll of pink parchment out of her handbag, stretched it out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "on the desk, dipped her quill into a bottle of ink and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "started scribbling, hunched over so that Harry could not see what she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was writing. Nobody spoke. After a minute or so she rolled up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the parchment and tapped it with her wand; it sealed itself seamlessly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "so that he could not open it. Take this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to Professor McGonagall, dear,' said Professor Umbridge, holding out the note to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "him. He took it from her without saying a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "word, turned on his heel and left the room, not even looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "back at Ron and Hermione, slamming the classroom door shut behind him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "He walked very fast along the corridor, the note to McGonagall clutched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "tight in his hand, and turning a corner walked slap into Peeves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the poltergeist, a wide-mouthed little man floating on his back in midair,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "juggling several inkwells. 'Why, it's Potty Wee Potter!' cackled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Peeves, allowing two of the inkwells to fall to the ground where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "they smashed and spattered the walls with ink; Harry jumped backwards out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "of the way with a snarl. 'Get out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "it, Peeves.' 'Oooh, Crackpot's feeling cranky,' said Peeves, pursuing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry along the corridor, leering as he zoomed along above him. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "is; it this time, my fine Potty friend? Hearing voices? Seeing visions?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Speaking in - ' Peeves blew a gigantic raspberry '- tongues?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'I said, leave me ALONE!' Harry shouted, running down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "nearest flight of stairs, but Peeves merely slid down the banister on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "his back beside him.'Oh, most think he's barking, the potty wee lad,But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "some are more kindly and think he's just sad,But Peevesy knows better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and says that he's mad - ''SHUT UP!' A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "door to his left flew open and Professor McGonagall emerged from her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "office looking grim and slightly harassed. 'What on earth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "are you shouting about, Potter?' she snapped, as Peeves cackled gleefully and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "zoomed out of sight. 'Why aren't you in class?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'I've been sent to see you,' said Harry stiffly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Sent? What do you mean, sent?' He held out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the note from Professor Umbridge. Professor McGonagall took it from him, frowning,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "slit it open with a tap of her wand, stretched it out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and began to read. Her eyes zoomed from side to side behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "their square spectacles as she read what Umbridge had written, and with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "each line they became narrower. 'Come in here, Potter.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " He followed her inside her study. The door closed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "automatically behind him. 'Well?' said Professor McGonagall, rounding on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "him. `Is this true?' 'Is what true?' Harry asked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "rather more aggressively than he had intended. 'Professor?' he added, in an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "attempt to sound more polite. 'Is it true that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you shouted at Professor Umbridge?' 'Yes,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'You called her a liar?' 'Yes.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'You told her He Who Must Not Be Named is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "back?' 'Yes.' Professor McGonagall sat down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "behind her desk, watching Harry closely. Then she said, 'Have a biscuit,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Potter.' 'Have - what?' 'Have a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "biscuit,' she repeated impatiently, indicating a tartan tin lying on top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "one of the piles of papers on her desk. 'And sit down.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " There had been a previous occasion when Harry, expecting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to be caned by Professor McGonagall, had instead been appointed by her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He sank into a chair opposite her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and helped himself to a Ginger Newt, feeling just as confused and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "wrong-footed as he had done on that occasion. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "McGonagall set down Professor Umbridge's note and looked very seriously at Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Potter, you need to be careful.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Harry swallowed his mouthful of Ginger Newt and stared at her. Her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "tone of voice was not at all what he was used to;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "it was not brisk, crisp and stern; it was low and anxious","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "and somehow much more human than usual. 'Misbehaviour in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Dolores Umbridge's class could cost you much more than house points and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "a detention.' 'What do you - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Potter, use your common sense,' snapped Professor McGonagall, with an abrupt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "return to her usual manner. 'You know where she comes from, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "must know to whom she is reporting.' The bell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "rang for the end of the lesson. Overhead and all around came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "the elephantine sounds of hundreds of students on the move. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'It says here she's given you detention every evening this week,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "starting tomorrow,' Professor McGonagall said, looking down at Umbridge's note again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Every evening this week!' Harry repeated, horrified. 'But, Professor, couldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "you - ?' 'No, I couldn't,' said Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "flatly. 'But - ' 'She is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "your teacher and has every right to give you detention. You will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "go to her room at five o'clock tomorrow for the first one.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Just remember: tread carefully around Dolores Umbridge.' 'But I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "was telling the truth!' said Harry, outraged. 'Voldemort is back, you know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "he is; Professor Dumbledore knows he is - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'For heaven's sake, Potter!' said Professor McGonagall, straightening her glasses angrily (she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "had winced horribly when he had used Voldemort's name). 'Do you really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "think this is about truth or lies? It's about keeping your head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "down and your temper under control!' She stood up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "nostrils wide and mouth very thin, and Harry stood up, too. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " 'Have another biscuit,' she said irritably, thrusting the tin at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "him. 'No, thanks,' said Harry coldly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Don't be ridiculous,' she snapped. He took one. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" " Thanks,' he said grudgingly. 'Didn't you listen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "to Dolores Umbridge's speech at the start-of-term feast, Potter?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "'Yeah,' said Harry. 'Yeah . . . she said . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "progress will be prohibited or . . . well, it meant that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" ". . . that the Ministry of Magic is trying to interfere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "at Hogwarts.' Professor McGonagall eyed him closely for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "moment, then sniffed, walked around her desk and held open the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "for him. 'Well, I'm glad you listen to Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Granger at any rate,' she said, pointing him out of her office. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-12" "Dentention with DeloresDinner in the Great Hall that night was not a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "pleasant experience for Harry. The news about his shouting match with Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "had travelled exceptionally fast even by Hogwarts' standards. He heard whispers all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "around him as he sat eating between Ron and Hermione. The funny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "thing was that none of the whisperers seemed to mind him overhearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what they were saying about him. On the contrary, it was as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "though they were hoping he would get angry and start shouting again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "so that they could hear his story first-hand. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "says he saw Cedric Diggory murdered . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'He reckons he duelled with You-Know-Who . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Come off it . . .' 'Who does he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "think he's kidding?' 'Pur-lease . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'What I don't get,' said Harry through clenched teeth, laying down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "his knife and fork (his hands were shaking too much to hold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "them steady), 'is why they all believed the story two months ago","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "when Dumbledore told them . . .' The thing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "is, Harry, I'm not sure they did,' said Hermione grimly. 'Oh, let's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "get out of here.' She slammed down her own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "knife and fork; Ron looked longingly at his half-finished apple pie but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "followed suit. People stared s t them all the way out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the Hall. 'What d'you mean, you're not sure they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "believed Dumbledore?' Harry asked Hermione when they reached the first-floor landing. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Look, you don't understand what it was like after it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "happened,' said Hermione quietly. 'You arrived back in the middle of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lawn clutching Cedric's dead body . . . none of us saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what what happened in the maze . . . we just had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Dumbledore's word for it that You-Know-Who had come back and killed Cedric","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and fought you.' 'Which is the truth!' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "loudly. 'I know it is, Harry, so will you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "please stop biting my head off?' said Hermione wearily. 'It's just that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "before the truth could sink in, everyone went home for the summer,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "where they spent two months reading about how you're a nutcase and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Dumbledore's going senile!' Rain pounded on the windowpanes as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "they strode along the empty corridors back to Gryffindor Tower. Harry felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as though his first day had lasted a week, but he still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "had a mountain of homework to do before bed. A dull pounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "pain was developing over his right eye. He glanced out of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "rain-washed window at the dark grounds as they turned into the Fat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Lady's corridor. There was still no light in Hagrid's cabin. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Mimbulus mimbletonia,' said Hermione, before the Fat Lady could ask. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "portrait swung open to reveal the hole behind it and the three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of them scrambled through it. The common room was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "almost empty; nearly everyone was still down at dinner. Crookshanks uncoiled himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "from an armchair and trotted to meet them, purring loudly, and when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Harry, Ron and Hermione took their three favourite chairs at the fireside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he leapt lightly on to Hermione's lap and curled up there like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a furry ginger cushion. Harry gazed into the flames, feeling drained and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "exhausted. 'How can Dumbledore have let this happen?' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "cried suddenly, making Harry and Ron jump; Crookshanks leapt off her, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "affronted. She pounded the arms of her chair in fury, so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bits of stuffing leaked out of the holes. 'How can he let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "that terrible woman teach us? And in our OWL year, too!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Well, we've never had great Defence Against the Dark Arts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "teachers, have we?' said Harry. 'You know what it's like, Hagrid told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "us, nobody wants the job; they say it's jinxed.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Yes, but to employ someone who's actually refusing to let us do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "magic! What's Dumbledore playing at?' 'And she's trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "get people to spy for her,' said Ron darkly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Remember when she said she wanted us to come and tell her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "if we hear anyone saying You-Know-Who's back?' 'Of course","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she's here to spy on us all, that's obvious, why else would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Fudge have wanted her to come?' snapped Hermione. 'Don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "start arguing again,' said Harry wearily, as Ron opened his mouth to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "retaliate. 'Can't we just. . . let's just do that homework, get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "it out of the way. . .' They collected","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "their schoolbags from a corner and returned to the chairs by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "fire. People were coming back from dinner now. Harry kept his face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "averted from the portrait hole, but could still sense the stares he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was attracting. 'Shall we do Snape's stuff first?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Ron, dipping his quill into his ink. `The properties. . . of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "moonstone. . . and its uses . . . in potion-making. .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ".` ' he muttered, writing the words across the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "his parchment as he spoke them. There.' He underlined the title, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "looked up expectantly at Hermione. 'So, what are the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "properties of moonstone and its uses in potion-making?' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Hermione was not listening; she was squinting over into the far corner","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of the room, where Fred, George and Lee Jordan were now sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "at the centre of a knot of innocent-looking first-years, all of whom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "were chewing something that seemed to have come out of a large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "paper bag that Fred was holding. 'No, I'm sorry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "they've gone too far,' she said, standing up and looking positively furious.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Come on, Ron.' 'I - what?' said Ron, plainly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "playing for time. 'No - come on, Hermione - we can't tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "them off for giving out sweets.' 'You know perfectly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "well that those are bits of Nosebleed Nougat or - or Puking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Pastilles or - ' 'Fainting Fancies?' Harry suggested quietly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " One by one, as though hit over the head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "with an invisible mallet, the first-years were slumping unconscious in their seats;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "some slid right on to the floor, others merely hung over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "arms of their chairs, their tongues lolling out. Most of the people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "watching were laughing; Hermione, however, squared her shoulders and marched directly over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to where Fred and George now stood with clipboards, closely observing the unconscious","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "first-years. Ron rose halfway out of his chair, hovered uncertainly for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "moment or two, then muttered to Harry, 'She's got it under control,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "before sinking as low in his chair as his lanky frame permitted.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " That's enough!' Hermione said forcefully to Fred and George,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "both of whom looked up in mild surprise. 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you're right,' said George, nodding, 'this dosage looks strong enough, doesn't it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'I told you this morning, you can't test your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "rubbish on students!' 'We're paying them!' said Fred indignantly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'I don't care, it could be dangerous!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Rubbish,' said Fred. 'Calm clown, Hermione, they're fine!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Lee reassuringly as he walked from first-year to first-year, inserting purple","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sweets into their open mouths. 'Yeah, look, they're coming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "round now,' said George. A few of the first-years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "were indeed stirring. Several looked so shocked to find themselves lying on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the floor, or dangling off their chairs, that Harry was sure Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and George had not warned them what the sweets were going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "do. 'Feel all right?' said George kindly to a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "small dark-haired girl lying at his feet. 'I -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I think so,' she said shakily. 'Excellent,' said Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "happily, but the next second Hermione had snatched both his clipboard and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the paper bag of Fainting Fancies from his hands. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'It is NOT excellent!' 'Course it is, they're alive,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "aren't they?' said Fred angrily. 'You can't do this,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what if you made one of them really ill?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'We're not going to make them ill, we've already tested them all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on ourselves, this is just to see if everyone reacts the same","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "- ' 'If you don't stop doing it, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "going to - ' 'Put us in detention?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Fred, in an I'd-like-to-see-you-try-it voice. 'Make us write lines?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said George, smirking. Onlookers all over the room were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "laughing. Hermione drew herself up to her full height; her eyes were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "narrowed and her bushy hair seemed to crackle with electricity. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'No,' she said, her voice quivering with anger, 'but I will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "write to your mother.' 'You wouldn't,' said George, horrified,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "taking a step back from her. 'Oh, yes, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "would,' said Hermione grimly. 'I can't stop you eating the stupid things","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "yourselves, but you're not to give them to the first-years,' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Fred and George looked thunderstruck. It was clear that as far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as they were concerned, Hermione's threat was way below the belt. With","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a last threatening look at them, she thrust Fred's clipboard and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bag of Fancies back into his arms, and stalked back to her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "chair by the fire. Ron was now so low","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in his seat that his nose was roughly level with his knees.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Thank you for your support, Ron,' Hermione said acidly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'You handled it fine by yourself,' Ron mumbled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Hermione stared down at her blank piece of parchment for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a few seconds, then said edgily, 'Oh, it's no good, I can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "concentrate now. I'm going to bed.' She wrenched her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bag open; Harry thought she was about to put her books away,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "but instead she pulled out two misshapen woolly objects, placed them carefully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on a table by the fireplace, covered them with a few screwed-up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bits of parchment and a broken quill and stood back to admire","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the effect. 'What in the name of Merlin are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you doing?' said Ron, watching her as though fearful for her sanity.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " They're hats for house-elves,' she said briskly now stuffing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "her books back into her bag. 'I did them over the summer.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I'm a really slow knitter without magic but now I'm back at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "school I should be able to make lots more.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'You're leaving out hats for the house-elves?' said Ron slowly. 'And you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "covering them up with rubbish first?' 'Yes,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "defiantly, swinging her bag on to her back. That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "not on,' said Ron angrily. 'You're trying to trick them into picking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "up the hats. You're setting them free when they might not want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to be free.' 'Of course they want to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "free!' said Hermione at once, though her face was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "turning pink. 'Don't you dare touch those hats, Ron!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "She turned on her heel and left. Ron waited until she had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "disappeared through the door to the girls' dormitories, then cleared the rubbish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "off the woolly hats. They should at least see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what they're picking up,' he said firmly. 'Anyway . . .' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "rolled up the parchment on which he had written the title of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Snape's essay, 'there's no point trying to finish this now, I can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "do it without Hermione, I haven't got a clue what you're supposed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to do with moonstones, have you?' Harry shook his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "head, noticing as he did so that the ache in his right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "temple was getting worse. He thought of the long essay on giant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "wars and the pain stabbed at him sharply. Knowing perfectly well that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "when the morning came, he would regret not finishing his homework that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "night, he piled his books back into his bag. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'I'm going to bed too.' He passed Seamus on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the way to the door leading to the dormitories, but did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "look at him. Harry had a fleeting impression that Seamus had opened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "his mouth to speak, but he sped up and reached the soothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "peace of the stone spiral staircase without having to endure any more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "provocation.*The following day dawned just as leaden and rainy as the previous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "one. Hagrid was still absent from the staff table at breakfast. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'But on the plus side, no Snape today,' said Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bracingly. Hermione yawned widely and poured herself some coffee.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "She looked mildly pleased about something, and when Ron asked her what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she had to be so happy about, she simply said, The hats","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "have gone. Seems the house-elves do want freedom after all.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'I wouldn't bet on it,' Ron told her cuttingly. They might not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "count as clothes. They didn't look anything like hats to me, more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "like woolly bladders.' Hermione did not speak to him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "all morning. Double Charms was succeeded by double Transfiguration.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall both spent the first fifteen minutes of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "their lessons lecturing the class on the importance of OWLs. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'What you must remember,' said little Professor Flitwick squeakily, perched as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "ever on a pile of books so that he could see over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the top of his desk, 'is that these examinations may influence your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "futures for many years to come! If you have not already given","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "serious thought to your careers, now is the time to do so.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "And in :he meantime, I'm afraid, we shall be working harder than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "ever to ensure that you all do yourselves justice!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "They then spent over an hour revising Summoning Charms, which according to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Professor Flitwick were bound to come up in their OWL, and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "rounded off the lesson by setting them their largest ever amount of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Charms homework. It was the same, if not worse,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in Transfiguration. 'You cannot pass an OWL,' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "McGonagall grimly, 'without serious application, practice and study. I see no reason","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "why everybody in this class should not achieve an OWL in Transfiguration","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as long as they put in the work.' Neville made a sad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "little disbelieving noise. 'Yes, you too, Longbottom,' said Professor McGonagall. There's nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "wrong with your work except lack of confidence. So . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "today we are starting Vanishing Spells. These are easier than Conjuring Spells,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "which you would not usually attempt until NEWT level, but they are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "still among the most difficult magic you will be tested on in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "your OWL.' She was quite right; Harry found the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Vanishing Spells horribly difficult. By the end of a double period, neither","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he nor Ron had managed to vanish the snails on which they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "were practising, though Ron said hopefully he thought his looked a bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "paler. Hermione, on the other hand, successfully vanished her snail on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "third attempt, earning her a ten-point bonus for Gryffindor from Professor McGonagall.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "She was the only person not given homework; everybody else was told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to practise the spell overnight, ready for a fresh attempt on their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "snails the following afternoon. Now panicking slightly about the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "amount of homework they had to do, Harry and Ron spent their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lunch hour in the library looking up the uses of moonstones in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "potion-making. Still angry about Ron's slur on her woolly hats, Hermione did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "not join them. By the time they reached Care of Magical Creatures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in the afternoon, Harry's head was aching again. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "day had become cool and breezy, and as they walked down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sloping lawn towards Hagrid's cabin on the edge of the Forbidden Forest,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "they felt the occasional drop of rain on their faces. Professor Grubbly-Plank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "stood waiting for the class some ten yards from Hagrid's front door,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a long trestle table in front of her laden with twigs. As","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Harry and Ron reached her, a loud shout of laughter sounded behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "them; turning, they saw Draco Malfoy striding towards them, surrounded by his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "usual gang of Slytherin cronies. He had clearly just said something highly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "amusing, because Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and the rest continued to snigger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "heartily as they gathered around the trestle table and, judging by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "way they all kept looking over at Harry, he was able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "guess the subject of the joke without too much difficulty. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Everyone here?' barked Professor Grubbly-Plank, once all the Slytherins and Gryffindors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "had arrived. 'Let's crack on then. Who can tell me what these","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "things are called?' She indicated the heap of twigs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in front of her. Hermione's hand shot into the air. Behind her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "back, Malfoy did a buck-toothed imitation of her jumping up and down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in eagerness to answer a question. Pansy Parkinson gave a shriek of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "laughter that turned almost at once into a scream, as the twigs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on the table leapt into the air and revealed themselves to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what looked like tiny pixie-ish creatures made of wood, each with knobbly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "brown arms and legs, two twiglike fingers at the end of each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "hand and a funny flat, barklike face in which a pair of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "beetle-brown eyes glittered. 'Oooooh!' said Parvati and Lavender, thoroughly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "irritating Harry. Anyone would have thought Hagrid had never shown them impressive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "creatures; admittedly, the Flobberworms had been a bit dull, but the Salamanders","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and Hippogriffs had been interesting enough, and the Blast-Ended Skrewts perhaps too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "much so. 'Kindly keep your voices down, girls!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Professor Grubbly-Plank sharply, scattering a handful of what looked like brown rice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "among the stick-creatures, who immediately fell upon the food. 'So - anyone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "know the names of these creatures? Miss Granger?' 'Bowtruckles,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Hermione. They're tree-guardians, usually live in wand-trees.' 'Five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "points for Gryffindor,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank. 'Yes, these are Bowtruckles, and as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Miss Granger rightly says, they generally live in trees whose wood is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of wand quality. Anybody know what they eat?' 'Woodlice,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Hermione promptly, which explained why what Harry had taken to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "grains of brown rice were moving. 'But fairy eggs if they can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "get them.' 'Good girl, take another five points.. So,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "whenever you need leaves or wood from a tree in which a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Bowtruckle lodges, it is wise to have a gift of woodlice ready","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to distract or placate it. They may not look dangerous, but if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "angered they will try to gouge at human eyes with their fingers,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "which, as you can see, are very sharp and not at all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "desirable near the eyeballs. So if you'd like to gather closer, take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a few woodlice and a Bowtruckle - I have enough here for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "one between three - you can study them more closely. I want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a sketch from each of you with all body-parts labelled by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "end of the lesson.' The class surged forwards around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the trestle table. Harry deliberately circled around the back so that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "ended up right next to Professor Grubbly-Plank. 'Where's Hagrid?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he asked her, while everyone else was choosing Bowtruckles. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Never you mind,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank repressively, which had been her attitude","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "last time Hagrid had failed to turn up for a class, too. Smirking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "all over his pointed face, Draco Malfoy leaned across Harry and seized","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the largest Bowtruckle. 'Maybe,' said Malfoy in an undertone,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "so that only Harry could hear him, 'the stupid great oaf's got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "himself badly injured.' 'Maybe you will if you don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "shut up,' said Harry out of the side of his mouth. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Maybe he's been messing with stuff that's too big for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "him, if you get my drift.' Malfoy walked away,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "smirking over his shoulder at Harry, who felt suddenly sick. Did Malfoy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "know something? His father was a Death Eater after all; what if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he had information about Hagrid's fate that had not yet reached the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "ears of the Order? He hurried back around the table to Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and Hermione who were squatting on the grass some distance away and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "attempting to persuade a Bowtruckle to remain still long enough for them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to draw it. Harry pulled out parchment and quill, crouched down beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the others and related in a whisper what Malfoy had just said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Dumbledore would know if something had happened to Hagrid,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Hermione at once. 'It's just playing into Malfoy's hands to look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "worried; it tells him we don't know exactly what's going on. We've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "got to ignore him, Harry. Here, hold the Bowtruckle for a moment,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "just so I can draw its face . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Yes,' came Malfoy's clear drawl from the group nearest them, 'Father","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was talking to the Minister just a couple of days ago, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "know, and it sounds as though the Ministry's really determined to crack","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "down on sub-standard teaching in this place. So even if that overgrown","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "moron does show up again, he'll probably be sent packing straightaway.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'OUCH!' Harry had gripped the Bowtruckle so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "hard that it had almost snapped, and it had just taken a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "great retaliatory swipe at his hand with its sharp fingers, leaving two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "long deep cuts there. Harry dropped it. Crabbe and Goyle, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "already been guffawing at the idea of Hagrid being sacked, laughed still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "harder as the Bowtruckle set off at full tilt towards the Forest,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a little moving stick-man soon swallowed up among the tree roots. When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the bell echoed distantly over the grounds, Harry rolled up his blood-stained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Bowtruckle picture and marched off to Herbology with his hand wrapped in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Hermione's handkerchief, and Malfoy's derisive laughter still ringing in his ears. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'If he calls Hagrid a moron one more time .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". .' said Harry through gritted teeth. 'Harry, don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "go picking a row with Malfoy, don't forget, he's a prefect now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he could make life difficult for you . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Wow, I wonder what it'd be like to have a difficult","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "life?' said Harry sarcastically. Ron laughed, but Hermione frowned. Together, they traipsed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "across the vegetable patch. The sky still appeared unable to make up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "its mind whether it wanted to rain or not. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'I just wish Hagrid would hurry up and get back, that's all,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Harry in a low voice, as they reached the greenhouses. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "don't say that Grubbly-Plank woman's a better teacher!' he added threateningly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'I wasn't going to,' said Hermione calmly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Because she'll never be as good as Hagrid,' said Harry firmly, fully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "aware that he had just experienced an exemplary Care of Magical Creatures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lesson and was thoroughly annoyed about it. The door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of the nearest greenhouse opened and some fourth-years spilled out of it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "including Ginny. 'Hi,' she said brightly as she passed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "A few seconds later, Luna Lovegood emerged, trailing behind the rest of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the class, a smudge of earth on her nose, and her hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "tied in a knot on the top of her head. When she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "saw Harry, her prominent eyes seemed to bulge excitedly and she made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a beeline straight for him. Many of his classmates turned curiously to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "watch. Luna took a great breath and then said, without so much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as a preliminary hello, 'I believe He Who Must Not Be Named","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "is back and I believe you fought him and escaped from him.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Er - right,' said Harry awkwardly. Luna was wearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what looked like a pair of orange radishes for earrings, a fact","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "that Parvati and Lavender seemed to have noticed, as they were both","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "giggling and pointing at her earlobes. 'You can laugh,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Luna said, her voice rising, apparently under the impression that Parvati and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Lavender were laughing at what she had said rather than what she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was wearing, 'but people used to believe there were no such things","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as the Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack!' 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "they were right, weren't they?' said Hermione impatiently. There weren't any such","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "things as the Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Luna gave her a withering look and flounced away, radishes swinging madly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Parvati and Lavender were not the only ones hooting with laughter now.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'D'you mind not offending the only people who believe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "me?' Harry asked Hermione as they made their way into class. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Oh, for heaven's sake, Harry, you can do better than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "her,' said Hermione. 'Ginny's told me all about her; apparently, she'll only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "believe in things as long as there's no proof at all. Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I wouldn't expect anything else from someone whose father runs The Quibbler.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Harry thought of the sinister winged horses he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "seen on the night he had arrived and how Luna had said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she could see them too. His spirits sank slightly. Had she been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lying? But before he could devote much more thought to the matter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Ernie Macmillan had stepped up to him. 'I want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you to know, Potter,' he said in a loud, carrying voice, 'that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "it's not only weirdos who support you. I personally believe you one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "hundred per cent. My family have always stood firm behind Dumbledore, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "so do I.' 'Er - thanks very much, Ernie,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Harry, taken aback but pleased. Ernie might be pompous on occasions","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "like this, but Harry was in a mood to deeply appreciate a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "vote of confidence from somebody who did not have radishes dangling from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "their ears. Ernie's words had certainly wiped the smile from Lavender Browns","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "face and as he turned to talk to Ron and Hermione, Harry caught","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Seamus's expression, which looked both confused and defiant. To","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "nobody's surprise, Professor Sprout started their lesson by lecturing them about the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "importance of OWLs. Harry wished all the teachers would stop doing this;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he was starting to get an anxious, twisted feeling in his stomach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "every time he remembered how much homework he had to do, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "feeling that worsened dramatically when Professor Sprout gave them yet another essay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "at the end of class. Tired and smelling strongly of dragon dung,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Professor Sprouts preferred type of fertiliser, the Gryffindors trooped back up to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the castle an hour and a half later, none of them talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "very much; it had been another long day. As","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Harry was starving, and he had his first detention with Umbridge at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "five o'clock, he headed straight for dinner without dropping off his bag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in Gryffindor Tower so that he could bolt something down before facing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "whatever she had in store for him. He had barely reached the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "entrance of the Great Hall, however, when a loud and angry voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "yelled, 'Oi, Potter!' 'What now?' he muttered wearily, turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to face Angelina Johnson, who looked as though she was in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "towering temper. 'I'll tell you what now,' she said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "marching straight up to him and poking him hard in the chest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "with her finger. 'How come you've landed yourself in detention for five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "o'clock on Friday?' 'What?' said Harry. 'Why . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". oh yeah, Keeper tryouts!' 'Now he remembers!' snarled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Angelina. 'Didn't I tell you I wanted to do a tryout with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the whole team, and find someone who fitted in with everyone? Didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I tell you I'd booked the Quidditch pitch specially? And now you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "decided you're not going to be there!' 'I didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "decide not to be there!' said Harry, stung by the injustice of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "these words. 'I got detention from that Umbridge woman, just because I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "told her the truth about You-Know-Who.' 'Well, you can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "just go straight to her and ask her to let you off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "en Friday,' said Angelina fiercely, 'and I don't care how you do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "it. Tell her You-Know-Who's a figment of your imagination if you like,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "just make sure you're there!' She turned on her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "heel and stormed away. 'You know what.?' Harry said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to Ron and Hermione as they entered the Great Hall. 'I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "we'd better check with Puddlemere United whether Oliver Wood's been killed during","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a training session, because Angelina seems to be channelling his spirit.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'What d'you reckon are the odds of Umbridge letting you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "off on Friday?' said Ron sceptically, as they sat down at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Gryffindor table. 'Less than zero,' said Harry glumly, tipping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lamb chops on to his plate and starting to eat. 'Better try,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "though, hadn't I? I'll offer to do two more detentions or something,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I dunno . . .' He swallowed a mouthful of potato and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "added, 'I hope she doesn't keep me too long this evening. You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "realise we've got to write three essays, practise Vanishing Spells for McGonagall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "work out a counter-charm for Flitwick, finish the Bowtruckle drawing and start","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "that stupid dream diary for Trelawney?' Ron moaned and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "for some reason glanced up at the ceiling. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "it looks like it's going to rain.' 'What's that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "got to do with our homework?' said Hermione, her eyebrows raised. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Nothing,' said Ron at once, his ears reddening. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " At five to five Harry bade the other two goodbye and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "set off for Umbridge's office on the third floor. When he knocked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on the door she called, 'Come in,' in a sugary voice. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "entered cautiously, looking around. He had known this office","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "under three of its previous occupants. In the days","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "when Gilderoy Lockhart had lived here it had been plastered in beaming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "portraits of himself. When Lupin had occupied it, it was likely you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "would meet some fascinating Dark creature in a cage or tank if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you came to call. In the impostor Moody's days it had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "packed with various instruments and artefacts for the detection of wrongdoing and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "concealment. Now, however, it looked totally unrecognisable. The surfaces","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "had all been draped in lacy covers and cloths. There were several","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "vases full of dried flowers, each one residing on its own doily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and on one of the walls was a collection of ornamental plates,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "each decorated with a large technicolour kitten wearing a different bow around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "its neck. These were so foul that Harry stared at them, transfixed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "until Professor Umbridge spoke again. 'Good evening, Mr Potter.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Harry started and looked around. He had not noticed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "her at first because she was wearing a luridly flowered set of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "robes that blended only too well with the tablecloth on the desk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "behind her. 'Evening, Professor Umbridge,' Harry said stiffly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Well, sit down,' she said, pointing towards a small table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "draped in lace beside which she had drawn up a straight-backed chair.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "A piece of blank parchment lay on the table, apparently waiting for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "him. 'Er,' said Harry, without moving. 'Professor Umbridge. Er","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "- before we start, I - I wanted to ask you a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". . . a favour.' Her bulging eyes narrowed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Oh, yes?' 'Well, I'm . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". I'm in the Gryffindor Quidditch team. And I was supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "be at the tryouts for the new Keeper at five o'clock on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Friday and I was - was wondering whether I could skip detention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "that night and do it - do it another night . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". instead . . .' He knew long before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he reached the end of his sentence that it was no good.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Oh, no,' said Umbridge, smiling so widely that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "looked as though she had just swallowed a particularly juicy fly. 'Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "no, no, no. This is your punishment for spreading evil, nasty, attention-seeking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "stories, Mr Potter, and punishments certainly cannot be adjusted to suit the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "guilty one's convenience. No, you will come here at five o'clock tomorrow,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and the next day, and on Friday too, and you will do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "your detentions as planned. I think it rather a good thing that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "are missing something you really want to do. It ought to reinforce","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the lesson I am trying to teach you.' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "felt the blood surge to his head and heard a thumping noise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in his ears. So he told 'evil, nasty, attention-seeking stones', did he?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " She was watching him with her head slightly to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "one side, still smiling widely, as though she knew exactly what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was thinking and was waiting to see whether he would start shouting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "again. With a massive effort, Harry looked away from her, dropped his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "schoolbag beside the straight-backed chair and sat down. 'There,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Umbridge sweetly, 'we're getting better at controlling our temper already, aren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "we? Now, you are going to be doing some lines for me,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Mr Potter. No, not with your quill,' she added, as Harry bent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "down to open his bag. 'You're going to be using a rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "special one of mine. Here you are.' She handed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "him a long, thin black quill with an unusually sharp point. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'I want you to write, I must not tell lies,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she told him softly. 'How many times?' Harry asked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "with a creditable imitation of politeness. 'Oh, as long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as it takes for the message to sink in,' said Umbridge sweetly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Off you go.' She moved over to her desk,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sat down and bent over a stack of parchment that looked like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "essays for marking. Harry raised the sharp black quill, then realised what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was missing. 'You haven't given me any ink,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said. 'Oh, you won't need ink,' said Professor Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "with the merest suggestion of a laugh in her voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Harry placed the point of the quill on the paper and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "wrote: I must not tell lies. He let out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a gasp of pain. The words had appeared on the parchment in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what appeared to be shining red ink. At the same time, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "words had appeared on the back of Harry's right hand, cut into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "his skin as though traced there by a scalpel - yet even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as he stared at the shining cut, the skin healed over again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "leaving the place where it had been slightly redder than before but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "quite smooth. Harry looked round at Umbridge. She was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "watching him, her wide, toadlike mouth stretched in a smile. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Yes?' 'Nothing,' said Harry quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "He looked back at the parchment, placed the quill on it once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "more, wrote I must not tell lies, and felt the searing pain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on the back of his hand for a second time; once again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the words had been cut into his skin; once again, they healed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "over seconds later. And on it went. Again and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "again Harry wrote the words on the parchment in what he soon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "came to realise was not ink, but his own blood. And, again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and again, the words were cut into the back of his hand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "healed, and reappeared the next time he set quill to parchment. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Darkness fell outside Umbridge's window. Harry did not ask when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he would be allowed to stop. He did not even check his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "watch. He knew she was watching him for signs of weakness and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he was not going to show any, not even if he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to sit there all night, cutting open his own hand with this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "quill . . . 'Come here,' she said, after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what seemed hours. He stood up. His hand was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "stinging painfully. When he looked down at it he saw that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "cut had healed, but that the skin there was red raw. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Hand,' she said. He extended it. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "took it in her own. Harry repressed a shudder as she touched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "him with her thick, stubby fingers on which she wore a number","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of ugly old rings. 'Tut, tut, I don't seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to have made much of an impression yet,' she said, smiling. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "we'll just have to try again tomorrow evening, won't we? You may","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "go.' Harry left her office without a word. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "school was quite deserted; it was surely past midnight. He walked slowly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "up the corridor, then, when he had turned the corner and was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sure she would not hear him, broke into a run.*He had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "had time to practise Vanishing Spells, had not written a single dream","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in his dream diary and had not finished the drawing of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Bowtruckle, nor had he written his essays. He skipped breakfast next morning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to scribble down a couple of made-up dreams for Divination, their first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lesson, and was surprised to find a dishevelled Ron keeping him company.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'How come you didn't do it last night?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "asked, as Ron stared wildly around the common room for inspiration. Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "who had been fast asleep when Harry got back to the dormitory,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "muttered something about 'doing other stuff, bent low over his parchment and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "scrawled a few words. 'That'll have to do,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said, slamming the diary shut. 'I've said I dreamed I was buying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a new pair of shoes, she can't make anything weird out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "that, can she?' They hurried off to North Tower","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "together. 'How was detention with Umbridge, anyway? What did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she make you do?' Harry hesitated for a fraction","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of a second, then said, 'Lines.' That's not too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bad, then, eh?' said Ron. 'Nope,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Hey - I forgot - did she let you off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "for Friday?' 'No,' said Harry. Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "groaned sympathetically. It was another bad day for Harry;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he was one of the worst in Transfiguration, not having practised Vanishing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Spells at all. He had to give up his lunch hour to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "complete the picture of the Bowtruckle and, meanwhile, Professors McGonagall, Grubbly-Plank and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Sinistra gave them yet more homework, which he had no prospect of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "finishing that evening because of his second detention with Umbridge. To cap","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "it all, Angelina Johnson tracked him down at dinner again and, on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "learning that he would not be able to attend Friday's Keeper tryouts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "told him she was not at all impressed by his attitude and that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she expected players who wished to remain on the team to put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "training before their other commitments. 'I'm in detention!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "yelled after her as she stalked away. 'D'you think I'd rather be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "stuck in a room with that old toad or playing Quidditch?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'At least it's only lines,' said Hermione consolingly, as Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sank back on to his bench and looked down at his steak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and kidney pie, which he no longer fancied very much. 'It's not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "as it it's a dreadful punishment, really . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Harry opened his mouth, closed it again and nodded. He was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "not really sure why he was not telling Ron and Hermione exactly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what was happening in Umbridge's room: he only knew that he did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "not want to see their looks of horror; that would make the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "whole thing seem worse and therefore more difficult to face. He also","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "felt dimly that this was between himself and Umbridge, a private battle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of wills, and he was not going to give her the satisfaction","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of hearing that he had complained about it. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "can't believe how much homework we've got,' said Ron miserably. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Well, why didn't you do any last night?' Hermione asked him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Where were you, anyway?' 'I was . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I fancied a walk,' said Ron shiftily. Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the distinct impression that he was not alone in concealing things at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the moment.*The second detention was just as bad as the previous one.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "The skin on the back of Harry's hand became irritated more quickly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "now and was soon red and inflamed. Harry thought it unlikely that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "it would keep healing as effectively for long. Soon the cut would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "remain etched into his hand and Umbridge would, perhaps, be satisfied. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "let no gasp of pain escape him, however, and from the moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of entering the room to the moment of his dismissal, again past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "midnight, he said nothing but 'good evening' and 'goodnight'. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "His homework situation, however, was now desperate, and when he returned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the Gryffindor common room he did not, though exhausted, go to bed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "but opened his books and began Snape's moonstone essay. It was half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "past two by the time he had finished it. He knew he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "had done a poor job, but there was no help for it;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "unless he had something to give in he would be in detention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "with Snape next. He then dashed off answers to the questions Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "McGonagall had set them, cobbled together something on the proper handling of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Bowtruckles for Professor Grubbly-Plank, and staggered up to bed, where he fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "fully clothed on top of the covers and fell asleep immediately.*Thursday passed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in a haze of tiredness. Ron seemed very sleepy too, though Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "could not see why he should be. Harry's third detention passed in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the same way as the previous two, except that after two hours","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the words 'I must not tell lies' did not fade from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "back of Harry's hand, but remained scratched there, oozing droplets of blood.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "The pause in the pointed quills scratching made Professor Umbridge look up.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Ah,' she said softly, moving around her desk to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "examine his hand herself. 'Good. That ought to serve as a reminder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to you, oughtn't it? You may leave for tonight.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Do I still have to come back tomorrow?' said Harry, picking up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "his schoolbag with his left hand rather than his smarting right one.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Oh yes,' said Professor Umbridge, smiling as widely as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "before. 'Yes, I think we can etch the message a little deeper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "with another evenings work.' Harry had never before considered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the possibility that there might be another teacher in the world he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "hated more than Snape, but as he walked back towards Gryffindor Tower","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he had to admit he had found a strong contender. She's evil,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he thought, as he climbed a staircase to the seventh floor, she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "an evil, twisted, mad old- 'Ron?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "He had reached the top of the stairs, turned right and almost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "walked into Ron, who was lurking behind a statue of Lachlan the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Lanky, clutching his broomstick. He gave a great leap of surprise when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he saw Harry and attempted to hide his new Cleansweep Eleven behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "his back. 'What are you doing?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Er - nothing. What are you doing?' Harry frowned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "at him. 'Come on, you can tell me! What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "are you hiding here for?' 'I'm - I'm hiding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "from Fred and George, if you must know,' said Ron. They just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "went past with a bunch of first-years, I bet they're testing stuff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on them again, I mean, they can't do it in the common","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "room now, can they, not with Hermione there.' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was talking in a very fast, feverish way. 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "what have you got your broom for, you haven't been flying, have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you?' Harry asked. 'I - well - well, OK,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I'll tell you, but don't laugh, all right?' Ron said defensively, turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "redder with every second. 'I - I thought I'd try out for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Gryffindor Keeper now I've got a decent broom. There. Go on. Laugh.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'I'm not laughing,' said Harry. Ron blinked. 'It's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "brilliant idea! It'd be really cool if you got on the team!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I've never seen you play Keeper, are you good?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'I'm not bad,' said Ron, who looked immensely relieved at Harry's reaction.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Charlie, Fred and George always made me keep for them when they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "were training during the holidays.' 'So you've been practising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "tonight?' 'Every evening since Tuesday . . . just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on my own, though. I've been trying to bewitch Quaffles to fly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "at me, but it hasn't been easy and I don't know how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "much use it'll be.' Ron looked nervous and anxious. 'Fred and George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "are going to laugh themselves stupid when I turn up for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "tryouts. They haven't stopped taking the mickey out of me since I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "got made a prefect.' 'I wish I was going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to be there,' said Harry bitterly, as they set off together towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the common room. 'Yeah, so do - Harry, what's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "that on the back of your hand?' Harry, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "just scratched his nose with his free right hand, tried to hide","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "it, but had as much success as Ron with his Cleansweep. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'It's just a cut - it's nothing - it's -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "' But Ron had grabbed Harry's forearm and pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the back of Harry's hand up level with his eyes. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a pause, during which he stared at the words carved into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "skin, then, looking sick, he released Harry 'I thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you said she was just giving you lines?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "hesitated, but after all, Ron had been honest with him, so he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "told Ron the truth about the hours he had been spending in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Umbridge's office. The old hag!' Ron said in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "revolted whisper as they came to a halt in front of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Fat Lady, who was dozing peacefully with her head against her frame.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'She's sick! Go to McGonagall, say something!' 'No,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Harry at once. 'I'm not giving her the satisfaction of knowing she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "got to me.' 'Got to you? You can't let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "her get away with this!' 'I don't know how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "much power McGonagall's got over her,' said Harry. 'Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "then, tell Dumbledore!' 'No,' said Harry flatly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Why not?' 'He's got enough on his mind,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "said Harry, but that was not the true reason. He was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "going to go to Dumbledore for help when Dumbledore had not spoken","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to him once since June. 'Well, I reckon you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "should - ' Ron began, but he was interrupted by the Fat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Lady, who had been watching them sleepily and now burst out, 'Are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you going to give me the password or will I have to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "stay awake all night waiting for you to finish your conversation?'*Friday dawned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sullen and sodden as the rest of the week. Though Harry automatically","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "glanced towards the staff table when he entered the Great Hall, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was without any real hope of seeing Hagrid, and he turned his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "mind immediately to his more pressing problems, such as the mountainous pile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of homework he had to do and the prospect of yet another","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "detention with Umbridge. Two things sustained Harry that day.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "One was the thought that it was almost the weekend; the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was that, dreadful though his final detention with Umbridge was sure to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "be, he had a distant view of the Quidditch pitch from her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "window and might, with luck, be able to see something of Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "tryout. These were rather feeble rays of light, it was true, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Harry was grateful for anything that might lighten his present darkness; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "had never had a worse first week of term at Hogwarts. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " At five o'clock that evening he knocked on Professor Umbridge's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "office door for what he sincerely hoped would be the final time,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and was told to enter. The blank parchment lay ready for him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on the lace-covered table, the pointed black quill beside it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'You know what to do, Mr Potter,' said Umbridge, smiling sweetly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "at him. Harry picked up the quill and glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "through the window. If he just shifted his chair an inch or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "so to the right . . . on the pretext of shifting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "himself closer to the table, he managed it. He now had a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "distant view of the Gryffindor Quidditch team soaring up and down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "pitch, while half a dozen black figures stood at the foot of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the three high goalposts, apparently awaiting their turn to Keep. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "impossible to tell which one was Ron at this distance. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " I must not tell lies, Harry wrote. The cut in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "back of his right hand opened and began to bleed afresh. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " I must not tell lies. The cut dug deeper, stinging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and smarting. I must not tell lies. Blood trickled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "down his wrist. He chanced another glance out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the window. Whoever was defending the goalposts now was doing a very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "poor job indeed. Katie Bell scored twice in the few seconds Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "dared to watch. Hoping very much that the Keeper wasn't Ron, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "dropped his eyes back to the parchment shining with blood. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " I must not tell lies. I must not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "tell lies. He looked up whenever he thought he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "could risk it; when he could hear the scratching of Umbridge's quill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "or the opening of a desk drawer. The third person to try","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "out was pretty good, the fourth was terrible, the fifth dodged a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Bludger exceptionally well but then fumbled an easy save. The sky was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "darkening, and Harry doubted he would be able to see the sixth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "and seventh people at all. I must not tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lies. I must not tell lies. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "The parchment was now dotted with drops of blood from the back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of his hand, which was searing with pain. When he next looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "up, night had fallen and the Quidditch pitch was no longer visible.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Lets see if you've got the message yet, shall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "we?' said Umbridge's soft voice half an hour later. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "She moved towards him, stretching out her short ringed fingers for his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "arm. And then, as she took hold of him to examine the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "words now cut into his skin, pain seared, not across the back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "of his hand, but across the scar on his forehead. At the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "same time, he had a most peculiar sensation somewhere around his midriff.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " He wrenched his arm out of her grip and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "leapt to his feet, staring at her. She looked back at him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a smile stretching her wide, slack mouth. 'Yes, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "hurts, doesn't it?' she said softly. He did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "answer. His heart was thumping very hard and fast. Was she talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "about his hand or did she know what he had just felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "in his forehead? 'Well, I think I've made my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "point, Mr Potter. You may go.' He caught up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "his schoolbag and left the room as quickly as he could. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Stay calm, he told himself, as he sprinted up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "stairs. Stay calm, it doesn't necessarily mean what you think it means .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". . 'Mimbulus mimbletonia!' he gasped at the Fat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Lady, who swung forwards once more. A roar of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sound greeted him. Ron came running towards him, beaming all over his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "face and slopping Butterbeer down his front from the goblet he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "clutching. 'Harry, I did it, I'm in, I'm Keeper!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'What? Oh - brilliant!' said Harry, trying to smile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "naturally, while his heart continued to race and his hand throbbed and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bled. 'Have a Butterbeer.' Ron pressed a bottle on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "him. 'I can't believe it - '- where's Hermione gone?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'She's there,' said Fred, who was also swigging Butterbeer, and pointed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "to an armchair by the fire. Hermione was dozing in it, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "drink tipping precariously in her hand. 'Well, she said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she was pleased when I told her,' said Ron, looking slightly put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "out. 'Let her sleep,' said George hastily. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "a few moments before Harry noticed that several of the first-years gathered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "around them bore unmistakeable signs of recent nosebleeds. Come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "here, Ron, and see if Oliver's old robes fit you,' called Kade","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Bell, 'we can take off his name and put yours on instead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". . .' As Ron moved away, Angelina came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "striding up to Harry. Sorry I was a bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "short with you earlier, Potter,' she said abruptly. 'It's stressful this managing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "lark, you know, I'm starting to think I was a bit hard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on Wood sometimes.' She was watching Ron over the rim of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "goblet with a slight frown on her face. 'Look,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I know he's your best mate, but he's not fabulous,' she said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bluntly. 'I think with a bit of training he'll be all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "though. He comes from a family of good Quidditch players. I'm banking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "on him turning out to have a bit more talent than he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "showed today, to be honest. Vicky Frobisher and Geoffrey Hooper both flew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "better this evening, but Hooper's a real whiner, he's always moaning about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "something or other, and Vicky's involved in all sorts of societies. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "admitted herself that if training clashed with her Charms Club she'd put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Charms first. Anyway, we're having a practice session at two o'clock tomorrow,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "so just make sure you're there this time. And do me a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "favour and help Ron as much as you can, OK?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " He nodded, and Angelina strolled back to Alicia Spinnet. Harry moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "over to sit next to Hermione, who awoke with a jerk as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he put down his bag. 'Oh, Harry, it's you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". . . good about Ron, isn't it?' she said blearily. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "just so - so - so tired,' she yawned. 'I was up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "until one o'clock making more hats. They're disappearing like mad!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " And sure enough, now that he looked, Harry saw that there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "were woolly hats concealed all around the room where unwary elves might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "accidentally pick them up. 'Great,' said Harry distractedly; if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he did not tell somebody soon, he would burst. 'Listen, Hermione, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "was just up in Umbridge's office and she touched my arm .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". .' Hermione listened closely. When Harry had finished,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "she said slowly, 'You're worried You-Know-Who's controlling her like he controlled Quirrell?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'Well,' said Harry, dropping his voice, 'it's a possibility,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "isn't it?' 'I suppose so,' said Hermione, though she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "sounded unconvinced. 'But I don't think he can be possessing her the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "way he possessed Quirrell, I mean, he's properly alive again now, isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he, he's got his own body, he wouldn't need to share someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "else's. He could have her under the Imperius Curse, I suppose .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" ". .' Harry watched Fred, George and Lee Jordan","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "juggling empty Butterbeer bottles for a moment. Then Hermione said, 'But last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "year your scar hurt when nobody was touching you, and didn't Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "say it had to do with what You-Know-Who was feeling at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "time? I mean, maybe this hasn't got anything to do with ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " Umbridge at all, maybe it's just coincidence it happened while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "you were with her?' 'She's evil,' said Harry flatly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Twisted.' 'She's horrible, yes, but . . . Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I think you ought to tell Dumbledore your scar hurt.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " It was the second time in two days he had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "advised to go to Dumbledore and his answer to Hermione was just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "the same as his answer to Ron. 'I'm not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "bothering him with this. Like you just said, it's not a big","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "deal. It's been hurting on and off all summer - it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "just a bit worse tonight, that's all - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'Harry, I'm sure Dumbledore would want to be bothered by this -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "' 'Yeah,' said Harry, before he could stop himself,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'that's the only bit of me Dumbledore cares about, isn't it, my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "scar?' 'Don't say that, it's not true!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " 'I think I'll write and tell Sirius about it, see what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "he thinks - ' 'Harry, you can't put something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "like that in a letter!' said Hermione, looking alarmed. 'Don't you remember,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Moody told us to be careful what we put in writing! We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "just can't guarantee owls aren't being intercepted any more!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'All right, all right, I won't tell him, then!' said Harry irritably.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "He got to his feet. 'I'm going to bed. Tell Ron for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "me, will you?' 'Oh no,' said Hermione, looking relieved,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "'if you're going that means I can go too, without being rude.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I'm absolutely exhausted and I want to make some more hats tomorrow.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Listen, you can help me if you like, it's quite fun, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "getting better, I can do patterns and bobbles and all sorts of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "things now.' Harry looked into her face, which was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "shining with glee, and tried to look as though he was vaguely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "tempted by this offer. 'Er . . . no,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I don't think I will, thanks,' he said. 'Er - not tomorrow.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "I've got loads of homework to do . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" " And he traipsed off to the boys' stairs, leaving her looking slightly disappointed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-13" "Percy and PadfootHarry was first to wake up in his dormitory next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "morning. He lay for a moment watching dust swirl in the ray","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of sunlight coming through the gap in his four-poster's hangings, and savoured","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the thought that it was Saturday. The first week of term seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to have dragged on for ever, like one gigantic History of Magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "lesson. Judging by the sleepy silence and the freshly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "minted look of that beam of sunlight, it was just after daybreak.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "He pulled open the curtains around his bed, got up and started","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to dress. The only sound apart from the distant twittering of birds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was the slow, deep breathing of his fellow Gryffindors. He opened his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "schoolbag carefully, pulled out parchment and quill and headed out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "dormitory for the common room. Making straight for his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "favourite squashy old armchair beside the now extinct fire, Harry settled himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "down comfortably and unrolled his parchment while looking around the room. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "detritus of crumpled-up bits of parchment, old Gobstones, empty ingredient jars and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "sweet wrappers that usually covered the common room at the end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "each day was gone, as were all Hermione's elf hats. Wondering vaguely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "how many elves had now been set free whether they wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "be or not, Harry uncorked his ink bottle, dipped his quill into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it, then held it suspended an inch above the smooth yellowish surface","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of his parchment, thinking hard . . . but after a minute","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "or so he found himself staring into the empty grate, at a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "complete loss for what to say. He could now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "appreciate how hard it had been for Ron and Hermione to write","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "him letters over the summer. How was he supposed to tell Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "everything that had happened over the past week and pose all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "questions he was burning to ask without giving potential letter-thieves a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of information he did not want them to have? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "He sat quite motionless for a while, gazing into the fireplace, then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "finally coming to a decision, he dipped his quill into the ink","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "bottle once more and set it resolutely on the parchment.Dear Snuffles,Hope you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "OK, the first week back here's been terrible, I'm really glad it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the weekend. We've got a new Defence Against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge. She's nearly as nice as your mum.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I'm writing because that thing I wrote to you about last summer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "happened again last night when I was doing a detention with Umbridge.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " We're all missing our biggest friend, we hope he'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "be back soon. Please write back quickly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Best, HarryHarry reread the letter several times, trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to see it from the point of view of an outsider. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "could not see how they would know what he was talking about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- or who he was talking to - just from reading this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "letter. He did hope Sirius would pick up the hint about Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and tell them when he might be back. Harry did not want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to ask directly in case it drew too much attention to what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Hagrid might be up to while he was not at Hogwarts. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Considering it was a very short letter, it had taken","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a long time to write; sunlight had crept halfway across the room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "while he had been working on it and he could now hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "distant sounds of movement from the dormitories above. Sealing the parchment carefully,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he climbed through the portrait hole and headed off for the Owlery.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'I would not go that way if I were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you,' said Nearly Headless Nick, drifting disconcertingly through a wall just ahead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of Harry as he walked down the passage. 'Peeves is planning an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "amusing . joke on the next person to pass the bust of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Paracelsus halfway down the corridor.' 'Does it involve Paracelsus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "falling on top of the persons head?' asked Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Funnily enough, it does,' said Nearly Headless Nick in a bored voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Subtlety has never been Peeves's strong point. I'm off to try and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "find the Bloody Baron . . . he might be able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "put a stop to it . . . see you, Harry .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ". .' 'Yeah, bye,' said Harry and instead of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "turning right, he turned left, taking a longer but safer route up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to the Owlery. His spirits rose as he walked past window after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "window showing brilliantly blue sky; he had training later, he would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "back on the Quidditch pitch at last. Something brushed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his ankles. He looked down and saw the caretaker's skeletal grey cat,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Mrs Norris, slinking past him. She turned lamplike yellow eyes on him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "for a moment before disappearing behind a statue of Wilfred the Wistful.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'I'm not doing anything wrong,' Harry called after her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "She had the unmistakeable air of a cat that was off to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "report to her boss, yet Harry could not see why; he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "perfectly entitled to walk up to the Owlery on a Saturday morning.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " The sun was high in the sky now and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "when Harry entered the Owlery the glassless windows dazzled his eyes; thick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "silvery beams of sunlight crisscrossed the circular room in which hundreds of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "owls nestled on rafters, a little restless in the early-morning light, some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "clearly just returned from hunting. The straw-covered floor crunched a little as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he stepped across tiny animal bones, craning his neck for a sight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of Hedwig. There you are,' he said, spotting her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "somewhere near the very top of the vaulted ceiling. 'Get down here,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I've got a letter for you.' With a low","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "hoot she stretched her great white wings and soared down on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his shoulder. 'Right, I know this says Snuffles on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the outside,' he told her, giving her the letter to clasp in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "her beak and, without knowing exactly why, whispering, 'but it's for Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "OK?' She blinked her amber eyes once and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "took that to mean that she understood. 'Safe flight,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "then,' said Harry and he carried her to one of the windows;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "with a moments pressure on his arm, Hedwig took off into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "blindingly bright sky. He watched her until she became a tiny black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "speck and vanished, then switched his gaze to Hagrid's hut, clearly visible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "from this window, and just as clearly uninhabited, the chimney smokeless, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "curtains drawn. The treetops of the Forbidden Forest swayed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in a light breeze. Harry watched them, savouring the fresh air on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his face, thinking about Quidditch later . . . then he saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it. A great, reptilian winged hcrse, just like the ones pulling the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Hogwarts carriages, with leahery black wings spread wide like a pterodactyl's, rose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up out of the trees like a grotesque, giant bird. It soared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in a great circle, then plunged back into the trees. The whole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "thing had happened so quickly, Harry could hardly believe what he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "seen, except that his heart was hammering madly. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Owlery door opened behind him. He leapt in shock and, turning quickly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "saw Cho Chang holding a letter and a parcel in his hands.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Hi,' said Harry automatically. 'Oh .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ". . hi,' she said breathlessly. 'I didn't think anyone would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up here this early . . . I only remembered five minutes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "ago, it's my mum's birthday' She held up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "parcel. Right,' said Harry. His brain seemed to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "jammed. He wanted to say something funny and interesting, but the memory of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that terrible winged horse was fresh in his mind. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Nice day,' he said, gesturing to the windows. His insides seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "shrivel with embarrassment. The weather. He was talking about the weather .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ". . 'Yeah,' said Cho, looking around for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "suitable owl. 'Good Quidditch conditions. I haven't been out all week, have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you?' 'No,' said Harry. Cho had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "selected one of the school barn owls. She coaxed it down on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to her arm where it held out an obliging leg so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "she could attach the parcel. 'Hey has Gryffindor got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a new Keeper yet?' she asked. 'Yeah,' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'It's my friend Ron Weasley, d'you know him?' 'The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Tornados-hater?' said Cho rather coolly. 'Is he any good?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Yeah,' said Harry, 'I think so. I didn't see his tryout, though,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I was in detention.' Cho looked up, the parcel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "only half-attached to the owls legs. That Umbridge woman's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "foul,' she said in a low voice. 'Putting you in detention just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "because you told the truth about how - how - how he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "died. Everyone heard about it, it was all over the school. You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "were really brave standing up to her like that.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry's insides re-inflated so rapidly he felt as though he might actually","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "float a few inches off the dropping-strewn floor. Who cared about a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "stupid flying horse; Cho thought he had been really brave. For a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "moment, he considered accidentally-on-purpose showing her his cut hand as he helped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "her tie her parcel on to her owl . . . but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the very instant this thrilling thought occurred, the Owlery door opened again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Filch the caretaker came wheezing into the room. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "were purple patches on his sunken, veined cheeks, his jowls were aquiver","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and his thin grey hair dishevelled; he had obviously run here. Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Norris came trotting at his heels, gazing up at the owls overhead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and mewing hungrily. There was a restless shifting of wings from above","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and a large brown owl snapped his beak in a menacing fashion.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Aha!' said Filch, taking a flat-footed step towards Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his pouchy cheeks trembling with anger. Tve had a tip-off that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "are intending to place a massive order for Dungbombs!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry folded his arms and stared at the caretaker. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Who told you I was ordering Dungbombs?' Cho was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "looking from Harry to Filch, also frowning; the barn owl on her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "arm, tired of standing on one leg, gave an admonitory hoot but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "she ignored it. 'I have my sources.' said Filch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in a self-satisfied hiss. 'Now hand over whatever it is you're sending.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Feeling immensely thankful that he had not dawdled in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "posting off the letter, Harry said, 'I can't, it's gone.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Gone?' said Filch, his face contorting with rage. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Gone,' said Harry calmly. Filch opened his mouth furiously,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "mouthed for a few seconds, then raked Harry's robes with his eyes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'How do I know you haven't got it in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "your pocket?' 'Because - ' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "saw him send it,' said Cho angrily. Filch rounded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "on her. 'You saw him - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " That's right, I saw him,' she said fiercely. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "There was a moment's pause in which Filch glared at Cho and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Cho glared right back, then the caretaker turned on his heel and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "shuffled back towards the door. He stopped with his hand on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "handle and looked back at Harry. 'If I get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "so much as a whiff of a Dungbomb . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " He stumped off down the stairs. Mrs Norris cast a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "last longing look at the owls and followed him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry and Cho looked at each other. Thanks,' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said. No problem,' said Cho, finally fixing the parcel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to the barn owl's other leg, her face slightly pink. 'You weren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "ordering Dungbombs, were you?' 'No,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'I wonder why he thought you were, then?' she said as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "she carried the owl to the window. Harry shrugged.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "He was quite as mystified by that as she was, though oddly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it was not bothering him very much at the moment. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " They left the Owlery together. At the entrance of a corridor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that led towards the west wing of the castle, Cho said, 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "going this way. Well, I'll . . . I'll see you around,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry.' 'Yeah . . . see you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " She smiled at him and departed. Harry walked on, feeling quietly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "elated. He had managed to have an entire conversation with her and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "not embarrassed himself once . . . you were really brave standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up to her like that . . . Cho had called him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "brave . . . she did not hate him for being alive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ". . . Of course, she had preferred Cedric,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he knew that . . . though if he'd only asked her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to the Ball before Cedric had, things might have turned out differently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ". . . she had seemed sincerely sorry that she'd had to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "refuse when Harry asked her . . . 'Morning,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry said brightly to Ron and Hermione as he joined them at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. 'What are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you looking so pleased about?' said Ron, eyeing Harry in surprise. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Erm . . . Quidditch later,' said Harry happily, pulling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a large platter of bacon and eggs towards him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Oh . . . yeah . . .' said Ron. He put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "down the piece of toast he was eating and took a large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "swig of pumpkin juice. Then he said, 'Listen . . . you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "don't fancy going out a bit earlier with me, do you? Just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to - er - give me some practice before training? So I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "can, you know, get my eye in a bit.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Yeah, OK,' said Harry. 'Look, I don't think you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "should,' said Hermione seriously. 'You're both really behind on homework as it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- ' But she broke off; the morning post","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was arriving and, as usual, the Daily Prophet was soaring towards her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in the beak of a screech owl, which landed perilously close to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the sugar bowl and held out a leg. Hermione pushed a Knut","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "into its leather pouch, took the newspaper, and scanned the front page","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "critically as the owl took off. 'Anything interesting?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron. Harry grinned, knowing Ron was keen to keep her off the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "subject of homework. 'No,' she sighed, 'just some guff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "about the bass player in the Weird Sisters getting married.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Hermione opened the paper and disappeared behind it. Harry devoted himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to another helping of eggs and bacon. Ron was staring up at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the high windows, looking slightly preoccupied. 'Wait a moment,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Hermione suddenly. 'Oh no . . . Sirius!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'What's happened?' said Harry, snatching at the paper so violently it ripped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "down the middle, with him and Hermione each holding one half. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " ' `The Ministry of Magic has received a tip-off from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a reliable source that Sirius Black, notorious mass murderer . . . blah","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "blah blah . . .is currently hiding in London!` ' Hermione read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "from her half in an anguished whisper. 'Lucius Malfoy,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I'll bet anything,' said Harry in a low, furious voice. 'He did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "recognise Sirius on the platform . . .' What?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Ron, looking alarmed. 'You didn't say - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Shh!' said the other two. '. . . `Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "warns wizarding community that Black is very dangerous . . . killed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "thirteen people . . . broke out of Azkaban . . .`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the usual rubbish,' Hermione concluded, laying down her half of the paper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and looking fearfully at Harry and Ron. 'Well, he just won't be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "able to leave the house again, that's all,' she whispered. 'Dumbledore did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "warn him not to.' Harry looked down glumly at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the bit of the Prophet he had torn off. Most of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "page was devoted to an advertisement for Madam Malkin's Robes for All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Occasions, which was apparently having a sale. 'Hey!' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said, flattening it down so Hermione and Ron could see it. 'Look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "at this!' 'I've got all the robes I want,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Ron 'No,' said Harry. 'Look . . . this little piece","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "here . . .` Ron and Hermione bent closer to read it;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the item was barely an inch long and placed right at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "bottom of a column. It was headlined:TRESPASS AT MINISTRYSturgis Podmore, 38, of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "number two, Laburnum Gardens, Clapham, has appeared in front of the Wizcngamot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "charged with trespass and attempted robbery at the Ministry of Magic on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "31` August. Podmore was arrested by Ministry of Magic watchwizard Eric Munch,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "who found him attempting to force his way through a top-security door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "at one o'clock in the morning. Podmore, who refused to speak, in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his own defence, was convicted on both charges and sentenced to six","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "months in Azkaban.'Sturgis Podmore?' said Ron slowly. 'He's that bloke who looks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "like his head's been thatched, isn't he? He's one of the Ord-","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Ron, shhl' said Hermione, casting a terrified look around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "them. 'Six months in Azkaban!' whispered Harry, shocked. 'Just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "for trying to get through a door!' 'Don't be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "silly, it wasn't just for trying to get through a door. What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "on earth was he doing at the Ministry of Magic at one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "o'clock in the morning?' breathed Hermione. D'you reckon he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was doing something for the Order?' Ron muttered. 'Wait","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a moment . . .' said Harry slowly. 'Sturgis was supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "come and see us off, remember?' The other two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "looked at him. 'Yeah, he was supposed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "part of our guard going to King's Cross, remember? And Moody was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "all annoyed because he didn't turn up; so he couldn't have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "on a job for them, could he?' 'Well, maybe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "they didn't expect him to get caught,' said Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'It could be a frame-up!' Ron exclaimed excitedly. 'No - listen!' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "went on, dropping his voice dramatically at the threatening look on Hermione's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "face. The Ministry suspects he's one of Dumbledore's lot so - I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "dunno - they lured him to the Ministry, and he wasn't trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to get through a door at all! Maybe they've just made something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up to get him!' There was a pause while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry and Hermione considered this. Harry thought it seemed far-fetched. Hermione, on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the other hand, looked rather impressed. 'Do you know,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I wouldn't be at all surprised if that were true.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " She folded up her half of the newspaper thoughtfully. As Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "laid down his knife and fork, she seemed to come out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a reverie. 'Right, well, I think we should tackle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that essay for Sprout on self-fertilising shrubs first and if we're lucky","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "we'll be able to start McGonagall's Inanimatus Conjurus Spell before lunch .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ". .' Harry felt a small twinge of guilt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "at the thought of the pile of homework awaiting him upstairs, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the sky was a clear, exhilarating blue, and he had not been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "on his Firebolt for a week . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'I mean, we can do it tonight,' said Ron, as he and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry walked down the sloping lawns towards the Quidditch pitch, their broomsticks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "over their shoulders, and with Hermione's dire warnings that they would fail","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "all their OWLs still ringing in their ears. 'And we've got tomorrow.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "She gets too worked up about work, that's her trouble . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ".' There was a pause and he added, in a slightly more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "anxious tone, 'D'you think she meant it when she said we weren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "copying from her?' 'Yeah, I do,' said Harry. 'Still,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "this is important, too, we've got to practise if we want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "stay on the Quidditch team . . .' 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that's right,' said Ron, in a heartened tone. 'And we have got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "plenty of time to do it all . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " As they approached the Quidditch pitch, Harry glanced over to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "right to where the trees of the Forbidden Forest were swaying darkly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Nothing flew out of them; the sky was empty but for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "few distant owls fluttering around the Owlery tower. He had enough to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "worry about; the flying horse wasn't doing him any harm; he pushed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it out of his mind. They collected balls from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the cupboard in the changing room and set to work, Ron guarding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the three tall goalposts, Harry playing Chaser and trying to get the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Quaffle past Ron. Harry thought Ron was pretty good; he blocked three-quarters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of the goals Harry attempted to put past him and played better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the longer they practised. After a couple of hours they returned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the castle for lunch - during which Hermione made it quite clear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "she thought they were irresponsible - then returned to the Quidditch pitch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "for the real training session. All their teammates but Angelina were already","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in the changing room when they entered. All right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron?' said George, winking at him. Yeah,' said Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "who had become quieter and quieter all the way down to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "pitch. 'Ready to show us all up, Ickle Prefect?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Fred, emerging tousle-haired from the neck of his Quidditch robes, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "slightly malicious grin on his face. 'Shut up,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron, stony-faced, pulling on his own team robes for the first time.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "They fitted him well considering they had been Oliver Wood's, who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "rather broader in the shoulder. 'OK, everyone,' said Angelina,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "entering from the Captain's office, already changed. 'Let's gel to it; Alicia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and Fred, if you can jus: bring out the ball crate for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "us. Oh, and there are a couple of people out there watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "but I want you to just ignore them, all right?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Something in her would-be casual voice made Harry think he might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "know who the uninvited spectators were, and sure enough, when they left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the changing room for the bright sunlight of the pitch it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to a storm of catcalls and jeers from the Slytherin Quidditch team","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and assorted hangers-on, who were grouped halfway up the empty stands and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "whose voices echoed loudly around the stadium. 'What's that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Weasley's riding?' Malfoy called in his sneering drawl. 'Why would anyone put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a flying charm on a mouldy old log like that?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson guffawed and shrieked with laughter. Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "mounted his broom and kicked off from the ground and Harry followed him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "watching his ears turn red from behind. 'Ignore them,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he said, accelerating to catch up with Ron, 'we'll see who's laughing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "after we play them . . .' 'Exactly the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "attitude I want, Harry' said Angelina approvingly soaring around them with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Quaffle under her arm and slowing to hover on the spot in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "front of her airborne team. 'OK, everyone, we're going to start with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "some passes just to warm up, the whole team please - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Hey, Johnson, what's with that hairstyle, anyway?' shrieked Pansy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Parkinson from below. 'Why would anyone want to look like they've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "worms coming out of their head?' Angelina swept her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "long braided hair out of her face and continued calmly, 'Spread out,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "then, and let's see what we can do . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Harry reversed away from the others to the far side","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of the pitch. Ron fell back towards the opposite goal. Angelina raised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Quaffle with one hand and threw it hard to Fred, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "passed to George, who passed to Harry, who passed to Ron, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "dropped it. The Slytherins, led by Malfoy, roared and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "screamed with laughter. Ron, who had pelted towards the ground to catch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Quaffle before it landed, pulled out of the dive untidily, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that he slipped sideways on his broom, and returned to playing height,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "blushing. Harry saw Fred and George exchange looks, but uncharacteristically neither of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "them said anything, for which he was grateful. 'Pass","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it on, Ron,' called Angelina, as though nothing had happened. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Ron threw the Quaffle to Alicia, who passed back to Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "who passed to George . . . 'Hey, Potter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "how's your scar feeling?' called Malfoy. 'Sure you don't need a lie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "down? It must be, what, a whole week since you were in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the hospital wing, that's a record for you, isn't it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " George passed to Angelina; she reverse-passed to Harry, who had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "been expecting it, but caught it in the very tips of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "fingers and passed it quickly to Ron, who lunged for it and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "missed by inches. 'Come on now, Ron,' said Angelina","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "crossly, as he dived for the ground again, chasing the Quaffle. 'Pay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "attention.' It would have been hard to say whether","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron's face or the Quaffle was a deeper scarlet when he again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "returned to playing height. Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherin team","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "were howling with laughter. On his third attempt, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "caught the Quaffle; perhaps out of relief he passed it on so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "enthusiastically that it soared straight though Katie's outstretched hands and hit her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "hard in the face. 'Sorry!' Ron groaned, zooming forwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to see whether he had done any damage. 'Get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "back in position, she's fine!' barked Angelina. 'But as you're passing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a teammate, do try not to knock her off her broom, won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you? We've got Bludgers for that!' Katie's nose was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "bleeding. Down below, the Slytherins were stamping their feet and jeering. Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and George converged on Katie. 'Here, take this,' Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "told her, handing her something small anc purple from out of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "pocket, 'it'll clear it up in no time.' 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "right,' called Angelina, 'Fred, George, go and get your bats and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Bludger. Ron, get up to the goalposts. Harry, release the Snitch when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I say so. We're going to aim for Ron's goal, obviously.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Harry zoomed off after the twins to fetch the Snitch.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Ron's making a right pig's ear of things, isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he?' muttered George, as the three of them landed at the crate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "containing the balls and opened it to extract one of the Bludgers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and the Snitch. 'He's just nervous,' said Harry, 'he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was fine when I was practising with him this morning.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Yeah, well, I hope he hasn't peaked too soon,' said Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "gloomily. They returned to the air. When Angelina blew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "her whistle, Harry released the Snitch and Fred and George let fly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Bludger. From that moment on, Harry was barely aware of what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the others were doing. It was his job to recapture the tiny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "fluttering golden ball that was worth a hundred and fifty points to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Seeker's team and doing so required enormous speed and skill. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "accelerated, rolling and swerving in and out of the Chasers, the warm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "autumn air whipping his face, and the distant yells of the Slytherins","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "so much meaningless roaring in his ears . . . but too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "soon, the whistle brought him to a halt again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Stop - stop - STOP!' screamed Angelina. 'Ron - you're not covering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "your middle post!' Harry looked round at Ron, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was hovering in front of the left-hand hoop, leaving the other two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "completely unprotected. 'Oh . . . sorry . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ".' 'You keep shifting around while you're watching the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Chasers!' said Angelina. 'Either stay in centre position until you have to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "move to defend a hoop, or else circle the hoops, but don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "drift vaguely off to one side, that's how you let in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "last three goals!' 'Sorry . . .' Ron repeated,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his red face shining like a beacon against the bright blue sky.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'And Katie, can't you do something about that nosebleed?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'It's just getting worse!' said Katie thickly, attempting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "stem the flow with her sleeve. Harry glanced round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "at Fred, who was looking anxious and checking his pockets. He saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Fred pull out something purple, examine it for a second and then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "look round at Katie, evidently horror-struck. 'Well, let's try","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "again,' said Angelina. She was ignoring the Slytherins, who had now set","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up a chant of 'Gryffindor are losers, Gryffindor are losers,' but there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was a certain rigidity about her seat on the broom nevertheless. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " This time they had been flying for barely three minutes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "when Angelinas whistle sounded. Harry, who had just sighted the Snitch circling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the opposite goalpost, pulled up feeling distinctly aggrieved. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "now?' he said impatiently to Alicia, who was nearest. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Katie,' she said shortly. Harry turned and saw Angelina,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Fred and George all flying as fast as they could towards Katie.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry and Alicia sped towards her, too. It was plain that Angelina","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "had stopped training just in time; Katie was now chalk white and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "covered in blood. 'She needs the hospital wing,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Angelina. 'We'll take her,' said Fred. 'She - er","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- might have swallowed a Blood Blisterpod by mistake - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Well, there's no point continuing with no Beaters and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Chaser gone,' said Angelina glumly as Fred and George zoomed off towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the castle supporting Katie between them. 'Come on, let's go and get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "changed.' The Slytherins continued to chant as they trailed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "back into the changing rooms. 'How was practice?' asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Hermione rather coolly half an hour later, as Harry and Ron climbed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "through the portrait hole into the Gryffindor common room. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'It was - ' Harry began. 'Completely lousy,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron in a hollow voice, sinking into a chair beside Hermione. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "looked up at Ron and her frost mess seemed to melt. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Well, it was only your first one,' she said consolingly, 'it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "bound to take time to - ' 'Who said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it was me who made it lousy?' snapped Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'No one,' said Hermione, looking taken aback, 'I thought - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'You thought I was bound to be rubbish?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'No, of course I didn't! Look, you said it was lousy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "so I just - ' 'I'm going to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "started on some homework,' said Ron angrily and stomped off to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "staircase to the boys' dormitories and vanished from sight. Hermione turned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry. 'Was he lousy?' No,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry loyally. Hermione raised her eyebrows. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Well, I suppose he could've played better,' Harry muttered, 'but it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "only the first training session, like you said . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Neither Harry nor Ron seemed to make much headway with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "their homework that night. Harry knew Ron was too preoccupied with how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "badly he had performed at Quidditch practice and he himself was having","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "difficulty in getting the 'Gryffindor are losers' chant out of his head.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " They spent the whole of Sunday in the common","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "room, buried in ! heir books while the room around them filled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up, then emptied. It was another clear, fine day and most of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "their fellow Gryffindors spent the day out in the grounds, enjoying what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "might well be some of the last sunshine that year. By the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "evening, Harry felt as though somebody had been beating his brain against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the inside of his skull. 'You know, we probably","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "should try and get more homework done during the week, Harry muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to Ron, as they finally laid aside Professor McGonagall's long essay on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Inanimatus Conjurus Spell and turned miserably to Professor Sinistra's equally long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and difficult essay about Jupiter's many moons. 'Yeah,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron, rubbing slightly bloodshot eyes and throwing his fifth spoiled bit of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "parchment into the fire beside them. 'Listen . . . shall we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "just ask Hermione if we can have a look at what she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "done?' Harry glanced over at her; she was sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "with Crookshanks on her lap and chatting merrily to Ginny as a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "pair of knitting needles flashed in midair in front of her, now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "knitting a pair of shapeless elf socks. 'No,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said heavily, 'you know she won't let us.' And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "so they worked on while the sky outside the windows became steadily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "darker. Slowly, the crowd in the common room began to thin again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "At half past eleven, Hermione wandered over to them, yawning. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Nearly done?' 'No,' said Ron shortly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Jupiter's biggest moon is Ganymede, not Callisto,' she said, pointing over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron's shoulder at a line in his Astronomy essay, 'and it's lo","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that's got the volcanoes.' Thanks,' snarled Ron, scratching out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the offending sentences. 'Sorry, I only - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Yeah, well, if you've just come over here to criticise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- ' 'Ron - ' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "haven't got time to listen to a sermon, all right, Hermione, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up to my neck in it here - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'No - look!' Hermione was pointing to the nearest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "window. Harry and Ron both looked over. A handsome screech owl was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "standing on the windowsill, gazing into the room at Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Isn't that Hermes?' said Hermione, sounding amazed. 'Blimey,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it is!' said Ron quietly, throwing down his quill and getting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his feet. 'What's Percy writing to me for?' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "crossed to the window and opened it; Hermes flew inside, landed on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron's essay and held out a leg to which a letter was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "attached. Ron took the letter off it and the owl departed at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "once, leaving inky footprints across Ron's drawing of the moon Io. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " That's definitely Percy's handwriting,' said Ron, sinking back into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "chair and staring at the words on the outside of the scroll:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ronald Weasley, Gryffindor House, Hogwarts. He looked up at the other two.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'What d'you reckon?' 'Open it!' said Hermione eagerly, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry nodded. Ron unrolled the scroll and began to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "read. The further clown the parchment his eyes travelled, the more pronounced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "became his scowl. When he had finished reading, he looked disgusted. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "thrust the letter at Harry and Hermione, who leaned towards each other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to read it together:Dear Ron,I have only just heard (from no less","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a person than the Minister for Magic himself, who has it from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "your new teacher, Professor Umbridge) that you have become a Hogwarts prefect.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " I was most pleasantly surprised when f heard this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "news and must firstly offer my congratulations. I must admit that I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "have always been afraid that you would take what we might call","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the 'Fred and George' route, rather than following in my footsteps, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you can imagine my feelings on hearing you have stopped flouting authority","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and have decided to shoulder some real responsibility. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I want to give you more than congratulations, Ron, I want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "give you some advice, which is why I am sending this at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "night rather than by the usual morning post. Hopefully, you will be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "able 'o read this away from prying eyes and avoid awkward questions.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " From something the Minister let slip when telling me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you are now a prefect, I gather that you are still seeing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a lot of Harry Potter. I must tell you, Ron, that nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "could put you in danger of losing your badge more than continued","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "fraternisation with that boy. Yes, I am sure you are surprised to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "hear this - no doubt you will say that Potter has always","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "been Dumbledore's favourite - but I feel bound to tell you that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Dumbledore may not be in charge at Hogwarts much longer and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "people who count have a very different - and probably more accurate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- view of Potter's behaviour. I shall say no more here, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "if you look at the Daily Prophet tomorrow you will get a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "good idea of the way the wind is blowing - and see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "if you can spot yours truly! Seriously, Ron, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "do not want to be tarred with the same brush as Potter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "it could be very damaging to your future prospects, and I am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "talking here about life after school, too. As you must be aware,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "given that our father escorted him to court, Potter had a disciplinary","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "hearing this summer in front of the whole Wizengamot and he did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "not come out of it looking too good. He got off on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a mere technicality, if you ask me, and many of the people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I've spoken to remain convinced of his guilt. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "may be that you are afraid to sever ties with Potter -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I know that he can be unbalanced and, for all I know,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "violent - but if you have any worries about this, or have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "spotted anything else in Potter's behaviour that is troubling you, I urge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you to speak to Dolores Umbridge, a truly delightful woman who I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "know will be only too happy to advise you. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "This leads me to my other bit of advice. As I have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "hinted above, Dumbledore's regime at Hogwarts may soon be over. Your loyalty,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron, should be not to him, but to the school and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ministry. I am very sorry to hear that, so far, Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "is encountering very little co-operation from staff as she strives to make those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "necessary changes within Hogwarts that the Ministry so ardently desires (although she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "should find this easier from next week - again, see the Daily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Prophet tomorrow!). I shall say only this - a student who shows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "himself willing to help Professor Umbridge now may be very well-placed for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Head Boy ship in a couple of years! I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "am sorry that I was unable to see more of you over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the summer. It pains me to criticise our parents, but I am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "afraid I can no longer live under their roof while they remain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "mixed up with the dangerous crowd around Dumbledore. (If you are writing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to Mother at any point, you might tell her that a certain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Sturgis Podmore, who is a great friend of Dumbledore's, has recently been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "sent to Azkaban for trespass at the Ministry. Perhaps that will open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "their eyes to the kind of petty criminals with whom they are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "currently rubbing shoulders.) I count myself very lucky to have escaped the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "stigma of association with such people - the Minister really could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "be more gracious to me - and I do hope, Ron, that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you will not allow family ties to blind you to the misguided","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "nature of our parents' beliefs and actions, either. I sincerely hope that,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in time, they will realise how mistaken they were and I shall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of course, be ready to accept a full apology when that day","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "comes. Please think over what I have said most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "carefully, particularly the bit about Harry Potter, and congratulations again on becoming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "prefect. Your brother, PercyHarry looked up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "at Ron. 'Well,' he said, trying to sound as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "though he found the whole thing a joke, 'if you want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- er - what is it?' - he checked Percy's letter -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Oh yeah - `sever ties` with me, I swear I won't get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "violent.' 'Give it back,' said Ron, holding out his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "hand. 'He is - ' Ron said jerkily, tearing Percy's letter in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "half 'the world's - ' he tore it into quarters 'biggest -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "' he tore it into eighths 'git.' He threw the pieces into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the fire. 'Come on, we've got to get this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "finished sometime before dawn,' he said briskly to Harry, pulling Professor Sinistra's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "essay back towards him. Hermione was looking at Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "with an odd expression on her face. 'Oh, give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "them here,' she said abruptly. 'What?' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Give them to me, I'll look through them and correct","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "them,' she said. 'Are you serious? Ah, Hermione, you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a life-saver,' said Ron, 'what can I - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'What you can say is, `We promise we'll never leave our homework","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "this late again,` ' she said, holding out both hands for their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "essays, but she looked slightly amused all the same. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Thanks a million, Hermione,' said Harry weakly, passing over his essay and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "sinking back into his armchair, rubbing his eyes. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was now past midnight and the common room was deserted but for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the three of them and Crookshanks. The only sound was that of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Hermione's quill scratching out sentences here and there on their essays and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the ruffle of pages as she checked various facts in the reference","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "books strewn across the table. Harry was exhausted. He also felt an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "odd, sick, empty feeling in his stomach that had nothing to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "with tiredness and everything to do with the letter now curling blackly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in the heart of the fire. He knew that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "half the people inside Hogwarts thought him strange, even mad; he knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that the Daily Prophet had been making snide allusions to him for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "months, but there was something about seeing it written down like that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in Percy's writing, about knowing that Percy was advising Ron to drop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "him and even to tell tales about him to Umbridge, that made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his situation real to him as nothing else had. He had known","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Percy for four years, had stayed in his house during the summer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "holidays, shared a tent with him during the Quidditch World Cup, had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "even been awarded full marks by him in the second task of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Triwizard Tournament last year, yet now, Percy thought him unbalanced and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "possibly violent. And with a surge of sympathy for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his godfather, Harry thought Sirius was probably the only person he knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "who could really understand how he felt at the moment, because Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "was in the same situation. Nearly everyone in the wizarding world thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Sirius a dangerous murderer and a great Voldemort supporter and he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "had to live with that knowledge for fourteen years . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Harry blinked. He had just seen something in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "fire that could not have been there. It had flashed into sight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and vanished immediately. No . . . it could not have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" ". . . he had imagined it because he had been thinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "about Sirius . . . 'OK, write that down,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Hermione said to Ron, pushing his essay and a sheet covered in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "her own writing back to Ron, 'then add this conclusion I've written","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "for you.' 'Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "person I've ever met,' said Ron weakly, 'and if I'm ever rude","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "to you again - ' - I'll know you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "back to normal,' said Hermione. 'Harry, yours is OK except for this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "bit at the end, I think you must have misheard Professor Sinistra,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Europa's covered in ice, not mice - 'Harry?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "had slid off his chair on to his knees and was now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "crouching on the singed and threadbare hearthrug, gazing into the flames. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Er - Harry?' said Ron uncertainly. 'Why are you down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "there?' 'Because I've just seen Sirius's head in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "fire,' said Harry. He spoke quite calmly; after all,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he had seen Sirius's head in this very fire the previous year","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and talked to it, too; nevertheless, he could not be sure that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he had really seen it this time . . . it had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "vanished so quickly . . . 'Sirius's head?' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "repeated. 'You mean like when he wanted to talk to you during","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Triwizard Tournament? But he wouldn't do that now, it would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "too - Sirius!' She gasped, gazing at the fire;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Ron dropped his quill. There in the middle of the dancing flames","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "sat Sirius's head, long dark hair failing around his grinning face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'I was starting to think you'd go to bed before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "everyone else had disappeared,' he said. 'I've been checking every hour.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'You've been popping into the fire every hour?' Harry said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "half-laughing. 'Just for a few seconds to check if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the coast was clear.' 'But what if you'd been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "seen?' said Hermione anxiously. 'Well, I think a girl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- first-year, by the look of her - might've get a glimpse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of me earlier, but don't worry,' Sirius said hastily, as Hermione clapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a hand to her mouth, '] was gone the moment she looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "back at me and I'll bet she just thought I was an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "oddly-shaped log or something.' 'But, Sirius, this is taking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "an awful risk - ' Hermione began. 'You sound","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "like Molly,' said Sirius. This was the only way I could come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "up with of answering Harry's letter without resorting to a code - and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "codes are breakable.' At the mention of Harry's letter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Hermione and Ron both turned to stare at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'You didn't say you'd written to Sirius! said Hermione accusingly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'I forgot,' said Harry, which was perfectly true; his meeting with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Cho in the Owlery had driven everything before it out of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "mind. 'Don't look at me like that, Hermione, there was no way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "anyone would have got secret information out of it, was there, Sirius?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'No, it was very good,' said Sirius, smiling. 'Anyway,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "we'd better be quick, just in case we're disturbed - your scar.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'What about - ?' Ron began, but Hermione interrupted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "him. 'We'll tell you afterwards. Go on, Sirius.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Well, I know it can't be fun when it hurts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "but we don't think its anything to really worry about. It kept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "aching all last year, didn't it?' 'Yeah, and Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said it happened whenever Voldemort was feeling a powerful emotion,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "ignoring, as usual, Ron and Hermione's winces. 'So maybe he was just,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I dunno, really angry or something the night I had that detention.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Well, now he's back it's bound to hurt more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "often,' said Sirius. 'So you don't think it had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "anything to do with Umbridge touching me when I was in detention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "with her?' Harry asked. 'I doubt it,' said Sirius.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'I know her by reputation and I'm sure she's no Death Eater","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- ' 'She's foul enough to be one,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Harry darkly, and Ron and Hermione nodded vigorously in agreement. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Yes, but the world isn't split into good people and Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Eaters,' said Sirius with a wry smile. 'I know she's a nasty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "piece of work, though - you should hear Remus talk about her.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'Does Lupin know her?' asked Harry quickly, remembering Umbridge's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "comments about dangerous half-breeds during her first lesson. 'No,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Sirius, 'but she drafted a bit of anti-werewolf legislation two years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "ago thai makes it almost impossible for him to get a job.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Harry remembered how much shabbier Lupin looked these days","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "and his dislike of Umbridge deepened even further. 'What's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "she got against werewolves?' said Hermione angrily. 'Scared of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "them, I expect,' said Sirius, smiling at her indignation. 'Apparently, she loathes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "part-humans; she campaigned to have merpeople rounded up and tagged last year,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "too. Imagine wasting your time and energy persecuting merpeople when there are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "little toerags like Kreacher on the loose.' Ron laughed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "but Hermione looked upset. 'Sirius!' she said reproachfully. 'Honestly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "if you made a bit of an effort with Kreacher, I'm sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he'd respond. After all, you are the only member of his family","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he's got left, and Professor Dumbledore said - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'So, what are Umbridge's lessons like?' Sirius interrupted. 'Is she training you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "all to kill half-breeds?' 'No,' said Harry, ignoring Hermione's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "affronted look at being cut off in her defence of Kreacher. 'She's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "not letting us use magic at all!' 'All we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "do is read the stupid textbook,' said Ron. 'Ah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "well, that figures,' said Sirius. 'Our information from inside the Ministry is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "that Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat.' 'Trained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in combat!' repeated Harry incredulously. 'What does he think we're doing here,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "forming some sort of wizard army?' That's exactly what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "he thinks you're doing,' said Sirius, 'or, rather, that's exactly what he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "afraid Dumbledore's doing - forming his own private army, with which he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "will be able to take on the Ministry of Magic.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " There was a pause at this, then Ron said, That's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "most stupid thing I've ever heard, including all the stuff that Luna","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Lovegood comes out with.' 'So we're being prevented from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "learning Defence Against the Dark Arts because Fudge is scared we'll use","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "spells against the Ministry?' said Hermione, looking furious. 'Yep,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Sirius. 'Fudge thinks Dumbledore will stop at nothing to seize power.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "He's getting more paranoid about Dumbledore by the day. It's a matter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "of time before he has Dumbledore arrested on some trumped-up charge.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " This reminded Harry of Percy's letter. 'D'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "know if there's going to be anything about Dumbledore in the Daily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "Prophet tomorrow? Ron's brother Percy reckons there will be - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'I don't know,' said Sirius, 'I haven't seer, anyone from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "the Order all weekend, they're all busy. It's just been Kreacher and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "me here There was a definite note of bitterness","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in Sirius's voice. 'So you haven't had any news","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "about Hagrid, either?' 'Ah . . .' said Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'well, he was supposed to be back by now, no one's sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "what's happened to him.' Then, seeing their stricken faces, he added quickly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'But Dumbledore's not worried, so don't you three get yourselves in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "state; I'm sure Hagrid's fine.' 'But if he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "supposed to be back by now . . .' said Hermione in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "a small, anxious voice. 'Madame Maxime was with him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "we've been in touch with her and she says they got separated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "on the journey home - but there's nothing to suggest he's hurt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "or - well, nothing to suggest he's not perfectly OK.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " Unconvinced, Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Listen, don't go asking too many questions about Hagrid,' said Sirius hastily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'it'll just draw even more attention to the fact that he's not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "back and I know Dumbledore doesn't want that. Hagrid's tough, he'll be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "OK.' And when they did not appear cheered by this, Sirius added,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'When's your next Hogsmeade weekend, anyway? I was thinking, we got away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "with the dog disguise at the station, didn't we? I thought I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "could - ' 'NO!' said Harry and Hermione together,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "very loudly. 'Sirius, didn't you see the Daily Prophet?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Hermione anxiously. 'Oh, that,' said Sirius, grinning, 'they're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "always guessing where I am, they haven't really got a clue -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "' 'Yeah, but we think this time they have,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "said Harry. 'Something Malfoy said on the train made us think he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "knew it was you, and his father was on the platform, Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "- you know, Lucius Malfoy - so don't come up here, whatever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "you do. If Malfoy recognises you again - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'All right, all right, I've got the point,' said Sirius. He looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "most displeased. 'Just an idea, thought you might like to get together.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" " 'I would, I just don't want you chucked back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "in Azkaban!' said Harry. There was a pause in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "which Sirius looked out of the fire at Harry, a crease between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "his sunken eyes. 'You're less like your father than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "I thought,' he said finally, a definite coolness in his voice. 'The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "risk would've been what made it fun for James.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "'Look - ' 'Well, I'd better get going, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "can hear Kreacher coming down the stairs,' said Sirius, but Harry was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "sure he was lying. 'I'll write to tell you a time I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "can make it back into the fire, then, shall I? If you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "can stand to risk it?' There was a tiny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "pop, and the place where Sirius's head had been was flickering flame once more.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-14" "The Hogwart's HighInquisitorThey had expected to have to comb Hermione's Daily Prophet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "carefully next morning to find the article Percy had mentioned in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "letter. However, the departing delivery owl had barely cleared the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the milk jug when Hermione let out a huge gasp and flattened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the newspaper to reveal a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and blinking slowly at them from beneath the headline.MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORMDOLORES","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "UMBRIDGE APPOINTEDFIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR'Umbridge - `High Inquisitor`?' said Harry darkly, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "half-eaten piece of toast slipping from his fingers. 'What does that mean?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Hermione read aloud:'In a surprise move last night the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "`The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "time,` said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. `He is now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "responding to concerns, voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "be moving in a direction they do not approve of.` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'This is not the first time in recent weeks that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Minister, Cornelius Fudge, has used new laws to effect improvements at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "wizarding school. As recently as 30th August, Educational Decree Number Twenty-two was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current Headmaster being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "select an appropriate person. ' `That's how Dolores Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,` said Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "last night. `Dumbledore couldn't find anyone so the Minister put in Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and of course, she's been an immediate success - ` ''She's been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a WHAT?' said Harry loudly. 'Wait, there's more,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Hermione grimly.' `- an immediate success, totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "what's really happening at Hogwarts.` 'It is this last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "function that the Ministry has now formalised with the passing of Educational","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Decree Number Twenty-three, which creates the new position of Hogwarts High Inquisitor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " ' `This is an exciting new phase in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "falling standards at Hogwarts,` said Weasley. `The Inquisitor will have powers to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her own teaching post and we are delighted to say that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "has accepted.` 'The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "support from parents of students at Hogwarts. ' `I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "feel much easier in my mind now that I know Dumbledore is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,` said Mr Lucius Malfoy, 41,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night. `Many of us with our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "eccentric decisions in the last few years and are glad to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Among those eccentric decisions are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "described in this newspaper, which have included the employment of werewolf Remus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Lupin, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid and delusional ex-Auror, `Mad-Eye` Moody. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Rumours abound, of course, that Albus Dumbledore, once Supreme Mugwump of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, is no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "longer up to the task of managing the prestigious school of Hogwarts.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " ' `I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a first step towards ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "we can all repose our confidence,` said a Ministry insider last night.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden have resigned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " ' `Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Cornelius Fudge's office,` said Madam Marchbanks. `This is a further, disgusting attempt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to discredit Albus Dumbledore.` '(For a full account of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Madam Marchbanks's alleged links to subversive goblin groups, turn to page seventeen.)'Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "finished reading and looked across the table at the other two. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Fudge passed this `Educational Decree` and forced her on us! And now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "he's given her the power to inspect the other teachers!' Hermione was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "breathing fast and her eyes were very bright. 'I can't believe this.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "It's outrageous!' 'I know it is,' said Harry. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "looked down at his right hand, clenched on the table-top, and saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the faint white outline of the words Umbridge had forced him to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "cut into his skin. But a grin was unfurling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "on Ron's face. 'What?' said Harry and Hermione together,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "staring at him. 'Oh, I can't wait to see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "McGonagall inspected,' said Ron happily. 'Umbridge won't know what's hit her.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Well, come on,' said Hermione, jumping up, 'we'd better get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "going, if she's inspecting Binns's class we don't want to be late","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ". . .' But Professor Umbridge was not inspecting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "their History of Magic lesson, which was just as dull as the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "previous Monday, nor was she in Snape's dungeon when they arrived for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "double Potions, where Harry's moonstone essay was handed back to him with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a large, spiky black 'D' scrawled in an upper corner. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'I have awarded you the grades you would have received if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you presented this work in your OWL,' said Snape with a smirk,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "as he swept among them, passing back their homework. 'This should give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you a realistic idea of what to expect in the examination.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Snape reached the front of the class and turned on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "his heel to face them. The general standard of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "been your examination. I expect to see a great deal more effort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "for this week's essay on the various varieties of venom antidotes, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "I shall have to start handing out detentions to those dunces who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "get a `D`.' He smirked as Malfoy sniggered and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said in a carrying whisper, 'Some people got a `D`? Ha!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Harry realised that Hermione was looking sideways to see what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "grade he had received; he slid his moonstone essay back into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "bag as quickly as possible, feeling that he would rather keep that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "information private. Determined not to give Snape an excuse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to tail him this lesson, Harry read and reread every line of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "instructions on the blackboard at least three times before acting on them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "His Strengthening Solution was not precisely the clear turquoise shade of Hermione's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "but it was at least blue rather than pink, like Neville's, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "he delivered a flask of it to Snape's desk at the end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of the lesson with a feeling of mingled defiance and relief. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Well, that wasn't as bad as last week, was it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said Hermione, as they climbed the steps out of the dungeon and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "made their way across the Entrance Hall towards lunch. 'And the homework","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "didn't go too badly, either, did it?' When neither","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Ron nor Harry answered, she pressed on, 'I mean, all right, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "didn't expect the top grade, not if he's marking to OWL standard,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "but a pass is quite encouraging at this stage, wouldn't you say?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Harry made a non-committal noise in his throat. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Of course, a lot can happen between now and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "exam, we've got plenty of time to improve, but the grades we're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "getting now are a sort of baseline, aren't they? Something we can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "build on . . .' They sat down together","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "at the Gryffindor table. 'Obviously, I'd have been thrilled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "if I'd got an `O` - ' 'Hermione,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Ron sharply, 'if you want to know what grades we got, ask.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'I don't - I didn't mean - well, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you want to tell me - ' 'I got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a `P`,' said Ron, ladling soup into his bowl. 'Happy?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Well, that's nothing to be ashamed of,' said Fred, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "just arrived at the table with George and Lee Jordan and was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "sitting down on Harry's right. 'Nothing wrong with a good healthy `P`.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'But,' said Hermione, 'doesn't `P` stand for . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ".' '`Poor`, yeah,' said Lee Jordan. 'Still, better than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "`D`, isn't it? 'Dreadful`?' Harry felt his face grow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "warm and faked a small coughing fit over his roll. When he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "emerged from this he was sorry to find that Hermione was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in full flow about OWL grades. 'So top grade's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "`O` for `Outstanding`,' she was saying, 'and then there's `A` - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'No, `E`,' George corrected her, '`E` for `Exceeds Expectations`.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "And I've always thought Fred and I should've got `E` in everything,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "because we exceeded expectations just by turning up for the exams.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " They all laughed except Hermione, who ploughed on, 'So, after `E`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "it's `A` for `Acceptable`, and that's the last pass grade, isn't it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Yep,' said Fred, dunking an entire roll in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "soup, transferring it to his mouth and swallowing it whole. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Then you get `P` for `Poor`- ' Ron raised both his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "arms in mock celebration - 'and `D` for `Dreadful`. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'And then `T`,' George reminded her. '`T`?' asked Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "looking appalled. 'Even lower than a `D`? What on earth does `T`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "stand for?' '`Troll`,' said George promptly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Harry laughed again, though he was not sure whether or not George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "was joking. He imagined trying to conceal from Hermione I hat he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "had received 'T's in all his OWLs and immediately resolved to work","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "harder from now on. 'You lot had an inspected","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "lesson yet?' Fred asked them. 'No,' said Hermione at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "once. 'Have you?' 'Just now, before lunch,' said George.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Charms.' 'What was it like?' Harry and Hermione asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "together. Fred shrugged. 'Not that bad.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Umbridge just lurked in the corner making notes on a clipboard. You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "know what Flitwick's like, he treated her like a guest, didn't seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to bother him at all. She didn't say much. Asked Alicia a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "couple of questions about what the classes are normally like, Alicia told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her they were really good, that was it.' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "can't see old Flitwick getting marked down,' said George, 'he usually gets","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "everyone through their exams all right.' 'Who've you got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "this afternoon?' Fred asked Harry. Trelawney - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'A `T` if ever I saw one.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "' - and Umbridge herself.' 'Well, be a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "boy and keep your temper with Umbridge today,' said George. 'Angelina'll do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her nut if you miss any more Quidditch practices.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "But Harry did not have to wait for Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Arts to meet Professor Umbridge. He was pulling out his dream diary","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in a seat at the very back of the shadowy Divination room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "when Ron elbowed him in the ribs and, looking round, he saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor Umbridge emerging through the trapdoor in the floor. The class, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "had been talking cheerily, fell silent at once. The abrupt fall in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the noise level made Professor Trelawney, who had been wafting about handing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "out copies of The Dream Oracle, look round. 'Good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "afternoon, Professor Trelawney,' said Professor Umbridge with her wide smile. `You received","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "my note, I trust? Giving the time and date of your inspection?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Professor Trelawney nodded curtly and, looking very disgruntled, turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her back on Professor Umbridge and continued to give out books. Still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "smiling, Professor Umbridge grasped the back of the nearest armchair and pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "it to the front of the class so that it was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "few inches behind Professor Trelawney's seat. She then sat down, took her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "clipboard from her flowery bag and looked up expectantly, waiting for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "class to begin. Professor Trelawney pulled her shawls tight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "about her with slightly trembling hands and surveyed the class through her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "hugely magnifying lenses. 'We shall be continuing our study","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of prophetic dreams today,' she said in a brave attempt at her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "usual mystic tones, though her voice shook slightly. 'Divide into pairs, please,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and interpret each others latest night-time visions with the aid of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Oracle.' She made as though to sweep back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her seat, saw Professor Umbridge sitting right beside it, and immediately veered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "left towards Parvati and Lavender, who were already deep in discussion about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Parvati's most recent dream. Harry opened his copy of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "The Dream Oracle, watching Umbridge covertly. She was already making notes on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her clipboard. After a few minutes she got to her feet and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "began to pace the room in `Trelawney's wake, listening to her conversations","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "with students and posing questions here and there. Harry bent his head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "hurriedly over his book. Think of a dream, quick,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "he told Ron, 'in case the old toad comes our way.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'I did it last time,' Ron protested, 'it's your turn,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you tell me one.' 'Oh, I dunno . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ".' said Harry desperately, who could not remember dreaming anything at all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "over the last few days. 'Let's say I dreamed I was .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ". . drowning Snape in my cauldron. Yeah, that'll do . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ".' Ron chortled as he opened his Dream Oracle.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'OK, we've got to add your age to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "date you had the dream, the number of letters in the subject","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ". . . would that be `drowning` or `cauldron` or `Snape`?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'It doesn't matter, pick any of them.' said Harry, chancing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a glance behind him. Professor Umbridge was now standing at Professor Trelawney's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "shoulder making notes while the Divination teacher questioned Neville about his dream","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "diary. 'What night did you dream this again?' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said, immersed in calculations. 'I dunno, last night, whenever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you like,' Harry told him, trying to listen to what Umbridge was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "saying to Professor Trelawney. They were only a table away from him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and Ron now. Professor Umbridge was making another note on her clipboard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and Professor Trelawney was looking extremely put out. 'Now,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said Umbridge, looking up at Trelawney, 'you've been in this post how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "long, exactly?' Professor Trelawney scowled at her, arms crossed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and shoulders hunched as though wishing to protect herself as much as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "possible from the indignity of the inspection. After a slight pause in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "which she seemed to decide that the question was not so offensive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that she could reasonably ignore it, she said in a deeply resentful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "tone, 'Nearly sixteen years.' 'Quite a period,' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Umbridge, making a note on her clipboard. 'So it was Professor Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "who appointed you?' That's right,' said Professor Trelawney shortly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Professor Umbridge made another note. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Yes,' said Professor Trelawney, holding her head a little higher. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Another note on the clipboard. 'But I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "think - correct me if I am mistaken - that you are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the first in your family since Cassandra to be possessed of Second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Sight?' These things often skip - er - three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "generations,' said Professor Trelawney. Professor Umbridge's toadlike smile widened.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Of course,' she said sweetly, making yet another note.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Well, if you could just predict something for me, then?' And she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "looked up enquiringly, still smiling. Professor Trelawney stiffened as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "though unable to believe her ears. 'I don't understand you,' she said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "clutching convulsively at the shawl around her scrawny neck. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'I'd like you to make a prediction for me,' said Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "very clearly. Harry and Ron were not the only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "people now watching and listening sneakily from behind their books. Most of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the class were staring transfixed at Professor Trelawney as she drew herself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "up to her lull height, her beads and bangles clinking. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " The Inner Eye does not See upon command!' she said in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "scandalised tones. 'I see,' said Professor Umbridge softly, making","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "yet another note on her clipboard. 'I - but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "- but . . . wait!' said Professor Trelawney suddenly, in an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "attempt at her usual ethereal voice, though the mystical effect was ruined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "somewhat by the way it was shaking with anger. 'I . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ". I think I do see something . . . something that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "concerns you . . . why, I sense something . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "something dark . . . some grave peril . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Professor Trelawney pointed a shaking finger at Professor Umbridge who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "continued to smile blandly at her, eyebrows raised. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "am afraid . . . I am afraid that you are in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "grave danger!' Professor Trelawney finished dramatically. There was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "pause. Professor Umbridge surveyed Professor Trelawney. 'Right,' she said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "softly, scribbling on her clipboard once more. 'Well, if that's really the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "best you can do . . .' She turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "away, leaving Professor Trelawney standing rooted to the spot, her chest heaving.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Harry caught Ron's eye and knew that Ron was thinking exactly the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "same as he was: they both knew that Professor Trelawney was an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "old fraud, but on the other hand, they loathed Umbridge so much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that they felt very much on Trelawney's side - until she swooped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "down on them a few seconds later, that is. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Well?' she said, snapping her long fingers under Harry's nose, uncharacteristically brisk.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Let me see the start you've made on your dream diary, please.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " And by the time she had interpreted Harry's dreams at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the top of her voice (all of which, even the ones that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "involved eating porridge, apparently foretold a gruesome and early death), he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "feeling much less sympathetic towards her. All the while, Professor Umbridge stood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a few feet away, making notes on that clipboard, and when the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "bell rang she descended the silver ladder first and was waiting for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "them all when they reached their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "ten minutes later. She was humming and smiling to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "herself when they entered the room. Harry and Ron told Hermione, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "had been in Arithmancy, exactly what had happened in Divination while they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "all took out their copies of Defensive Magical Theory, but before Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "could ask any questions Professor Umbridge had called them all to order","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and silence fell. 'Wands away,' she instructed them all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "with a smile, and those people who had been hopeful enough to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "take them out, sadly returned them to their bags. 'As we finished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Chapter One last lesson, I would like you all to turn to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "page nineteen today and commence `Chapter Two, Common Defensive Theories and their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Derivation`. There will be no need to talk.' Still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "smiling her wide, self-satisfied smile, she sat down at her desk. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "class gave an audible sigh as it turned, as one, to page","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "nineteen. Harry wondered dully whether there were enough chapters in the book","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to keep them reading through all this years lessons and was on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the point of checking the contents page when he noticed that Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "had her hand in the air again. Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "had noticed, too, and what was more, she seemed to have worked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "out a strategy for just such an eventuality. Instead of trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "pretend she had not noticed Hermione she got to her feet and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "walked around the front row of desks until they were face to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "face, then she bent down and whispered, so that the rest of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the class could not hear, 'What is it this time, Miss Granger?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'I've already read Chapter Two,' said Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Well then, proceed to Chapter Three.' 'I've read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that too. I've read the whole book.' Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "blinked but recovered her poise almost instantly. 'Well, then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you should be able to tell me what Slinkhard says about counter-jinxes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in Chapter Fifteen.' 'He says that counter-jinxes are improperly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "named,' said Hermione promptly. 'He says `counter-jinx` is just a name people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows and Harry knew she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "was impressed, against her will. 'But I disagree,' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "continued. Professor Umbridge's eyebrows rose a little higher and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her gaze became distinctly colder. 'You disagree?' she repeated.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Yes, I do,' said Hermione, who, unlike Umbridge, was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "not whispering, but speaking in a clear, carrying voice that had by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "now attracted the attention of the rest of the class. 'Mr Slinkhard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "doesn't like jinxes, does he? But I think they can be very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "useful when they're used defensively.' 'Oh, you do, do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you?' said Professor Umbridge, forgetting to whisper and straightening up. 'Well, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "afraid it is Mr Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "this classroom, Miss Granger.' 'But - ' Hermione began.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " That is enough,' said Professor Umbridge. She walked back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to the front of the class and stood before them, all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "jauntiness she had shown at the beginning of the lesson gone. 'Miss","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Granger, I am going to take five points from Gryffindor house.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " There was an outbreak of muttering at this. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'What for?' said Harry angrily. 'Don't you get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "involved!' Hermione whispered urgently to him. 'For disrupting my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "class with pointless interruptions,' said Professor Umbridge smoothly. 'I am here to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "teach you using a Ministry-approved method that does not include inviting students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to give their opinions on matters about which they understand very little.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Your previous teachers in this subject may have allowed you more licence,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "but as none of them - with the possible exception of Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Quirrell, who did at least appear to have restricted himself to age-appropriate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "subjects - would have passed a Ministry inspection - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher,' said Harry loudly, 'there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the back of his head.' This pronouncement was followed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "by one of the loudest silences Harry had ever heard. Then -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'I think another week's detentions would do you some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "good, Mr Potter,' said Umbridge sleekly.*The cut on the back of Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "hand had barely healed and, by the following morning, it was bleeding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "again. He did not complain during the evening's detention; he was determined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "not to give Umbridge the satisfaction; over and over again he wrote","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "I must not tell lies and not a sound escaped his lips,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "though the cut deepened with every letter. The very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "worst part of this second week's worth of detentions v/as, just as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "George had predicted, Angslina's reaction. She cornered him just as he arrived","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "at the Gryffindor table for breakfast on Tuesday and shouted so loudly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that Professor McGonagall came sweeping down upon the pair of them from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the staff table. 'Miss Johnson, how dare you make","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "such a racket in the Great Hall! Five points from Gryffindor!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'But Professor - he's gone and landed himself in detention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "again - ' 'What's this, Potter?' said Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "sharply, rounding on Harry. 'Detention? From whom?' 'From Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Umbridge,' muttered Harry, not meeting Professor McGonagall's beady, square-framed eyes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Are you telling me,' she said, lowering her voice so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the group of curious Ravenclaws behind them could not hear, that after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the warning I gave you last Monday you lost your temper in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor Umbridge's class again?' 'Yes,' Harry muttered, speaking to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the floor. 'Potter, you must get a grip on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "yourself! You are heading for serious trouble! Another five points from Gryffindor!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'But - what - '? Professor, no!' Harry said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "furious at this injustice, 'I'm already being punished by her, why do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you have to take points as well?' 'Because detentions","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "do not appear to have any effect on you whatsoever!' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "McGonagall tartly. 'No, not another word of complaint, Potter! And as for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you, Miss Johnson, you will confine your shouting matches to the Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "pitch in future or risk losing the team captaincy!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor McGonagall strode back towards the staff table. Angelina gave Harry a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "look of deepest disgust and stalked away, upon which he flung himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "on to the bench beside Ron, fuming. 'She's taken","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "points off Gryffindor because I'm having my hand sliced open every night!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "How is that fair, how?' 'I know, mate,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Ron sympathetically, tipping bacon on to Harry's plate, 'she's bang out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "order.' Hermione, however, merely rustled the pages of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Daily Prophet and said nothing. 'You think McGonagall was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "right, do you?' said Harry angrily to the picture of Cornelius Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "obscuring Hermione's face. 'I wish she hadn't taken points","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "from you, but I think she's right to warn you not to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "lose your temper with Umbridge,' said Hermione's voice, while Fudge gesticulated forcefully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "from the front page, clearly giving some kind of speech. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Harry did not speak to Hermione all through Charms, but when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "they entered Transfiguration he forgot about being cross with her. Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and her clipboard were sitting in a corner and the sight of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "her drove the memory of breakfast right out of his head. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Excellent,' whispered Ron, as they sat down in their usual","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "seats. 'Let's see Umbridge get what she deserves.' Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "McGonagall marched into the room without giving the slightest indication that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "knew Professor Umbridge was there. That will do,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said and silence fell immediately. 'Mr Finnigan, kindly come here and hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "back the homework - Miss Brown, please take this box of mice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "- don't be silly, girl, they won't hurt you - and hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "one to each student - ' 'Hem, hem,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor Umbridge, employing the same silly little cough she had used to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "interrupt Dumbledore on the first night of term. Professor McGonagall ignored her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Seamus handed back Harry's essay; Harry took it without looking at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and saw, to his relief, that he had managed an 'A'. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Right then, everyone, listen closely - Dean Thomas, if you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "do that to the mouse again I shall put you in detention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "- most of you have now successfully Vanished your snails and even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "those who were left with a certain amount of shell have got the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "gist of the spell. Today, we shall be - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Hem, hem,' said Professor Umbridge. 'Yes?' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "McGonagall, turning round, her eyebrows so close together they seemed to form","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "one long, severe line. 'I was just wondering, Professor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "whether you received my note telling you of the date and time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of your inspec - ' 'Obviously I received it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "or I would have asked you what you are doing in my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "classroom,' said Professor McGonagall, turning her back firmly on Professor Umbridge. Many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of the students exchanged looks of glee. 'As I was saying: today,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "we shall be practising the altogether more difficult Vanishment of mice. Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the Vanishing Spell - ' 'Hem, hem.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'I wonder,' said Professor McGonagall in cold fury, turning on Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Umbridge, 'how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "generally permit people to talk when I am talking.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor Umbridge looked as though she had just been slapped in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "face. She did not speak, but straightened the parchment on her clipboard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and began scribbling furiously. Looking supremely unconcerned, Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "addressed the class once more. 'As I was saying:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the Vanishing Spell becomes more difficult with the complexity of the animal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to be Vanished. The snail, as an invertebrate, does not present much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of a challenge; the mouse, as a mammal, offers a. much greater","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "one. This is not, therefore, magic you can accomplish with your mind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "on your dinner. So - you know the incantation, let me see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "what you can do . . .' 'How she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "can lecture me about not losing my temper with Umbridge!' Harry muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to Ron under his breath, but he was grinning - his anger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "with Professor McGonagall had quite evaporated. Professor Umbridge did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "not follow Professor McGonagall around the class as she had followed Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Trelawney; perhaps she realised Professor McGonagall would not permit it. She did,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "however, take many more notes while sitting in her corner, and when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor McGonagall finally told them all to pack away, she rose with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a grim expression on her face. 'Well, it's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "start,' said Ron, holding up a long wriggling mouse-tail and dropping it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "back into the box Lavender was passing around. As","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "they filed out of the classroom, Harry saw Professor Umbndge approach the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "teachers desk; he nudged Ron, who nudged Hermione in turn, and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "three of them deliberately fell back to eavesdrop. 'How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "long have you been teaching at Hogwarts? Professor Umbridge asked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Thirty-nine years this December,' said Professor McGonagall brusquely, snapping her bag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "shut. Professor Umbridge made a note. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Very well,' she said, 'you will receive the results of your inspection","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in ten days' time. 'I can hardly wait,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor McGonagall, in a coldly indifferent voice, and she strode off towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the door. 'Hurry up, you three,' she added, sweeping Harry, Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Hermione before her. Harry could not help giving her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a faint smile and could have sworn he received one in return.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " He had thought that the next time he would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "see Umbridge would be in his detention that evening, but he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "wrong. When they walked down the lawns towards the Forest for Care","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of Magical Creatures, they found her and her clipboard waiting for them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "beside Professor Grubbly-Plank. 'You do not usually take this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "class, is that correct?' Harry heard her ask as they arrived at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the trestle table where the group of captive Bowtruckles were scrabbling around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "for woodlice like so many living twigs. 'Quite correct,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said Professor Grubbly-Plank, hands behind her back and bouncing on the balls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of her feet. 'I am a substitute teacher standing in for Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Hagrid.' Harry exchanged uneasy looks with Ron and Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Malfoy was whispering with Crabbe and Goyle; he would surely love this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "opportunity to tell tales on Hagrid to a member of the Ministry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Hmm,' said Professor Umbridge, dropping her voice, though Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "could still hear her quite clearly. 'I wonder - the Headmaster seems","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter - can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's very extended leave of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "absence?' Harry saw Malfoy look up eagerly and watch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Umbridge and Grubbly-Plank closely. ' 'Fraid I can't,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor Grubbly-Plank breezily. 'Don't know anything more about it than you do.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple of weeks'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "teaching, work. I accepted. That's as much as I know. Well .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ". . shall I get started then?' 'Yes, please","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "do,' said Professor Umbridge, scribbling on her clipboard. Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "took a different tack in this class and wandered amongst the students,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "questioning them on magical creatures. Most people were able to answer well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and Harry's spirits lifted somewhat; at least the class was not letting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Hagrid down. 'Overall,' said Professor Umbridge, returning to Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Grubbly-Plank's side after a lengthy interrogation of Dean Thomas, 'how do you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "as a temporary member of staff- an objective outsider, ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "I suppose you might say - how do you find Hogwarts? Do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you feel you receive enough support from the school management?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Oh, yes, Dumbledore's excellent,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank heartily. 'Yes, I'm very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Looking politely incredulous, Umbridge made a tiny note on her clipboard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and went on, 'And what are you planning to cover with this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "class this year - assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "return?' 'Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "most often come up in OWL,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank. 'Not much left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to do - they've studied unicorns and Nifflers, I thought we'd cover","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Porlocks and Kneazles, make sure they can recognise Crups and Knarls, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "know . . .' 'Well, you seem to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "what you're doing, at any rate,' said Professor Umbridge, making a very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "obvious tick on her clipboard. Harry did not like the emphasis she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "put on 'you' and liked it even less when she put her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "next question to Goyle. 'Now, I hear there have been injuries in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "this class?' Goyle gave a stupid grin. Malfoy hastened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to answer the question. That was me,' he said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'I was slashed by a Hippogriff.' 'A Hippogriff?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Professor Umbridge, now scribbling frantically. 'Only because he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "too stupid to listen to what Hagrid told him to do,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Harry angrily. Both Ron and Hermione groaned. Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "turned her head slowly in Harry's direction. 'Another night's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "detention, I think,' she said softly. 'Well, thank you very much, Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the results of your inspection within ten days.' 'Jolly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "good,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, and Professor Umbridge set off back across the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "lawn to the castle.*It was nearly midnight when Harry left Umbridge's office","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that night, his hand now bleeding so severely that it was staining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the scarf he had wrapped around it. He expected the common room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to be empty when he returned, but Ron and Hermione had sat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "up waiting for him. He was pleased to see them, especially as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Hermione was disposed to be sympathetic rather than critical. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Here,' she said anxiously, pushing a small bowl of yellow liquid towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "him, 'soak your hand in that, it's a solution of strained and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "pickled Murtlap tentacles, it should help.' Harry placed his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "bleeding, aching hand into the bowl and experienced a wonderful feeling of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "relief. Crookshanks curled around his legs, purring loudly, then leapt into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "lap and settled down. Thanks,' he said gratefully, scratching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "behind Crookshanks's ears with his left hand. 'I still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "reckon you should complain about this,' said Ron in a low voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'No,' said Harry flatly. 'McGonagall would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "go nuts if she knew - ' 'Yeah, she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "probably would,' said Harry dully. 'And how long do you reckon it'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "take Umbridge to pass another decree saying anyone who complains about the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "High Inquisitor gets sacked immediately?' Ron opened his mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "to retort but nothing came out and, after a moment, he closed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "it again, defeated. 'She's an awful woman,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in a small voice. 'Awful. You know, I was just saying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Ron when you came in . . . we've got to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "something about her.' 'I suggested poison,' said Ron grimly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'No . . . I mean, something about what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Defence from her at all,' said Hermione. 'Well, what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "can we do about that?' said Ron, yawning. `S too late, isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "it? She's got the job, she's here to stay. Fudge'll make sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of that.' 'Well,' said Hermione tentatively. 'You know, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "was thinking today . . .' she shot a slightly nervous look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "at Harry and then plunged on, 'I was thinking that - maybe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the time's come when we should just - just do it ourselves.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Do what ourselves?' said Harry suspiciously, still floating his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "hand in the essence of Murtlap tentacles. 'Well -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "learn Defence Against the Dark Arts ourselves, said Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Come off it,' groaned Ron. 'You want us to do extra work?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "D'you realise Harry and I are behind on homework again and it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "only the second week?' 'But this is much more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "important than homework!' said Hermione. Harry and Ron goggled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "at her. 'I didn't think there was anything in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the universe more important than homework!' said Ron. 'Don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "be silly, of course there is,' said Hermione, and Harry saw, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "an ominous feeling, that her face was suddenly alight with the kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "of fervour that SPEW usually inspired in her. 'It's about preparing ourselves,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "like Harry said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting for us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "out there. It's about making sure we really can defend ourselves. If","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "we don't learn anything for a whole year - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'We can't do much by ourselves,' said Ron in a defeated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "voice. 'I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in the library and try and practise them, I suppose - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "we can just learn things out of books,' said Hermione. 'We need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the spells and correct us if we're going wrong.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'If you're talking about Lupin . . .' Harry began. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'No, no, I'm not talking about Lupin,' said Hermione. 'He's too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "busy with the Order and, anyway, the most we could see him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "is during Hogsmeade weekends and that's not nearly often enough.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Who, then?' said Harry, frowning at her. Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "heaved a very deep sigh. 'Isn't it obvious?' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said. 'I'm talking about you, Harry.' There was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "moment's silence. A light night breeze rattled the windowpanes behind Ron, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the fire guttered. 'About me what?' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'I'm talking about you teaching us Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Arts.' Harry stared at her. Then he turned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Ron, ready to exchange the exasperated looks they sometimes shared when Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "elaborated on far-fetched schemes like SPEW. To Harry's consternation, however, Ron did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "not look exasperated. He was frowning slightly, apparently thinking.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Then he said, 'That's an idea.' 'What's an idea?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said Harry. 'You,' said Ron. Teaching us to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "it.' 'But . . .' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "was grinning now, sure the pair of them were pulling his leg.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'But I'm not a teacher, I can't - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Harry, you're the best in the year at Defence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Against the Dark Arts,' said Hermione. 'Me?' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "now grinning more broadly than ever. 'No I'm rot, you've beaten me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "in every test - ' 'Actually I haven't,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Hermione coolly. 'You beat me in our turd year - the only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "year we both sat the test and had a teacher who actually","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "knew the subject. But I'm not talking about test results, Harry. Think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "what you've clone!' 'How d'you mean?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'You know what, I'm not sure I want someone this stupid teaching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "me,' Ron said to Hermione, smirking slightly. He turned to Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Let's think,' he said, pulling a face like Goyle concentrating.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'Uh . . . first year - you saved the Philosopher's Stone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "from You-Know-Who.' 'But that was luck,' said Harry, 'it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "wasn't skill - ' 'Second year,' Ron interrupted, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "killed the Basilisk and destroyed Riddle.' 'Yeah, but if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Fawkes hadn't turned up, I - ' Third year,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said Ron, louder still, 'you fought off about a hundred Dementors at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "once - ' 'You know that was a fluke,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "if the Time-Turner hadn't - ' 'Last year,' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "said, almost shouting now, 'you fought off You-know-Who again - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Listen to me!' said Harry, almost angrily, because Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Hermione were both smirking now. 'Just listen to me, all right? It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "was luck - I didn't know what I was doing half the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "time, I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "could think of, and I nearly always had help - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Ron and Hermione were still smirking and Harry felt his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "temper rise; he wasn't even sure why he was feeling so angry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Don't sit there grinning like you know better than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "I do, I was there, wasn't I?' he said heatedly. 'I know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "what went on, all right? And I didn't get through any of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that because I was brilliant at Defence Against the Dark Arts, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "got through it all because - because help came at the right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "time, or because I guessed right - but I just blundered through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "it all, I didn't have a clue what I was doing -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'STOP LAUGHING!' The bowl of Murtlap essence fell to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "the floor and smashed. He became aware that he was on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "feet, though he couldn't remember standing up. Crookshanks streaked away under a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "sofa. Ron and Hermione's smiles had vanished. 'You don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "know what it's like! You - neither of you - you've never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "had to face him, have you? You think it's just memorising a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you're in class","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "or something? The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "you and dying except your own - your own brain or guts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "or whatever - 'like you can think straight when you know you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "about a nanosecond from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "die - 'they've never taught us that in their classes, what it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "like to deal with things like that - and you two sit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up - you just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "don't get it, that could just as easily have been me, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "would have been if Voldemort hadn't needed me -' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "'We weren't saying anything like that, mate,' said Ron, looking aghast. 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "weren't having a go at Diggory, we didn't - you've got the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "wrong end of the - ' He looked helplessly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "at Hermione, whose face was stricken. 'Harry,' she said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "timidly, 'don't you see? This . . . this is exactly why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "we need you . . . we need to know what it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "r-really like . . . facing him . . . facing V-Voldemort.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " It was the first time she had ever said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Voldemort's name and it was this, more than anything else, that calmed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "Harry. Still breathing hard, he sank back into his chair, becoming aware","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "as he did so that his hand was throbbing horribly again. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "wished he had not smashed the bowl of Murtlap essence ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Well . . . think about it,' said Hermione quietly. 'Please?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " Harry could not think of anything to say. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "was feeling ashamed of his outburst already. He nodded, hardly aware of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "what he was agreeing to. Hermione stood up. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Well, I'm off to bed,' she said, in a voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "that was clearly as natural as she could make it. 'Erm .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" ". . night.' Ron had got to his feet,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "too. 'Coming?' he said awkwardly to Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" " 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'In . . . in a minute. I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "just clear this up.' He indicated the smashed bowl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "on the floor. Ron nodded and left. 'Reparo,' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "muttered, pointing his wand at the broken pieces of china. They flew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "back together, good as new, but there was no returning the Murtlap","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "essence to the bowl. He was suddenly so tired","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "he was tempted to sink back into his armchair and sleep there,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "but instead he forced himself to his feet and followed Ron upstairs.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "His restless night was punctuated once more by dreams of long corridors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "and locked doors and he awoke next day with his scar prickling again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-15" "In the Hog's HeadHermione made no mention of Harry giving Defence Against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the Dark Arts lessons for two whole weeks after her original suggestion.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry's detentions with Umbridge were finally over (he doubted whether the words","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "now etched into the back of his hand would ever fade entirely);","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ron had had four more Quidditch practices and not been shouted at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "during the last two; and all three of them had managed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Vanish their mice in Transfiguration (Hermione had actually progressed to Vanishing kittens),","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "before the subject was broached again, on a wild, blustery evening at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the end of September, when the three of them were sitting in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the library, looking up potion ingredients for Snape. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "was wondering,' Hermione said suddenly, 'whether you'd thought any more about Defence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Against the Dark Arts, Harry.' 'Course I have,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry grumpily, 'can't forget it, can we, with that hag teaching us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- ' 'I meant the idea Ron and I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "had - ' Ron cast her an alarmed, threatening kind of look.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "She frowned at him, '- Oh, all right, the idea I had,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "then - about you teaching us.' Harry did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "answer at once. He pretended to be perusing a page of Asiatic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Anti-Venoms, because he did not want to say what was in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "mind. He had given the matter a great deal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of thought over the past fortnight. Sometimes it seemed an insane idea,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "just as it had on the night Hermione had proposed it, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "at others, he had found himself thinking about the spells that had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "served him best in his various encounters with Dark creatures and Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Eaters - found himself, in fact, subconsciously planning lessons . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Well,' he said slowly, when he could no longer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "pretend to find Asiatic Anti-Venoms interesting, 'yeah, I - I've thought about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "it a bit.' 'And?' said Hermione eagerly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'I dunno,' said Harry, playing for time. He looked up at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ron. 'I thought it was a good idea from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the start,' said Ron, who seemed keener to join in this conversation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "now that he was sure Harry was not going to start shouting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "again. Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'You did listen to what I said about a load of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "it being luck, didn't you?' 'Yes, Harry,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "gently, 'but all the same, there's no point pretending that you're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "completely, you can produce a Patronus, you can do all sorts of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " Ron looked round at her so fast he appeared to crick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "his neck. Rubbing it, he said, 'Yeah? What did Vicky say?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Ho ho,' said Hermione in a bored voice. 'He said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "in the final year at Durmstrang.' Ron was looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "at Hermione suspiciously. 'You're not still in contact with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "him, are you?' 'So what if I am.?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Hermione coolly, though her face was a little pink. 'I can have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a pen-pal if I - ' 'He didn't only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "want to be your pen-pal,' said Ron accusingly. Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "shook her head exasperatedly and, ignoring Ron, who was continuing to watch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "her, said to Harry, 'Well, what do you think? Will you teach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "us?' 'Just you and Ron, yeah?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'Well,' said Hermione, looking a mite anxious again. 'Well . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "now, don't fly off the handle again, Harry, please . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "but I really think you ought to teach anyone who wants to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "learn. I mean, we're talking about defending ourselves against V-Voldemort. Oh, don't be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "pathetic, Ron. It doesn't seem fair if we don't offer the chance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to other people.' Harry considered this for a moment,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "then said, 'Yeah, but I doubt anyone except you two would want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to be taught by me. I'm a nutter, remember?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'Well, I think you might be surprised how many people would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "interested in hearing what you've got to say,' said Hermione seriously. 'Look,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "she leaned towards him - Ron, who was still watching her with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a frown on his face, leaned forwards to listen too - 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "know the first weekend in October's a Hogsmeade weekend? How would it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "be if we tell anyone who's interested to meet us in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "village and we can talk it over?' 'Why do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "we have to do it outside school?' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'Because,' said Hermione, returning to the diagram of the Chinese Chomping Cabbage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "she was copying, 'I don't think Umbridge would be very happy if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "she found out what we were up to.'*Harry had been looking forward","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to the weekend trip into Hogsmeade, but there was one thing worrying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "him. Sirius had maintained a stony silence since he had appeared in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the fire at the beginning of September; Harry knew they had made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "him angry by saying they didn't want him to come - but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he still worried from time to time that Sirius might throw caution","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to the winds and turn up anyway. What were they going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "do if the great black dog came bounding up the street towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "them in Hogsmeade, perhaps under the nose of Draco Malfoy? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Well, you can't blame him for wanting to get out and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "about,' said Ron, when Harry discussed his fears with him and Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'I mean, he's been on the run for over two years, hasn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he, and I know that can't have been a laugh, but at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "least he was free, wasn't he? And now he's just shut up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "all the time with that ghastly elf.' Hermione scowled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "at Ron, but otherwise ignored the slight on Kreacher. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "The trouble is,' she said to Harry, 'until V-Voldemort - oh, for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "heaven's sake, Ron - comes out into the open, Sirius is going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to have to stay hidden, isn't he? I mean, the stupid Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "isn't going to realise Sirius is innocent until they accept that Dumbledore's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "been telling the truth about him all along. And once the fools","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "start catching real Death Eaters again, it'll be obvious Sirius isn't one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". . . I mean, he hasn't got the Mark, for one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "thing.' 'I don't reckon he'd be stupid enough to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "turn up,' said Ron bracingly. 'Dumbledore'd go mad if he did and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Sirius listens to Dumbledore even if he doesn't like what he hears.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " When Harry continued to look worried, Hermione said, 'Listen,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ron and I have been sounding out people who we thought might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "want to learn some proper Defence Against the Dark Arts, and there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "are a couple who seem interested. We've told them to meet us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "in Hogsmeade.' 'Right,' said Harry vaguely, his mind still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "on Sirius. 'Don't worry, Harry,' Hermione said quietly. 'You've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "got enough on your plate without Sirius, too.' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "was quite right, of course, he was barely keeping up with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "homework, though he was doing much better now that he was no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "longer spending every evening in detention with Umbridge. Ron was even further","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "behind with his work than Harry, because while they both had Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "practice twice a week, Ron also had his prefect duties. However, Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "who was taking more subjects than either of them, had not only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "finished all her homework but was also finding time to knit more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "elf clothes. Harry had to admit that she was getting better; it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "was now almost always possible to distinguish between the hats and the socks.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "windy. Alter breakfast they queued up in front of Filch, who matched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "their names to the long list of students who had permission from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "their parents or guardian to visit the village. With a slight pang,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry remembered that if it hadn't been for Sirius, he would not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "have been going at all. When Harry reached Filch,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the caretaker gave a great sniff as though trying to detect a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "whiff of something from Harry. Then he gave a curt nod that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "set his jowls aquiver again and Harry walked on, out on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the stone steps and the cold, sunlit day. 'Er","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- why was Filch sniffing you?' asked Ron, as he, Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Hermione set off at: a brisk pace down the wide drive to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the gates. 'I suppose he was checking for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "smell of Dungbombs,' said Harry with a small laugh. T forgot to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "tell you . . .' And he recounted the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "story of sending his letter to Sirius and Filch bursting in seconds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "later, demanding to see the letter. To his slight surprise, Hermione found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "this story highly interesting, much more, indeed, than he did himself. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'He said he was tipped off you were ordering Dungbombs?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "But who tipped him off?' 'I dunno,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "shrugging. 'Maybe Malfoy he'd think it was a laugh.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "They walked between the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "turned left on to the road into the village, the wind whip-,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "ping their hair into their eyes. 'Malfoy?' said Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "sceptically. 'Well . . . yes . . . maybe . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ".' And she remained deep in thought all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "way into the outskirts of Hogsmeade. 'Where are we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "going, anyway?' Harry asked. The Three Broomsticks?' 'Oh -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "no,' said Hermione, coming out of her reverie, 'no, it's always packed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "and really noisy. I've told the others to meet us in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Hog's Head, that other pub, you know the one, it's not on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the main road. I think it's a bit . . . you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "know . . . dodgy . . . but students don't normally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "go in there, so I don't think we'll be overheard.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " They walked down the main street past Zonko's Wizarding Joke Shop,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "where they were not surprised to see Fred, George and Lee Jordan,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "past the post office, from which owls issued at regular intervals, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "turned up a side-street at the top of which stood a small","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "inn. A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "door, with a picture on it of a wild boar's severed head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "leaking blood on to the white cloth around it. The sign creaked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "in the wind as they approached. All three of them hesitated outside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the door. 'Well, come on,' said Hermione, slightly nervously.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry led the way inside. It was not at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "all like the Three Broomsticks, whose large bar gave an impression of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "gleaming warmth and cleanliness. The Hog's Head bar comprised one small, dingy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "and very dirty room that smelled strongly of something that might have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "been goats. The bay windows were so encrusted with grime that very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "little daylight could permeate the room, which was lit instead with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "stubs of candles sitting on rough wooden tables. The floor seemed at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "first glance to be compressed earth, though as Harry stepped on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "it he realised that there was stone beneath what seemed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the accumulated filth of centuries. Harry remembered Hagrid mentioning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "this pub in his first year: 'Yeh get a lot o' funny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "folk in the Hog's Head,' he had said, explaining how he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "won a dragon's egg from a hooded stranger there. At the time Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "had wondered why Hagrid had not found it odd that the stranger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "kept his face hidden throughout their encounter; now he saw that keeping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "your face hidden was something of a fashion in the Hog's Head.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "There was a man at the bar whose whole head was wrapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "in dirty grey bandages, though he was still managing to gulp endless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "glasses of some smoking, fiery substance through a slit over his mouth;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "two figures shrouded in hoods sat at a table in one of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the windows; Harry might have thought them Dementors if they had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "been talking in strong Yorkshire accents, and in a shadowy corner beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the fireplace sat a witch with a thick, black veil that fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to her toes. They could just see the tip of her nose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "because it caused the veil to protrude slightly. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "don't know about this, Hermione,' Harry muttered, as they crossed to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "bar. He was looking particularly at the heavily veiled witch. 'Has it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "occurred to you Umbridge might be under that?' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "cast an appraising eye over the veiled figure. 'Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "is shorter than that woman,' she said quietly. 'And anyway, even if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Umbridge does come in here there's nothing she can do to stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "us, Harry, because I've double- and triple-checked the school rules. We're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "out of bounds; I specifically asked Professor Flitwick whether students were allowed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to come in the Hog's Head, and he said yes, but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "advised me strongly to bring our own glasses. And I've looked up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "everything I can think of about study groups and homework groups and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "they're definitely allowed. I just don't think it's a good idea if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "we parade what we're doing.' 'No,' said Harry drily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'especially as it's not exactly a homework group you're planning, is it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " The barman sidled towards them out of a back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "room. He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "long grey hair and beard. He was tall and thin and looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "vaguely familiar to Harry. What? he grunted. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Three Butterbeers, please,' said Hermione. The man reached","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "beneath the counter and pulled up three very dusty, very dirty bottles,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "which he slammed on the bar. 'Six Sickles,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said. 'I'll get them,' said Harry quickly, passing over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the silver. The barman's eyes travelled over Harry, resting for a fraction","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of a second on his scar. Then he turned away and deposited","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry's money in an ancient wooden till whose drawer slid open automatically","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to receive it. Harry, Ron and Hermione retreated to the furthest table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "from the bar and sat down, looking around. The man in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "dirty grey bandages rapped the counter with his knuckles and received another","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "smoking drink from the barman. 'You know what?' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "murmured, looking over at the bar with enthusiasm. 'We could order anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "we liked in here. I bet that bloke would sell us anything,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he wouldn't care. I've always wanted to try Firewhisky - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'You - are - a - prefect,' snarled Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Oh,' said Ron, the smile fading from his face. 'Yeah","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". . .' 'So, who did you say is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "supposed to be meeting us?' Harry asked, wrenching open the rusty top","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of his Butterbeer and taking a swig. 'Just a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "couple of people,' Hermione repeated, checking her watch and looking anxiously towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the door. 'I told them to be here about now and I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "sure they all know where it is - oh, look, this might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "be them now.' The door of the pub had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "opened. A thick band of dusty sunlight split the room in two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "for a moment and then vanished, blocked by the incoming rush of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a crowd of people. First came Neville with Dean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "and Lavender, who were closely followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with (Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "stomach did a back-flip) Cho and one of her usually-giggling girlfriends, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "(on her own and looking so dreamy she might have walked in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "by accident) Luna Lovegood; then Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Colin and Dennis Creevey Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "girl with a long plait clown her back whose name Harry did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "not know; three Ravenclaw boys he was pretty sure were called Anthony","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Goldstein, Michael Corner and Terry Boot, Ginny, closely followed by a tall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "skinny blond boy with an upturned nose whom Harry recognised vaguely as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "being a member of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and, bringing up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "rear, Fred and George Weasley with their friend Lee Jordan, all three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of whom were carrying large paper bags crammed with Zonko's merchandise. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'A couple of people?' said Harry hoarsely to Hermione. 'A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "couple of people?' 'Yes, well, the idea seemed quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "popular,' said Hermione happily. 'Ron, do you want to pull up some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "more chairs?' The barman had frozen in the act","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of wiping out a glass with a rag so filthy it looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "as though it had never been washed. Possibly, he had never seen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "his pub so full. 'Hi,' said Fred, reaching the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "bar first and counting his companions quickly, 'could we have . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". twenty-five Butterbeers, please?' The barman glared at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "for a moment, then, throwing down his rag irritably as though he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "had been interrupted in something very important, he started passing up dusty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Butterbeers from under the bar. 'Cheers,' said Fred, handing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "them out. 'Cough up, everyone, I haven't got enough gold for all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of these . . .' Harry watched numbly as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the large chattering group took their beers from Fred and rummaged in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "their robes to find coins. He could not imagine what all these","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "people had turned up for until the horrible thought occurred to him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "that they might be expecting same kind of speech, at which he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "rounded on Hermione. 'What have you been telling people?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he said in a low voice. 'What are they expecting?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'I've told you, they just want to hear what you've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to say,' said Hermione soothingly; but Harry continued to look at her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "so furiously that she added quickly, 'you don't have to do anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "yet, I'll speak to them first.' 'Hi, Harry' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Neville, beaming and taking a seat opposite him. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "tried to smile back, but did not speak; his mouth was exceptionally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "dry. Cho had just smiled at him and sat down on Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "right. Her friend, who had curly reddish-blonde hair, did not smile, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "gave Harry a thoroughly mistrustful look which plainly told him that, given","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "her way, she would not be here at all. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "In twos and threes the new arrivals settled around Harry, Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Hermione, some looking rather excited, others curious, Luna Lovegood gazing dreamily into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "space. When everybody had pulled up a chair, the chatter died out.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Every eye was upon Harry. 'Er,' said Hermione, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "voice slightly higher than usual out of nerves. 'Well - er -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "hi.' The group focused its attention on her instead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "though eyes continued to dart back regularly to Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'Well . . . erm . . . well, you know why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "you're here. Erm . . . well, Harry here had the idea","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- I mean' (Harry had thrown her a sharp look) 'I had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the idea - that it might be good if people who wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to study Defence Against the Dark Arts - and I mean, really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "us - '(Hermione's voice became suddenly much stronger and more confident) '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- because nobody could call that Defence Against the Dark Arts - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "('Hear, hear,' said Anthony Goldstein, and Hermione looked heartened) ' - Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "our own hands.' She paused, looked sideways at Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "and went on, 'And by that I mean learning how to defend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "ourselves properly, not just in theory but doing the real spells -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "' 'You want to pass your Defence Against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Dark Arts OWL too, though, I bet?' said Michael Corner, who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "watching her closely. 'Of course I do,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "at once. 'But more than that, I want to be properly trained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "in defence because . . . because . . .' she took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a great breath and finished, 'because Lord Voldemort is back.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " The reaction was immediate and predictable. Clio's friend shrieked and slopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Butterbeer down herself; Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch; Padma","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he managed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "turn into a cough. All of them, however, looked fixedly, even eagerly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "at Harry. Well . . . that's the plan,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "anyway,' said Hermione. 'If you want to join us, we need to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "decide how we're going to - 'Where's the proof","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "You-Know-Who's back?' said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Well, Dumbledore believes it - ' Hermione began. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'You mean, Dumbledore believes him,' said the blond boy, nodding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "at Harry. 'Who are you?' said Ron, rather rudely.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Zacharias Smith,' said the boy, 'and I think we've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Look,' said Hermione, intervening swiftly, 'that's really not what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "this meeting was supposed to be about - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'It's OK, Hermione,' said Harry. It had just dawned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "on him why there were so many people there. He thought Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "should have seen this coming. Some of these people - maybe even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "most of them - had turned up in the hopes of hearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry's story firsthand. 'What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he repeated, looking Zacharias straight in the face. 'I saw him. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "didn't believe him, you won't believe me, and I'm not wasting an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "afternoon trying to convince anyone.' The whole group seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to have held its breath while Harry spoke. Harry had the impression","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "that even the barman was listening. He was wiping the same glass","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "with the filthy rag, making it steadily dirtier. Zacharias","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said dismissively, 'All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'If you've come to hear exactly what it looks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "like when Voldemort murders someone I can't help you,' Harry said. His","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith's aggressive face, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "was determined not to look at Cho. 'I don't want to talk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that's what you're here for,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "you might as well clear out.' He cast an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "angry look in Hermione's direction. This was, he felt, all her fault;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "she had decided to display him like some sort of freak and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of course they had all turned up to see just now wild","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "his story was. But none of them left their seats, not even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Zacharias Smith, though he continued to gaze intently at Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'So,' said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched again. 'So . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". like I was saying . . . if you want to learn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "some defence, then we need to work out how we're going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "do it, how often we're going to meet and where we're going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to - ' 'Is it true,' interrupted the girl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "with the long plait down her back, looking at Harry, 'that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "can produce a Patronus?' There was a murmur of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "interest around the group at this. 'Yeah,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "slightly defensively. 'A corporeal Patronus?' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "phrase stirred something in Harry's memory. 'Er - you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "don't know Madam Bones, do you?' he asked. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "girl smiled. 'She's my auntie,' she said. 'I'm Susan","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Bones. She told me about your hearing. So - is it really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "true? You make a stag Patronus?' 'Yes,' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Blimey, Harry!' said Lee, looking deeply impressed. 'I never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "knew that!' 'Mum told Ron not to spread it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "around,' said Fred, grinning at Harry. 'She said you got enough attention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "as it was.' 'She's not wrong,' mumbled Harry, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a couple of people laughed. The veiled witch sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "alone shifted very slightly in her seat. 'And did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "you kill a Basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office?' demanded Terry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Boot. That's what one of the portraits on the wall told me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "when I was in there last year . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Er - yeah, I did, yeah,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Justin Finch-Fletchley whistled; the Creevey brothers exchanged awestruck looks and Lavender Brown","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said 'Wow!' softly. Harry was feeling slightly hot around the collar now;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he was determinedly looking anywhere but at Cho. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "in our first year,' said Neville to the group at large, 'he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "saved that Philological Stone - ' 'Philosopher's,' hissed Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Yes, that - from You-Know-Who,' finished Neville. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " Hannah Abbotts eyes were as round as Galleons. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'And that's not to mention,' said Cho (Harry's eyes snapped across to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "her; she was looking at him, smiling; his stomach did another somersault)","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "last year - getting past dragons and merpeople and Acromantula and things","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". . .' There was a murmur of impressed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "agreement around the table. Harry's insides were squirming. He was trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "arrange his face so that he did not look too pleased with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "himself. The fact that Cho had just praised him made it much,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "much harder for him to say the thing he had sworn to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "himself he would tell them. 'Look,' he said, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "everyone fell silent at once, 'I . . . I don't want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to sound like I'm trying to be modest or anything, but .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". . I had a lot of help with all that stuff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". . .' 'Not with the dragon, you didn't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said Michael Corner at once. 'That was a seriously cool bit of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "flying . . .' 'Yeah, well - ' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry, feeling it would be churlish to disagree. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "nobody helped you get rid of those Dementors this summer,' said Susan","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Bones. 'No,' said Harry, 'no, OK, I know I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "did bits of it without help, but the point I'm trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "make is - ' 'Are you trying to weasel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "out of showing us any of this stuff?' said Zacharias Smith. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Here's an idea,' said Ron loudly, before Harry could speak,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'why don't you shut your mouth?' Perhaps the word","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'weasel' had affected Ron particularly strongly. In any case, he was now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "looking at Zacharias as though he would like nothing better than to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "thump him. Zacharias flushed. 'Well, we've all turned up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to learn from him and now he's telling us he can't really do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "any of it,' he said. That's not what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said,' snarled Fred. 'Would you like us to clean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "out you: ears for you?' enquired Greorge, pulling a long and lethal-looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "metal instrument from inside one of the Zonko's bags. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'Or any part of your body, really, we're not fussy where we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "stick this,' said Fred. 'Yes, well, said Hermione hastily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "moving on . . . the point is, are we agreed we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "want to take lessons from Harry?' There was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "murmur of general agreement. Zacharias folded his arms and said nothing, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "perhaps this was because he was too busy keeping an eye on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the instrument in Fred's hand. 'Right,' said Hermione, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "relieved that something had at last been settled. 'Well, then, the next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "any point in meeting less than once a week - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Hang on,' said Angelina, 'we need to make sure this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "doesn't clash with our Quidditch practice.' 'No,' said Cho,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'nor with ours.' 'Nor ours,' added Zacharias Smith. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said Hermione, slightly impatiently, 'but you know, this is rather important, we're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "talking about learning to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort's Death Eaters - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Well said!' barked Ernie Macmillan, who Harry had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "expecting to speak long before this. 'Personally, I think this is really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "with our OWLs coming up!' He looked around impressively,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "as though waiting for people to cry 'Surely not!' When nobody spoke,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he went on, 'I, personally, am at a loss to see why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher on us at this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "critical period. Obviously, they are in denial about the return of You-Know-Who,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "but to give us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "us from using defensive spells - ' 'We think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the reason Umbridge doesn't want us trained in Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Arts,' said Hermione, 'is that she's got some . . . some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "mad idea that Dumbledore could use the students in the school as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a kind of private army. She thinks he'd mobilise us against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ministry' Nearly everybody looked stunned at this news; everybody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "except Luna Lovegood, who piped up, 'Well, that makes sense. After all,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Cornelius Fudge has got his own private army' 'What?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said Harry, completely thrown by this unexpected piece of information. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Yes, he's got an army of Heliopaths,' said Luna solemnly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'No, he hasn't,' snapped Hermione. 'Yes, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "has,' said Luna. 'What are Heliopaths?' asked Neville, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "blank. They're spirits of fire,' said Luna, her protuberant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever, 'great tall flaming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "' They don't exist, Neville,' said Hermione tartly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Oh, yes, they do!' said Luna angrily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'I'm sorry, but where's the proof of that?' snapped Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " There are plenty of eye-witness accounts. Just because you're so narrow-minded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "you need to have everything shoved under your nose before you -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "' 'Hem, hem,' said Ginny, in such a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "imitation of Professor Umbridge that several people looked around in alarm and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "then laughed. 'Weren't we trying to decide how often we're going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "meet and have defence lessons?' 'Yes,' said Hermione at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "once, 'yes, we were, you're right, Ginny.' Well, once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a week sounds cool,' said Lee Jordan. 'As long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "as - ' began Angelina. 'Yes, yes, we know about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the Quidditch,' said Hermione in a tense voice. 'Well, the other thing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to decide is where we're going to meet . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " This was rather more difficult; the whole group fell silent.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Library?' suggested Katie Bell after a few moments. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "doing jinxes in the library,' said Harry. 'Maybe an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "unused classroom?' said Dean. 'Yeah,' said Ron, 'McGonagall might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "let us have hers, she did when Harry was practising for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Tri wizard.' But Harry was pretty certain that McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "would not be so accommodating this time. For all that Hermione had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "said about study and homework groups being allowed, he had the distinct","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "feeling that this one might be considered a lot more rebellious. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Right, well, we'll try to find somewhere,' said Hermione. 'We'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "send a message round to everybody when we've got a time and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "a place for the first meeting.' She rummaged in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "her bag and produced parchment and a quill, then hesitated, rather as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "though she was steeling herself to say something. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- I think everybody should write their name down, just so we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "know who was here. But I also think,' she took a deep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "breath, 'that we all ought to agree not to shout about what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "or anybody else what we're up to.' Fred reached","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "out for the parchment and cheerfully wrote his signature, but Harry noticed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "at once that several people looked less than happy at the prospect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "of putting their names on the list. 'Er .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" ". .' said Zacharias slowly, not taking the parchment that George was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "trying to pass to him, 'well . . . I'm sure Ernie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "will tell me when the meeting is.' But Ernie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "was looking rather hesitant about signing, too. Hermione raised her eyebrows at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "him. 'I - well, we are prefects,' Ernie burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "out. 'And if this list was found . . . well, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "mean to say . . . you said yourself, if Umbridge finds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "out - ' 'You just said this group was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the most important thing you'd do this year,' Harry reminded him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'I - yes,' said Ernie, 'yes, I do believe that,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "it's just - ' 'Ernie, do you really think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "I'd leave that list lying around?' said Hermione testily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'No. No, of course not,' said Ernie, looking slightly less anxious. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- yes, of course I'll sign.' Nobody raised objections","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "after Ernie, though Harry saw Cho's friend give her a rather reproachful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "look before adding her own name. When the last person - Zacharias","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- had signed, Hermione took the parchment back and slipped it carefully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "into her bag. There was an odd feeling in the group now.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "It was as though they had just signed some kind of contract.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'Well, time's ticking on,' said Fred briskly, getting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "his feet. 'George, Lee and I have got items of a sensitive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you all later.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "In twos and threes the rest of the group took their leave,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "too. Cho made rather a business of fastening the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "catch on her bag before leaving, her long dark curtain of hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "swinging forwards to hide her face, but her friend stood beside her,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "arms folded, clicking her tongue, so that Cho had little choice but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "to leave with her. As her friend ushered her through the door,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Cho looked back and waved at Harry. 'Well, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "think that went quite well,' said Hermione happily, as she, Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ron walked out of the Hog's Head into the bright sunlight a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "moments later. Harry and Ron were clutching their bottles of Butterbeer. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'That Zacharias bloke's a wart,' said Ron, who was glowering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "after the figure of Smith, just discernible in the distance. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'I don't like him much, either,' admitted Hermione, 'but he overheard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "me talking to Ernie and Hannah at the Hufflepuff table and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "seemed really interested in coming, so what could I say? But the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "more people the better really - I mean, Michael Corner and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "friends wouldn't have come if he hadn't been going out with Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "- ' Ron, who had been draining the last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "few drops from his Butterbeer bottle, gagged and sprayed Butterbeer down his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "front. 'He's WHAT?' spluttered Ron, outraged, his ears now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "resembling curls of raw beef. 'She's going out with - my sister's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "going - what d'you mean, Michael Corner?' 'Well, that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "why he and his friends came, I think - well, they're obviously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "interested in learning defence, but if Ginny hadn't told Michael what was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "going on - ' 'When did this - when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "did she -?' 'They met at the Yule Ball","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "and got together at the end of last year,' said Hermione composedly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "They had turned into the High Street and she paused outside Scrivenshaft's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Quill Shop, where there was a handsome display of pheasant feather quills","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "in the window. 'Hmm . . . I could do with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "new quill.' She turned into the shop. Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ron followed her. 'Which one was Michael Corner?' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "demanded furiously. The dark one,' said Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'I didn't like him,' said Ron at once. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'Big surprise,' said Hermione under her breath. 'But, said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ron, following Hermione along a row of quills in copper pots, 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "thought Ginny fancied Harry!' Hermione looked at him rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "pityingly and shook her head. 'Ginny used to fancy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Harry, but she gave up on him months ago. Not that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "doesn't like you, of course,' she added kindly to Harry while she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "examined a long black and gold quill. Harry, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "head was still full of Cho's parting wave, did not find this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "subject quite as interesting as Ron, who was positively quivering with indignation,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "but it did bring something home to him that until now he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "had not really registered. 'So that's why she talks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "now?' he asked Hermione. 'She never used to talk in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "me.' 'Exactly,' said Hermione. 'Yes, I think I'll have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "this one . . .' She went up to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "the counter and handed over fifteen Sickles and two Knuts, with Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "still breathing down her neck. 'Ron,' she said severely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "as she turned and trod on his feet, 'this is exactly why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ginny hasn't told you she's seeing Michael, she knew you'd take it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "badly. So don't harp on about it, for heaven's sake.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'What d'you mean? Who's taking anything badly? I'm not going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "harp on about anything . . .' Ron continued to chunter under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "his breath all the way down the street. Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "rolled her eyes at Harry and then said in an undertone, while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Ron was still muttering imprecations about Michael Corner, 'And talking about Michael","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "and Ginny . . . what about Cho and you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " 'What d'you mean?' said Harry quickly. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "as though boiling water was rising rapidly inside him; a burning sensation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "that was causing his face to smart in the cold - had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "he been that obvious? 'Well,' said Hermione, smiling slightly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "'she just couldn't keep her eyes off you, could she?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" " Harry had never before appreciated just how beautiful the village of Hogsmeade was.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-16" "Educational DecreeNumber Twenty-fourHarry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "he had done all term. He and Ron spent much of Sunday","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "catching up with all their homework again, and although this could hardly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "be called fun, the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "than sitting hunched over tables in the common room they took their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "on the edge of the lake. Hermione, who of course was up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to date with all her work, brought more wool outside with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and bewitched her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "midair beside her, producing more hats and scarves. Knowing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "they were doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry and that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "he was a key part of the rebellion, gave Harry a feeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of immense satisfaction. He kept reliving Saturdays meeting in his mind: all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "those people, coming to him to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". . . and the looks on their faces as they had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "heard some of the things he had done . . . and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Cho praising his performance in the Triwizard Tournament - knowing all those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "people did not think him a lying weirdo, but someone to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "admired, buoyed him up so much that he was still cheerful on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Monday morning, despite the imminent prospect of all his least favourite classes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " He and Ron headed downstairs from their dormitory, discussing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Angelina's idea that they were to work on a new move called","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the Sloth Grip Roll during that nights Quidditch practice, and not until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "they were halfway across the sunlit common room did they notice the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "small group of people. A large sign had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "affixed to the Grffindor noticeboard, so large it covered everything else on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "it - the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training timetable, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog Cards for others, the Weasleys' latest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends and the lost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "neat and curly signature.BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTSAll student","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs arehenceforth disbanded.An organisation, society, team, group","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "more students.Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor(Professor Umbridge).No","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "student organisation, society, team, group or club may existwithout the knowledge and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to belong to, an organisation, society, team, group or club that has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.The above is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "in accordance with Educational DecreeNumber Twenty-four.Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High InquisitorHarry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Ron read the notice over the heads of some anxious-looking second-years. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Does this mean they're going to shut down the Gobstones","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Club?' one of them asked his friend. 'I reckon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you'll be OK with Gobstones,' Ron said darkly, making the second-year jump.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "I don't think we're going to be as lucky, though, do you?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "he asked Harry as the second-years hurried away. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was reading the notice through again. The happiness that had filled him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "since Saturday was gone. His insides were pulsing with rage. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'This isn't a coincidence,' he said, his hands forming fists. 'She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "knows.' 'She can't,' said Ron at once. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " There were people listening in that pub. And let's face it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "we don't know how many of the people who turned up we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "can trust . . . any of them could have run off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and told Umbridge . . .' And he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "thought they believed him, thought they even admired him . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Zacharias Smith!' said Ron at once, punching a fist","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "into his hand. 'Or - I thought that Michael Corner had a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "really shifty look, too - ' 'I wonder if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Hermione's seen this yet?' Harry said, looking round at the door to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the girls' dormitories. 'Let's go and tell her,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Ron. He bounded forwards, pulled open the door and set off up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the spiral staircase. He was on the sixth stair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "when there was a loud, wailing, klaxon-like sound and the steps melted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "together to make a long, smooth stone slide like a helter-skelter. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was a brief moment when Ron tried to keep running, arms working","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "madly like windmills, then he toppled over backwards and shot down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "newly created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry's feet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Er - I don't think we're allowed in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "girls' dormitories,' said Harry, pulling Ron to his feet and trying not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to laugh. Two fourth-year girls came zooming gleefully down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the stone slide. 'Oooh. who tried to get upstairs?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "they giggled happily, leaping to their feet and ogling Harry and Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Me,' said Ron, who was still rather dishevelled. T","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "didn't realise that would happen. It's not fair!' he added to Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "as the girls headed off for the portrait hole, still giggling madly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Hermione's allowed in our dormitory, how come we're not allowed - ?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Well, it's an old-fashioned rule,' said Hermione, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "just slid neatly on to a rug in front of them and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was now getting to her feet, 'but it says in Hogwarts: A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "History, that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls. Anyway,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "why were you trying to get in there?' To","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "see you - look at this!' said Ron, dragging her over to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the noticeboard. Hermione's eyes slid rapidly down the notice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Her expression became stony. 'Someone must have blabbed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "her!' Ron said angrily. 'They can't have done,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Hermione in a low voice. 'You're so naive,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Ron, 'you think just because you're all honourable and trustworthy - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'No, they can't have done, because I put a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed,' said Hermione grimly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Believe me, if anyone's run off and told Umbridge, we'll know exactly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "who they are and they will really regret it.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'What'll happen to them?' said Ron eagerly. 'Well, put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "it this way,' said Hermione, 'it'll make Eloise Midgeon's acne look like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a couple of cute freckles. Come on, let's get down to breakfast","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and see what the others think . . . I wonder whether","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "this has been put up in all the houses?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "It was immediately apparent on entering the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar intensity","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "about the chatter and an extra measure of movement in the Hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "as people scurried up and down their tables conferring on what they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "had read. Harry, Ron and Hermione had barely taken their seats when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Neville, Dean, Fred, George and Ginny descended upon them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Did you see it?' 'D'you reckon she knows?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'What are we going to do?' They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "were all looking at Harry. He glanced around to make sure there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "were no teachers near them. 'We're going to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "it anyway, of course,' he said quietly. 'Knew you'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "say that,' said George, beaming and thumping Harry on the arm. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " The prefects as well?' said Fred, looking quizzically at Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and Hermione. 'Of course,' said Hermione coolly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Here come Ernie and Hannah Abbott,' said Ron, looking over his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "shoulder. 'And those Ravenclaw blokes and Smith . . . and no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "one looks very spotty.' Hermione looked alarmed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Never mind spots, the idiots can't come over here now, it'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "look really suspicious - sit down!' she mouthed to Ernie and Hannah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "gesturing frantically to them to rejoin the Hufflepuff table. 'Later! We'll -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "talk - to - you - later!' 'I'll tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Michael,' said Ginny impatiently, swinging herself off her bench, 'the fool, honestly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". . .' She hurried off towards the Ravenclaw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "table; Harry watched her go. Cho was sitting not far away, talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to the curly-haired friend she had brought along to the Hog's Head.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Would Umbridge's notice scare her off meeting them again? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "But the full repercussions of the sign were not felt until they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "were leaving the Great Hall for History of Magic. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Harry! Ron!' It was Angelina and she was hurrying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "towards them looking perfectly desperate. 'It's OK,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "quietly, when she was near enough to hear him. 'We're still going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to - ' 'You realise she's including Quidditch in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "this?' Angelina said over him. 'We have to go and ask permission","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to re-form the Gryffindor team!' 'What?' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'No way,' said Ron, appalled. 'You read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the sign, it mentions teams too! So listen, Harry . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "I am saying this for the last time . . . please,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "please don't lose your temper with Umbridge again or she might not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "let us play any more!' 'OK, OK,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "for Angelina looked as though she was on the verge of tears.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Don't worry, I'll behave myself . . .' 'Bet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Umbridge is in History of Magic,' said Ron grimly, as they set","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "off for Binns's lesson. 'She hasn't inspected Binns yet . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "bet you anything she's there . . .' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "he was wrong; the only teacher present when they entered was Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Binns, floating an inch or so above his chair as usual and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "preparing to continue his monotonous drone on giant wars. Harry did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "even attempt to follow what he was saying today; he doodled idly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "on his parchment ignoring Hermione's frequent glares and nudges, until a particularly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "painful poke in the ribs made him look up angrily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'What?' She pointed at the window. Harry looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "round. Hedwig was perched on the narrow window ledge, gazing through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "thick glass at him, a letter tied to her leg. Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "not understand it; they had just had breakfast, why on earth hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "she delivered the letter then, as usual? Many of his classmates were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "pointing out Hedwig to each other, too. 'Oh, I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "always loved that owl, she's so beautiful,' Harry heard Lavender sigh to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Parvati. He glanced round at Professor Binns who continued","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to read his notes, serenely unaware that the class's attention was even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "less focused upon him than usual. Harry slipped quietly off his chair,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "crouched down and hurried along the row to the window, where he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "slid the catch and opened it very slowly. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "had expected Hedwig to hold out her leg so that he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "remove the letter and then fly off to the Owlery, but the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "moment the window was open wide enough she hopped inside, hooting dolefully.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "He closed the window with an anxious glance at Professor Binns, crouched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "low again and sped back to his seat with Hedwig on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "shoulder. He regained his seat, transferred Hedwig to his lap and made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to remove the letter tied to her leg. Only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "then did he realise that Hedwig's feathers were oddly ruffled; some were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "bent the wrong way, and she was holding one of her wings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "at an odd angle. 'She's hurt!' Harry whispered, bending","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "his head low over her. Hermione and Ron leaned in closer; Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "even put down her quill. 'Look - there's something wrong with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "wing - ' Hedwig was quivering; when Harry made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to touch the wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "on end as though she was inflating herself, and gazed at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "reproachfully. 'Professor Binns,' said Harry loudly, and everyone in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the class turned to look at him. 'I'm not feeling well.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, looking amazed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "as always, to find the room in front of him full of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "people. 'Not feeling well?' he repeated hazily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Not at all well,' said Harry firmly, getting to his feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "with Hedwig concealed behind his back. 'I think I need to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to the hospital wing.' 'Yes,' said Professor Binns, clearly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "very much wrong-footed. 'Yes . . . yes, hospital wing . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". well, off you go, then, Perkins . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " Once outside the room, Harry returned Hedwig to his shoulder and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "hurried off up the corridor, pausing to think only when he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "out of sight of Binns's door. His first choice of somebody to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "cure Hedwig would have been Hagrid, of course, but as he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "no idea where Hagrid was his only remaining option was to find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Professor Grubbly-Plank and hope she would help. He peered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "out of a window at the blustery, overcast grounds. There was no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "sign of her anywhere near Hagrid's cabin; if she was not teaching,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "she was probably in the staff room. He set off downstairs, Hedwig","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "hooting feebly as she swayed on his shoulder. Two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "stone gargoyles flanked the staff-room door. As Harry approached, one of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "croaked, 'You should be in class, Sonny Jim.' This","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "is urgent,' said Harry curtly. 'Ooooh, urgent, is it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "said the other gargoyle in a high-pitched voice. 'Well, that's put us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "in our place, hasn't it?' Harry knocked. He heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "footsteps, then the door opened and he found himself face to face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "with Professor McGonagall. 'You haven't been given another detention!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "she said at once, her square spectacles flashing alarmingly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'No, Professor!' said Harry hastily. 'Well then, why are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you out of class?' 'It's urgent, apparently,' said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "second gargoyle snidely. 'I'm looking for Professor Grubbly-Plank,' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "explained. 'It's my owl, she's injured.' 'Injured owl, did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you say?' Professor Grubbly-Plank appeared at Professor McGonagall's shoulder,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "smoking a pipe and holding a copy of the Daily Prophet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Yes,' said Harry, lifting Hedwig carefully off his shoulder, 'she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "turned up after the other post owls and her wing's all funny,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "look - ' Professor Grubbly-Plank stuck her pipe firmly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "between her teeth and took Hedwig from Harry while Professor McGonagall watched.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Hmm,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, her pipe waggling slightly as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "she talked. 'Looks like something's attacked her. Can't think what would have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "done it, though. Thestrals will sometimes go for birds, of course, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Hagrid's got the Hogwarts Thestrals well-trained not to touch owls.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " Harry neither knew nor cared what Thestrals were; he just wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to know that Hedwig was going to be all right. Professor McGonagall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "however, looked sharply at Harry and said, 'Do you know how far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "this owl's travelled, Potter?' 'Er,' said Harry. 'From London,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "I think.' He met her eyes briefly and knew,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "by the way her eyebrows had joined in the middle, that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "understood 'London' to mean 'number twelve, Grimmauld Place'. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Grubbly-Plank pulled a monocle out of the inside of her robes and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "screwed it into her eye, to examine Hedwig's wing closely. 'I should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "be able to sort this out if you leave her with me,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Potter,' she said, 'she shouldn't be flying long distances for a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "days, in any case.' 'Er - right - thanks,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "said Harry, just as the bell rang for break. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'No problem,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank gruffly, turning back into the staff room.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Just a moment, Wilhelmina!' said Professor McGonagall. 'Potter's letter!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Oh yeah!' said Harry, who had momentarily forgotten the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "scroll tied to Hedwig's leg. Professor Grubbly-Plank handed it over and then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "disappeared into the staff room carrying Hedwig, who was staring at Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "as though unable to believe he would give her away like this.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Feeling slightly guilty, he turned to go, but Professor McGonagall called him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "back. 'Potter!' 'Yes, Professor?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " She glanced up and down the corridor; there were students coming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "from both directions. 'Bear in mind,' she said quickly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and quietly, her eyes on the scroll in his hand, 'that channels","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of communication in and out of Hogwarts may be being watched, won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you?' 'I - ' said Harry, but the flood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of students rolling along the corridor was almost upon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "him. Professor McGonagall gave him a curt nod and retreated into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "staff room, leaving Harry to be swept out into the courtyard with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the crowd. He spotted Ron and Hermione already standing in a sheltered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "corner, their cloak collars turned up against the wind. Harry slit open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the scroll as he hurried towards them and found five words in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Sirius's handwriting: Today, same time, same place. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Is Hedwig OK?' asked Hermione anxiously, the moment he was within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "earshot. 'Where did you take her?' asked Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'To Grubbly-Plank,' said Harry. 'And I met McGonagall . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". listen . . .' And he told them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "what Professor McGonagall had said. To his surprise, neither of the others","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "looked shocked. On the contrary, they exchanged significant looks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'What?' said Harry, looking from Ron to Hermione and back again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Well, I was just saying to Ron . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "what if someone had tried to intercept Hedwig? I mean, she's never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "been hurt on a flight before, has she?' 'Who's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the letter from, anyway?' asked Ron, taking the note from Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Snuffles,' said Harry quietly. '`Same time, same","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "place?` Does he mean the fire in the common room?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Obviously,' said Hermione, also reading the note. She looked uneasy. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "just hope nobody else has read this . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'But it was still sealed and everything,' said Harry, trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "convince himself as much as her. 'And nobody would understand what it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "meant if they didn't know where we'd spoken to him before, would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "they?' T don't know,' said Hermione anxiously, hitching her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "bag back over her shoulder as the bell rang again, 'it wouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "be exactly difficult to re-seal the scroll by magic . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and if anyone's watching the Floo Network . . . but I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "don't really see how we can warn him not to come without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "that being intercepted, too!' They trudged down the stone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "steps to the dungeons for Potions, all three of them, lost in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "thought, but as they reached the bottom of the steps they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "recalled to themselves by the voice of Draco Malfoy, who was standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "just outside Snape's classroom door, waving around an official-looking piece of parchment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and talking much louder than was necessary so that they could hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "every word. 'Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "permission to continue playing straightaway, I went to ask her first thing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "this morning. Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Ministry . . . it'll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "allowed to keep playing, won't it?' 'Don't rise,' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "whispered imploringly to Harry and Ron, who were both watching Malfoy, faces","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "set and fists clenched. 'It's what he wants.' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "mean,' said Malfoy, raising his voice a little more, his grey eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "glittering malevolently in Harry and Ron's direction, 'if it's a question of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much chance .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". . from what my father says, they've been looking for an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years . . . and as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "for Potter . . . my father says it's a matter of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "time before the Ministry has him carted off to St Mungo's .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". . apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brains","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "have been addled by magic.' Malfoy made a grotesque","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "face, his mouth sagging open and his eyes rolling. Crabbe and Goyle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "gave their usual grunts of laughter; Pansy Parkinson shrieked with glee. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " Something collided hard with Harry's shoulder, knocking him sideways. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "split second later he realised that Neville had just charged past him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "heading straight for Malfoy. 'Neville, no!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Harry leapt forward and seized the back of Neville's robes; Neville struggled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "frantically, his fists flailing, trying desperately to get at Malfoy who looked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "for a moment, extremely shocked. 'Help me!' Harry flung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "at Ron, managing to get an arm around Neville's neck and dragging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "him backwards, away from the Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were flexing their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "arms as they stepped in front of Malfoy, ready for the fight.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Ron seized Neville's arms, and together he and Harry succeeded in dragging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Neville back into the Gryffindor line. Nevilles face was scarlet; the pressure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Harry was exerting on his throat rendered him quite incomprehensible, but odd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "words spluttered from his mouth. 'Not . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "funny . . . don't . . . Mungo's . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "show . . . him . . .' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "dungeon door opened. Snape appeared there. His black eyes swept up the Gryffindor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "line to the point where Harry and Ron were wrestling with Neville.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom?' Snape said in his cold,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "sneering voice. 'Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "be detention. Inside, all of you.' Harry let go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of Neville, who stood panting and glaring at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'I had to stop you,' Harry gasped, picking up his bag. 'Crabbe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and Goyle would've torn you apart.' Neville said nothing;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "he merely snatched up his own bag and stalked off into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "dungeon. 'What in the name of Merlin,' said Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "slowly, as they followed Neville, 'was that about?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "did not answer. He knew exactly why the subject of people who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "were in St Mungo's because of magical damage to their brains was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "highly distressing to Neville, but he had sworn to Dumbledore that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "would not tell anyone Neville's secret. Even Neville did not know Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "knew. Harry, Ron and Hermione took their usual seats","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "at the back of the class, pulled out parchment, quills and their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "copies of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. The class around them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was whispering about what Neville had just done, but when Snape closed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the dungeon door with an echoing bang, everybody immediately fell silent. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'You will notice,' said Snape, in his low, sneering voice,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'that we have a guest with us today.' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "gestured towards the dim corner of the dungeon and Harry saw Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Umbridge sitting there, clipboard on her knee. He glanced sideways at Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and Hermione, his eyebrows raised. Snape and Umbridge, the two teachers he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "hated most. It was hard to decide which one he wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "triumph over the other. 'We are continuing with our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Strengthening Solution today. You will find your mixtures as you left them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "last lesson; it correctly made they should have matured well over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "weekend - instructions - ' he waved his wand again ' -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "on the board. Carry on.' Professor Umbridge spent the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "first half hour of the lesson making notes in her corner. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was very interested in hearing her question Snape; so interested, that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was becoming careless with his potion again. 'Salamander blood,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Harry!' Hermione moaned, grabbing his wrist to prevent him adding the wrong","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "ingredient for the third time, 'not pomegranate juice!' 'Right,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "said Harry vaguely, putting down the bottle and continuing to watch the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "corner. Umbridge had just got to her feet. 'Ha,' he said softly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "as she strode between two lines of desks towards Snape, who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "bending over Dean Thomas's cauldron. 'Well, the class seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "fairly advanced for their level,' she said briskly to Snape's back. 'Though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "that was removed from the syllabus.' Snape straightened up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "slowly and turned to look at her. 'Now .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". . how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?' she asked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "her quill poised over her clipboard. 'Fourteen years,' Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "replied. His expression was unfathomable. Harry, watching him closely, added a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "drops to his potion; it hissed menacingly and turned from turquoise to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "orange. 'You applied first for the Defence Against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Dark Arts post, I believe?' Professor Umbridge asked Snape. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Yes,' said Snape quietly. 'But you were unsuccessful?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " Snape's lip curled. 'Obviously.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Professor Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard. 'And you have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "applied regularly for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post since you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "first joined the school, I believe?' 'Yes,' said Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "quietly, barely moving his lips. He looked very angry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you?' asked Umbridge. 'I suggest you ask him,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Snape jerkily. 'Oh, I shall,' said Professor Umbridge, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a sweet smile. 'I suppose this is relevant?' Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "asked, his black eyes narrowed. 'Oh yes,' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Umbridge, 'yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers' - er","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "- backgrounds.' She turned away, walked over to Pansy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Parkinson and began questioning her about the lessons. Snape looked round at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Harry and their eyes met for a second. Harry hastily dropped his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "gaze to his potion, which was now congealing foully and giving off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a. strong smell of burned rubber. 'No marks again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "then, Potter,' said Snape maliciously, emptying Harry's cauldron with a wave of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "his wand. 'You will write me an essay on the correct composition","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of this potion, indicating how and why you went wrong, to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "handed in next lesson, do you understand?' 'Yes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Harry furiously. Snape had already given them homework and he had Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "practice this evening; this would mean another couple of sleepless nights. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "did not seem possible that he had awoken that morning feeling very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "happy. All he felt now was a fervent desire for this day","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to end. 'Maybe I'll skive off Divination,' he said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "glumly, as they stood in the courtyard after lunch, the wind whipping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "at the hems of robes and brims of hats. 'I'll pretend to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "be ill and do Snape's essay instead, then I won't have to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "stay up half the night.' 'You can't skive off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Divination,' said Hermione severely. 'Hark who's talking, you walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "oui of Divination, you hate Trelawney!' said Ron indignantly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'I don't hate her,' said Hermione loftily. 'I just think she's an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "absolutely appalling teacher and a real old fraud. But Harry's already missed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "History of Magic and I don't think he ought to miss anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "else today!' There was too much truth in this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to ignore, so half an hour later Harry took his seat in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the hot, overperfumed atmosphere of the Divination classroom, feeling angry at everybody.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Professor Trelawney was yet again handing out copies of The Dream Oracle.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Harry thought he'd surely be much better employed doing Snape's ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " punishment essay than sitting here trying to nnd meaning in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "lot of made-up dreams. It seemed, however, that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was not the only person in Divination who was in a temper.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Professor Trelawney slammed a copy of the Oracle down on the table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "between Harry and Ron and swept away, her lips pursed; she threw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the next copy of the Oracle at Seamus and Dean, narrowly avoiding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Seamus's head, and thrust the final one into Neville's chest with such","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "force that he slipped off his pouffe. 'Well, carry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "on!' said Professor Trelawney loudly, her voice high-pitched and somewhat hysterical, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "know what to do! Or am I such a sub-standard teacher that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you have never learned how to open a book?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "The class stared perplexedly at her, then at each other. Harry, however,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "thought he knew what was the matter. As Professor Trelawney flounced back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to the high-backed teachers chair, her magnified eyes full of angry tears,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "he leaned his head closer to Ron's and muttered, 'I think she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "got the results of her inspection back.' 'Professor?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Parvati Patil in a hushed voice (she and Lavender had always rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "admired Professor Trelawney). 'Professor, is there anything - er - wrong?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Wrong!' cried Professor Trelawney in a voice throbbing with emotion.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Certainly not! I have been insulted, certainly . . . insinuations have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "been made against me . . . unfounded accusations levelled . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". but no, there is nothing wrong, certainly not!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "She took a great shuddering breath and looked away from Parvati, angry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "tears spilling from under her glasses. 'I say nothing,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "she choked, 'of sixteen years of devoted service . . . it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "has passed, apparently, unnoticed . . . but I shall not be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "insulted, no, I shall not!' 'But, Professor, who's insulting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you?' asked Parvati timidly. The Establishment!' said Professor Trelawney,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "in a deep, dramatic, wavering voice. 'Yes, those with eyes too clouded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "by the mundane to See as I See, to Know as I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Know . . . of course, we Seers have always been feared,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "always persecuted . . . it is - alas - 'our fate.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " She gulped, dabbed at her wet cheeks with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "end of her shawl, then she pulled a small embroidered handkerchief from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "her sleeve, and blew her nose very hard with a sound like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Peeves blowing a raspberry. Ron sniggered. Lavender shot him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a disgusted look. 'Professor,' said Parvati, 'do you mean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" ". . . is it something Professor Umbridge - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Do not speak to me about that woman!' cried Professor Trelawney","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "leaping to her feet, her beads rattling and her spectacles flashing. 'Kindly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "continue with your work!' And she spent the rest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of the lesson striding among them, tears still leaking from behind her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "glasses, muttering what sounded like threats under her breath. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'. . . may well choose to leave . . . the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "indignity of it . . . on probation . . . we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "shall see . . . how she dares . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'You and Umbridge have got something in common,' Harry told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Hermione quietly when they met again in Defence Against the Dark Arts.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'She obviously reckons Trelawney's an old fraud, too . . . looks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "like she's put her on probation.' Umbridge entered the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "room as he spoke, wearing her black velvet bow and an expression","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of great smugness. 'Good afternoon, class.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,' they chanted dully. 'Wands away,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "please.' But there was no answering flurry of movement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "this time; nobody had bothered to take out their wands. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Please turn to page thirty-four of Defensive Magical Theory and read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the third chapter, entitled `The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack`.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "There will be - ' ' - no need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to talk,' Harry, Ron and Hermione said together, under their breaths.*'No Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "practice,' said Angelina in hollow tones when Harry, Ron and Hermione entered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the common room after dinner that night. 'But I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "kept my temper!' said Harry, horrified. 'I didn't say anything to her,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Angelina, I swear, I - ' 'I know, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "know, said Angelina miserably. 'She just said she needed a bit of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "time to consider.' 'Consider what?' said Ron angrily. 'She's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "given the Slytherins permission, why not us?' But Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "could imagine how much Umbridge was enjoying holding the threat of no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Gryffindor Quidditch team over their heads and could easily understand why she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "would not want to relinquish that weapon over them too soon. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Well,' said Hermione, 'look on the bright side - at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "least now you'll have time to do Snape's essay!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "That's a bright side, is it?' snapped Harry, while Ron stared incredulously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "at Hermione. 'No Quidditch practice, and extra Potions?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "slumped down into a chair, dragged his Potions essay reluctantly from his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "bag and set to work. It was very hard to concentrate; even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "though he knew Sirius was not due in the fire until much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "later, he could not help glancing into the flames every few minutes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "just in case. There was also an incredible amount of noise in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the room: Fred and George appeared finally to have perfected one type","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of Skiving Snackbox, which they were taking turns to demonstrate to a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "cheering and whooping crowd. First, Fred would take a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "bite out of the orange end of a chew, at which he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "would vomit spectacularly into a bucket they had placed in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "them. Then he would force down the purple end of the chew,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "at which the vomiting would immediately cease. Lee Jordan, who was assisting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the demonstration, was lazily Vanishing the vomit at regular intervals with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "same Vanishing Spell Snape kept using on Harry's potions. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "What with the regular sounds of retching, cheering and the sound of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Fred and George taking advance orders from the crowd, Harry was finding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "it exceptionally difficult to focus on the correct method for Strengthening Solution.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Hermione was not helping matters; the cheers and the sound of vomit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "hitting the bottom of Fred and George's bucket were punctuated by her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "loud and disapproving sniffs, which Harry found, if anything, more distracting. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Just go and stop them, then!' he said irritably, after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "crossing out the wrong weight of powdered griffin claw for the fourth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "time. 'I can't, they're not technically doing anything wrong,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "said Hermione through gritted teeth. They're quite within their rights to eat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the foul things themselves and I can't find a rule that says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the other idiots aren't entitled to buy them, not unless they're proven","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to be dangerous in some way and it doesn't look as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "they are.' She, Harry and Ron watched George projectile-vomit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "into the bucket, gulp down the rest of the chew and straighten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "up, beaming with his arms wide to protracted applause. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'You know, I don't get why Fred and George only got three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "OWLs each,' said Harry, watching as Fred, George and Lee collected gold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "from the eager crowd. They really know their stuff.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Oh, they only know flashy stuff that's of no real use to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "anyone,' said Hermione disparagingly. 'No real use?' said Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "in a strained voice. 'Hermione, they've made about twenty-six Galleons already.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " It was a long while before the crowd around the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Weasley twins dispersed, then Fred, Lee and George sat up counting their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "takings even longer, so it was well past midnight when Harry, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and Hermione finally had the common room to themselves. At long last,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Fred had closed the doorway to the boys' dormitories behind him, rattling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "his box of Galleons ostentatiously so that Hermione scowled. Harry, who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "making very little progress with his Potions essay, decided to give it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "up for the night. As he put his books away, Ron, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was dozing lightly in an armchair, gave a muffled grunt, awoke, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "looked blearily into the fire. 'Sirius!' he said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " Harry whipped round. Sirius's untidy dark head was sitting in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the fire again. 'Hi,' he said, grinning. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Hi,' chorused Harry, Ron and Hermione, all three kneeling down on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the hearthrug. Crookshanks purred loudly and approached the fire, trying, despite the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "heat, to put his face close to Sirius's. 'How're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "things?' said Sirius. 'Not that good,' said Harry, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Hermione pulled Crookshanks back to stop him singeing his whiskers. The Ministry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "forced through another decree, which means we're not allowed to have Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "teams - ' 'Or secret Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Arts groups? Said Sirius. There was a short pause.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'How did you know about that?' Harry demanded. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'You want to choose your meeting places more carefully,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Sirius, grinning still more broadly. The Hog's Head, I ask you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "defensively. That's always packed with people - ' 'Which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "means you'd have been harder to overhear,' said Sirius. 'You've got a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "lot to learn, Hermione.' 'Who overheard us?' Harry demanded.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Mundungus, of course,' said Sirius, and when they all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "looked puzzled he laughed. 'He was the witch under the veil.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " That was Mundungus?' Harry said, stunned. 'What was he doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "in the Hog's Head?' 'What do you think he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "was doing?' said Sirius impatiently. 'Keeping an eye on you, of course.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'I'm still being followed?' asked Harry angrily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Yeah, you are,' said Sirius, 'and just as well, isn't it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "if the first thing you're going to do on your weekend off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "is organise an illegal defence group.' But he looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "neither angry nor worried. On the contrary, he was looking at Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "with distinct pride. 'Why was Dung hiding from us?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "asked Ron, sounding disappointed. 'We'd've liked to've seen him.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'He was banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago,' said Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'and that barman's got a long memory. We lost Moody's spare Invisibility","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Cloak when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung's been dressing as a witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a lot lately . . . anyway . . . first of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "all, Ron - I've sworn to pass on a message from your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "mother.' 'Oh yeah?' said Ron, sounding apprehensive. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'She says on no account whatsoever are you to take part","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "in an illegal secret Defence Against the Dark Arts group. She says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you'll be expelled for sure and your future will be ruined. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "says there will be plenty of time to learn how to defend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "yourself later and that you are too young to be worrying about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "that right now. She also' (Sirius's eyes turned to the other two)","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'advises Harry and Hermione not to proceed with the group, though she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "accepts that she has no authority over either of them and simply","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "begs them to remember that she has their best interests at heart.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "She would have written all this to you, but if the owl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "had been intercepted you'd all have been in real trouble, and she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "can't say it for herself because she's on duty tonight.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'On duty doing what?' said Ron quickly. 'Never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "you mind, just stuff for the Order,' said Sirius. 'So it's fallen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to me to be the messenger and make sure you tell her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "I passed it all on, because I don't think she trusts me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to.' There was another pause in which Crookshanks, mewing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "attempted to paw Sirius's head, and Ron fiddled with a hole in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the hearthrug. 'So, you want me to say I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "not going to take part in the Defence group?' he muttered finally.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Me? Certainly not!' said Sirius, looking surprised. 'I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "it's an excellent idea!' 'You do?' said Harry, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "heart lifting. 'Of course I do!' said Sirius. 'D'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "think your father and I would've lain down and taken orders from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "an old hag like Umbridge?' 'But - last term","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "all you did was tell me to be careful and not take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "risks - ' 'Last year, all the evidence was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "that someone inside Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "impatiently. This year, we know there's someone outside Hogwarts who'd like to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "kill us all, so I think learning to defend yourselves properly is;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a very good idea!' 'And if we do get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "expelled?' Hermione asked, a quizzical look on her face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!' said Harry, staring at her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'I know it was. I just wondered what Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "thought,' she said, shrugging. 'Well, better expelled and able","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "to defend yourselves than sitting safely in school without a clue,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Sirius. 'Hear, hear,' said Harry and Ron enthusiastically. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'So,' said Sirius, 'how are you organising this group? Where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "are you meeting?' 'Well, mats a bit of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "problem now, said Harry. Dunno where we're going to be able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "go.' 'How about the Shrieking Shack?' suggested Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Hey, that's an idea!' said Ron excitedly, but Hermione made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a sceptical noise and all three of them looked at her, Sirius's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "head turning in the flames. 'Well, Sirius, it's just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "that there were only four of you meeting in the Shrieking Shack","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "when you were at school,' said Hermione, 'and all of you could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "transform into animals and I suppose you could all have squeezed under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "a single Invisibility Cloak if you'd wanted to. But there are twenty-eight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "of us and none of us is an Animagus, so we wouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "need so much an Invisibility Cloak as an Invisibility Marquee - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " 'Fair point,' said Sirius, looking slightly crestfallen. 'Well, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "sure you'll come up with somewhere. There used to be a pretty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "roomy secret passageway behind that big mirror on the fourth floor, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "might have enough space to practise jinxes in there.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Fred and George told me it's blocked,' said Harry, shaking his head.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "'Caved in or something.' 'Oh . . .' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Sirius, frowning. 'Well, I'll have a think and get back to -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "' He broke off. His face was suddenly tense,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "alarmed. He turned sideways, apparently looking into the solid brick wall of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the fireplace. 'Sirius?' said Harry anxiously. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "But he had vanished. Harry gaped at the flames for a moment,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "then turned to look at Ron and Hermione. 'Why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "did he - ?' Hermione gave a horrified gasp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "and leapt to her feet, still staring at the fire. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" " A hand had appeared amongst the flames, groping as though to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "catch hold of something; a stubby, short-fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "rings. The three of them ran for it. At","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "the door of the boys' dormitory Harry looked back. Umbridge's hand was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "still making snatching movements amongst the flames, as though she knew exactly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "where Sirius's hair had been moments before and was determined to seize it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-17" "Dumbledore's Army'Umbridge has been reading your mail, Harry. There's no other explanation.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'You think Umbridge attacked Hedwig?' he said, outraged. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'I'm almost certain of it,' said Hermione grimly. 'Watch your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "frog, it's escaping.' Harry pointed his wand at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "bullfrog that had been hopping hopefully towards the other side of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "table - 'Accio!' - and it zoomed gloomily back into his hand.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Charms was always one of the best lessons in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "which to enjoy a private chat; there was generally so much movement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and activity that the danger of being overheard was very slight. Today,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "with the room full of croaking bullfrogs and cawing ravens, and with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a heavy downpour of rain clattering and pounding against the classroom windows,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry, Ron and Hermione's whispered discussion about how Umbridge had nearly caught","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Sirius went quite unnoticed. 'I've been suspecting this ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "since Filch accused you of ordering Dungbombs, because it seemed such a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "stupid lie,' Hermione whispered. 'I mean, once your letter had been read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it would have been quite clear you weren't ordering them, so you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wouldn't have been in trouble at all - it's a bit of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a feeble joke, isn't it? But then I thought, what if somebody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "just wanted an excuse to read your mail? Well then, it would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "be a perfect way for Umbridge to manage it - tip off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Filch, let him do the dirty work and confiscate the letter, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "either find a way of stealing it from him or else demand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to see it - I don't think Filch would object, when's he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "ever stuck up for a student's rights? Harry, you're squashing your frog.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Harry looked down; he was indeed squeezing his bullfrog","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "so tightly its eyes were popping; he replaced it hastily upon the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "desk. 'It was a very, very close call last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "night,' said Hermione. 'I just wonder if Umbridge knows how close it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was. Silendo.' The bullfrog on which she was practising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "her Silencing Charm was struck dumb mid-croak and glared at her reproachfully.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'If she'd caught Snuffles - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry finished the sentence for her. ' - He'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "probably be back in Azkaban this morning.' He waved his wand without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "really concentrating; his bullfrog swelled like a green balloon and emitted a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "high-pitched whistle. 'Silencio!' said Hermione hastily, pointing her wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "at Harry's frog, which deflated silently before them. 'Well, he mustn't do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it again, that's all. I just don't know how we're going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "let him know. We can't send him an owl.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'I don't reckon he'll risk it again,' said Ron. 'He's not stupid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he knows she nearly got him. Silencio.' The large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and ugly raven in front of him let out a derisive caw.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Silencio. SILENCIO!' The raven cawed more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "loudly. 'It's the way you're moving your wand,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Hermione, watching Ron critically, 'you don't want to wave it, it's more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a sharp jab.' 'Ravens are harder than frogs,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Ron through clenched teeth. 'Fine, let's swap,' said Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "seizing Ron's raven and replacing it with her own fat bullfrog. 'Silencio!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "The raven continued to open and close its sharp beak, but no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "sound came out. 'Very good, Miss Granger!' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Flitwick's squeaky little voice, making Harry, Ron and Hermione all jump. 'Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "let me see you try, Mr Weasley' 'Wha-? Oh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "- oh, right,' said Ron, very flustered. 'Er - silencio!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " He jabbed at the bullfrog so hard he poked it in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the eye: the frog gave a deafening croak and leapt off the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "desk. It came as no surprise to any of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "them that Harry and Ron were given additional practice of the Silencing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Charm for homework. They were allowed to remain inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "over break due to the downpour outside. They found seats in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "noisy and overcrowded classroom on the first floor in which Peeves was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "floating dreamily up near the chandelier, occasionally blowing an ink pellet at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the top of somebody's head. They had barely sat down when Angelina","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "came struggling towards them through the groups of gossiping students. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'I've got permission!' she said. To re-form the Quidditch team!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Excellent!' said Ron and Harry together. 'Yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said Angelina, beaming. 'I went to McGonagall and I think she might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "have appealed to Dumbledore. Anyway, Umbridge had to give in. Ha! So","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "I want you down at the pitch at seven o'clock tonight, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "right, because we've got to make up time. You realise we're only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "three weeks away from our first match?' She squeezed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "away from them, narrowly dodged an ink pellet from Peeves, which hit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a nearby first-year instead, and vanished from sight. Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "smile slipped slightly as he looked out of the window, which was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "now opaque with hammering rain. 'Hope this clears up.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "What's up with you, Hermione?' She, too, was gazing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "at the window, but not as though she really saw it. Her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "eyes were unfocused and there was a frown on her face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Just thinking . . .' she said, still frowning at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the rain-washed window. 'About Siri - Snuffles?' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'No . . . not exactly . . .`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said Hermione slowly. 'More . . . wondering . . . I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "suppose we're doing the right thing . . . I think .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . aren't Harry and Ron looked at each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "other. 'Well, that clears that up,' said Ron. 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "would've been really annoying if you hadn't explained yourself properly.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Hermione looked at him as though she had only just realised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he was there. 'I was just wondering,' she said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "her voice stronger now, 'whether we're doing the right thing, starting this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Defence Against the Dark Arts group.' 'What?' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and Ron together. 'Hermione, it was your idea in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the first place!' said Ron indignantly. 'I know,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Hermione, twisting her fingers together. 'But after talking to Snuffles . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ".' 'But he's all for it,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Yes,' said Hermione, staring at the window again. 'Yes, that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "what made me think maybe it wasn't a good idea after all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . .' Peeves floated over them on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "stomach, peashooter at the ready; automatically all three of them lifted their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "bags to cover their heads until he had passed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Let's get this straight,' said Harry angrily, as they put their bags","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "back on the floor, 'Sirius agrees with us, so you don't think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "we should do it any more?' Hermione looked tense","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and rather miserable. Now staring at her own hands, she said, 'Do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you honestly trust his judgement?' 'Yes, I do!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry at once. 'He's always given us great advice!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "An ink pellet whizzed past them, striking Katie Bell squarely in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "ear. Hermione watched Katie leap to her feet and start throwing things","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "at Peeves; it was a few moments before Hermione spoke again and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it sounded as though she was choosing her words very carefully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'You don't think he has become . . . sort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of . . . reckless . . . since he's been cooped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "up in Grimmauld Place? You don't think he's . . . kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of . . . living through us?' 'What d'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "mean, `living through us`?' Harry retorted. 'I mean .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . well, I think he'd love to be forming secret Defence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "societies right under the nose of someone from the Ministry . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". I think he's really frustrated at how little he can do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "where he is . . . so I think he's keen to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "kind of . . . egg us on.' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "looked utterly perplexed. 'Sirius is right,' he said, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "do sound just like my mother.' Hermione bit her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "lip and did not answer. The bell rang just as Peeves swooped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "down on Katie and emptied an entire ink bottle over her head.*The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "weather did not improve as the day wore on, so that at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "seven o'clock that evening, when Harry and Ron went down to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Quidditch pitch for practice, they were soaked through within minutes, their feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "slipping and sliding on the sodden grass. The sky was a deep,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "thundery grey and it was a relief to gain the warmth and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "light of the changing rooms, even if they knew the respite was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "only temporary. They found Fred and George debating whether to use one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of their own Skiving Snackboxes to get out of flying. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " '. . . but I bet she'd know what we'd done,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Fred said out of the corner of his mouth. 'If only I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "hadn't offered to sell her some Puking Pastilles yesterday.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'We could try the Fever Fudge,' George muttered, 'no one's seen that yet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "- ' 'Does it work?' enquired Ron hopefully, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the hammering of rain on the roof intensified and wind howled around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the building. 'Well, yeah,' said Fred, 'your temperature'll go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "right up.' 'But you get these massive pus-filled boils,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "too,' said George, 'and we haven't worked out how to get rid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of them yet.' 'I can't see any boils,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Ron, staring at the twins. 'No, well, you wouldn't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said Fred darkly, 'they're not in a place we generally display to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the public.' 'But they make sitting on a broom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a right pain in the - ' 'All right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "everyone, listen up,' said Angelina loudly, emerging from the Captain's office. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "know it's not ideal weather, but there's a chance we'll be playing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Slytherin in conditions like this so it's a good idea to work","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "out how we're going to cope with them. Harry, didn't you do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "something to your glasses to stop the rain fogging them up when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "we played Hufflepuff in that storm?' 'Hermione did it,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said Harry. He pulled out his wand, tapped h s glasses and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said, 'Impervius!' 'I think we all ought to try","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "that,' said Angelina. 'If we could just keep the rain off our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "faces it would really help visibility - all together, come on -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Imperviusl OK. Let's go.' They all stowed their wands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "back in the inside pockets of their robes, shouldered their brooms and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "followed Angelina out of the changing rooms. They squelched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "through the deepening mud to the middle of the pitch; visibility was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "still very poor even with the Impervius Charm; light was fading fast","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and curtains of rain were sweeping the grounds. 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "right, on my whistle,' shouted Angelina. Harry kicked off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "from the ground, spraying mud in all directions, and shot upwards, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wind pulling him slightly off course. He had no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "idea how he was going to see the Snitch in this weather;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he was having enough difficulty seeing the one Bludger with which they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "were practising; a minute into the practice it almost unseated him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he had to use the Sloth Grip Roll to avoid it. Unfortunately,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Angelina did not see this. In fact, she did not appear to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "be able to see anything; none of them had a clue what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the others were doing. The wind was picking up; even at a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "distance Harry could hear the swishing, pounding sounds of the rain pummelling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the surface of the lake. Angelina kept them at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it for nearly an hour before conceding defeat. She led her sodden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and disgruntled team back into the changing rooms, insisting that the practice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "had not been a waste of time, though without any real conviction","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "in her voice. Fred and George were looking particularly annoyed; both were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "bandy-legged and winced with every movement. Harry could hear them complaining in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "low voices as he towelled his hair dry. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "think a few of mine have ruptured,' said Fred in a hollow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "voice. 'Mine haven't,' said George, through clenched teeth, 'they're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "throbbing like mad . . . feel bigger if anything.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'OUCH!' said Harry. He pressed the towel to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his face, his eyes screwed tight with pain. The scar on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "forehead had seared again, more painfully than it had in weeks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'What's up?' said several voices. Harry emerged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "from behind his towel; the changing room was blurred because he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "not wearing his glasses, but he could still tell that everyone's face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was turned towards him. 'Nothing,' he muttered, 'I -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "poked myself in the eye, that's all.' But he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "gave Ron a significant look and the two of them hung back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "as the rest of the team filed back outside, muffled in their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "cloaks, their hats pulled low over their ears. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "happened?' said Ron, the moment Alicia had disappeared through the door. 'Was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it your scar?' Harry nodded. 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . .' looking scared, Ron strode across to the window and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "stared out into the rain, 'he - he can't be near us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "now, can he?' 'No,' Harry muttered, sinking on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a bench and rubbing his forehead. 'He's probably miles away. It hurt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "because . . . he's . . . angry.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry had not meant to say that at all, and heard the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "words as though a stranger had spoken them - yet knew at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "once that they were true. He did not know how he knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it, but he did; Voldemort, wherever he was, whatever he was doing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was in a towering temper. 'Did you see him?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said Ron, looking horrified. 'Did you . . . get a vision,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "or something?' Harry sat quite still, staring at his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "feet, allowing his mind and his memory to relax in the aftermath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of the pain. A confused tangle of shapes, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "howling rush of voices . . . 'He wants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "something done, and it's not happening fast enough,' he said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Again, he felt surprised to hear the words coming out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his mouth, and yet was quite certain they were true. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'But . . . how do you know?' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Harry shook his head and covered his eyes with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "hands, pressing down upon them with his palms. Little stars erupted in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "them. He felt Ron sit down on the bench beside him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "knew Ron was staring at him. 'Is this what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it was about last time?' said Ron in a hushed voice. 'When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "your scar hurt in Umbridge's office? You-Know-Who was angry?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry shook his head. 'What is it, then?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Harry was thinking himself back. He had been looking into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Umbridge's face . . . his scar had hurt . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and he had had that odd feeling in his stomach . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". a strange, leaping feeling . . . a happy feeling .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . but of course, he had not recognised it for what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it was, as he had been feeling so miserable himself . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". 'Last time, it was because he was pleased,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he said. 'Really pleased. He thought . . . something good was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "going to happen. And the night before we came back to Hogwarts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . .' he thought back to the moment when his scar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "had hurt so badly in his and Ron's bedroom in Grimmauld Place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . 'he was furious He looked round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "at Ron, who was gaping at him. 'You could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "take over from Trelawney, mate, he said in an awed voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'I'm not making prophecies,' said Harry. 'No,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you know what you're doing?' Ron said, sounding both scared and impressed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Harry, you're reading You-Know-Who's mind!' 'No,' said Harry, shaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his head. 'It's more like . . . his mood, I suppose.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "I'm just getting flashes of what mood he's in. Dumbledore said something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "like this was happening last year. He said that when Voldemort was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "near me, or when he was feeling hatred, I could tell. Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "now I'm feeling it when he's pleased, too . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " There was a pause. The wind and rain lashed at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the building. 'You've got to tell someone,' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'I told Sirius last time.' 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "tell him about this time!' 'Can't, can I?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry grimly. 'Umbridge is watching the owls and the fires, remember?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Well then, Dumbledore.' 'I've just told you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he already knows,' said Harry shortly, getting to his feet, taking his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "cloak off his peg and swinging it around him. There's no point","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "telling him again.' Ron did up the fastening of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his own cloak, watching Harry thoughtfully. 'Dumbledore'd want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "know,' he said. Harry shrugged. 'C'mon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . we've still got Silencing Charms to practise.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " They hurried back through the dark grounds, sliding and stumbling up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the muddy lawns, not talking. Harry was thinking hard. What was it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "that Voldemort wanted done that was not happening quickly enough? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " '. . . he's got other plans . . . plans","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he can put into operation very quietly indeed . . . stuff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he can only get by stealth . . . like a weapon.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Something he didn't have last time.' Harry had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "thought about those words in weeks; he had been too absorbed in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "what was going on at Hogwarts, too busy dwelling on the ongoing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "battles with Umbridge, the injustice of all the Ministry interference . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". but now they came back to him and made him wonder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . Voldemort s anger would make sense if he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "no nearer to laying hands on the weapon, whatever it was. Had the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Order thwarted him, stopped him from seizing it? Where was it kept?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Who had it now? 'Mimbulus mimbletonia,' said Ron's voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and Harry came back to his senses just in time to clamber","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "through the portrait hole into the common room. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "appeared that Hermione had gone to bed early, leaving Crookshanks curled in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a nearby chair and an assortment of knobbly knitted elf hats lying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "on a table by the fire. Harry was rather grateful that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was not around, because he did not much want to discuss his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "scar hurting and have her urge him to go to Dumbledore, too.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Ron kept throwing him anxious glances, but Harry pulled out his Charms","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "books and set to work on finishing his essay, though he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "only pretending to concentrate and by the time Ron said he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "going up to bed, too, he had written hardly anything. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Midnight came and went while Harry was reading and rereading a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "passage about the uses of scurvy-grass, lovage and sneezewort and not taking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "in a word of it. These plantes are moste","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and are therefore much used","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts, where the wizard is desirous of producing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "hot-headedness and recklessness . . . . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Hermione said Sirius was becoming reckless cooped up in Grimmauld Place .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . . . moste efficacious in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "inflaming of the braine, and are therefore much used . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " . . . the Daily Prophet would think his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "brain was inflamed if they found out that he knew what Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was feeling . . . . . . therefore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "much used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " . . . confusing was the word, all right; why did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "he know what Voldemort was feeling? What was this weird connection between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "them, which Dumbledore had never been able to explain satisfactorily? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " . . . where the wizard is desirous . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " . . . how Harry would like to sleep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . . . . of producing hot-headedness","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . . . . it was warm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and comfortable in his armchair before the fire, with the rain still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "beating heavily on the windowpanes, Crookshanks purring, and the crackling of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "flames . . . The book slipped from Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "slack grip and landed with a dull thud on the hearthrug. His","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "head lolled sideways . . . He was walking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "once more along a windowless corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "As the door at the end of the passage loomed larger, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "heart beat fast with excitement . . . if he could only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "open it . . . enter beyond . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " He stretched out his hand . . . his fingertips were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "inches from it . . . 'Harry Potter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "sir!' He awoke with a start. The candles had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "all been extinguished in the common room, but there was something moving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "close by. 'Whozair?' said Harry, sitting upright in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "chair. The fire was almost out, the room very dark. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Dobby has your owl, sir!' said a squeaky voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Dobby?' said Harry thickly, peering through the gloom towards the source","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of the voice. Dobby the house-elf was standing beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the table on which Hermione had left half a dozen of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "knitted hats. His large, pointed ears were now sticking out from beneath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "what looked like all the hats Hermione had ever knitted; he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wearing one on top of the other, so that his head seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "elongated by two or three feet, and on the very topmost bobble","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "sat Hedwig, hooting serenely and obviously cured. 'Dobby volunteered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to return Harry Potter's owl,' said the elf squeakily, with a look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of positive adoration on his face, 'Professor Grubbly-Plank says she is all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "well now, sir.' He sank into a deep bow so that his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "pencil-like nose brushed the threadbare surface of the hearthrug and Hedwig gave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "an indignant hoot and fluttered on to the arm of Harry's chair.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Thanks, Dobby!' said Harry, stroking Hedwig's head and blinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "hard, trying to rid himself of the image of the door in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his dream . . . it had been very vivid. Surveying Dobby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "more closely, he noticed that the elf was also wearing several scarves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and innumerable socks, so that his feet looked far too big for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his body. 'Er . . . have you been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "taking all the clothes Hermione's been leaving out?' 'Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "no, sir,' said Dobby happily. 'Dobby has been taking some for Winky,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "too, sir.' 'Yeah, how is Winky?' asked Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Bobby's ears drooped slightly. 'Winky is still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "drinking lots, sir,' he said sadly, his enormous round green eyes, large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "as tennis balls, downcast. 'She still does not care for clothes, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Potter. Nor do the other house-elves. None of them will clean Gryffindor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Tower any more, not with the hats and socks hidden everywhere, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "finds them insulting, sir. Dobby does it all himself, sir, but Dobby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "does not mind, sir, for he always hopes to meet Harry Potter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and tonight, sir, he has got his wish!' Dobby sank into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "deep bow again. 'But Harry Potter does not seem happy,' Dobby went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "on, straightening up again and kicking timidly at Harry. 'Dobby heard him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "muttering in his sleep. Was Harry Potter having bad dreams?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Not really bad,' said Harry, yawning and rubbing his eyes. 'I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "had worse.' The elf surveyed Harry out of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "vast, orb-like eyes. Then he said very seriously, his ears drooping, 'Dobby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wishes he could help Harry Potter, for Harry Potter set Dobby free","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and Dobby is much, much happier now.' Harry smiled.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'You can't help me, Dobby, but thanks for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "offer.' He bent and picked up his Potions book.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "He'd have to try to finish the essay tomorrow. He closed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "book and as he did so the firelight illuminated the thin white","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "scars on the back of his hand - the result of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "detentions with Umbridge . . . Wait a moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "- there is something you can do for me, Dobby,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "slowly. The elf looked round, beaming. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Name it, Harry Potter, sir!' 'I need to find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a place where twenty-eight people can practise Defence Against the Dark Arts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "without being discovered by any of the teachers. Especially,' Harry clenched his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "hand on the book, so that the scars shone pearly white, 'Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Umbridge.' He expected the elf's smile to vanish, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "ears to droop; he expected him to say it was impossible, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "else that he would try to find somewhere, but his hopes were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "not high. What he had not expected was for Dobby to give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a little skip, his ears waggling cheerfully, and clap his hands together.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Dobby knows the perfect place, sir!' he said happily.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Dobby heard tell of it from the other house-elves when he came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to Hogwarts, sir. It is known by us as the Come and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Go Room, sir, or else as the Room of Requirement!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Why?' said Harry curiously. 'Because it is a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "room that a person can only enter,' said Dobby seriously, 'when they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "have real need of it. Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "is not, but when it appears, it is always equipped for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "seeker's needs. Dobby has used it, sir,' said the elf, dropping his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "voice and looking guilty, 'when Winky has been very drunk; he has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "hidden her in the Room of Requirement and he has found antidotes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to Butterbeer there, and a nice elf-sized bed to settle her on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "while she sleeps it off, sir . . . and Dobby knows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Mr Filch has found extra cleaning materials there when he has run","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "short, sir, and - ' 'And if you really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "needed a bathroom,' said Harry, suddenly remembering something Dumbledore had said at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the Yule Ball the previous Christmas, 'would it fill itself with chamber","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "pots?' 'Dobby expects so, sir,' said Dobby, nodding earnestly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'It is a most amazing room, sir.' 'How many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "people know about it?' said Harry, sitting up straight er in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "chair. 'Very few, sir. Mostly people stumbles across it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "when they needs it, sir, but often they never finds it again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "for they do not know that it is always there waiting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "be called into service, sir.' 'It sounds brilliant,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry, his heart racing. 'It sounds perfect, Dobby. When can you show","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "me where it is?' 'Any time, Harry Potter, sir,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said Dobby, looking delighted at Harry's enthusiasm. 'We could go now, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you like!' For a moment Harry was tempted to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "with Dobby. He was halfway out of his seat, intending to hurry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "upstairs for his Invisibility Cloak when, not for the first time, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "voice very much like Hermione's whispered in his ear: reckless. It was,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "after all, very late, he was exhausted, and had Snape's essay to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "finish. 'Not tonight, Dobby,' said Harry reluctantly, sinking back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "into his chair. This is really important . . . I don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "want to blow it, it'll need proper planning. Listen, can you just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "tell me exactly where this Room of Requirement is, and how to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "get in there?'*Their robes billowed and swirled around them as they splashed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "across the flooded vegetable patch to double Herbology where they could hardly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "hear what Professor Sprout was saying over the hammering of raindrops hard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "as hailstones on the greenhouse roof. The afternoon's Care of Magical Creatures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "lesson was to be relocated from the storm-swept grounds to a free","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "classroom on the ground floor and, to their intense relief, Angelina had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "sought out her team at lunch to tell them that Quidditch practice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was cancelled. 'Good,' said Harry quietly, when she. told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "him, 'because we've found somewhere to have our first Defence meeting. Tonight,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "eight o'clock, seventh floor opposite that tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "clubbed by those trolls. Can you tell Katie and Alicia?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " She looked slightly taken aback but promised to tell the others.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry returned hungrily to his sausages and mash. When he looked up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to take a drink of pumpkin juice, he found Hermione watching him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'What?' he said thickly. Well .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . it's just that Dobby's plans aren't always that safe. Don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you remember when he lost you all the bones in your arm?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " This room isn't just some mad idea of Dobby's;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Dumbledore knows about it, too, he mentioned it to me at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Yule Ball.' Hermione's expression cleared. 'Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "told you about it?' 'Just in passing,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "shrugging. 'Oh, well, that's all right then,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "briskly and raised no more objections. Together - 'with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Ron they had spent most of the day seeking out those people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "who had signed their names to the list in the Hog's Head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and telling them where to meet that evening. Somewhat to Harry's disappointment,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it was Ginny who managed to find Cho Chang and her friend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "first; however, by the end of dinner he was confident that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "news had been passed to every one of the twenty-five people who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "had turned up in the Hog's Head. At half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "past seven Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Gryffindor common room, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "clutching a certain piece of aged parchment in his hand. Fifth-years were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "allowed to be out in the corridors until nine o'clock, but all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "three of them kept looking around nervously as they made their way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "along the seventh floor. 'Hold it,' Harry warned, unfolding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the piece of parchment at the top of the last staircase, tapping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it with his wand and muttering, 'I solemnly swear that I am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "up to no good.` A map of Hogwarts appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "on the blank surface of the parchment. Tiny black moving dots, labelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "with names, showed where various people were. 'Filch is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "on the second floor,' said Harry, holding the map close to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "eyes, 'and Mrs Norris is on the fourth.' 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Umbridge?' said Hermione anxiously. 'In her office,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "pointing. 'OK, let's go.' They hurried along the corridor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to the place Dobby had described to Harry, a stretch of blank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wall opposite an enormous tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barmy's foolish attempt to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "train trolls for the ballet. 'OK,' said Harry quietly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "while a moth-eaten troll paused in his relentless clubbing of the would-be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "ballet teacher to watch them. 'Dobby said to walk past this bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of wall three times, concentrating hard on what we need.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " They did so, turning sharply at the window just beyond the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "blank stretch of wall, then at the man-sized vase on its other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "side. Ron had screwed up his eyes in concentration; Hermione was whispering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "something under her breath; Harry's fists were clenched as he stared ahead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of him. We need somewhere to learn to fight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . he thought. Just give us a place to practise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". . . somewhere they can't find us . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Harry!' said Hermione sharply, as they wheeled around after their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "third walk past. A highly polished door had appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "in the wall. Ron was staring at it, looking slightly wary. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "reached out, seized the brass handle, pulled open the door and led","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the way into a spacious room lit with flickering torches like those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "that illuminated the dungeons eight floors below. The walls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "were lined with wooden bookcases and instead of chairs the re were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "large silk cushions on the floor. A set of shelves at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "far end of the room carried a range of instruments such as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Sneakoscopes, Secrecy Sensors and a large, cracked Foe-Glass that Harry was sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "had hung, the previous year, in the fake Moody's office. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " These will be good when we're practising Stunning,' said Ron enthusiastically,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "prodding one of the cushions with his foot. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "just look at these books!' said Hermione excitedly, running a finger along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the spines of the large leather-bound tomes. 'A Compendium of Common Curses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and their Counter-Actions . . . The Dark Arts Outsmarted . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" ". Self-Defensive Spellwork . . . wow . . .' She looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "around at Harry, her face glowing, and he saw that the presence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of hundreds of books had finally convinced Hermione that what they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "doing was right. 'Harry, this is wonderful, there's everything we need here!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " And without further ado she slid Jinxes for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Jinxed from its shelf, sank on to the nearest cushion and began","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to read. There was a gentle knock on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "door. Harry looked round. Ginny, Neville, Lavender, Parvati and Dean had arrived.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Whoa,' said Dean, staring around, impressed. 'What is this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "place?' Harry began to explain, but before he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "finished more people had arrived and he had to start all over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "again. By the time eight o'clock arrived, every cushion was occupied. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "moved across to the door and turned the key protruding from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "lock; it clicked in a satisfyingly loud way and everybody fell silent,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "looking at him. Hermione carefully marked her page of Jinxes for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Jinxed and set the book aside. 'Well,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "slightly nervously. This is the place we've found for practice sessions, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you've - er - obviously found it OK.' 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "fantastic!' said Cho, and several people murmured their agreement. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'It's bizarre,' said Fred, frowning around at it. 'We once hid from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Filch in here, remember, George? But it was just a broom cupboard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "then.' 'Hey, Harry, what's this stuff?' asked Dean from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the rear of the room, indicating the Sneakoscopes and the Foe-Glass. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Dark detectors,' said Harry, stepping between the cushions to reach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "them. 'Basically they all show when Dark wizards or enemies are around,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "but you don't want to rely on them too much, they can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "be fooled He gazed for a moment into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "cracked Foe-Glass; shadowy figures were moving around inside it, though none was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "recognisable. He turned his back on it. 'Well, I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "been thinking about the sort of stuff we ought to do first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and - er - ' He noticed a raised hand. 'What, Hermione?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'I think we ought to elect a leader,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Hermione. 'Harry's leader,' said Cho at once, looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Hermione as though she were mad. Harry's stomach did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "yet another back-flip. 'Yes, but I think we ought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to vote on it properly,' said Hermione, unperturbed. 'It makes it formal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and it gives him authority. So - 'everyone who thinks Harry ought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to be our leader?' Everybody put up their hand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "even Zacharias Smith, though he did it very half-heartedly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Er - right, thanks,' said Harry, who could feel his face burning.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'And - what, Hermione?' 'I also think we ought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to have a name,' she said brightly, her hand still in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "air. 'It would promote a feeling of team spirit and unity, don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you think?' 'Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Angelina hopefully. 'Or the Ministry of Magic are Morons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Group?' suggested Fred. 'I was thinking,' said Hermione, frowning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "at Fred, 'more of a name that didn't tell everyone what we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "were up to, so we can refer to it safely outside meetings.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " The Defence Association?' said Cho. 'The DA for short,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "so nobody knows what we're talking about?' 'Yeah, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "DA's good,' said Ginny. 'Only let's make it stand for Dumbledore's Army,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "because that's the Ministry's worst fear, isn't it?' There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "a good deal of appreciative murmuring and laughter at this. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'All in favour of the DA?' said Hermione bossily, kneeling up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "on her cushion to count. That's a majority - motion passed!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " She pinned the piece of parchment with all of their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "signatures on it on to the wall and wrote across the top","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "in large letters:DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY'Right,' said Harry, when she had sat down again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'shall we get practising then? I was thinking, the first thing we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "should do is Expelliarmus, you know, the Disarming Charm. I know it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "pretty basic but I've found it really useful - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Oh, please,' said Zacharias Smith, rolling his eyes and folding his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "arms. 'I don't think Expelliarmus is exactly going to help us against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "You-Know-Who, do you?' 'I've used it against him,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry quietly. 'It saved my life in June.' Smith","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "opened his mouth stupidly. The rest of the room was very quiet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'But if you think it's beneath you, you can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "leave,' Harry said. Smith did not move. Nor did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "anybody else. 'OK,' said Harry, his mouth slightly drier","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "than usual with all these eyes upon him, 'I reckon we should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "all divide into pairs and practise.' It felt very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "odd to be issuing instructions, but not nearly as odd as seeing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "them followed. Everybody got to their feet at once and divided up.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Predictably, Neville was left partnerless. You can practise with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "me,' Harry told him. 'Right - on the count of three, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "- one, two, three - ' The room was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "suddenly full of shouts of Expelliarmus. Wands flew in all directions; missed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "spells hit books on shelves and sent them flying into the air.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry was too quick for Neville, whose wand went spinning out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his hand, hit the ceiling in a shower of sparks and landed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "with a clatter on top of a bookshelf, from which Harry retrieved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it with a Summoning Charm. Glancing around, he thought he had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "right to suggest they practise the basics first; there was a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of shoddy spellwork going on; many people were not succeeding in Disarming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "their opponents at all, but merely causing them to jump backwards a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "few paces or wince as their feeble spell whooshed over them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Expelliarmus! said Neville, and Harry, caught unawares, tell his wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "fly out of his hand. 'I DID IT!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Neville gleefully. 'I've never done it before - I DID IT!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Good one!' said Harry encouragingly, deciding not to point out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "that in a real duel Neville's opponent was unlikely to be staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "in the opposite direction with his wand held loosely at his side.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Listen, Neville, can you take it in turns to practise with Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and Hermione for a couple of minutes so I can walk around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and see how the rest are doing?' Harry moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "off into the middle of the room. Something very odd was happening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to Zacharias Smith. Every time he opened his mouth to disarm Anthony","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Goldstein, his own wand would fly out of his hand, yet Anthony","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "did not seem to be making a sound. Harry did not have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "to look far to solve the mystery: Fred and George were several","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "feet from Smith and taking it in turns to point their wands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "at his back. 'Sorry Harry,' said George hastily, when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Harry caught his eye. 'Couldn't resist.' Harry walked around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the other pairs, trying to correct those who were doing the spell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wrong. Ginny was teamed with Michael Corner; she was doing very well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "whereas Michael was either very bad or unwilling to jinx her. Ernie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Macmillan was flourishing his wand unnecessarily, giving his partner time to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "in under his guard; the Creevey brothers were enthusiastic but erratic and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "mainly responsible for all the books leaping off the shelves around them;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Luna Lovegood was similarly patchy, occasionally sending Justin Finch-Fletchleys wand spinning out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "of his hand, at other times merely causing his hair to stand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "on end. 'OK, stop!' Harry shouted. 'Stop.' STOP!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " I need a whistle, he thought, and immediately spotted one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "lying on top of the nearest row of books. He caught it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "up and blew hard. Everyone lowered their wands. That","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wasn't bad,' said Harry, 'but there's definite room for improvement.' Zacharias Smith","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "glared at him. 'Let's try again.' He moved off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "around the room again, stopping here and there to make suggestions. Slowly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the general performance improved. He: avoided going near Cho","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and her friend for a while, but after walking twice around every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "other pair in the room felt he could not ignore them any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "longer. 'Oh no,' said Cho rather wildly as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "approached. 'Expelliarmious! I mean, Expellimellius! I - oh, sorry, Marietta!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " Her curly-haired friend's sleeve had caught fire; Marietta extinguished it with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "her own wand and glared at Harry as though it was his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "fault. 'You made me nervous, I was doing all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "right before then!' Cho told Harry ruefully. That was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "quite good,' Harry lied, but when she raised her eyebrows he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Well, no, it was lousy, but I know you can do it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "properly, I was watching from over there.' She laughed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Her friend Marietta looked at them rather sourly and turned away. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Don't mind her,' Cho muttered. 'She doesn't really want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "be here but I made her come with me. Her parents have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "forbidden her to do anything that might upset Umbridge. You see -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "her mum works for the Ministry.' What about your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "parents?' asked Harry. Well, they've forbidden me to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "on the wrong side of Umbridge, too,' said Cho, drawing herself up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "proudly. 'But if they think I'm not going to fight You-Know-Who after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "what happened to Cedric - ' She broke off,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "looking rather confused, and an awkward silence fell between them; Terry Boot's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "wand went whizzing past Harry's ear and hit Alicia Spinnet hard on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the nose. Well, my dad is very supportive of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "any anti-Ministry action!' said Luna Lovegood proudly from just behind Harry; evidently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "she had been eavesdropping on his conversation while Justin Finch - 'Fletchley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "attempted to disentangle himself from the robes that had flown up over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "his head. 'He's always saying he'd believe anything of Fudge; I mean,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the number of goblins Fudge has had assassinated! And of course he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "uses the Department of Mysteries to develop terrible poisons, which he secretly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "feeds to anybody who disagrees with him. And then there's his Umgubular","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Slashkilter - ' 'Don't ask,' Harry muttered to Cho","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "as she opened her mouth, looking puzzled. She giggled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "'Hey, Harry,' Hermione called from the other end of the room, 'have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you checked the time?' He looked down at his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "watch and was shocked to see it was already ten past nine,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "which meant they needed to get back to their common rooms immediately","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "or risk being caught and punished by Filch for being out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "bounds. He blew his whistle; everybody stopped shouting 'Expelliarmus' and the last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "couple of wands clattered to the floor. 'Well, that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was pretty good,' said Harry, 'but we've overrun, we'd better leave it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "here. Same time, same place next week?' 'Sooner!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Dean Thomas eagerly and many people nodded in agreement. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Angelina, however, said quickly, The Quidditch season's about to start, we need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "team practices too!' 'Let's say next Wednesday night, then,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "said Harry, 'we can decide on additional meetings then. Come on, we'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "better get going.' He pulled out the Marauder's Map","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "again and checked it carefully for signs of teachers on the seventh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "floor. He let them all leave in threes and fours, watching their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "tiny dots anxiously to see that they returned safely to their dormitories:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the Hufflepuffs to the basement corridor that also led to the kitchens;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the Ravenclaws to a tower on the west side of the castle,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "and the Gryffindors along the corridor to the Fat Lady's portrait. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " That was really, really good, Harry,' said Hermione, when finally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "it was just her, Harry and Ron who were left. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'Yeah, it was!' said Ron enthusiastically, as they slipped out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "the door and watched it melt back into stone behind them. 'Did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you see me disarm Hermione, Harry?' 'Only once,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Hermione, stung. 'I got you loads more than you got me -'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" " 'I did not only get you once, I got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you at least three times - ' 'Well, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "you're counting the one where you tripped over your own feet and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "knocked the wand out of my hand - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "They argued all the way back to the common room, but Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "was not listening to them. He had one eye on the Marauder's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "Map, but he was also thinking of Cho saying he made her nervous. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-18" "The Lion and the SerpantHarry felt as though he were carrying some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "kind of talisman inside his chest over the following two weeks, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "glowing secret that supported him through Umbridge's classes and even made it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "possible for him to smile blandly as he looked into her horrible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "bulging eyes. He and the DA were resisting her under her very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "nose, doing the very thing she and the Ministry most feared, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "whenever he was supposed to be reading Wilbert Slinkhard's book during her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "lessons he dwelled instead on satisfying memories of their most recent meetings,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "remembering how Neville had successfully disarmed Hermione, how Colin Creevey had mastered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the Impediment Jinx after three meetings' hard effort, how Parvati Patil had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "produced such a good Reductor Curse that she had reduced the table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "carrying all the Sneakoscopes to dust. He was finding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "it almost impossible to fix a regular night of the week for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the DA meetings, as they had to accommodate three separate: team's Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "practices, which were often rearranged due to bad weather conditions; but Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "was not sorry about this; he had a feeling that it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "probably better to keep the timing of their meetings unpredictable. If anyone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "was watching them, it would be hard to make out a pattern.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Hermione soon devised a very clever method of communicating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the time and date of the next meeting to all the members","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "in case they needed to change it at short notice, because it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "would look suspicious if people from different Houses were seen crossing the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Great Hall to talk to each other too often. She gave each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of the members of the DA a fake Galleon (Ron became very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "excited when he first saw the basket and was convinced she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "actually giving out gold). 'You see the numerals around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the edge of the coins?' Hermione said, holding one up for examination","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "at the end of their fourth meeting. The coin gleamed fat and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "yellow in the light from the torches. 'On real Galleons that's just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a serial number referring to the goblin who cast the coin. On","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "these fake coins, though, the numbers will change to reflect the time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and date of the next meeting. The coins will grow hot when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the date changes, so if you're carrying them in a pocket you'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "be able to feel them. We take one each, and when Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "sets the date of the next meeting he'll change the numbers on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "his coin, and because I've put a Protean Charm on them, they'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "all change to mimic his.' A blank silence greeted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Hermione's words. She looked around at all the faces upturned to her,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "rather disconcerted. 'Well - I thought it was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "good idea,' she said uncertainly, 'I mean, even if Umbridge asked us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to turn out our pockets, there's nothing fishy about carrying a Galleon,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "is there? But . . . well, if you don't want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "use them - ' 'You can do a Protean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Charm?' said Terry Boot 'Yes,' said Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'But that's . . . that's NEWT standard, that is,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "said weakly. 'Oh,' said Hermione, trying to look modest.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Oh . . . well . . . yes, I suppose it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "is.' 'How come you're not in Ravenclaw?' he demanded,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "staring at Hermione with something close to wonder. 'With brains like yours?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Well, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "in Ravenclaw during my Sorting,' said Hermione brightly, 'but it decided on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Gryffindor in the end. So, does that mean we're using the Galleons?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " There was a murmur of assent and everybody moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "forwards to collect one from the basket. Harry looked sideways at Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'You know what these remind me of?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'No, what's that?' The Death Eaters' scars. Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "touches one of them, and all their scars burn, and they know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "they've got to join him.' 'Well . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "yes,' said Hermione quietly, 'that is where I got the idea .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". . but you'll notice I decided to engrave the date on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "bits of metal rather than on our members' skin.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Yeah . . . I prefer your way,' said Harry, grinning, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "he slipped his; Galleon into his pocket. 'I suppose the only danger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "with these is that we might accidentally spend them.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Fat chance,' said Ron, who was examining his own fake Galleon with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a slightly mournful air, 'I haven't got any real Galleons to confuse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "it with.' As the first Quidditch match of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, drew nearer, their DA meetings were put on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hold because Angelina insisted on almost daily practices. The fact that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Quidditch Cup had not been held for so long added considerably to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the interest and excitement surrounding the forthcoming game; the: Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "were taking a lively interest in the outcome, for they, of course,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "would be playing both teams over the coming year; and the Heads","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of House of the competing teams, though they attempted to disguise it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "under a decent pretence of sportsmanship, were determined to see their own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "side victorious. Harry realised how much Professor McGonagall cared about beating Slytherin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "when she abstained from giving them homework in the week leading up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to the match. I think you've got enough to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "be getting on with at the moment,' she; said loftily. Nobody could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "quite believe their ears until she looked directly at Harry and Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and said grimly, 'I've become accustomed to seeing the Quidditch Cup in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "my study, boys, and I really don't want to have to hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "it over to Professor Snape, so use the extra time to practise,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "won't you?' Snape was no less obviously partisan; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "had booked the Quidditch pitch for Slytherin practice so often that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Gryffindors had difficulty getting on it to play. He was also turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a deaf ear to the many reports of Slytherin attempts to hex","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Gryffindor players in the corridors. When Alicia Spinnet turned up in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hospital wing with her eyebrows growing so thick and fast they obscured","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "her vision and obstructed her mouth, Snape insisted that she must have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "attempted a Hair-thickening Charm on herself and refused to listen to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "fourteen eye-witnesses who insisted they had seen the Slytherin Keeper, Miles Bletchley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hit her from behind with a jinx while she worked in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "library. Harry felt optimistic about Gryffindors chances; they had,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "after all, never lost to Malfoy's team. Admittedly, Ron was still not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "performing to Wood's standard, but he was working extremely hard to improve.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "His greatest weakness was a tendency to lose confidence after he'd made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a blunder; if he let in one goal he became flustered and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "was therefore likely to miss more. On the other hand, Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "seen Ron make some truly spectacular saves when he was on form;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "during one memorable practice he had hung one-handed from his broom and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "kicked the Quaffle so hard away from the goalhoop that it soared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the length of the pitch and through the centre hoop at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "other end; the rest of the team felt this save compared favourably","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "with one made recently by Barry Ryan, the Irish International Keeper, against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Poland's top Chaser, Ladislaw Zamojski. Even Fred had said that Ron might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "yet make him and George proud, and that they were seriously considering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "admitting he was related to them, something they assured him they had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "been trying to deny for four years. The only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "thing really worrying Harry was how much Ron was allowing the tactics","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of the Slytherin team to upset him before they even got on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to the pitch. Harry, of course, had endured their snide comments for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "over four years, so whispers of, 'Hey, Potty, I heard Warrington's sworn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to knock you off your broom on Saturday', far from chilling his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "blood, made him laugh. 'Warrington's aim's so pathetic I'd be more worried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "if he was aiming for the person next to me,' he retorted,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "which made Ron and Hermione laugh and wiped the smirk off Pansy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Parkinson's face. But Ron had never endured a relentless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "campaign of insults, jeers and intimidation. When Slytherins, some of them seventh-years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and considerably larger than he was, muttered as they passed in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "corridors, 'Got your bed booked in the hospital wing, Weasley?' he didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "laugh, but turned a delicate shade of green. When Draco Malfoy imitated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Ron dropping the Quaffle (which he did whenever they came within sight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of each other), Ron's ears glowed red and his hands shook so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "badly that he was likely to drop whatever he was holding at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the time, too. October extinguished itself in a rush","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy draughts that bit at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "exposed hands and faces. The skies and the ceiling of the Great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Hall turned a pale, pearly grey, the mountains around Hogwarts were snowcapped,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and the temperature in the castle dropped so low that many students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "wore their thick protective dragonskin gloves in the corridors between lessons. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " The morning of the match dawned bright and cold. When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Harry awoke he looked round at Ron's bed and saw him sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "bolt upright, his arms around his knees, staring fixedly into space. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'You all right?' said Harry. Ron nodded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "but did not speak. Harry was reminded forcibly of the time Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "had accidentally put a Slug-vomiting Charm on himself; he looked just as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "pale and sweaty as he had done then, not to mention as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "reluctant to open his mouth. 'You just need some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "breakfast,' Harry said bracingly. 'C'mon.' The Great Hall was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "filling up fast when they arrived, the talk louder and the mood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "more exuberant than usual. As they passed the Slytherin table there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "an upsurge of noise. Harry looked round and saw that, in addition","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to the usual green and silver scarves and hats, every one of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "them was wearing a silver badge in the shape of what seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to be a crown. For some reason many of them waved at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Ron, laughing uproariously. Harry tried to see what was written on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "badges as he walked by, but he was too concerned to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Ron past their table quickly to linger long enough to read them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " They received a rousing welcome at the Gryffindor table,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "where everyone was wearing red and gold, but far from raising Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "spirits the cheers seemed to sap the last of his morale; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "collapsed on to the nearest bench looking as though he were facing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "his final meal. 'I must've been mental to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "this,' he said in a croaky whisper. 'Mental.' 'Don't be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "thick,' said Harry firmly, passing him a choice of cereals, 'you're going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to be fine. It's normal to be nervous.' 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "rubbish,' croaked Ron. 'I'm lousy. I can't play to save my life.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "What was I thinking?' 'Get a grip,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "sternly. 'Look at that save you made with your foot the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "day, even Fred and George said it was brilliant.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Ron turned a tortured face to Harry. 'That was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "an accident,' he whispered miserably. 'I didn't mean to do it -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "I slipped off my broom when none of you were looking and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "when I was trying to get back on I kicked the Quaffle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "by accident.' 'Well,' said Harry, recovering quickly from this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "unpleasant surprise, 'a few more accidents like that and the game's in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the bag, isn't it?' Hermione and Ginny sat down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "opposite them wearing red and gold scarves, gloves and rosettes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'How're you feeling?' Ginny asked Ron, who was now staring into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the dregs of milk at the bottom of his empty cereal bowl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "as though seriously considering attempting to drown himself in them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'He's just nervous,' said Harry. 'Well, that's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "good sign, I never feel you perform as well in exams if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "you're not a bit nervous,' said Hermione heartily. 'Hello,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "said a vague and dreamy voice from behind them. Harry looked up:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Luna Lovegood had drifted over from the Ravenclaw table. Many people were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "staring at her and a few were openly laughing and pointing; she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "had managed to procure a hat shaped like a life-size lion's head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "which was perched precariously on her head. 'I'm supporting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Gryffindor,' said Luna, pointing unnecessarily at her hat. 'Look what it does","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". . .' She reached up and tapped the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hat with her wand. It opened its mouth wide and gave an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "extremely realistic roar that made everyone in the vicinity jump. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'It's good, isn't it?' said Luna happily. 'I wanted to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "it chewing up a serpent to represent Slytherin, you know, but there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "wasn't time. Anyway . . . good luck, Ronald!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "She drifted away. They had not quite recovered from the shock of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Luna's hat before Angelina came hurrying towards them, accompanied by Katie and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Alicia, whose eyebrows had mercifully been returned to normal by Madam Pomfrey.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'When you're ready,' she said, 'we're going to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "straight down to the pitch, check out conditions and change.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'We'll be there in a bit,' Harry assured her. 'Ron's just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "got to have some breakfast.' It became clear after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "ten minutes, however, that Ron was not capable of eating anything more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and Harry thought it best to get him down to the changing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "rooms. As they rose from the table, Hermione go; up, too, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "taking Harry's arm she drew him to one side. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Don't let Ron see what's on those Slytherins' badges,' she whispered urgently.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry looked questioningly at her, but she shook her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "head warningly; Ron had just ambled over to them, looking lost and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "desperate. 'Good luck, Ron,' said Hermione, standing on tiptoe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and kissing him on the cheek. 'And you, Harry - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Ron seemed to come to himself slightly as they walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "back across the Great Hall. He touched the spot on his face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "where Hermione had kissed him, looking puzzled, as though he was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "quite sure what had just happened. He seemed too distracted to notice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "much around him, but Harry cast a curious glance at the crown-shaped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "badges as they passed the Slytherin table, and this time he made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "out the words etched on to them:Weasley is our KingWith an unpleasant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "feeling that this could mean nothing good, he hurried Ron across the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Entrance Hall, clown the stone steps and out into the icy air.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " The frosty grass crunched under their feet as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hurried down the sloping lawns towards the stadium. There was no wind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "at all and the sky was a uniform pearly white, which meant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "that visibility would be good without the drawback of direct sunlight in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the eyes. Harry pointed out these encouraging factors to Ron as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "walked, but he was not sure that Ron was listening. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Angelina had changed already and was talking to the rest of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the team when they entered. Harry and Ron pulled on their robes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "(Ron attempted to do his up back-to-front for several minutes before Alicia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "took pity on him and went to help), then sat down to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "listen to the pre-match talk while the babble of voices outside grew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "steadily louder as the crowd came pouring out of the castle towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the pitch. 'OK, I've only just found out the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "final line-up for Slytherin,' said Angelina, consulting a piece of parchment. 'Last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "year's Beaters, Derrick and Bole, have left, but it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "looks as though Montague's replaced them with the usual gorillas, rather than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "anyone who c an fly particularly well. They're two blokes called Crabbe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and Goyle, I don't know much about them - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'We do,' said Harry and Ron together. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "they don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "from the other,' said Angelina, pocketing her parchment, 'but then I was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "always surprised Derrick and Bole managed to find their way on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the pitch without signposts.' 'Crabbe and Goyle are in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the same mould,' Harry assured her. They could hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hundreds of footsteps mounting the banked benches of the spectators' stands. Some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "people were singing, though Harry could not make out the words. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "was starting to feel nervous, but he knew his butterflies were as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "nothing compared to Ron's, who was clutching his stomach and staring straight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "ahead again, his jaw set and his complexion pale grey. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'It's time,' said Angelina in a hushed voice, looking at her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "watch. 'C'mon everyone . . . good luck.' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "team rose, shouldered their brooms and marched in single file out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the changing room and into the dazzling sunlight, A roar of sound","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "greeted them in which Harry could still hear singing, though it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "muffled by the cheers and whistles. The Slytherin team","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "was standing waiting for them. They, too, were wearing those silver crown-shaped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "badges. The new Captain, Montague, was built along the same lines as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Dudley Dursley with massive forearms like hairy hams. Behind him lurked Crabbe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and Goyle, almost as large, blinking stupidly in the sunlight, swinging their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "new Beaters' bats. Malfoy stood to one side, the sunlight gleaming on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "his white-blond head. He caught Harry's eye and smirked, tapping the crown-shaped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "badge on his chest. 'Captains, shake hands,' ordered the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "referee Madam Hooch, as Angelina and Montague reached each other. Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "tell that Montague was trying to crush Angelina's fingers, though she did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "not wince. 'Mount your brooms . . .' Madam","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and blew. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "The balls were released and the fourteen players shot upwards. Out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the corner of his eye Harry saw Ron streak off towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "goalhoops. Harry zoomed higher, dodging a Bludger, and set off on a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "wide lap of the pitch, gazing around for a glint of gold;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "on the other side of the stadium, Draco Malfoy was doing exactly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the same. 'And it's Johnson - 'Johnson with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "years but she still won't go out with me - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " JORDAN!' yelled Professor McGonagall. ' - just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a fun fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest - and she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "ducked Warrington, she's passed Montague, she's - ouch - been hit from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "behind by a Bludger from Crabbe . . . Montague catches the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Quaffle, Montague heading back up the pitch and - nice Bludger there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "from George Weasley, that's a Bludger to the head for Montague, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "drops the Quaffle, caught by Katie Bell, Katie Bell of Gryffindor reverse-passes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet's away - ' Lee","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Jordan's commentary rang through the stadium and Harry listened as hard as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "he could through the wind whistling in his ears and the din","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of the crowd, all yelling and booing and singing. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "' - dodges Warrington, avoids a Bludger - close call, Alicia -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and the crowd are loving this, just listen to them, what's that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "they're singing?' And as Lee paused to listen, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "song rose loud and clear from the sea of green and silver","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "in the Slytherin section of the stands:'Weasley cannot save a thing,He cannot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "block a single ring,That's why Slytherins all sing:Weasley is our King.'Weasley was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "born in a binHe always lets the Quaffle inWeasley will make sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "we winWeasley is our King.'' - and Alicia passes back to Angelina!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Lee shouted, and as Harry swerved, his insides boiling at what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "had just heard, he knew Lee was trying to drown out the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "words of the song. 'Come on now, Angelina - looks like she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "got just the Keeper to beat! - SHE SHOOTS - SHE -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "aaaah . . .' Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "saved the goal; he threw the Quaffle to Warrington who sped off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "with it, zig-zagging in between Alicia and Katie; the singing from below","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "grew louder and louder as he drew nearer and nearer Ron.'Weasley is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "our King,Weasley is our King,He always lets the Quaffle inWeasley is our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "King.'Harry could not help himself: abandoning his search for the Snitch, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "wheeled around to watch Ron, a lone figure at the far end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of the pitch, hovering before the three goalhoops while the massive Warrington","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "pelted towards him. ' - and it's Warrington with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the Quaffle, Warrington heading for goal, he's out of Bludger range with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "just the Keeper ahead - ' A great swell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of song rose from the Slytherin stands below:'Weasley cannot save a thing,He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "cannot block a single ring . . .'' - so it's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "first test for new Gryffindor Keeper Weasley, brother of Beaters Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "George, and a promising new talent on the team - come on,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Ron!' But the scream of delight came from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Slytherins' end: Ron had dived wildly, his arms wide, and the Quaffle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "had soared between them straight through Ron's central hoop. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Slytherin score!' came Lee's voice amid the cheering and booing from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "crowds below, 'so that's ten-nil to Slytherin - bad luck, Ron.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " The Slytherins sang even louder:'WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BINHE ALWAYS","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "LETS THE QUAFFLE IN. . .'' - and Gryffindor back in possession","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch - ' cried Lee","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "valiantly, though the singing was now so deafening that he could hardly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "make himself heard above it.'WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WINWEASLEY IS OUR","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "KING . . .''Harry, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' screamed Angelina, soaring past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "him to keep up with Katie. 'GET GOING!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "realised he had been stationary in midair for over a minute, watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the progress of the match without sparing a thought for the whereabouts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of the Snitch; horrified, he went into a dive and started circling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the pitch again, staring around, trying to ignore the chorus now thundering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "through the stadium:'WEASLEY IS OUR KING,WEASLEY IS OUR KING . . .'There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "was no sign of the Snitch anywhere he looked; Malfoy was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "circling the stadium just as he was. They passed one another midway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "around the pitch, going in opposite directions, and Harry heard Malfoy singing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "loudly:'WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN . . .'' - and it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Warrington again,' bellowed Lee, 'who passes to Pucey, Pucey's off past Spinnet,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "come on now, Angelina, you can take him - turns out you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "can't - but nice Bludger from Fred Weasley I mean, George Weasley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "oh, who cares, one of them, anyway, and Warrington drops the Quaffle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and Katie Bell - er - drops it, too - so that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Montague with the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Montague takes the Quaffle and he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "off up the pitch, come on now, Gryffindor, block him!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry zoomed around the end of the stadium behind the Slytherin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "goalhoops, willing himself not to look at what was going on at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Ron's end. As he sped past the Slytherin Keeper, he heard Bletchley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "singing along with the crowd below:'WEASLEY CANNOT SAVE A THING . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ".'' - and Pucey's dodged Alicia again and he's heading straight for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "goal, stop it, Ron!' Harry did not have to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "look to see what had happened: there was a terrible groan from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the Gryffindor end, coupled with fresh screams and applause from the Slytherins.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Looking down, Harry saw the pug-faced Pansy Parkinson right at the front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of the stands, her back to the pitch as she conducted the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Slytherin supporters who were roaring:'THAT'S WHY SLYTHERINS ALL SINGWEASLEY IS OUR KING.'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "twenty-nil was nothing, there was still time for Gryffindor to catch up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "or catch the Snitch. A few goals and they would be in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the lead as usual, Harry assured himself, bobbing and weaving through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "other players in pursuit of something shiny that turned out to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Montague's watchstrap. But Ron let in two more goals.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "There was an edge of panic in Harry's desire to find the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Snitch now. If he could just get it soon and finish the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "game quickly. ' - and Katie Bell of Gryffindor dodges","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Pucey, ducks Montague, nice swerve, Katie, and she throws to Johnson, Angelina","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Johnson takes the Quaffle, she's past Warrington, she's heading for goal, come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "on now, Angelina - GRYFFINDOR SCORE! It's forty-ten, forty-ten to Slytherin and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Pucey has the Quaffle . . .' Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hear Luna's ludicrous lion hat roaring amidst the Gryffindor cheers and felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "heartened; only thirty points in it, that was nothing, they could pull","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "back easily. Harry ducked a Bludger that Crabbe had sent rocketing in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "his direction and resumed his frantic scouring of the pitch for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Snitch, keeping one eye on Malfoy in case he showed signs of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "having spotted it, but Malfoy, like him, was continuing to soar around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the stadium, searching fruitlessly . . . ' -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Pucey throws to Warrington, Warrington to Montague, Montague back to Pucey -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Johnson intervenes, Johnson takes the Quaffle, Johnson to Bell, this looks good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "- I mean bad - Bell's hit by a Bludger from Goyle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of Slytherin and it's Pucey in possession again . . .''WEASLEY WAS","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "BORN IN A BINHE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN WEASLEY WILL MAKE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "SURE WE WIN . . .' But Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "seen it at last: the tiny fluttering Golden Snitch was hovering feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "from the ground at the Slytherin end of the pitch. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " He dived . . . In a matter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of seconds, Malfoy was streaking out of the sky on Harry's left,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a green and silver blur lying flat on his broom . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". The Snitch skirted the foot of one of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the goalhoops and scooted off towards the other side of the stands;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "its change of direction suited Malfoy, who was nearer; Harry pulled his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Firebolt around, he and Malfoy were now neck and neck . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". Feet from the ground, Harry lifted his right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hand from his broom, stretching towards the Snitch . . . to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "his right, Malfoy's arm extended too, was reaching, groping . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " It was over in two breathless, desperate, windswept seconds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "- 'Harry's fingers closed around the tiny, struggling ball - Malfoy's fingernails","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "scrabbled the back of Harry's hand hopelessly - Harry pulled his broom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "upwards, holding the struggling ball in his hand and the Gryffindor spectators","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "screamed their approval . . . They were saved,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "it did not matter that Ron had let in those goals, nobody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "would remember as long as Gryffindor had won - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " WHAM. A Bludger hit Harry squarely in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "small of the back and he flew forwards off his broom. Luckily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "he was only five or six feet above the ground, having dived","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "so low to catch the Snitch, but he was winded all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "same as he landed flat on his back on the frozen pitch.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "He heard Madam Hooch's shrill whistle, an uproar in the stands compounded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of catcalls, angry yells and jeering, a thud, then Angelina's frantic voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'Are you all right?' Course I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "am, said Harry grimly, taking her hand and allowing her to pull","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "him to his feet. Madam Hooch was zooming towards one of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Slytherin players above him, though he could not see who it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "from this angle. 'It was that thug Crabbe,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Angelina angrily, 'he whacked the Bludger at you the moment he saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "you'd got the Snitch - but we won, Harry, we won!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry heard a snort from behind him and turned around,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "still holding the Snitch tightly in his hand: Draco Malfoy had landed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "close by. White-faced with fury, he was still managing to sneer. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'Saved Weasley's neck, haven't you?' he said to Harry. 'I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "never seen a worse Keeper . . . but then he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "born in a bin . . . did you like my lyrics,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Potter?' Harry didn't answer. He turned away to meet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the rest of the team who were now landing one by one,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "yelling and punching the air in triumph; all except Ron, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "dismounted from his broom over by the goalposts and seemed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "making his way slowly back to the changing rooms alone. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'We wanted to write another couple of verses!' Malfoy called, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Katie and Alicia hugged Harry. 'But we couldn't find rhymes for fat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and ugly - we wanted to sing about his mother, see -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "' Talk about sour grapes,' said Angelina, casting Malfoy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a disgusted look. ' - we couldn't fit in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "useless loser either - for his father, you know - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Fred and George had realised what Malfoy was talking about.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Halfway through shaking Harry's hand, they stiffened, looking round at Malfoy. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'Leave it!' said Angelina at once, taking Fred by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "arm. 'Leave it, Fred, let him yell, he's just sore he lost,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the jumped-up little - ' - but you like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the Weasleys, don't you, Potter?' said Malfoy, sneering. 'Spend holidays there and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles, even the Weasleys' hovel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "smells OK - ' Harry grabbed hold of George.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Meanwhile, it was taking the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia and Katie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to stop Fred leaping on Malfoy, who was laughing openly. Harry looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "around for Madam Hooch, but she was still berating Crabbe for his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "illegal Bludger attack. 'Or perhaps,' said Malfoy, leering as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "he backed away, 'you can remember what your mother's house stank like,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Potter, and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "that a second later both of them were sprinting towards Malfoy. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "had completely forgotten that all the teachers were watching: all he wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible; with no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Malfoy's stomach - ' 'Harry! HARRY! GEORGE! NO!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " He could hear girls' voices screaming, Malfoy yelling, George swearing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "a whistle blowing and the bellowing of the crowd around him, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "he did not care. Not until somebody in the vicinity yelled 'Impedimenta!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and he was knocked over backwards by the force of the spell,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "did he abandon the attempt to punch every inch of Malfoy he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "could reach. 'What do you think you're doing?' screamed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Madam Hooch, as Harry leapt to his feet. It seemed to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "been her who had hit him with the Impediment Jinx; she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "holding her whistle in one hand and a wand in the other;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "her broom lay abandoned several feet away. Malfoy was curled up on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the ground, whimpering and moaning, his nose bloody; George was sporting a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "swollen lip; Fred was still being forcibly restrained by the three Chasers,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and Crabbe was cackling in the background. 'I've never seen behaviour like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "it - back up to the castle, both of you, and straight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to your Head of House's office! Go! Now.'' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and George turned on their heels and marched off the pitch, both","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "panting, neither saying a word to the other. The howling and jeering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of the crowd grew fainter and fainter until they reached the Entrance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Hall, where they could hear nothing except the sound of their own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "footsteps. Harry became aware that something was still struggling in his right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "hand, the knuckles of which he had bruised against Malfoy's jaw. Looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "down, he saw the Snitch's silver wings protruding from between his fingers,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "struggling for release. They had barely reached the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "of Professor McGonagalls office when she came marching along the corridor behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "them. She was wearing a Gryffindor scarf, but tore it from her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "throat with shaking hands as she strode towards them, looking livid. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'In!' she said furiously, pointing to the door. Harry and George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "entered. She strode around behind her desk and faced them, quivering with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "rage as she threw the Gryffindor scarf aside on to the floor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'Well?' she said. 'I have never seen such a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "disgraceful exhibition. Two on one! Explain yourselves!' 'Malfoy provoked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "us,' said Harry stiffly. 'Provoked you?' shouted Professor McGonagall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "slamming a fist on to her desk so that her tartan tin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "slid sideways off it and burst open, littering the floor with Ginger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Newts. 'He'd just lost, hadn't he? Of course he wanted to provoke","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "you! But what on earth he can have said that justified what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "you two - ' 'He insulted my parents,' snarled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "George. 'And Harry's mother.' 'But instead of leaving it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to Madam Hooch to sort out, you two decided to give an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "exhibition of Muggle duelling, did you?' bellowed Professor McGonagall. 'Have you any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "idea what you've - ?' 'Hem, hem.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry and George both wheeled round. Dolores Umbridge was standing in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the doorway wrapped in a green tweed cloak that greatly enhanced her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "resemblance to a giant toad, and was smiling in the horrible, sickly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "ominous way that Harry had come to associate with imminent misery. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'May I help, Professor McGonagall?' asked Professor Umbridge in her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "most poisonously sweet voice. Blood rushed into Professor McGonagall's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "face. 'Help?' she repeated, in a constricted voice. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "do you mean, help?' Professor Umbridge moved forwards into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the office, still smiling her sickly smile. 'Why, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "thought you might be grateful for a little extra authority.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry would not have been surprised to see sparks fly from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Professor McGonagall's nostrils. 'You thought wrong,' she said, turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "her back on Umbridge. 'Now, you two had better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "listen closely. I do not care what provocation Malfoy offered you, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "do not care if he insulted every family member you possess, your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "behaviour was disgusting and I am giving each of you a week's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "worth of detentions! Do not look at me like that, Potter, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "deserve it! And if either of you ever - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'Hem, hem.' Professor McGonagall closed her eyes as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "though praying for patience as she turned her face towards Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "again. 'Yes?' 'I think they deserve","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "rather more than detentions,' said Umbridge, smiling still more broadly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Professor McGonagall's eyes flew open. 'But unfortunately,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "said, with an attempt at a reciprocal smile that made her look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "as though she had lockjaw, 'it is what I think that counts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "as they are in my House, Dolores.' 'Well, actually,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Minerva,' simpered Professor Umbridge, 'I think you'll find that what I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "does count. Now, where is it? Cornelius just sent it . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". I mean,' she gave a false little laugh as she rummaged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "in her handbag, 'the Minister just sent it . . . ah","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "yes . . .' She had pulled out a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "piece of parchment which she now unfurled, clearing her throat fussily before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "starting to read what it said. 'Hem, hem .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". . `Educational Decree Number Twenty-five`.' 'Not another one!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "exclaimed Professor McGonagall violently. 'Well, yes,' said Umbridge, still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "smiling. 'As a matter of fact, Minerva, it was you who made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "me see that we needed a further amendment . . . you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "remember how you overrode me, when I was unwilling to allow the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Gryffindor Quidditch team to re-form? How you took the case to Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "who insisted that the team be allowed to play? Well, now, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "couldn't have that. I contacted the Minister at once, and he quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "agreed with me that the High Inquisitor has to have the power","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to strip pupils of privileges, or she - that is to say,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "I - would have less authority than common teachers! And you see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "now, don't you, Minerva, how right I was in attempting to stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the Gryffindor team re-forming? Dreadful tempers . . . anyway, I was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "reading out our amendment . . . hem, hem . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "`the High Inquisitor will henceforth have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "power to alter such punishments, sanctions and removals of privileges as may","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "have been ordered by other staff members. Signed, Cornelius Fudge, Minister for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Magic, Order of Merlin First Class, etc., etc.` ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "She rolled up the parchment and put it back into her handbag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "still smiling. 'So . . . I really think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "I will have to ban these two from playing Quidditch ever again,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "she said, looking from Harry to George and back again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry felt the Snitch fluttering madly in his hand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'Ban us?' he said, and his voice sounded strangely distant. 'From","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "playing . . . ever again?' 'Yes, Mr Potter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "I think a lifelong ban ought to do the trick,' said Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "her smile widening still further as she watched him struggle to comprehend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "what she had said. 'You and Mr Weasley here. And I think,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to be safe, this young man's twin ought to be stopped, too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "- if his teammates had not restrained him, I feel sure he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "would have attacked young Mr Malfoy as well. I will want their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "broomsticks confiscated, of course; I shall keep them safely in my office,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to make sure there is no infringement of my ban. But I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "am not unreasonable, Professor McGonagall,' she continued, turning back to Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "who was now standing as still as though carved from ice, staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "at her. The rest of the team can continue playing, I saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "no signs of violence from any of them. Well . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "good afternoon to you.' And with a look of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the utmost satisfaction, Umbridge left the room, leaving a horrified silence in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "her wake.*'Banned,' said Angelina in a hollow voice, late that evening in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the common room. 'Banned. No Seeker and no Beaters . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "what on earth are we going to do?' It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "did not feel as though they had won the match at all.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Everywhere Harry looked there were disconsolate and angry faces; the team themselves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "were slumped around the fire, all apart from Ron, who had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "been seen since the end of the match. 'Its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "just so unfair,' said Alicia numbly. 'I mean, what about ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Crabbe and that Bludger he hit after the whistle had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "been blown? Has she banned him?' 'No,' said Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "miserably; she and Hermione were sitting on either side of Harry. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "just got lines, I heard Montague laughing about it at dinner.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'And banning Fred when he didn't even do anything!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Alicia furiously, pummelling her knee with her fist. 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "not my fault I didn't,' said Fred, with a very ugly look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "on his face, 'I would've pounded the little scumbag to a pulp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "if you three hadn't been holding me back.' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "stared miserably at the dark window. Snow was falling. The Snitch he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "had caught earlier was now zooming around and around the common room;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "people were watching its progress as though hypnotised and Crookshanks was leaping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "from chair to chair, trying to catch it. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "going to bed,' said Angelina, getting slowly to her feet. 'Maybe this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "will all turn out to have been a bad dream . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and find we haven't played yet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" ". . .' She was soon followed by Alicia","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and Katie. Fred and George sloped off to bed some time later,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "glowering at everyone they passed, and Ginny went not long after that.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Only Harry and Hermione were left beside the fire. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Have you seen Ron?' Hermione asked in a low voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Harry shook his head. 'I think he's avoiding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "us,' said Hermione. 'Where do you think he - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " But at that precise moment, there was a creaking sound behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "them as the Fat Lady swung forwards and Ron came clambering through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the portrait hole. He was very pale indeed and there was snow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "in his hair. When he saw Harry and Hermione, he stopped dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "in his tracks. 'Where have you been?' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "anxiously, springing up. 'Walking,' Ron mumbled. He was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "wearing his Quidditch things. 'You look frozen,' said Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Come and sit down!' Ron walked to the fireside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "and sank into the chair furthest from Harry's, not looking at him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "The stolen Snitch zoomed over their heads. 'I'm sorry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Ron mumbled, looking at his feet. 'What for?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Harry. 'For thinking I can play Quidditch,' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'I'm going to resign first thing tomorrow.' 'If you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "resign,' said Harry testily, 'there'll only be three players left on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "team.' And when Ron looked puzzled, he said, 'I've been given a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "lifetime ban. So've Fred and George.' 'What?' Ron yelped.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Hermione told him the full story; Harry could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "bear to tell it again. When she had finished, Ron looked more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "anguished than ever. This is all my fault -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "' 'You didn't make me punch Malfoy,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "angrily. ' - if I wasn't so terrible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "at Quidditch - ' ' - it's got nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "to do with that.' ' - it was that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "song that wound me up - ' ' -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "it would've wound anyone up.' Hermione got up and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "walked to the window, away from the argument, watching the snow swirling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "down against the pane. 'Look, drop it, will you!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Harry burst out. 'It's bad enough, without you blaming yourself for everything!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " Ron said nothing but sat gazing miserably at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "damp hem of his robes. After a while he said in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "dull voice, 'This is the worst I've ever felt in my life.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" " 'Join the club,' said Harry bitterly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "'Well,' said Hermione, her voice trembling slightly. 'I can think of one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "thing that might cheer you both up.' 'Oh yeah?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "said Harry sceptically. 'Yeah,' said Hermione, turning away from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "the pitch-black, snow-flecked window, a broad smile spreading across her face. 'Hagrid's back.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-19" "Hagrid's TaleHarry sprinted up to the boys' dormitories to fetch the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map from his trunk; he was so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "quick that he and Ron were ready to leave at least five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "minutes before Hermione hurried back down from the girls' dormitories, wearing scarf,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "gloves and one of her own knobbly elf hats. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Well, it's cold out there!' she said defensively, as Ron clicked his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "tongue impatiently. They crept through the portrait hole and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "covered themselves hastily in the Cloak - Ron had grown so much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "he now needed to crouch to prevent his feet showing - then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "moving slowly and cautiously, they proceeded down the many staircases, pausing at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "intervals to check on the map for signs of Filch or Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Morris. They were lucky; they saw nobody but Nearly Headless Nick, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was gliding along absent-mindedly humming something that sounded horribly like 'Weasley is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "our King'. They crept across the Entrance Hall and out into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "silent, snowy grounds. With a great leap of his heart, Harry saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "little golden squares of light ahead and smoke coiling up from Hagrid's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "chimney. He set off at a quick march, the other two jostling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and bumping along behind him. They crunched excitedly through the thickening snow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "until at last they reached the wooden front door. When Harry raised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "his fist and knocked three times, a dog started barking frantically inside.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Hagrid, it's us!' Harry called through the keyhole. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Shoulda known!' said a gruff voice. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "beamed at each other under the Cloak; they could tell by Hagrid's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "voice that he was pleased. 'Bin home three seconds . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "out the way, Fang . . . out the way, yeh dozy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "dog . . .' The bolt was drawn back,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the door creaked open and Hagrid's head appeared in the gap. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hermione screamed. 'Merlin's beard, keep it down!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hagrid hastily, staring wildly over their heads. 'Under that Cloak, are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "yeh? Well, get in, get in!' 'I'm sorry!' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "gasped, as the three of them squeezed past Hagrid into the house","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and pulled the Cloak off themselves so he could see them. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "just - oh, Hagrid!' 'It's nuthin', it's nuthin'!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid hastily, shutting the door behind them and hurrying to close all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the curtains, but Hermione continued to gaze up at him in horror.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hagrid's hair was matted with congealed blood and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "left eye had been reduced to a puffy slit amid a mass","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "of purple and black bruising. There were many cuts on his face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and hands, some of them still bleeding, and he was moving gingerly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "which made Harry suspect broken ribs. It was obvious that he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "only just got home: a thick black travelling cloak lay over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "back of a chair and a haversack large enough to carry several","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "small children leaned against the wall inside the door. Hagrid himself, twice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the size of a normal man, was now limping over to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "fire and placing a copper kettle over it. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "happened to you?' Harry demanded, while Fang danced around them all, trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "to lick their faces. Told yeh, nuthin',' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "firmly. 'Want a cuppa?' 'Come off it,' said Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'you're in a right state!' 'I'm tellin' yeh, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "fine,' said Hagrid, straightening up and turning to beam at them all,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "but wincing. 'Blimey, it's good ter see yeh three again - had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "good summers, did yeh?' 'Hagrid, you've been attacked!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Ron. 'Per the las' time, it's nuthin'!' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "firmly. 'Would you say it was nothing if one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "of us turned up with a pound of mince instead of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "face?' Ron demanded. 'You ought to go and see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Madam Pomfrey, Hagrid,' said Hermione anxiously, 'some of those cuts look nasty.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'I'm dealin' with it, all righ?' said Hagrid repressively.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " He walked across to the enormous wooden table that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "stood in the middle of his cabin and twitched aside a tea","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "towel that had been lying on it. Underneath was a raw, bloody,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "green-tinged steak slightly larger than the average car tyre. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'You're not going to eat that, are you, Hagrid?' said Ron, leaning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "in for a closer look. 'It looks poisonous.' 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "s'posed ter look like that, it's dragon meat,' Hagrid said. 'An' I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "didn' get it ter eat.' He picked up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "steak and slapped it over the left side of his face. Greenish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "blood trickled down into his beard as he gave a soft moan","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "of satisfaction. 'Tha's better. It helps with the stingin',","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "yeh know.' 'So, are you going to tell us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "what's happened to you?' Harry asked. 'Can't, Harry. Top","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "secret. More'n me job's worth ter tell yeh that.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Did the giants beat you up, Hagrid?' asked Hermione quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hagrid's fingers slipped on the dragon steak and it slid squelchily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "on to his chest. 'Giants?' said Hagrid, catching the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "steak before it reached his belt and slapping it back over his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "face, 'who said anythin' abou' giants? Who yeh bin talkin' to? Who's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "told yeh what I've - who's said I've bin - eh?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'We guessed,' said Hermione apologetically. 'Oh, yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "did, did yeh?' said Hagrid, surveying her sternly with the eye that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was not hidden by the steak. 'It was kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "of . . . obvious,' said Ron. Harry nodded. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid glared at them, then snorted, threw the steak back on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the table and strode over to the kettle, which was now whistling.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Never known kids like you three fer knowin' more'n","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "yeh oughta,' he muttered, splashing boiling water into three of his bucket-shaped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "mugs. 'An' I'm not complimentin' yeh, neither. Nosy, some'd call it. Interferin'.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " But his beard twitched. 'So you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "have been to look for giants?' said Harry, grinning as he sat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "down at the table. Hagrid set tea in front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "of each of them, sat down, picked up his steak again and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "slapped it back over his face. 'Yeah, all righ','","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "he grunted, 'I have.' 'And you found them?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hermione in a hushed voice. 'Well, they're not that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "difficult ter find, ter be honest, said Hagrid. 'Pretty big, see.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Where are they?' said Ron. 'Mountains,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid unhelpfully. 'So why don't Muggles - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " They do,' said Hagrid darkly. 'On'y their deaths are always","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "put down ter mountaineerin' accidents, aren' they?' He adjusted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the steak a little so that it covered the worst of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "bruising. 'Come on, Hagrid, tell us what you've been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "up to!' said Ron. Tell us about being attacked by the giants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and Harry can tell you about being attacked by the Dementors -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "' Hagrid choked in his mug and dropped his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "steak at the same time; a large quantity of spit, tea and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "dragon blood was sprayed over the table as Hagrid coughed and spluttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and the steak slid, with a soft splat, on to the floor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Whadda yeh mean, attacked by Dementors?' growled Hagrid. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Didn't you know?' Hermione asked him, wide-eyed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'I don' know any thin' that's bin happenin' since I left. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was on a secret mission, wasn' I, didn' wan' owls followin' me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "all over the place - ruddy Dementors! Yeh're not serious?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Yeah, I am, they turned up in Little Whinging and attacked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "my cousin and me, and then the Ministry of Magic expelled me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "- ' 'WHAT?' ' - and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "I had to go to a hearing and everything, but tell us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "about the giants first.' 'You were expelled!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Tell us about your summer and I'll tell you about mine.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hagrid glared at him through his one open eye.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Harry looked right back, an expression of innocent determination on his face.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Oh, all righ',' Hagrid said in a resigned voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " He bent down and tugged the dragon steak out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "of Fang's mouth. 'Oh, Hagrid, don't, it's not hygien-'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hermione began, but Hagrid had already slapped the meat back over his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "swollen eye. He took another fortifying gulp of tea,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "then said, 'Well, we set off righ' after term ended - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Madame Maxime went with you, then?' Hermione interjected. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Yeah, tha's righ',' said Hagrid, and a softened expression appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "on the few inches of face that were not obscured by beard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "or green steak. 'Yeah, it was jus' the pair of us. An'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "I'll tell yen this, she's not afraid of roughin' it, Olympe. Yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "know, she's a fine, well-dressed woman, an' knowin' where we was goin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "I wondered 'ow she'd feel abou' clamberin' over boulders an' sleepin' in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "caves an' tha', bu' she never complained once.' 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "knew where you were going?' Harry repeated. 'You knew where the giants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "were?' 'Well, Durnbledore knew, an' he told us,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid. 'Are they hidden?' asked Ron. 'Is it a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "secret, where they are?' 'Not really,' said Hagrid, shaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "his shaggy head. 'It's jus' that mos' wizards aren' bothered where they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "are, 's'long as it's a good long way away. But where they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "are's very difficult ter get ter, fer humans anyway, so we needed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Dumbledore's instructions. Took us abou' a month ter get there - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'A month?' said Ron, as though he had never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "heard of a journey lasting such a ridiculously long time. 'But -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "why couldn't you just grab a Portkey or something?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "There was an odd expression in Hagrid's unobscured eye as he surveyed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Ron; it was almost pitying. 'We're bein' watched, Ron,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "he said gruffly. 'What d'you mean?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Yeh don' understand,' said Hagrid. The Ministry's keepin' an eye on Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "an' anyone they reckon's in league with 'im, an' - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'We know about that,' said Harry quickly, keen to hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the rest of Hagrid's story, 'we know about the Ministry watching Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "- ' 'So you couldn't use magic to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "there?' asked Ron, looking thunderstruck, 'you had to act like Muggles all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the way?' 'Well, not exactly all the way' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid cagily. 'We jus' had ter be careful, 'cause Olympe an' me,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "we stick out a bit - Ron made a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "stifled noise somewhere between a snort and a sniff and hastily took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a gulp of tea. ' - so we're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "hard ter follow. We was pretendin' we was goin' on holiday together,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "so we got inter France an' we made like we was headin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "fer where Olympe's school is, 'cause we knew we was bein' tailed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "by someone from the Ministry. We had to go slow, 'cause I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "not really s'posed ter use magic an' we knew the Mimstry'd be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "lookin' fer a reason ter run us in. But we managed ter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "give the berk tailin' us the slip round abou' Dee-John - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Ooooh, Dijon?' said Hermione excitedly. 'I've been there on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "holiday, did you see - ?' She fell silent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "at the look on Ron's face. 'We chanced a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "bit o' magic after that an' it wasn' a bad journey. Ran","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "inter a couple o' mad trolls on the Polish border an' I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "had a sligh' disagreement with a vampire in a pub in Minsk,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "bu' apart from tha' couldn't'a bin smoother. 'An' then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "we reached the place, an' we started trekkin' up through the mountains,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "lookin' fer signs of 'em . . . 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "had ter lay off the magic once we got near 'em. Partly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'cause they don' like wizards an' we didn' want ter put their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "backs up too soon, an' partly 'cause Dumbledore had warned us You-Know-Who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was bound ter be after the giants an' all. Said it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "odds on he'd sent a messenger off ter them already. Told us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ter be verv careful of drawin' attention ter ourselves as we got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "nearer in case there was Death Eaters around.' Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "paused for a long draught of tea. 'Go on!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Harry urgently. 'Found 'em,' said Hagrid baldly. 'Went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "over a ridge one nigh' an' there they was, spread ou' underneath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "us. Little fires burnin' below an' huge shadows . . . it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was like watchin' bits o' the mountain movin'.' 'How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "big are they?' asked Ron in a hushed voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "`Bout twenty feet,' said Hagrid casually. 'Some o' the bigger ones mighta","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "bin twenty-five.' 'And how many were there?' asked Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'I reckon abou' seventy or eighty,' said Hagrid. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Is that all?' said Hermione. 'Yep,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid sadly, 'eighty left, an' there was loads once, musta bin a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "hundred diff'rent tribes from all over the world. Bu' they've bin dyin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "out fer ages. Wizards killed a few, o' course, bu' mostly they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "killed each other, an' now they're dyin' out faster than ever. They're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "not made ter live bunched up together like tha'. Dumbledore says it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "our fault, it was the wizards who forced 'em to go an'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "made 'em live a good long way from us an' they had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "no choice bu' ter stick together fer their own protection.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'So,' said Harry, 'you saw them and then what?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Well, we waited till morning, didn' want ter go sneakin' up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "on 'em in the dark, fer our own safety' said Hagrid. `Bout","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "three in the mornin' they fell asleep jus' where they was sittin'.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "We didn' dare sleep. Fer one thing, we wanted ter make sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "none of 'em woke up an' came up where we were, an'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "fer another, the snorin' was unbelievable. Caused an avalanche near mornin'. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Anyway once it was light we wen' down ter see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'em.' 'Just like that?' said Ron, looking awestruck. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "just walked right into a giant camp?' 'Well, Dumbledore'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "told us how ter do it,' said Hagrid. 'Give the Gurg gifts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "show some respect, yeh know.' 'Give the what gifts?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "asked Harry. 'Oh, the Gurg - means the chief.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'How could you tell which one was the Gurg?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "asked Ron. Hagrid grunted in amusement. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'No problem,' he said. 'He was the biggest, the ugliest an1 the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "laziest. Sittin' there waitin' ter be brought food by the others. Dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "goats an' such like. Name o' Karkus. I'd put him at twenty-two,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "twenty-three feet an' the weight o' a couple o' bull elephants. Skin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "like rhino hide an' all.' 'And you just walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "up to him?' said Hermione breathlessly. 'Well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" ". down ter him, where he was lyin' in the valley. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was in this dip between four pretty high mountains, see, beside a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "mountain lake, an' Karkus was lyin' by the lake roarin' at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "others ter feed him an' his wife. Olympe an' I went down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the mountainside -' 'But didn't they try and kill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "you when they saw you?' asked Ron incredulously. 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was def'nitely on some o' their minds,' said Hagrid, shrugging, 'but we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "did what Dumbledore told us ter do, which was ter hold our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "gift up high an' keep our eyes on the Gurg an' ignore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the others. So tha's what we did. An' the rest of 'em","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "went quiet an' watched us pass an' we got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "right up ter Karkuss leet an we bowed an' put our present","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "down in front o' him.' 'What do you give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a giant?' asked Ron eagerly. 'Food?' 'Nah, he can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "get food all righ' fer himself,' said Hagrid. 'We took him magic.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Giants like magic, jus' don' like us usin' it against 'em. Anyway,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "that firs' day we gave 'im a branch o' Gubraithian fire.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hermione said, 'Wow!' softly, but Harry and Ron both frowned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "in puzzlement. 'A branch of - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Everlasting fire,' said Hermione irritably, 'you ought to know that by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "now. Professor Flitwick's mentioned it at least twice in class!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Well, anyway,' said Hagrid quickly, intervening before Ron could answer back,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Dumbledore'd bewitched this branch to burn fer evermore, which isn' somethin' any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "wizard could do, an' so I lies it down in the snow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "by Karkuss feet and says, `A gift to the Gurg of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "giants from Albus Dumbledore, who sends his respectful greetings.`' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'And what did Karkus say?' asked Harry eagerly. 'Nothin','","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hagrid. 'Didn' speak English.' 'You're kidding!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Didn' matter,' said Hagrid imperturbably, 'Dumbledore had warned us tha' migh'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "happen. Karkus knew enough to yell fer a couple o' giants who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "knew our lingo an' they translated fer us.' 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "did he like the present?' asked Ron. 'Oh yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "it went down a storm once they understood what it was,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid, turning his dragon steak over to press the cooler side to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "his swollen eye. 'Very pleased. So then I said, `Albus Dumbledore asks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the Gurg to speak with his messenger when he returns tomorrow with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "another gift.` ' 'Why couldn't you speak to them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "that day?' asked Hermione. 'Dumbledore wanted us ter take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "it very slow,' said Hagrid. 'Let 'em see we kept our promises.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "We'll come back tomorrow with another present, an' then we do come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "back with another present - gives a good impression, see? An' gives","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "them time ter test out the firs' present an' iind out it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a good one, an' get 'em eager ier more. In any case,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "giants like Karkus - overload 'em with information an' they'll kill yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "jus' to simplify things. So we bowed outta the way an' went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "off an' found ourselves a nice little cave ter spend that night","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "in an' the followin' mornin' we went back an' this time we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "found Karkus sittin' up waitin' fer us lookin' all eager.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'And you talked to him?' 'Oh yeah. Firs'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "we presented him with a nice battle helmet - 'goblin-made an' indestructible,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "yeh know - an' then we sat down an' we talked.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'What did he say?' 'Not much,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid. 'Listened mostly. Bu' there were good signs. He'd heard o' Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "heard he'd argued against the killin' o' the last giants in Britain.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Karkus seemed ter be quite int'rested in what Dumbledore had ter say.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "An' a few o' the others, 'specially the ones who had some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "English, they gathered round an' listened too. We were hopeful when we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "left that day. Promised ter come back next mornin' with another present.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Bu' that night it all wen' wrong.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'What d'you mean?' said Ron quickly. 'Well, like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "I say, they're not meant ter live together, giants,' said Hagrid sadly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Not in big groups like that. They can' help themselves, they half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "kill each other every few weeks. The men fight each other an'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the women fight each other; the remnants of the old tribes fight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "each other, an' that's even without squabbles over food an' the best","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "fires an' sleepin' spots. Yeh'd think, seein' as how their whole race","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "is abou' finished, they'd lay off each other, bu' . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hagrid sighed deeply. That night a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "fight broke out, we saw it from the mouth of our cave,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "lookin' down on the valley. Went on fer hours, yeh wouldn' believe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the noise. An' when the sun came up the snow was scarlet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "an' his head was lyin' at the bottom o' the lake.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Whose head?' gasped Hermione. 'Karkus's,' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "heavily. There was a new Gurg, Golgomath.' He sighed deeply. 'Well, we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "hadn' bargained on a new Gurg two days after we'd made friendly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "contact with the firs' one, an' we had a funny feelin' Golgomath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "wouldn' be so keen ter listen to us, bu' we had ter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "try' 'You went to speak to him?' asked Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "incredulously. 'After you'd watched him rip off another giant's head?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Course we did,' said Hagrid, 'we hadn' gone all that way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ter give up after two days! We wen' down with the next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "present we'd meant ter give ter Karkus. 'I knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "it was no go before I'd opened me mouth. He was sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "there wearin' Karkus's helmet, leerin' at us as we got nearer. He's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "massive, one o' the biggest ones there. Black hair an' matchin' teeth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "an' a necklace o' bones. Human-lookin' bones, some of 'em. Well, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "gave it a go - held out a great roll o' dragon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "skin - an' said, `A gift fer the Gurg of the giants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "- '` Nex' thing I knew, I was hangin' upside-down in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "air by me feet, two of his mates had grabbed me.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hermione clapped her hands to her mouth. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'How did you get out of that!' asked Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Wouldn'ta done if Olympe hadn' bin there,' said Hagrid. 'She pulled out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "her wand an' did some o' the fastes' spellwork I've ever seen.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Ruddy marvellous. Hit the two holdin' me right in the eyes with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Conjunctivitus Curses an' they dropped me straightaway - 'bu' we were in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "trouble then, 'cause we'd used magic against 'em, an' that's what giants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "hate abou' wizards. We had ter leg it an' we knew there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was no way we was going ter be able ter march inter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the camp again.' 'Blimey, Hagrid,' said Ron quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'So, how come it's taken you so long to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "home if you were only there for three days?' asked Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'We didn' leave after three days!' said Hagrid, looking outraged.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Dumbledore was relyin' on us!' 'But you've just said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "there was no way you could go back!' 'Not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "by daylight we couldn', no. We just had ter rethink a bit.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Spent a couple o' days lyin' low up in the cave an'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "watchin'. An' wha' we saw wasn' good.' 'Did he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "rip off more heads?' asked Hermione, sounding squeamish. 'No,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hagrid, 'I wish he had.' 'What d'you mean?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'I mean we soon found out he didn' object","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ter all wizards - 'just us.' 'You went to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "speak to him?' asked Ron incredulously. 'After you'd watched him rip off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "another giant's head?' 'Course we did,' said Hagrid, 'we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "hadn' gone all that way ter give up after two days! We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "wen' down with the next present we'd meant ter give ter Karkus.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'I knew it was no go before I'd opened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "me mouth. He was sitting there wearin' Karkus's helmet, leerin' at us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "as we got nearer. He's massive, one o' the biggest ones there.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Black hair an' matchin' teeth an' a necklace o' bones. Human-lookin' bones,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "some of 'em. Well, I gave it a go - held out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a great roll o' dragon skin - an' said, `A gift fer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the Gurg of the giants - '` Nex' thing I knew, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was hangin' upside-down in the air by me feet, two of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "mates had grabbed me.' Hermione clapped her hands to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "her mouth. 'How did you get out of that?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "asked Harry. 'Wouldn'ta done if Olympe hadn' bin there,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hagrid. 'She pulled out her wand an' did some o' the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "fastes' spellwork I've ever seen. Ruddy marvellous. Hit the two holdin' me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "right in the eyes with Conjunctivitus Curses an' they dropped me straightaway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "- 'bu' we were in trouble then, 'cause we'd used magic against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'em, an' that's what giants hate abou' wizards. We had ter leg","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "it an' we knew there was no way we was going ter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "be able ter march inter the camp again.' 'Blimey,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid,' said Ron quietly. 'So, how come it's taken","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "you so long to get home if you were only there for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "three days?' asked Hermione. 'We didn' leave after three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "days!' said Hagrid, looking outraged. 'Dumbledore was relyin' on us!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'But you've just said there was no way you could go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "back!' 'Not by daylight we couldn', no. We just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "had ter rethink a bit. Spent a couple o' days lyin' low","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "up in the cave an' watchin'. An' wha' we saw wasn' good.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Did he rip off more heads?' asked Hermione, sounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "squeamish. 'No,' said Hagrid, 'I wish he had.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'What d'you mean?' 'I mean we soon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "found out he didn' object ter all wizards - 'just us.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Death Eaters?' said Harry quickly. 'Yep,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid darkly. 'Couple oi 'em were visitin' him ev'ry clay, bringin' gifts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ter the Gurg, an' he wasn' dangling them upside - 'c.own.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'How d'you know they were Death Eaters?' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Because I recognised one of 'em,' Hagrid growled. 'Macnair, remember","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "him? Bloke they sent ter kill Buckbeak? Maniac, he is. L.ikes killin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "as much as Golgomath; no wonder they were gettin' on so well.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'So Macnair's persuaded the giants to join You-Know-Who?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hermione desperately. 'Hold yer Hippogriffs, I haven' finished me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "story yet!' said Hagrid indignantly, who, considering he had not wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "tell them anything in the first place, now seemed to be rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "enjoying himself. 'Me an' Olympe talked it over an' we agreed, jus'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'cause the Gurg looked like favourin' You-Know-Who didn' mean all of 'em","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "would. We had ter try an' persuade some o' the others, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ones who hadn' wanted Golgomath as Gurg.' 'How could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "you tell which ones they were?' asked Ron. Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "they were the ones bein' beaten to a pulp, weren' they?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid patiently. The ones with any sense were keepin' outta Golgomath's way,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "hidin' out in caves roun' the gully jus' like we were. So","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "we decided we'd go pokin' round the caves by night an' see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "if we couldn' persuade a few o' them.' 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "went poking around dark caves looking for giants?' said Ron, with awed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "respect in his voice. Well, it wasn' the giants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "who worried us most,' said Hagrid. 'We were more concerned abou' the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Death Eaters. Dumbledore had told us before we wen' not ter tangle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "with 'em if we could avoid it, an' the trouble was they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "knew we was around - 'spect Golgomath told 'em abou' us. At","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "night, when the giants were sleepin' an' we wanted ter be creepin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "inter the caves, Macnair an' the other one were sneakin' round the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "mountains lookin' fer us. I was hard put to stop Olympe jumpin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "out at 'em,' said Hagrid, the corners of h s mouth lifting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "his wild beard, 'she was rarin' ter attack 'em . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "she's somethin' when she's roused, Olympe . . . fiery, yeh know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" ". . . 'spect it's the French in her . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hagrid gazed misty-eyed into the fire. Harry allowed him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "thirty seconds of reminiscence before clearing his throat loudly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'So, what happened? Did you ever get near any of the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "giants?' 'What? Oh . . . oh, yeah, we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "did. Yeah, on the third night after Karkus was killed we crept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "outta the cave we'd bin hidin' in an' headed back down inter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the gully, keepin' our eyes skinned fer the Death Eaters. Got inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a few o' the caves, no go - then, in abou' the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "sixth one, we found three giants hidin'.' 'Cave must've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "been cramped,' said Ron. 'Wasn' room ter swing a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Kneazle,' said Hagrid. 'Didn't they attack you when they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "saw you?' asked Hermione. 'Probably woulda done if they'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "bin in any condition,' said Hagrid, 'but they was badly hurt, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "three o' them; Golgomath's lot had beaten 'em unconscious; they'd woken up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "an' crawled inter the nearest shelter they could find. Anyway, one o'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "them had a bit of English an' 'e translated fer the others,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "an' what we had ter say didn' seem ter go down too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "badly. So we kep' goin' back, visitin' the wounded . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "I reckon we had abou' six or seven o' them convinced at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "one poin'.' 'Six or seven?' said Ron eagerly. 'Well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "that's not bad - are they going to come over here and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "start fighting You-Know-Who with us?' But Hermione said, 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "do you mean `at one point`, Hagrid?' Hagrid looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "at her sadly. 'Golgomath's lot raided the caves. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ones tha' survived didn' wan' no more ter to do with us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "after that.' 'So . . . so there aren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "any giants coming?' said Ron, looking disappointed. 'Nope,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid, heaving a deep sigh as he turned over his steak and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "applied the cooler side to his face, 'but we did wha' we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "meant ter do, we gave 'em Dumbledore's message an' some o' them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "heard it an' I spect some o' them'll remember it. Jus' maybe,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "them that don' want ter stay around Golgomath'll move outta the mountains,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "an' there's gotta be a chance they'll remember Dumbledore's friendly to 'em","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" ". . . could be they'll come.' Snow was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "filling up the window now. Harry became aware that the knees of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "his robes were soaked through: Fang was drooling with his head in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Harry's lap. 'Hagrid?' said Hermione quietly after a while.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Mmm?' 'Did you . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was there any sign of . . . did you hear anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "asout your . . . your . . . mother while you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "were there?' Hagrids unobscured eye rested upon her and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hermione looked rather scared. 'I'm sorry . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "I . . . forget it - ' 'Dead,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid grunted. 'Died years ago. They told me.' 'Oh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" ". . . I'm . . . I'm really sorry,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "in a very small voice. Hagrid shrugged his massive shoulders. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'No need,' he said shortly. 'Can't remember her much. Wasn' a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "great mother.' They were silent again. Hermione glanced nervously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "at Harry and Ron, plainly wanting them to speak. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'But you still haven't explained how you got in this state, Hagrid,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Ron said, gesturing towards Hagrid's bloodstained face. 'Or why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "you're back so late,' said Harry. 'Sirius says Madame Maxime got back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ages ago - ' 'Who attacked you?' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'I haven' bin attacked!' said Hagrid emphatically. 'I -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "' But the rest of his words were drowned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "in a sudden outbreak of rapping on the door. Hermione gasped; her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "mug slipped through her fingers and smashed on the floor; Fang yelped.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "All four of them stared at the window beside the doorway. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "shadow of somebody small and squat rippled across the thin curtain. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'It's her!' Ron whispered. 'Get under here!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Harry said quickly, seizing the Invisibility Cloak, he whirled it over himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and Hermione while Ron tore around the table and dived under the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Cloak as well. Huddled together, they backed away into a corner. Fang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was barking madly at the door. Hagrid looked thoroughly confused. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Hagrid, hide our mugs!' Hagrid seized Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Ron's mugs and shoved them under the cushion in Fang's basket. Fang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was now leaping up at the door; Hagrid pushed him out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the way with his foot and pulled it open. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Professor Umbridge was standing in the doorway wearing her green tweed cloak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and a matching hat with earflaps. Lips pursed, she leaned back so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "as to see Hagrid's face; she barely reached his navel. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'So,' she said slowly and loudly, as though speaking to somebody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "deaf. 'You're Hagrid, are you?' Without waiting for an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "answer she strolled into the room, her bulging eyes rolling in every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "direction. 'Get away,' she snapped, waving her handbag at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Fang, who had bounded up to her and was attempting to lick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "her face. 'Er - I don' want ter be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "rude,' said Hagrid, staring at her, 'but who the ruddy hell are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "you?' 'My name is Dolores Umbridge.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Her eyes were sweeping the cabin. Twice they stared directly into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "corner where Harry stood, sandwiched between Ron and Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Dolores Umbridge?' Hagrid said, sounding thoroughly confused. 'I thought you were one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "o' them Ministry - don' you work with Fudge?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'I was Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, yes,' said Umbridge, now pacing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "around the cabin, taking in every tiny detail within, from the haversack","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "against the wall to the abandoned travelling cloak. 'I am now the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher - ' Tha's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "brave of yeh,' said Hagrid, 'there's not many'd take tha' job any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "more.' ' - and Hogwarts High Inquisitor,' said Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "giving no sign that she had heard him. 'Wha's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "that?' said Hagrid, frowning. 'Precisely what I was going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "to ask,' said Umbridge, pointing at the broken shards of china on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the floor that had been Hermione's mug. 'Oh,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid, with a most unhelpful glance towards the corner where Harry, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and Hermione stood hidden, 'oh, tha' was . . . was Fang.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "He broke a mug. So I had ter use this one instead.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hagrid pointed to the mug from which he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "been drinking, one hand still clamped over the dragon steak pressed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "his eye. Umbridge stood facing him now, taking in every detail of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "his appearance instead of the cabins. 'I heard voices,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "she said quietly. 'I was talkin' ter Fang,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid stoutly. 'And was he talking back to you?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Well . . . in a manner o' speakin','","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hagrid, looking uncomfortable. 'I sometimes say Fang's near enough human -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "' There are three sets of footprints in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "snow leading from the castle doors to your cabin,' said Umbridge sleekly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Hermione gasped; Harry clapped a hand over her mouth.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Luckily, Fang was sniffing loudly around the hem of Professor Umbridge's robes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and she did not appear to have heard. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "I on'y jus' got back,' said Hagrid, waving an enormous hand at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the haversack. 'Maybe someone came ter call earlier an' I missed 'em.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " There are no footsteps leading away from your cabin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "door.' 'Well, I . . . I don' know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "why that'd be . . .' said Hagrid, tugging nervously at his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "beard and again glancing towards the corner where Harry, Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "stood, as though asking for help. 'Erm . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Umbridge wheeled round and strode the length of the cabin, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "around carefully. She bent and peered under the bed. She opened Hagrid's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "cupboards. She passed within two inches of where Harry, Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "stood pressed against the wall; Harry actually pulled in his stomach as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "she walked by. After looking carefully inside the enormous cauldron Hagrid used","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "for cooking, she wheeled round again and said, 'What has happened to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "you? How did you sustain those injuries?' Hagrid hastily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "removed the dragon steak from his face, which in Harry's opinion was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a mistake, because the black and purple bruising all around his eye","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was now clearly visible, not to mention the large amount of fresh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "and congealed blood on his face. 'Oh, I . . . had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a bit of an accident,' he said lamely. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "sort of accident?' 'I - I tripped.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'You tripped,' she repeated coolly. 'Yeah, tha's right.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Over . . . over a friends broomstick. I don' fly, meself.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Well, look at the size o' me, I don' reckon there's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "broomstick that'd hold me. Friend o' mine breeds Abraxan horses, I dunno","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "if you ve ever seen em, big beasts, winged, yen know, I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "had a bit of a ride on one o' them an' it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was - ' 'Where have you been?' asked Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "cutting coolly through Hagrid's babbling. `Where've I - ?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Been, yes,' she said. Term started two months ago.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Another teacher has had to cover your classes. None of your colleagues","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "has been able to give me any information as to your whereabouts.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "You left no address. Where have you been?' There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "was a pause in which Hagrid stared at her with his newly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "uncovered eye. Harry could almost hear his brain working furiously. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'I - I've been away for me health,' he said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'For your health,' repeated Professor Umbridge. Her eyes travelled over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid's discoloured and swollen face; dragon blood dripped gently and silently on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "to his waistcoat. 'I see.' 'Yeah,' said Hagrid, 'bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "o' - o' fresh air, yeh know - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Yes, as gamekeeper fresh air must be so difficult to come by'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Umbridge sweetly. The small patch of Hagrid's face that was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "black or purple, flushed. 'Well - change o' scene,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "yeh know - ' 'Mountain scenery?' said Umbridge swiftly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " She knows, Harry thought desperately. 'Mountains?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Hagrid repeated, clearly thinking fast. 'Nope, South o' France fer me. Bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "o' sun an' . . . an' sea.' 'Really?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Umbridge. 'You don't have much of a tan.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'Yeah . . . well . . . sensitive skin,' said Hagrid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "attempting an ingratiating smile. Harry noticed that two of his teeth had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "been knocked out. Umbridge looked at him coldly; his smile faltered. Then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "she hoisted her handbag a little higher into the crook of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "arm and said, 'I shall, of course, be informing the Minister of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "your late return.' 'Righ',' said Hagrid, nodding. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'You ought to know, too, that as High Inquisitor it is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "my unfortunate but necessary duty to inspect my fellow teachers. So I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "daresay we shall meet again soon enough.' She turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "sharply and marched back to the door. 'You're inspectin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "us?' Hagrid repeated blankly, looking after her. 'Oh, yes;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Umbridge softly, looking back at him with her hand on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "door handle. The Ministry is determined to weed out unsatisfactory teachers, Hagrid.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Goodnight.' She left, closing the door behind her with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "a snap. Harry made to pull off the Invisibility Cloak but Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "seized his wrist. 'Not yet,' she breathed in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ear. 'She might not be gone yet.' Hagrid seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "to be thinking the same way; he stumped across the room and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "pulled back the curtain an inch or so. 'She's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "goin' back ter the castle,' he said in a low voice. 'Blimey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" ". . . inspectin' people, is she?' 'Yeah,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "Harry, pulling off the Cloak. Trelawney's on probation already . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Um . . . what sort of thing are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "you planning to do with us in class, Hagrid?' asked Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Oh, don' you worry abou' that, I've got a great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "load o' lessons planned,' said Hagrid enthusiastically, scooping up his dragon steak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "from the table and slapping it over his eye again. 'I've bin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "keepin' a couple o' creatures saved fer yer OWL year; you wait,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "they're somethin' really special.' 'Erm . . . special","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "in what way?' asked Hermione tentatively. 'I'm not sayin','","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hagrid happily. 'I don' want ter spoil the surprise.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " 'Look, Hagrid,' said Hermione urgently, dropping all pretence, 'Professor Umbridge won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "be at all happy if you bring anything to class that's too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "dangerous.' 'Dangerous?' said Hagrid, looking genially bemused. 'Don' be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "silly, I wouldn' give yeh anythin' dangerous! I mean, all righ', they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "can look after themselves - ' 'Hagrid, you've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "to pass Umbridge's inspection, and to do that it would really be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "better if she saw you teaching us how to look after Porlocks,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "how to tell the difference between Knarls and hedgehogs, stuff like that!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hermione earnestly. 'But tha's not very interestin', Hermione,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "said Hagrid. 'The stuff I've got's much more impressive. I've bin bringin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "'em on ler years, I reckon I've got the on'y domestic herd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "in Britain.' 'Hagrid . . . please . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" ".' said Hermione, a note of real desperation in her voice. 'Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "is looking for any excuse to get rid of ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "teachers she thinks are too close to Dumbledore. Please, Hagrid, teach us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "something dull that's bound to come up in our OWL.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " But Hagrid merely yawned widely and cast a one-eyed look of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "longing towards the vast bed in the corner. 'Lis'en,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "it's bin a long day an' it's late,' he said, patting Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "gently on the shoulder, so that her knees gave way and hit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "the floor with a thud. 'Oh - sorry - ' He pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "her back up by the neck of her robes. 'Look, don' you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "go worryin' abou' me, I promise yeh I've got really good stuff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "planned fer yer lessons now I'm back . . . now you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "lot had better get back up to the castle, an' don' forget","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "ter wipe yer tootprints out behind yeh!' 'I dunno","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "if you got through to him,' said Ron a short while later","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "when, having checked that the coast was clear, they walked back up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "to the castle through the thickening snow, leaving no trace behind them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "due to the Obliteration Charm Hermione was performing as they went. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" " Then I'll go back again tomorrow,' said Hermione determinedly. 'I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "plan his lessons for him if I have to. I don't care","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "if she throws out Trelawney but she's not getting rid of Hagrid!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-20" "The Eye of the SnakeHermione ploughed her way back to Hagrid's cabin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "through two feet of snow on Sunday morning. Harry and Ron wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to go with her, but their mountain of homework had reached an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "alarming height again, so they remained grudgingly in the common room, Tying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to ignore the gleeful shouts drifting up from the grounds outside, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "students were enjoying themselves skating on the frozen lake, tobogganing and, worst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of all, bewitching snowballs to zoom up to Gryffindor Tower and rap","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hard on the windows. 'Oi!' bellowed Ron, finally losing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "patience and sticking his head out of the window, 'I am a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "prefect and if one more snowball hits this window - OUCH!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " He withdrew his head sharply, his face covered in snow.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'It's Fred and George,' he said bitterly, slamming the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "window behind him. 'Gits . . .' Hermione returned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "from Hagrid's just before lunch, shivering slightly, her robes damp to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "knees. 'So?' said Ron, looking up when she entered.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Got all his lessons planned for him?' 'Well, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "tried,' she said dully, sinking into a chair beside Harry. She pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "out her wand and gave it a complicated little wave so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hot air streamed out of the tip; she then pointed this at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "her robes, which began to steam as they dried out. 'He wasn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "even there when I arrived, I was knocking for at least half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "an hour. And then he came stumping out of the Forest -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "' Harry groaned. The Forbidden Forest was teeming with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the kind of creatures most likely to get Hagrid the sack. 'What's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "he keeping in there? Did he say?' he asked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'No,' said Hermione miserably. 'He says he wants them to be a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "surprise. I tried to explain about Umbridge, but he just doesn't get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it. He kept saying nobody in their right mind would rather study","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Knarls than Chimaeras - oh, I don't think he's got a Chimaera,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "she added at the appalled look on Harry and Ron's faces, 'but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "that's not for lack of trying, from what he said about how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hard it is to get eggs. I don't know how many times","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "I told him he'd be better off following Grubbly-Plank's plan, I honestly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "don't think he listened to half of what I said. He's in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a bit of a funny mood, you know. He still won't say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "how he got all those injuries.' Hagrid's reappearance at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the staff table at breakfast next day was not greeted by enthusiasm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "from all students. Some, like Fred, George and Lee, roared with delight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and sprinted up the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "wring Hagrid's enormous hand; others, like Parvati and Lavender, exchanged gloomy looks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and shook their heads. Harry knew that many of them preferred Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Grubbly-Planks lessons, and the worst of it was that a very small,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "unbiased part of him knew that they had good reason: Grubbly-Plank's idea","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of an interesting class was not one where there was a risk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "that somebody might have their head ripped off. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was with a certain amount of apprehension that Harry, Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "headed down to Hagrid's on Tuesday, heavily muffled against the cold. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was worried, not only about what Hagrid might have decided to teach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "them, but also about how the rest of the class, particularly Malfoy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and his cronies, would behave if Umbridge was watching them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " However, the High Inquisitor was nowhere to be seen as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "struggled through the snow towards Hagrid, who stood waiting for them on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the edge of the Forest. He did not present a reassuring sight;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the bruises that had been purple on Saturday night were now tinged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with green and yellow and some of his cuts still seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "be bleeding. Harry could not understand this: had Hagrid perhaps been attacked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "by some creature whose venom prevented the wounds it inflicted from healing?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "As though to complete the ominous picture, Hagrid was carrying what looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "like half a dead cow over his shoulder. 'We're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "workin' in here today!' Hagrid called happily to the approaching students, jerking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his head back at the dark trees behind him. 'Bit more sheltered!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Anyway, they prefer the dark.' 'What prefers the dark?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry heard Malfoy say sharply to Crabbe and Goyle, a trace of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "panic in his voice. 'What did he say prefers the dark -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "did you hear?' Harry remembered the only other occasion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "on which Malfoy had entered the Forest before now; he had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "been very brave then, either. He smiled to himself; after the Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "match anything that caused Malfoy discomfort was all right with him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Ready?' said Hagrid cheerfully, looking around at the class. 'Right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "well, I've bin savin' a trip inter the Forest fer yer fifth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "year. Thought we'd go an' see these creatures in their natural habitat.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Now, what we're studyin' today is pretty rare, I reckon I'm probably","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the on'y person in Britain who's managed ter train 'em.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'And you're sure they're trained, are you?' said Malfoy, the panic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "in his voice even more pronounced. 'Only it wouldn't be the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "time you'd brought wild stuff to class, would it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "The Slytherins murmured agreement and a few Gryffindors looked as though they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "thought Malfoy had a fair point, too. 'Course they're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "trained,' said Hagrid, scowling and hoisting the dead cow a little higher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "on his shoulder. 'So what happened to your face,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "then?' demanded Malfoy. 'Mind yer own business!' said Hagrid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "angrily. 'Now, if yeh've finished askin' stupid questions, follow me!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " He turned and strode straight into the Forest. Nobody seemed much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "disposed to follow. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who sighed but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "nodded, and the three of them set off after Hagrid, leading the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "rest of the class. They walked for about ten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "minutes until they reached a place where the trees stood so closely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "together that it was as dark as twilight and there was no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "snow at all on the ground. With a grunt, Hagrid deposited his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "half a cow on the ground, stepped back and turned to face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his class, most of whom were creeping from tree to tree towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "him, peering around nervously as though expecting to be set upon at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "any moment. 'Gather roun', gather roun',' Hagrid encouraged. 'Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "they'll be attracted by the smell o the meat but I'm going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "ter give em a call anyway, 'cause they'll like ter know it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "me.' He turned, shook his shaggy head to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the hair out of his face and gave an odd, shrieking cry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "that echoed through the dark trees like the call of some monstrous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "bird. Nobody laughed: most of them looked too scared to make a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sound. Hagrid gave the shrieking cry again. A minute","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "passed in which the class continued to peer nervously over their shoulders","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and around trees for a first glimpse of whatever it was that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was coming. And then, as Hagrid shook his hair back for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "third lime and expanded his enormous chest, Harry nudged Ron and pointed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "into the black space between two gnarled yew trees. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "A pair of blank, white, shining eyes were growing larger through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "gloom and a moment later the dragonish face, neck and then skeletal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "body of a great, black, winged horse emerged from the darkness. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "surveyed the class for a few seconds, swishing its long black tail,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "then bowed its head and began to tear flesh from the dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "cow with its pointed fangs. A great wave of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "relief broke over Harry. Here at last was proof that he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "not imagined these creatures, that they were real: Hagrid knew about them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "too. He looked eagerly at Ron, but Ron was still staring around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "into the trees and after a few seconds he whispered, 'Why doesn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hagrid call again?' Most of the rest of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "class were wearing expressions as confused and nervously expectant as Ron's and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "were still gazing everywhere but at the horse standing feet from them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "There were only two other people who seemed to be able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "see them: a stringy Slytherin boy standing just behind Goyle was watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the horse eating with an expression of great distaste on his face;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and Neville, whose eyes were following the swishing progress of the long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "black tail. 'Oh, an' here comes another one!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hagrid proudly, as a second black horse appeared out of the dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "trees, folded its leathery-wings closer to its body and dipped its head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to gorge on the meat. 'Now . . . put yer hands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "up, who can see 'em?' Immensely pleased to feel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "that he was at last going to understand the mystery of these","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "horses, Harry raised his hand. Hagrid nodded at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Yeah . . . yeah, I knew you'd be able ter, Harry,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "he said seriously. 'An' you too, Neville, eh? An' - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Excuse me,' said Malfoy in a sneering voice, 'but what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "exactly are we supposed to be seeing?' For an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "answer, Hagrid pointed at the cow carcass on the ground. The whole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "class stared at it for a few seconds, then several people gasped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and Parvati squealed. Harry understood why: bits of flesh stripping themselves away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "from the bones and vanishing into thin air had to look very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "odd indeed. 'What's doing it?' Parvati demanded in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "terrified voice, retreating behind the nearest tree. 'What's eating it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Thestrals,' said Hagrid proudly and Hermione gave a soft 'Oh!' of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "comprehension at Harry's shoulder. 'Hogwarts has got a whole herd of 'em","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "in here. Now, who knows - ?' 'But they're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "really, really unlucky!' interrupted Parvati, looking alarmed. They're supposed to bring all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sorts of horrible misfortune on people who see them. Professor Trelawney told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "me once - ' 'No, no, no,' said Hagrid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "chuckling, 'tha's jus' superstition, that is, they aren' unlucky, they're dead clever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "an' useful! Course, this lot don' get a lot o' work, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "mainly jus' pullin' the school carriages unless Dumbledore's takin' a long journey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "an' don' want ter Apparate - an' here's another couple, look -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "' Two more horses came quietly out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "trees, one of them passing very close to Parvati, who shivered and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "pressed herself closer to the tree, saying, 'I think I felt something,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "I think it's near me!' 'Don' worry, it won'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hurt yeh,' said Hagrid patiently. 'Righ', now, who can tell me why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "some o' yeh can see 'em an' some can't?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hermione raised her hand. 'Go on then,' said Hagrid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "beaming at her. The only people who can see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Thestrals,' she said, 'are people who have seen death.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Tha's exactly right,' said Hagrid solemnly, 'ten points ter Gryffindor. Now, Thestrals","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "- ' 'Hem, hem.' Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "had arrived. She was standing a few feet away from Harry, wearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "her green hat and cloak again, her clipboard at the ready. Hagrid.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "who had never heard Umbridge's fake cough before, was gazing in some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "concern at the closest Thestral, evidently under the impression that it had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "made the sound. 'Hem, hem.' 'Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hello!' Hagrid said, smiling, having located the source of the noise. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'You received the note I sent to your cabin this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "morning?' said Umbridge, in the same loud, slow voice she had used","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with him earlier, as though she were addressing somebody both foreign and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "very slow. Telling you that I would be inspecting your lesson?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Oh, yeah,' said Hagrid brightly. 'Glad yeh found the place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "all righ'! Well, as you can see - or, I dunno -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "can you? We're doin' Thestrals today - ' 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sorry?' said Professor Umbridge loudly, cupping her hand around her ear and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "frowning. 'What did you say?' Hagrid looked a little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "confused. 'Er - Thestrals!' he said loudly. 'Big -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "er - winged horses, yeh know!' He flapped his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "gigantic arms hopefully. Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows at him and muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "as she made a note on her clipboard: 'Has . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to . . . resort . . . to . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "crude . . . sign . . . language.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Well . . . anyway . . .' said Hagrid, turning back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to the class and looking slightly flustered, 'erm . . . what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was I sayin?' 'Appears . . . to .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . have . . . poor . . . short .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . term . . . memory,' muttered Umbridge, loudly enough for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "everyone to hear her. Draco Malfoy looked as though Christmas had come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a month early; Hermione, on the other hand, had turned scarlet with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "suppressed rage. 'Oh, yeah,' said Hagrid, throwing an uneasy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "glance at Umbridge's clipboard, but ploughing on valiantly. 'Yeah, I was gonna","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "tell yeh how come we got a herd. Yeah, so, we started","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "off with a male an' five females. This one,' he patted the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "first horse to have appeared, 'name o' Tenebrus, he's my special favourite,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "firs' one born here in the Forest - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Are you aware,' Umbridge said loudly, interrupting him, 'that the Ministry of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Magic has classified Thestrals as `dangerous`?' Harry's heart sank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "like a stone, but Hagrid merely chuckled. Thestrals aren'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "dangerous! All righ', they might take a bite outta yeh if yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "really annoy them - ' 'Shows . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "signs . . . of. . . pleasure . . . at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . idea . . . of. . . violence,' muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Umbridge, scribbling on her clipboard again. 'No - come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "on!' said Hagrid, looking a little anxious now. 'I mean, a dog'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "bite if yeh bait it, won' it - but Thestrals have jus'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "got a bad reputation because o' the death thing - people used","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "ter think they were bad omens, didn' they? Jus' didn' understand, did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "they?' Umbridge did not answer; she finished writing her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "last note, then looked up at Hagrid and said, again very loudly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and slowly, 'Please continue teaching as usual. I am going to walk,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "she mimed walking (Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson were having silent fits of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "laughter) 'among the students' (she pointed around at individual members of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "class) 'and ask them questions.' She pointed at her mouth to indicate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "talking. Hagrid stared at her, clearly at a complete","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "loss to understand why she was acting as though he did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "understand normal English. Hermione had tears of fury in her eyes now.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'You hag, you evil hag!' she whispered, as Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "walked towards Pansy Parkinson. 'I know what you're doing, you awiul, twisted,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "vicious - ' 'Erm . . . anyway,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hagrid, clearly struggling to regain the flow of his lesson, 'so -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Thestrals. Yeah. Well, there's loads o' good stuff abou' them . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ".' 'Do you find,' said Professor Umbridge in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "ringing voice to Pansy Parkinson, 'that you are able to understand Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hagrid when he talks?' Just like Hermione, Pansy had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "tears in her eyes, but these were tears of laughter; indeed, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "answer was almost incoherent because she was trying to suppress her giggles.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'No . . . because . . . well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . it sounds . . . like grunting a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of the time . . .' Umbridge scribbled on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "her clipboard. The few unbruised bits of Hagrid's face flushed, but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "tried to act as though he had not heard Pansy's answer. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Er . . . yeah . . . good stuff","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "abou' Thestrals. Well, once they're tamed, like this lot, yeh'll never be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "lost again. 'Mazin' sense o' direction, jus' tell 'em where yeh want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "ter go - ' 'Assuming they can understand you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of course,' said Malfoy loudly, and Pansy Parkinson collapsed in a fit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of renewed giggles. Professor Umbridge smiled indulgently at them and then turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to Neville. 'You can see the Thestrals, Longbottom, can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "you?' she said. Neville nodded. 'Who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "did you see die?' she asked, her tone indifferent. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'My . . . my grandad,' said Neville. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "what do you think of them?' she said, waving her stubby hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "at the horses, who by now had stripped a great deal of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the carcass down to bone. 'Erm,' said Neville nervously,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with a glance at Hagrid. 'Well, they're . . . er .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . OK . . .' 'Students . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". are . . . too . . . intimidated . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". to . . . admit . . . they . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". are . . . frightened,' muttered Umbridge, making another note on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "her clipboard. 'No!' said Neville, looking upset. 'No, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "not scared of them!' 'It's quite all right,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Umbridge, patting Neville on the shoulder with what she evidently intended to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "be an understanding smile, though it looked more like a leer to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry. 'Well, Hagrid,' she turned to look up at him again, speaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "once more in that loud, slow voice, 'I think I've got enough","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to be getting along with. You will receive' (she mimed taking something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "from the air in front of her) 'the results of your inspection'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "(she pointed at the clipboard) 'in ten days' time.' She held up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "ten stubby little fingers, then, her smile wider and more toadlike than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "ever before beneath her green hat, she bustled from their midst, leaving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson in fits of laughter, Hermione actually shaking with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "fury and Neville looking confused and upset. That foul,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "lying, twisting old gargoyle!' stormed Hermione half an hour later, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "made their way back up to the castle through the channels they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "had made earlier in the snow. 'You see what she's up to?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "It's her thing about half-breeds all over again - she's trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "make out Hagrid's some kind of dimwitted troll, just because he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a giantess for a mother - and. oh, it's not fair, that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "really wasn't a bad lesson at all - I mean, all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "if it had been Blast-Ended Skrewts again, but Thestrals are fine -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "in fact, for Hagrid, they're really good!' 'Umbridge said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "they're dangerous,' said Ron. 'Well, it's like Hagrid said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "they can look after themselves,' said Hermione impatiently, 'and I suppose a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "teacher like Grubbly-Plank wouldn't usually show them to us before NEWT level,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "but, well, they are very interesting, aren't they? The way some people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "can see them and some can't! I wish I could.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Do you?' Harry asked her quietly. She looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "suddenly horrorstruck. 'Oh, Harry - I'm sorry - no,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of course I don't - that was a really stupid thing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "say.' 'It's OK,' he said quickly, 'don't worry' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'I'm surprised so many people could see them,' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Three in a class - ' 'Yeah, Weasley, we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "were just wondering,' said a malicious voice. Unheard by any of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "in the muffling snow, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were walking along right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "behind them. 'D'you reckon if you saw someone snuff it you'd be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "able to see the Quaffle better?' He, Crabbe and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Goyle roared with laughter as they pushed past on their way to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the castle, then broke into a chorus of 'Weasley is our King'.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Ron's ears turned scarlet. 'Ignore them, just ignore them,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "intoned Hermione, pulling out her wand and performing the charm to produce","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hot air again, so that she could melt them an easier path","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "through the untouched snow between them and the greenhouses.*December arrived, bringing with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it more snow and a positive avalanche of homework for the fifth-years.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Ron and Hermione's prefect duties also became more and more onerous as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Christmas approached. They were called upon to supervise the decoration of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "castle ('You try putting up tinsel when Peeves has got the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "end and is trying to strangle you with it,' said Ron), to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "watch over first- and second-years spending their break-times inside because of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "bitter cold ('And they're cheeky little snot-rags, you know, we definitely weren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "that rude when we were in first year, said Ron) and to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "patrol the corridors in shifts with Argus Filch, who suspected that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "holiday spirit might show itself in an outbreak of wizard duels ('He's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "got dung for brains, that one,' said Ron furiously). They were so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "busy that Hermione had even stopped knitting elf hats and was fretting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "that she was down to her last three. 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "those poor elves I haven't set free yet, having to stay here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "over Christmas because there aren't enough hats!' Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "had not had the heart to tell her that Dobby was taking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "everything she made, bent lower over his History of Magic essay. In","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "any case, he did not want to think about Christmas. For the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "first time in his school career, he very much wanted to spend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the holidays away from Hogwarts. Between his Quidditch ban and worry about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "whether or not Hagrid was going to be put on probation, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "felt highly resentful towards the place at the moment. The only thing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "he really looked forward to were the DA meetings, and they would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "have to stop over the holidays, as nearly everybody in the DA","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "would be spending the time with their families. Hermione was going skiing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with her parents, something that greatly amused Ron, who had never heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of Muggles strapping narrow strips of wood on to their feet to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "slide down mountains. Ron was going home to The Burrow. Harry endured","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "several days of envy before Ron said, in response to Harry asking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "him how he was going to get home for Christmas: :But you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "coming too! Didn't I say? Mum wrote and told me to invite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "you weeks ago!' Hermione rolled her eyes, but Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "spirits soared: the thought of Christmas at The Burrow was truly wonderful,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "though slightly marred by Harry's guilty feeling that he would not be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "able to spend the holiday with Sirius. He wondered whether he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "possibly persuade Mrs Weasley to invite his godfather for the festivities. Even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "though he doubted whether Dumbledore would permit Sirius to leave Grimmauld Place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "anyway, he could not help but think Mrs Weasley might not want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "him; they were so often at loggerheads. Sirius had not contacted Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "at all since his last appearance in the fire, and although Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "knew that with Umbridge on constant watch it would be unwise to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "attempt to contact him, he did not like to think of Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "alone in his mother's old house, perhaps pulling a lonely cracker with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Kreacher. Harry arrived early in the Room of Requirement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "for the last DA meeting before the holidays and was very glad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "he had, because when the torches burst into flame he saw that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Dobby had taken it upon himself to decorate the place for Christmas.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "He could tell the elf had done it, because nobody else would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "have strung a hundred golden baubles from the ceiling, each showing a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "picture of Harry's face and bearing the legend: 'HAVE A VERY HARRY","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "CHRISTMAS!' Harry had only just managed to get the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "last of them down before the door creaked open and Luna Lovegood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "entered, looking as dreamy as usual. 'Hello,' she said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "vaguely, looking around at what remained of the decorations. These are nice,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "did you put them up?' 'No,' said Harry, 'it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was Dobby the house-elf.' 'Mistletoe,' said Luna dreamily, pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "at a large clump of white berries placed almost over Harry's head.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "He jumped out from under it. 'Good thinking,' said Luna very seriously.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'It's often infested with Nargles.' Harry was saved the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "necessity of asking what Nargles are by the arrival of Angelina, Katie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and Alicia. All three of them were breathless and looked very cold.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Well,' said Angelina dully, pulling off her cloak and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "throwing it into a corner, 'we've finally replaced you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Replaced me?' said Harry blankly. You and Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "George,' she said impatiently. 'We've got another Seeker!' 'Who?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "said Harry quickly. 'Ginny Weasley,' said Katie. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Harry gaped at her. 'Yeah, I know,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Angelina, pulling out her wand and flexing her arm, 'but she's pretty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "good, actually. Nothing on you, of course,' she said, throwing him a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "very dirty look, 'but as we can't have you . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Harry bit back the retort he was longing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "utter: did she imagine for a second that he did not regret","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his expulsion from the team a hundred times more than she did?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'And what about the Beaters? he asked, trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "keep his voice even. 'Andrew Kirke,' said Alicia without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "enthusiasm, 'and Jack Sloper. Neither of them are brilliant, but compared to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the rest of the idiots who turned up . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " The arrival of Ron, Hermione and Neville brought this depressing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "discussion to an end, and within five minutes the room was full","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "enough to prevent Harry seeing Angelina's burning, reproachful looks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'OK,' he said, calling them all to order. 'I thought this evening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "we should just go over the things we've done so far, because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it's the last meeting before the holidays and there's no poin: starting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "anything new right before a three-week break - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'We're not doing anything new?' said Zacharias Smith, in a disgruntled whisper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "loud enough to carry through the room. 'If I'd known that, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "wouldn't have come.' 'We're all really sorry Harry didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "tell you, then,' said Fred loudly. Several people sniggered.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry saw Cho laughing and felt the familiar swooping sensation in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "stomach, as though he had missed a step going downstairs. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " ' - we can practise in pairs,' said Harry. 'We'll start","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with the Impediment Jinx, for ten minutes, then we can get out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the cushions and try Stunning again.' They all divided","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "up obediently; Harry partnered Neville as usual. The room was soon full","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of intermittent cries of 'Impedimenta!' People froze for a minute or so,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "during which their partner would stare aimlessly around the room watching other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "pairs at work, then would unfreeze and take their turn at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "jinx. Neville had improved beyond all recognition. After a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "while, when Harry had unfrozen three times in a row, he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Neville join Ron and Hermione again so that he could walk around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the room and watch the others. When he passed Cho she beamed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "at him; he resisted the temptation to walk past her several more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "times. After ten minutes on the Impediment Jinx, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "laid out cushions all over the floor and started practising Stunning again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Space was really too confined to allow them all to work this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "spell at once; half the group observed the others for a while,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "then swapped over. Harry felt himself positively swelling with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "pride as he watched them all. True, Neville did Stun Padma Patil","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "rather than Dean, at whom he had been aiming, but it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a much closer miss than usual, and everybody else had made enormous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "progress. At the end of an hour, Harry called","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a halt. 'You're getting really good,' he said, beaming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "around at them. 'When we get back from the holidays we can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "start doing some of the big stuff - maybe even Patronuses.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " There was a murmur of excitement. The room began to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "clear in the usual twos and threes; most people wished Harry a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Happy Christmas' as they went. Feeling cheerful, he collected up the cushions","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with Ron and Hermione and stacked them neatly away. Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "left before he did; he hung back a little, because Cho was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "still there and he was hoping to receive a 'Merry Christmas' from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "her. 'No, you go on,' he heard her say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to her friend Marietta and his heart gave a jolt that seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to take it into the region of his Adam's apple. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " He pretended to be straightening the cushion pile. He was quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sure they were alone now and waited for her to speak. Instead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "he heard a hearty sniff. He turned and saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Cho standing in the middle of the room, tears pouring down her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "face. 'Wha-?' He didn't know what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to do. She was simply standing there, crying silently. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'What's up?' he said, feebly. She shook her head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. 'I'm -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sorry,' she said thickly. 'I suppose . . . it's just .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . learning all this stuff . . . it just makes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "me . . . wonder whether . . . if he'd known","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it all . . . he'd still be alive.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry's heart sank right back past its usual spot and settled somewhere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "around his navel. He ought to have known. She wanted to talk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "about Cedric. 'He did know this stuff,' Harry said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "heavily. 'He was really good a': it, or he could never have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "got to the middle of that maze. But if Voldemort really wants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to kill you, you don't stand a chance.' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hiccoughed at the sound of Voldemort's name, but stared at Harry without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "flinching. 'You survived when you were just a baby,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "she said quietly. 'Yeah, well,' said Harry wearily, moving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "towards the door, 'I dunno why, nor does anyone else, so it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "nothing to be proud of.' 'Oh, don't go!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Cho, sounding tearful again. 'I'm really sorry to get all upset like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "this . . . I didn't mean to . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " She hiccoughed again. She was very pretty even when her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "eyes were red and puffy. Harry felt thoroughly miserable. He'd have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "so pleased with just a 'Merry Christmas'. 'I know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it must be horrible for you,' she said, mopping her eyes on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "her sleeve again. 'Me mentioning Cedric, when you saw him die .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . I suppose you just want to forget about it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Harry did not say anything to this; it was quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "true, but he felt heartless saying it. 'You're a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "r-really good teacher, you know,' said Cho, with a watery smile. 'I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "never been able to Stun anything before.' 'Thanks,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry awkwardly. They looked at each other for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "long moment. Harry felt a burning desire to run from the room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and, at the same time, a complete inability to move his feet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Mistletoe,' said Cho quietly, pointing at the ceiling over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his head. 'Yeah,' said Harry. His mouth was very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "dry. 'It's probably full of Nargles, though.' 'What are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Nargles?' 'No idea,' said Harry. She had moved closer.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "His brain seemed to have been Stunned. 'You'd have to ask Loony.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Luna, I mean.' Cho made a funny noise halfway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "between a sob and a laugh. She was even nearer to him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "now. He could have counted the freckles on her nose. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'I really like you, Harry.' He could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "think. A tingling sensation was spreading through him, paralysing his arms, legs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and brain. She was much too close. He could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "see every tear clinging to her eyelashes . . .*He returned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the common room half an hour later to find Hermione and Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "in the best seats by the fire; nearly everybody else had gone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to bed. Hermione was writing a very long letter; she had already","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "filled half a roll of parchment, which was dangling from the edge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of the table. Ron was lying on the hearthrug, trying to finish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his Transfiguration homework. 'What kept you?' he asked, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry sank into the armchair next to Hermione's. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "didn't answer. He was in a state of shock. Half of him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "wanted to tell Ron and Hermione what had just happened, but the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "other half wanted to take the secret with him to the grave.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Are you all right, Harry?' Hermione asked, peering at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "him over the tip of her quill. Harry gave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a half-hearted shrug. In truth, he didn't know whether he was all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "right or not. 'What's up?' said Ron, hoisting himself up on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "elbow to get a clearer view of Harry. What's happened?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Harry didn't quite know how to set about telling them, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "still wasn't sure whether he wanted to. Just as he had decided","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "not to say anything, Hermione took matters out of his hands. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Is it Cho?' she asked in a businesslike way. 'Did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "she corner you after the meeting?' Numbly surprised, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "nodded. Ron sniggered, breaking off when Hermione caught his eye. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'So - er - what did she want?' he asked in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a mock casual voice. 'She - ' Harry began,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "rather hoarsely, he cleared his throat and tried again. 'She - er","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "- ' 'Did you kiss?' asked Hermione briskly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Ron sat up so fast he sent his ink bottle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "flying all over the rug. Disregarding this completely, he stared avidly at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry. 'Well?' he demanded. Harry looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "from Ron's expression of mingled curiosity and hilarity to Hermione's slight frown,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and nodded. 'HA!' Ron made a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "triumphant gesture with his fist and went into a raucous peal of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "laughter that made several timid-looking second-years over beside the window jump. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "reluctant grin spread over Harry's face as he watched Ron rolling around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "on the hearthrug. Hermione gave Ron a look or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "deep disgust and returned to her letter. 'Well?' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "said finally, looking up at Harry. 'How was it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry considered for a moment. 'Wet,' he said truthfully.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Ron made a noise that might have indicated jubilation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "or disgust, it was hard to tell. 'Because she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was crying,' Harry continued heavily. 'Oh,' said Ron, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "smile fading slightly. 'Are you that bad at kissing?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Dunno,' said Harry, who hadn't considered this, and immediately felt rather worried.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Maybe I am.' 'Of course you're not,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "absently, still scribbling away at her letter. 'How do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "you know?' said Ron very sharply. 'Because Cho spends","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "half her time crying these days,' said Hermione vaguely. 'She does it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "at mealtimes, in the loos, all over the place.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'You'd think a bit of kissing would cheer her up,' said Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "grinning. 'Ron,' said Hermione in a dignified voice, dipping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the point of her quill into her inkpot, 'you are the most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "insensitive wart I have ever had the misfortune to meet.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'What's that supposed to mean?' said Ron indignantly. 'What sort of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "person cries while someone's kissing them?' 'Yeah,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "slightly desperately, 'who does?' Hermione looked at the pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of them with an almost pitying expression on her face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Don't you understand how Cho's feeling at the moment?' she asked.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'No,' said Harry and Ron together. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hermione sighed and laid down her quill. 'Well, obviously,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "she's feeling very sad, because of Cedric dying. Then I expect she's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "feeling confused because she liked Cedric and now she likes Harry, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "she can't work out who she likes best. Then she'll be feeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "guilty, thinking it's an insult to Cedric's memory to be kissing Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "at all, and she'll be worrying about what everyone else might say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "about her if she starts going out with Harry. And she probably","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "can't work out what her feelings towards Harry are, anyway, because he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was the one who was with Cedric when Cedric died, so that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "all very mixed up and painful. Oh, and she's afraid she's going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to be thrown off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because she's been flying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "so badly.' A slightly stunned silence greeted the end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of this speech, then Ron said, 'One person can't feel all that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "at once, they'd explode.' 'Just because you've got the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "nastily, picking up her quill again. 'She was the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "one who started it,' said Harry. 'I wouldn't've - she just sort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of came at me - and next thing she's crying all over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "me - I didn't know what to do - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Don't blame you, mate,' said Ron, looking alarmed at the very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "thought. 'You just had to be nice to her,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "said Hermione, looking up anxiously. 'You were, weren't you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Well,' said Harry, an unpleasant heat creeping up his face, 'I sort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of - patted her on the back a bit.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hermione looked as though she was restraining herself from rolling her eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with extreme difficulty. 'Well, I suppose it could have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "been worse,' she said. 'Are you going to see her again?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'I'll have to, won't I?' said Harry. 'We've got DA","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "meetings, haven't we?' 'You know what I mean,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Hermione impatiently. Harry said nothing. Hermione's words opened up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a whole new vista of frightening possibilities. He tried to imagine going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "somewhere with Cho - Hogsmeade, perhaps - and being alone with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "for hours at a time. Of course, she would have been expecting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "him to ask her out after what had just happened . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". the thought made his stomach clench painfully. 'Oh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "well,' said Hermione distantly, buried in her letter once more, 'you'll have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "plenty of opportunities to ask her.' 'What if he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "doesn't want to ask her?' said Ron, who had been watching Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "with an unusually shrewd expression on his face. 'Don","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "t be silly, said Hermione vaguely, Harry's liked her lor ages, haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "you, Harry?' He did not answer. Yes, he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "liked Cho for ages, but whenever he had imagined a scene involving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the two of them it had always featured a Cho who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "enjoying herself, as opposed to a Cho who was sobbing uncontrollably into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his shoulder. 'Who're you writing the novel to, anyway?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Ron asked Hermione, trying to read the bit of parchment now trailing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "on the floor. Hermione hitched it up out of sight. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Viktor.' 'Krum?' 'How many other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Viktors do we know?' Ron said nothing, but looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "disgruntled. They sat in silence for another twenty minutes, Ron finishing his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Transfiguration essay with many snorts of impatience and crossings-out, Hermione writing steadily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "to the very end of the parchment, rolling it up carefully and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sealing it, and Harry staring into the fire, wishing more than anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "that Sirius's head would appear there and give him some advice about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "girls. But the fire merely crackled lower and lower, until the red-hot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "embers crumbled into ash and, looking around, Harry saw that they were,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "yet again, the last ones in the common room. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Well, night,' said Hermione, yawning widely as she set off up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "girls' staircase. 'What does she see in Krum?' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "demanded, as he and Harry climbed the boys' stairs. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Well,' said Harry, considering the matter, 'I s'pose he's older, isn't he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . and he's an international Quidditch player . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Yeah, but apart from that,' said Ron, sounding aggravated.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'I mean, he's a grouchy git, isn't he?' 'Bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "grouchy, yeah,' said Harry, whose thoughts were still on Cho. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " They pulled off their robes and put on pyjamas in silence;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Dean, Seamus and Neville were already asleep. Harry put his glasses on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his bedside table and got into bed but did not pull the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "hangings closed around his four-poster; instead, he stared at the patch of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "starry sky visible through the window next to Neville's bed. If he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "had known, this time last night, that in twenty-four hours' time he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "would have kissed Cho Chang . . . 'Night,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "grunted Ron, from somewhere to his right. 'Night,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry. Maybe next time . . . if there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was a next time . . . she'd be a bit happier.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "He ought to have asked her out; she had probably been expecting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it and was now really angry with him . . . or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was she lying in bed, still crying about Cedric? He did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "know what to think. Hermione's explanation had made it all seem more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "complicated rather than easier to understand. That's what they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "should teach us here, he thought, turning over on to his side,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "how girls' brains work . . . it'd be more useful than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Divination, anyway . . . Neville snuffled in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sleep. An owl hooted somewhere out in the night. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry dreamed he was back in the DA room. Cho was accusing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "him of luring her there under false pretences; she said he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "promised her a hundred and fifty Chocolate Frog Cards if she showed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "up. Harry protested . . . Cho shouted, 'Cedric gave me loads","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of Chocolate Frog Cards, look!' And she pulled out fistfuls of Cards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "from inside her robes and threw them into the air. Then she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "turned into Hermione, who said, 'You did promise her, you know, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . I think you'd better give her something else instead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . how about your Firebolt?' And Harry was protesting that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "he could not give Cho his Firebolt, because Umbridge had it, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "anyway the whole thing w;3s ridiculous, he'd only come to the DA","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "room to put up some Christmas baubles shaped like Dobby's head .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . The dream changed . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " His body felt smooth, powerful and flexible. He was gliding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "between shining metal bars, across dark, cold stone . . . he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was flat against the floor, sliding along on his belly . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". it was dark, yet he could see objects around him shimmering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "in strange, vibrant colours . . . he was turning his head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . at first glance the corridor was empty . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". but no . . . a man was sitting on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "floor ahead, his chin drooping on to his chest, his outline gleaming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "in the dark . . . Harry put out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his tongue . . . he tasted the man's scent on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "air . . . he was alive but drowsy . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "sitting in front of a door at the end of the corridor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ".. Harry longed to bite the man . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". but he must master the impulse . . . he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "more important work to do . . . But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the man was stirring . . . a silver Cloak fell from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his legs as he jumped to his feet; and Harry saw his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "vibrant, blurred outline towering above him, saw a wand withdrawn from a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "belt . . . he had no choice . . . he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "reared high from the floor and struck once, twice, three times, plunging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his fangs deeply into the mans flesh, feeling his ribs splinter beneath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his jaws, feeling the warm gush of blood . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " The man was yelling in pain . . . then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "he fell silent . . . he slumped backwards against the wall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . blood was splattering on to the floor . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". His forehead hurt terribly . . . it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was aching fit to burst . . . 'Harry!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "HARRY!' He opened his eyes. Every inch of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "body was covered in icy sweat; his bed covers were twisted all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "around him like a strait-jacket; he felt as though a white-hot poker","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "were being applied to his forehead. 'Harry!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " Ron was standing over him looking extremely frightened. There were more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "figures at the foot of Harry's bed. He clutched his head in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "his hands; the pain was blinding him . . . he rolled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "right over and vomited over the edge of the mattress. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'He's really ill,' said a scared voice. 'Should we call someone?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Harry! Harry!' He had to tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Ron, it was very important that he tell him . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "taking great gulps of air, Harry pushed himself up in bed, willing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "himself not to throw up again, the pain half-blinding him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Your dad,' he panted, his chest heaving. 'Your dad's . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". been attacked . . .' 'What?' said Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "uncomprehendingly. 'Your dad! He's been bitten, it's serious, there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was blood everywhere . . .' 'I'm going for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "help,' said the same scared voice, and Harry heard footsteps running out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of the dormitory. 'Harry, mate,' said Ron uncertainly, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . . you were just dreaming 'No!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Harry furiously; it was crucial that Ron understand. 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "wasn't a dream . . . not an ordinary dream . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". I was there, I saw it . . . I did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it . . .' He could hear Seamus and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Dean muttering but did not care. The pain in his forehead was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "subsiding slightly, though he was still sweating and shivering feverishly. He retched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "again and Ron leapt backwards out of the way. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'Harry, you're not well,' he said shakily. 'Neville's gone for help.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'I'm fine!' Harry choked, wiping his mouth on his pyjamas","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and shaking uncontrollably. There's nothing wrong with me, it's your dad you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "got to worry about - we need to find out where he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "is - he's bleeding like mad - I was - it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "a huge snake.' He tried to get out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "bed but Ron pushed him back into it; Dean and Seamus were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "still whispering somewhere nearby. Whether one minute passed or ten, Harry did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "not know; he simply sat there shaking, feeling the pain recede very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "slowly from his scar . . . then there were hurried footsteps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "coming up the stairs and he heard Neville's voice again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'Over here, Professor.' Professor McGonagall came hurrying into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the dormitory in her tartan dressing gown, her glasses perched lopsidedly on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "the bridge of her bony nose. 'What is it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "Potter? Where does it hurt?' He had never been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "so pleased to see her; it was a member of the Order","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of the Phoenix he needed now, not someone fussing over him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "prescribing useless potions. 'It's Ron's dad,' he said, sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "up again. 'He's been attacked by a snake and it's serious, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "saw it happen.' 'What do you mean, you saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it happen?' said Professor McGonagall, her dark eyebrows contracting. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "'I don't know . . . I was asleep and then I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "was there . . .' 'You mean you dreamed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "this?' 'No!' said Harry angrily; would none of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "understand? 'I was having a dream at first about something completely different,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "something stupid . . . and then this interrupted it. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "real, I didn't imagine it. Mr Weasley was asleep on the floor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "and he was attacked by a gigantic snake, there was a load","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "of blood, he collapsed, someone's got to find out where he is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" ". . .' Professor McGonagall was gazing at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "through her lopsided spectacles as though horrified at what she was seeing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" " 'I'm not lying and I'm not mad!' Harry told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "her, his voice rising to a shout. 'I tell you, I saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "it happen!' 'I believe you, Potter,' said Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "curtly. 'Put on your dressing gown - we're going to see the Headmaster.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-21" "St Mungo's Hosptialfor Magical Maladiesand InjuriesHarry was so relieved she was taking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "him seriously that he did not hesitate, hut jumped out of bed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "at once, pulled on his dressing gown and pushed his glasses back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on to his nose. 'Weasley, you ought to come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "too,' said Professor McGonagall. They followed Professor McGonagall past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the silent figures of Neville, Dean and Seamus, out of the dormitory","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "down the spiral stairs into the common room, through the portrait hole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and off along the Fat Lady's moonlit corridor. Harry felt as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the panic inside him might spill over at any moment; he wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to run, to yell for Dumbledore; Mr Weasley was bleeding as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "walked along so sedately and what if those fangs (Harry tried hard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "not to think 'my fangs') had been poisonous? They passed Mrs Norris,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "who turned her lamplike eyes upon them and hissed faintly but Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "McGonagall said, 'Shoo!' Mrs Norris slunk away into the shadows, and in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a few minutes they had reached the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to Dumbledore s office. 'Fizzing Whizzbee,' said Professor McGonagall.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " The gargoyle sprang to life and leapt aside; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "wall behind it split in two to reveal a stone staircase that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was moving continually upwards like a spiral escalator. The three of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "stepped on to the moving stairs; the wall closed behind them with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a thud and they were moving upwards in tight circles until they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "reached the highly polished oak door with the brass knocker shaped like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a griffin. Though it was now well past midnight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "there were voices coming from inside the room, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "positive babble of them. It sounded as though Dumbledore was entertaining at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "least a dozen people. Professor McGonagall rapped three times","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "with the griffin knocker and the voices ceased abruptly as though someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "had switched them all off. The door opened of its own accord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and Professor McGonagall led Harry and Ron inside. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "room was in half-darkness; the strange silver instruments standing on tables were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "silent and still rather than whirring and emitting puffs of smoke as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "they usually did; the portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses covering the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "walls were all snoozing in their frames. Behind the door, a magnificent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "red and gold bird the size of a swan dozed on its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "perch with its head under its wing. 'Oh, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you, Professor McGonagall . . . and . . . ah.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Dumbledore was sitting in a high-backed chair behind his desk;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he leaned forward into the pool of candlelight illuminating the papers laid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "out before him. He was wearing a magnificently embroidered purple and gold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "dressing gown over a snowy white nightshirt, but seemed wide-awake, his penetrating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "light blue eyes fixed intently upon Professor McGonagall. 'Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Dumbledore, Potter has had a . . . well, a nightmare,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Professor McGonagall. 'He says . . .' 'It wasn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a nightmare,' said Harry quickly. Professor McGonagall looked round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "at Harry, frowning slightly. 'Very well, then, Potter, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "tell the Headmaster about it.' 'I . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "well, I was asleep . . .' said Harry and, even in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his terror and his desperation to make Dumbledore understand, he felt slightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "irritated that the Headmaster was not looking at him, but examining his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "own interlocked fingers. 'But it wasn't an ordinary dream . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "it was real . . . I saw it happen . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ".' He took a deep breath, 'Ron's dad - Mr Weasley -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "has been attacked by a giant snake.' The words","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "seemed to reverberate in the air after he had said them, sounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "slightly ridiculous, even comic. There was a pause in which Dumbledore leaned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "back and stared meditatively at the ceiling. Ron looked from Harry to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Dumbledore, white-faced and shocked. 'How did you see this?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Dumbledore asked quietly, still not looking at Harry. 'Well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". . . I don't know,' said Harry, rather angrily - what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "did it matter? 'Inside my head, I suppose - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'You misunderstand me,' said Dumbledore, still in the same calm tone.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'I mean . . . can you remember - er - where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you were positioned as you watched this attack happen? Were you perhaps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "standing beside the victim, or else looking down on the scene from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "above?' This was such a curious question that Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "gaped at Dumbledore; it was almost as though he knew . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". 'I was the snake,' he said. 'I saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "it all from the snake's point of view.' Nobody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "else spoke for a moment, then Dumbledore, now looking at Ron who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was still whey-faced, asked in a new and sharper voice, 'Is Arthur","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "seriously injured?' 'Yes,' said Harry emphatically - why were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "they all so slow on the uptake, did they not realise how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "much a person bled when fangs that long pierced their side? And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "why could Dumbledore not do him the courtesy of looking at him?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " But Dumbledore stood up, so quickly it made Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "jump, and addressed one of the old portraits hanging very near the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "ceiling. 'Everard?' he said sharply. 'And you too, Dilys!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "A sallow-faced wizard with a short black fringe and an elderly witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "with long silver ringlets in the frame beside him, both of whom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "seemed to have been in the deepest of sleeps, opened their eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "immediately. 'You were listening?' said Dumbledore. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "The wizard nodded; the witch said, 'Naturally.' The man","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "has red hair and glasses,' said Dumbledore. 'Everard, you will need to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "raise the alarm, make sure he is found by the right people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "- ' Both nodded and moved sideways out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "their frames, but instead of emerging in neighbouring pictures (as usually happened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "at Hogwarts) neither reappeared. One frame now contained nothing but a backdrop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of dark curtain, the other a handsome leather arm-el` air. Harry noticed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "that many of the other headmasters and mistresses on the walls, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "snoring and drooling most convincingly, kept sneaking peeks at him from under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "their eyelids, and he suddenly understood who had been talking when they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "had knocked. 'Everard and Dilys were two of Hogwartss","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "most celebrated Heads,' Dumbledore said, now sweeping around Harry, Ron and Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "McGonagall to approach the magnificent sleeping bird on his perch beside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "door. 'Their renown is such that both have portraits hanging in other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "important wizarding institutions. As they are free to move between their own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "portraits, they can tell us what may be happening elsewhere . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ".' 'But Mr Weasley could be anywhere!' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Please sit down, all three of you,' said Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "as though Harry had not spoken, 'Everard and Dilys may not be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "back for several minutes. Professor McGonagall, if you could draw up extra","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "chairs.' Professor McGonagall pulled her wand from the pocket","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of her dressing gown and waved it; three chairs appeared out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "thin air, straight-backed and wooden, quite unlike the comfortable chintz armchairs that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Dumbledore had conjured up at Harry's hearing. Harry sat down, watching Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "over his shoulder. Dumbledore was now stroking Fawkes's plumed golden head with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "one finger. The phoenix awoke immediately. He stretched his beautiful head high","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and observed Dumbledore through bright, dark eyes. 'We will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "need,' Dumbledore said very quietly to the bird, 'a warning.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " There was a flash of fire and the phoenix had gone.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Dumbledore now swooped down upon one of the fragile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "silver instruments whose function Harry had never known, carried it over to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his desk, sat down facing them again and tapped it gently with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the tip of his wand. The instrument tinkled into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "life at once with rhythmic clinking noises. Tiny puffs of pale green","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "smoke issued from the minuscule silver tube at the top. Dumbledore watched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the smoke closely, his brow furrowed. After a few seconds, the tiny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "puffs became a steady stream of smoke that thickened and coiled in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the air . . . a serpent's head grew out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "end of it, opening its mouth wide. Harry wondered whether the instrument","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was confirming his story: he looked eagerly at Dumbledore for a sign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "that he was right, but Dumbledore did not look up. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Naturally, naturally,' murmured Dumbledore apparently to himself, still observing the stream","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of smoke without the slightest sign of surprise. 'But in essence divided?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Harry could make neither head nor tail of this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "question. The smoke serpent, however, split itself instantly into two snakes, both","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "coiling and undulating in the dark air. With a look of grim","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "satisfaction, Dumbledore gave the instrument another gentle tap with h.s wand: the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "clinking noise slowed and died and the smoke serpents grew faint, became","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a formless haze and vanished. Dumbledore replaced the instrument","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on its spindly little table. Harry saw many of the old headmasters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "in the portraits follow him with their eyes, then, realising that Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was watching them, hastily pretend to be sleeping again. Harry wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "ask what the strange silver instrument was for, but before he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "do so, there was a shout from the top of the wall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to their right; the wizard called Everard had reappeared in his portrait.,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "panting slightly. 'Dumbledore!' 'What news?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Dumbledore at once. 'I yelled until someone came running,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "said the wizard, who was mopping his brow on the curtain behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "him, 'said I'd heard something moving downstairs - they weren't sure whether","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to believe me but went down to check - you know there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "are no portraits down there to watch from. Anyway, they carried him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "up a few minutes later. He doesn't look good, he's covered in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "blood, I ran along to Elfrida Cragg's portrait to get a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "view as they left - ' 'Good,' said Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "as Ron made a convulsive movement. 'I take it Dilys will have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "seen him arrive, then - ' And moments later,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the silver-ringleted witch had reappeared in her picture, too; she sank, coughing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "into her armchair and said, `Yes, they've taken him to St Mungo's,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Dumbledore . . . they carried him past my portrait . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". he looks bad . . .` 'Thank you,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "said Dumbledore. He looked round at Professor McGonagall. 'Minerva,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "I need you to go and wake the other Weasley children.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Of course . . .' Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "got up and moved swiftly to the door. Harry cast a sideways","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "glance at Ron, who was looking terrified. And Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "- what about Molly? said Professor McGonagall, pausing at the door. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " That will be a job for Fawkes when he has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "finished keeping a lookout for anybody approaching,' said Dumbledore. 'But she may","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "already know . . . that excellent clock of hers . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ".' Harry knew Dumbledore was referring to the clock","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "that told, not the time, but the whereabouts and conditions of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "various Weasley family members, and with a pang he thought that Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley's hand must, even now, be pointing at mortal peril. But it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was very late. Mrs Weasley was probably asleep, not watching the clock.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry felt cold as he remembered Mrs Weasley's Boggart turning into Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley's lifeless body, his glasses askew, blood running down his face .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". . but Mr Weasley wasn't going to die . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he couldn't . . . Dumbledore was now rummaging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "in a cupboard behind Harry and Ron. He emerged from it carrying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a blackened old kettle, which he placed carefully on his desk. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "raised his wand and murmured, 'Portus!' For a moment the kettle trembled,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "glowing with an odd blue light; then it quivered to rest, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "solidly black as ever. Dumbledore marched over to another","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "portrait, this time of a clever-looking wizard with a pointed beard, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "had been painted wearing the Slytherin colours of green and silver and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was apparently sleeping so deeply that he could not hear Dumbledore's voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "when he attempted to rouse him. 'Phineas. Phineas.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " The subjects of the portraits lining the room were no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "longer pretending to be asleep; they were shifting around in their frames,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the better to watch what was happening. When the clever-looking wizard continued","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to feign sleep, some of them shouted his name, too. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Phineas! Phineas! PHINEAS!' He could not pretend any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "longer; he gave a theatrical jerk and opened his eyes wide. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Did someone call?' 'I need you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "visit your other portrait again, Phineas,' said Dumbledore. 'I've got another message.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Visit my other portrait?' said Phineas in a reedy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "voice, giving a long, fake yawn (his eyes travelling around the room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and focusing on Harry). 'Oh, no, Dumbledore, I am too tired tonight.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Something about Phineas's voice was familiar to Harry, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "had he heard it before? But before he could think, the portraits","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on the surrounding walls broke into a storm of protest. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Insubordination, sir!' roared a corpulent, red-nosed wizard, brandishing his fists. 'Dereliction","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of duty!' 'We are honour-bound to give service to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the present Headmaster o:~ Hogwarts!' cried a frail-looking old wizard whom Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "recognised as Dumbledore's predecessor, Armando Dippet. 'Sharne on you, Phineas!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Shall I persuade him, Dumbledore?' called a gimlet-eyed witch, raising an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "unusually thick wand that looked not unlike a birch rod. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Oh, very well,' said the wizard called Phineas, eyeing the wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "with mild apprehension, 'though he may well have destroyed my picture by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "now, he's done away with most of the family - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Sirius knows not to destroy your portrait,' said Dumbledore, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry realised immediately where he had heard Phineas's voice before: issuing from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the apparently empty frame in his bedroom in Grimmauld Place. 'You are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to give him the message that Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and that his wife, children and Harry Potter will be arriving at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his house shortly. Do you understand?' 'Arthur Weasley, injured,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "wife and children and Harry Potter coming to stay,' repeated Phineas in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a bored voice. 'Yes, yes . . . very well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ".' He sloped away into the frame of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "portrait and disappeared from view at the very moment the study door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "opened again. Fred, George and Ginny were ushered inside by Professor McGonagall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "all three of them looking dishevelled and shocked, still in their night","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "things. 'Harry - what's going on?' asked Ginny, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "looked frightened. 'Professor McGonagall says you saw Dad get hurt - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Your father has been injured in the course of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his work for the Order of the Phoenix,' said Dumbledore, before Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "could speak. 'He has been taken to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Maladies and Injuries. I am sending you back to Sirius's house, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "is much more convenient for the hospital than The Burrow. You will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "meet your mother there.' 'How're we going?' asked Fred,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "looking shaken. Floo powder?' 'No,' said Dumbledore, 'Floo powder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "is not safe at the moment, the Network is being watched. You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "will be taking a Portkey.' He indicated the old kettle lying innocently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on his desk. `We are just waiting for Phineas Nigellus to report","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "back . . . I want to be sure that the coast","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "is clear before sending you - ' There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a flash of flame in the very middle of: the office, leaving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "behind a single golden feather that floated gently to the floor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'It is Fawkes's warning,' said Dumbledore, catching the feather as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "it fell. 'Professor Umbridge must know you're out of your beds .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". . Minerva, go and head her off - tell her any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "story - ' Professor McGonagall was gone in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "swish of tartan. 'He says he'll be delighted,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a bored voice behind Dumbledore; the wizard called Phineas had reappeared in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "front of his Slytherin banner. 'My great-great-grandson has always had an odd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "taste in house-guests.' 'Come here, then,' Dumbledore said to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry and the Weasleys. 'And quickly, before anyone else joins us.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Harry and the others gathered around Dumbledore's desk. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'You have all used a Portkey before?' asked Dumbledore, and they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "nodded, each reaching out to touch some part of the blackened kettle.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'Good. On the count of three, then . . . one .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". . two . . .' It happened in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a fraction of a second: in the infinitesimal pause before Dumbledore said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'three', Harry looked up at him - they were very close together","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "- and Dumbledore's clear blue gaze moved from the Portkey to Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "face. At once, Harry's scar burned white-hot, as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the old wound had burst open again - and unbidden, unwanted, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "terrifyingly strong, there rose within Harry a hatred so powerful he felt,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "for that instant, he would like nothing better than to strike -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to bite - to sink his fangs into the man before him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "- ' '. . . three.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry felt a powerful jerk behind his navel, the ground vanished from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "beneath his feet, his hand was glued to the kettle; he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "banging into the others as they all sped forwards in a swirl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of colours and a rush of wind, the kettle pulling them onwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". . . until his feet hit the ground so hard his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "knees buckled, the kettle clattered to the ground, and somewhere close at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "hand a voice said: 'Back again, the blood-traitor brats.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Is it true their father's dying?' 'OUT!' roared a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "second voice. Harry scrambled to his feet and looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "around; they had arrived in the gloomy basement kitchen of number twelve,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Grimmauld Place. The only sources of light were the fire and one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "guttering candle, which illuminated the remains of a solitary supper. Kreacher was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "disappearing through the door to the hall, looking back at them malevolently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "as he hitched up his loincloth; Sirius was hurrying towards them all,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "looking anxious. He was unshaven and still in his day clothes; there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was also a slightly Mundungus-like whiff of stale drink about him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'What's going on?' he said, stretching out a hand to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "help Ginny up. Thineas Nigellus said Arthur's been badly injured - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Ask Harry,' said Fred. 'Yeah, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "want to hear this for myself,' said George. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "twins and Ginny were staring at him. Kreacher's footsteps had stopped on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the stairs outside. 'It was - ' Harry began;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "this was even worse than telling McGonagall and Dumbledore. 'I had a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "- a kind of- vision . . .' And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he told them all that he had seen, though he altered the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "story so that it sounded as though he had watched from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "sidelines as the snake attacked, rather than from behind the snake's own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "eyes. Ron, who was still very white, gave him a fleeting look,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "but did not speak. When Harry had finished, Fred, George and Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "continued to stare at him for a moment. Harry did not know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "whether he was imagining it or not, but he fancied there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "something accusatory in their looks. Well, if they were going to blame","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "him just for seeing the attack, he was glad he had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "told them that he had been inside the snake at the lime.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Is Mum here?' said Fred, turning to Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'She probably doesn't even know what's happened yet,' said Sirius.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "The important thing was to get you away before Umbridge could interfere.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "I expect Dumbledore's letting Molly know now.' We've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to go to St Mungos, said Ginny urgently, She looked around at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "her brothers; they were of course still in their pyjamas. 'Sirius, can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you lend us cloaks or anything?' 'Hang on, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "can't go tearing off to St Mungo's!' said Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'Course we can go to St Mungo's if we want,' said Fred,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "with a mulish expression. 'He's our dad!' 'And how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "are you going to explain how you knew Arthur was attacked before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the hospital even let his wife know?' 'What does","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "that matter?' said George hotly. 'It matters because we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "don't want to draw attention to the fact that Harry is having","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "visions of things that are happening hundreds of miles away!' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "angrily. 'Have you any idea what the Ministry would make oifthat information?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Fred and George looked as though they could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "care less what the Ministry made of anything. Ron was still ashen-faced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and silent. Ginny said, 'Somebody else could have told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "us . . . we could have heard it somewhere other than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry.' 'Like who?' said Sirius impatiently. 'Listen, your dad's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "been hurt while on duty for the Order and the circumstances are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "fishy enough without his children knowing about it seconds after it happened,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you could seriously damage the Order's - ' 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "don't care about the dumb Order!' shouted Fred. 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "our dad dying we're talking about!' yelled George. 'Your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "father knew what he was getting into and he won't thank you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "for messing things up for the Order!' said Sirius, equally angry. This","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "is how it is - this is why you're not in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Order - you don't understand - there are things worth dying for!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Easy for you to say, stuck here!' bellowed Fred.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'I don't see you risking your neck!' The little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "colour remaining in Sirius's face drained from it. He looked for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "moment as though he would quite like to hit Fred, but when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he spoke, it was in a voice of determined calm. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'I know it's hard, but we've all got to act as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "though we don't know anything yet. We've got to stay put, at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "least until we hear from your mother, all right?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Fred and George still looked mutinous. Ginny, however, took a few steps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "over to the nearest chair and sank into it. Harry looked at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Ron, who made a funny movement somewhere between a nod and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "shrug, and they sat down too. The twins glared at Sirius for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "another minute, then took seats either side of Ginny. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'That's right,' said Sirius encouragingly, 'come on, lets all . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "let's all have a drink while we're waiting. Accio Butterbeer!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " He raised his wand as he spoke and half a dozen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "bottles came flying towards them out of the pantry, skidded along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "table, scattering the debris of Sirius's meal, and stopped neatly in front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of t le six of them. They all drank, and for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "while the only sounds were those of the crackling of the kitchen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "fire and the soft thud of their bottles on the table. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Harry was only drinking to have something to do with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his hands. His stomach was full of horrible hot, bubbling guilt. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "would not be here if it were not for him; they would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "all still be asleep in bed. And it was no good telling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "himself that by raising the alarm he had ensured that Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was found, because there was also the inescapable business of it being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he who had attacked Mr Weasley in the first place. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Don't be stupid, you haven't got fangs, he told himself, trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to keep calm, though the hand on his Butterbeer bottle was shaking,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you were lying in bed, you weren't attacking anyone . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " But then, what just happened in Dumbledore's office? he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "asked himself. I felt like I wanted to attack Dumbledore, too .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". . He put the bottle down a little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "harder than he meant to, and it slopped over on to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "table. No one took any notice. Then a burst of fire in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "midair illuminated the dirty plates in front of them and, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "gave cries of shock, a scroll of parchment fell with a thud","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on to the table, accompanied by a single golden phoenix tail feather.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Fawkes!' said Sirius at once, snatching up the parchment.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'That's not Dumbledore s writing - it must be a message from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "your mother - here - ' He thrust the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "letter into Georges hand, who ripped it open and read aloud: 'Dad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "is still alive. I am setting out for St Mungo's now. Stay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "where you are. I will send news as soon as I can.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Mum.' George looked around the table. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'Still alive . . .' he said slowly. 'But that makes it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "sound . . .' He did not need to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "finish the sentence. It sounded to Harry, too, as though Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was hovering somewhere between life and death. Still exceptionally pale, Ron stared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "at the back of his mother's letter as though it might speak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "words of comfort to him. Fred pulled the parchment out of George's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "hands and read it for himself, then looked up at Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "felt his hand shaking on his Butterbeer bottle again and clenched it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "more tightly to stop the trembling. If Harry had ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "sat through a longer night than this one, he could not remember","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "it. Sirius suggested once, without any real conviction, that they all go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to bed, but the Weasleys' looks of disgust were answer enough. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "mostly sat in silence around the table, watching the candle wick sinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "lower and lower into liquid wax, occasionally raising a bottle to their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "lips, speaking only to check the time, to wonder aloud what was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "happening, and to reassure each other that if there was bad news,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "they would know straightaway, for Mrs Weasley must long since have arrived","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "at St Mungo's. Fred fell into a doze, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "head lolling sideways on to his shoulder. Ginny was curled like a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "cat on her chair, but her eyes were open; Harry could see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "them reflecting the firelight. Ron was sitting with his head in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "hands, whether awake or asleep it was impossible to tell. Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Sirius looked at each other every so often, intruders upon the family","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "grief, waiting . . . waiting . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "At ten past five in the morning by Ron's watch, the kitchen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "door swung open and Mrs Weasley entered the kitchen. She was extremely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "pale, but when they all turned to look at her, Fred, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and Harry half rising from their chairs, she gave a wan smile.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'He's going to be all right,' she said, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "voice weak with tiredness. 'He's sleeping. We can all go and see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "him later. Bill's sitting with him now; he's going to take the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "morning off work.' Fred fell back into his chair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "with his hands over his face. George and Ginny got up, walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "swiftly over to their mother and hugged her. Ron gave a very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "shaky laugh and downed the rest of his Butterbeer in one. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Breakfast!' said Sirius loudly and joyfully, jumping to his feet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'Where's that accursed house-elf? Kreacher! KREACHER!' But Kreacher did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "not answer the summons. 'Oh, forget it, then,' muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Sirius, counting the people in front of him. 'So, it's breakfast for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "- let's see - seven . . . bacon and eggs, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "think, and some tea, and toast - ' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "hurried over to the stove to help. He did not want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "intrude on the Weasleys' happiness and he dreaded the moment when Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley would ask him to recount his vision. However, he had barely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "taken plates from the dresser when Mrs Weasley lifted them out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his hands and pulled him into a hug. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been for you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry' she said in a muffled voice. 'They might not have found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Arthur for hours, and then it would have been too late, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "thanks to you he's alive and Dumbledore's been able to think up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a good cover story for Arthur being where he was, you've no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "idea what trouble he would have been in otherwise, look at poor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Sturgis . . .' Harry could hardly bear her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "gratitude, but fortunately she soon released him to turn to Sirius and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "thank him for looking after her children through the night. Sirius said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he was very pleased to have been able to help, and hoped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "they would all stay with him as long as Mr Weasley was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "in hospital. Oh, Sirius, I'm so grateful . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" ". they think he'll be there a little while and it would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "be wonderful to be nearer . . . of course, that might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "mean we're here for Christmas.' The more the merrier!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "said Sirius with such obvious sincerity that Mrs Weasley beamed at him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "threw on an apron and began to help with breakfast. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Sirius,' Harry muttered, unable to stand it a moment longer. 'Can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "I have a quick word? Er - now?' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "walked into the dark pantry and Sirius followed. Without preamble, Harry told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his godfather every detail of the vision he had had, including the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "fact that he himself had been the snake who had attacked Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley. When he paused for breath, Sirius said, 'Did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you tell Dumbledore this?' 'Yes,' said Harry impatiently 'but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he didn't tell me what it meant. Well, he doesn't tell me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "anything any more.' 'I'm sure he would have told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you if it was anything to worry about,' said Sirius steadily ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'But that's not all,' said Harry, in a voice only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a little above a whisper. 'Sirius, I . . . I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "I'm going mad. Back in Dumbledore's office, just before we took the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Portkey . . . for a couple of seconds there I thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "I was a snake, I felt like one - my scar really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "hurt when I was looking at Dumbledore - Sirius, I wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "attack him!' He could only see a sliver of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Sirius's face; the rest was in darkness. `It must","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "have been the aftermath of the vision, that's all,' said Sirius. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "were still thinking of the dream or whatever it was and -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "' 'It wasn't that,' said Harry, shaking his head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'it was like something rose up inside me, like there's a snake","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "inside me.' 'You need to sleep,' said Sirius firmly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'You're going to have breakfast, then go upstairs to bed, and after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "lunch you can go and see Arthur with the others. You're in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "shock, Harry; you're blaming yourself for something you only witnessed, and it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "lucky you did witness it or Arthur might have died. Just stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "worrying.' He clapped Harry on the shoulder and left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the pantry, leaving Harry standing alone in the dark.*Everyone but Harry spent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the rest of the morning sleeping. He went up to the bedroom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he and Ron had shared over the last few weeks of summer,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "but while Ron crawled into bed and was asleep within minutes, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "sat fully clothed, hunched against the cold metal bars of the bedstead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "keeping himself deliberately uncomfortable, determined not to fall into a doze, terrified","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "that he might become the serpent again in his sleep and wake","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to find that he had attacked Ron, or else slithered through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "house after one of the others . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "When Ron woke up, Harry pretended to have enjoyed a refreshing nap","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "too. Their trunks arrived from Hogwarts while they were eating lunch, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "they could dress as Muggles for the trip to St Mungo's. Everybody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "except Harry was riotously happy and talkative as they changed out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "their robes into jeans and sweatshirts. When Tonks and Mad-Eye turned up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to escort them across London, they greeted them gleefully, laughing at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "bowler hat Mad-Eye was wearing at an angle to conceal his magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "eye and assuring him, truthfully, that Tonks, whose hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was short and bright pink again, would attract far less attention on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the Underground. Tonks was very interested in Harry's vision","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of the attack on Mr Weasley, something Harry was not remotely interested","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "in discussing. There isn't any Seer blood in your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "family, is there?' she enquired curiously, as they sat side by side","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on a train rattling towards the heart of the city. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'No,' said Harry thinking of Professor Trelawney and feeling insulted. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'No,' said Tonks musingly, 'no, I suppose it's not really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "prophecy you're doing, is it? I mean, you're not seeing the future,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you're seeing the present . . . it's odd, isn't it? Useful,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "though . . .' Harry didn't answer; fortunately, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "got out at the next stop, a station in the very heart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of London, and in the bustle of leaving the train he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "able to allow Fred and George to get between himself and Tonks,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "who was leading the way. They all followed her up the escalator,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Moody clunking along at the back of the group, his bowler 'I'llted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "low and one gnarled hand stuck in between the buttons of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "coat, clutching his wand. Harry thought he sensed the concealed eye staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "hard at him. Trying to avoid any more questions about his dream,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he asked Mad-Eye where St Mungo's was hidden. 'Not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "far from here,' grunted Moody as they stepped out into the wintry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "air on a broad store-lined street packed with Christmas shoppers. He pushed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry a little ahead of him and stumped along just behind; Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "knew the eye was rolling in all directions under the tilted hat.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'Wasn't easy to find a good location for a hospital. Nowhere in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Diagon Alley was big enough and we couldn't have it underground like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the Ministry - wouldn't be healthy. In the end they managed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "get hold of a building up here. Theory was, sick wizards could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "come and go and just blend in with the crowd.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " He seized Harry's shoulder to prevent them being separated by a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "gaggle of shoppers plainly intent on nothing but making it into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "nearby shop full of electrical gadgets. 'Here we go,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "said Moody a moment later. They had arrived outside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a large, old-fashioned, red-brick department store called Purge & Dowse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Ltd. The place had a shabby, miserable air; the window displays consisted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of a few chipped dummies with their wigs askew, standing at random","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and modelling fashions at least ten years out of date. Large signs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on all the dusty doors read: 'Closed for Refurbishment'. Harry distinctly heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a large woman laden with plastic shopping bags say to her friend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "as they passed, 'It's never open, that place . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Right,' said Tonks, beckoning them towards a window displaying nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "but a particularly ugly female dummy. Its false eyelashes were hanging off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and it was modelling a green nylon pinafore dress. 'Everybody ready?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " They nodded, clustering around her. Moody gave Harry another shove","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "between the shoulder blades to urge him forward and Tonks leaned close","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to the glass, looking up at the very ugly dummy, her breath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "steaming up the glass. 'Wotcher,' she said, 'we're here to see Arthur","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley.' Harry thought how absurd it was for Tonks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to expect the dummy to hear her talking so quietly through a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "sheet of glass, with buses rumbling along behind her and all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "racket of a street full of shoppers. Then he reminded himself that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "dummies couldn't hear anyway. Next second, his mouth opened in shock as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the dummy gave a tiny nod and beckoned with its jointed finger,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and Tonks had seized Ginny and Mrs Weasley by the elbows, stepped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "right through the glass and vanished. Fred, George and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Ron stepped after them. Harry glanced around at the jostling crowd; not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "one of them seemed to have a glance to spare for window","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "displays as ugly as those of Purge & Dowse Ltd; nor did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "any of them seem to have noticed that six people had just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "melted into thin air in front of them. 'C'mon,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "growled Moody, giving Harry yet another poke in the back, and together","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "they stepped forward through what felt like a sheet of cool water,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "emerging quite warm and dry on the other side. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "There was no sign of the ugly dummy or the space where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "she had stood. They were in what seemed to be a crowded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "reception area where rows of witches and wizards sat upon rickety wooden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "chairs, some looking perfectly normal and perusing out-of-date copies of Witch Weekly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "others sporting gruesome disfigurements such as elephant trunks or extra hands sticking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "out of their chests. The room was scarcely less quiet than the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "street outside, for many of the patients were making very peculiar noises:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a sweaty-faced witch in the centre of the front row, who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "fanning herself vigorously with a copy of the Daily Prophet, kept letting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "off a high-pitched whistle as steam came pouring out of her mouth;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a grubby-looking warlock in the corner clanged like a bell every time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he moved and, with each clang, his head vibrated horribly so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he had to seize himself by the ears to hold it steady.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Witches and wizards in lime-green robes were walking up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and down the rows, asking questions and making notes on clipboards like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Umbridge's. Harry noticed the emblem embroidered on their chests: a wand and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "bone, crossed. 'Are they doctors?' he asked Ron quietly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Doctors?' said Ron, looking startled. Those Muggle nutters that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "cut people up? Nah, they're Healers.' 'Over here!' called","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Mrs Weasley, above the renewed clanging of the warlock in the corner,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and they followed her to the queue in front of a plump","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "blonde witch seated at a desk marked Enquiries. The wall behind her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was covered in notices and posters saying things like: A CLEAN CAULDRON","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "KEEPS POTIONS FROM BECOMING POISONS and ANTIDOTES ARE ANTI-DON'TS UNLESS APPROVED BY","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "A QUALIFIED HEALER. There was also a large portrait of a witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "with long silver ringlets which was labelled:Dilys DerwentSt Mungo's Healer 1722-1741Headmistress of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry1741-1768Dilys was eyeing the Weasley party closely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "as though counting them; when Harry caught her eye she gave a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "tiny wink, walked sideways out of her portrait and vanished. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " Meanwhile, at the front of the queue, a young wizard was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "performing an odd on-the-spot jig and trying, in between yelps of pain,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to explain his predicament to the witch behind the desk. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'It's these - ouch - shoes my brother gave me -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "ow - they re eating my - OUCH - feet - look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "at them, there must be some kind of - AARGH - jinx","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on them and I can't - AAAAARGH - get them off.' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "hopped from one foot to the other as though dancing on hot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "coals. The shoes don't prevent you reading, do they?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "said the blonde witch, irritably pointing at a large sign to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "left of her desk. 'You want Spell Damage, fourth floor. Just like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "it says on the floor guide. Next!' As the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "wizard hobbled and pranced sideways out of the way, the Weasley party","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "moved forward a few steps and Harry read the floor guide:ARTEFACT ACCIDENTS......................................","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Gound floorCauldron explosion, wand backfiring, broom crashes, etc.CREATURE-INDUCED INJURIES........................ First floorBites, stings,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "burns, embedded spines, etc.MAGICAL BUGS.................................................... Second floorContagious maladies, e.g. dragon pox, vanishing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "sickness, scrofungulus, etc.POTION AND PLANT POISONING...................... Third floorRashes, regurgitation, uncontrollablegiggling, etc.SPELL DAMAGE.....................................................","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Fourth floorUnliftable jinxes, hexes, incorrectlyapplied charms, etc.VISITORS' TEAROOM / HOSPITAL SHOP.......... Fifth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "floorIF YOU ARE UNSURE WHERE TO GO, INCAPABLE OF NORMAL SPEECH OR","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "UNABLE TO REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE HERE, OUR WELCOMEWITCH WILL BE PLEASED","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "TO HELP.Avery old, stooped wizard with a hearing trumpet had shuffled to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the front of the queue now. 'I'm here to see Broderick Bode!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he wheezed. 'Ward forty-nine, but I'm afraid you're wasting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "your time,' said the witch dismissively. 'He's completely addled, you know -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "still thinks he's a teapot. Next!' A harassed-looking wizard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was holding his small daughter tightly by the ankle while she flapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "around his head using the immensely large, feathery wings that had sprouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "right out through the back of her romper suit. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'Fourth floor,' said the witch, in a bored voice, without asking, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the man disappeared through the double doors beside the desk, holding his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "daughter like an oddly shaped balloon. 'Next!' Mrs Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "moved forward to the desk. 'Hello,' she said, 'my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "husband, Arthur Weasley, was supposed to be moved to a different ward","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "this morning, could you tell us - ?' 'Arthur","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley?' said the witch, running her finger down a long list in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "front of her. 'Yes, first floor, second door on the right, Dai","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Llewellyn Ward.' Thank you,' said Mrs Weasley. 'Come on,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you lot.' They followed her through the double doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and along the narrow corridor beyond, which was lined with more portraits","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of famous Healers and lit by crystal bubbles full of candles that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "floated up on the ceiling, looking like giant soapsuds. More witches and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "wizards in lime-green robes walked in and out of the doors they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "passed; a foul-smelling yellow gas wafted into the passageway as they passed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "one door, and every now and then they heard distant wailing. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "climbed a flight of stairs and entered the Creature-Induced Injuries corridor, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the second door on the right bore the words: 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Ward: Serious Bites. Underneath this was a card in a brass holder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on which had been handwritten: Healer-in-Charge: Hippocrates Smethwyck. Trainee Healer: Augustus Pye.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'We'll wait outside, Molly,' Tonks said. 'Arthur won't want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "too many visitors at once . . . it ought to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "just the family first.' Mad-Eye growled his approval of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "this idea and set himself with his back against the corridor wall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "his magical eye spinning in all directions. Harry drew back, too, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Mrs Weasley reached out a hand and pushed him through the door,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "saying, 'Don't be silly, Harry, Arthur wants to thank you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " The ward was small and rather dingy, as the only window","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was narrow and set high in the wall facing the door. Most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "of the light came from more shining crystal bubbles clustered in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "middle of the ceiling. The walls were of panelled oak and there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was a portrait of a rather vicious-looking wizard on the wall, captioned:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Urquhart Rackharrow, 1612-1697, Inventor of the Entrail-expelling Curse. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "were only three patients. Mr Weasley was occupying the bed at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "far end oi the ward beside the tiny window. Harry was pleased","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and relieved to see that he was propped up on several pillows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and reading the Daily Prophet by the solitary ray of sunlight falling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on to his bed. He looked up as they walked towards him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and, seeing who it was, beamed. 'Hello!' he called,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "throwing the Prophet aside. 'Bill just left, Molly, had to get back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to work, but he says he'll drop in on you later.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'How are you, Arthur?' asked Mrs Weasley, bending down to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "kiss his cheek and looking anxiously into his face. 'You're still looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a bit peaky.' 'I feel absolutely fine,' said Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley brightly, holding out his good arm to give Ginny a hug.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'If they could only take the bandages off, I'd be fit to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "go home.' 'Why can't they take them off, Dad?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "asked Fred. 'Well, I start bleeding like mad every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "time they try,' said Mr Weasley cheerfully, reaching across for his wand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "which lay on his bedside cabinet, and waving it so that six","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "extra chairs appeared at his bedside to seat them all. 'It seems","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "there was some rather unusual kind of poison in that snakes fangs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "that keeps wounds open. They're sure they'll find an antidote, though; they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "say they've had much worse cases than mine, and in the meantime","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "I just have to keep taking a Blood-Replenishing Potion every hour. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "that fellow over there,' he said, dropping his voice and nodding towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the bed opposite in which a man lay looking green and sickly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and staring at the ceiling. 'Bitten by a werewolf, poor chap. No","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "cure at all.' 'A werewolf?' whispered Mrs Weasley, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "alarmed. 'Is he safe in a public ward? Shouldn't he be in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a private room?' 'It's two weeks till full moon,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Mr Weasley reminded her quietly. They've been talking to him this morning,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the Healers, you know, trying to persuade him he'll be able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "lead an almost normal life. I said to him - didn't mention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "names, of course - but I said I knew a werewolf personally,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "very nice man, who finds the condition quite easy to manage.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'What did he say?' asked George. 'Said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he'd give me another bite if I didn't shut up,' said Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Weasley sadly. 'And that woman over there,' he indicated the only other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "occupied bed, which was right beside the door, 'won't tell the Healers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "what bit her, which makes us all think it must have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "something she was handling illegally. Whatever it was took a real chunk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "out of her leg, very nasty smell when they take off the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "dressings.' 'So, you going to tell us what happened,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Dad?' asked Fred, pulling his chair closer to the bed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Well, you already know, don't you?' said Mr Weasley, with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "significant smile at Harry. 'It's very simple - I'd had a very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "long day, dozed off, got sneaked up on and bitten.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Is it in the Prophet, you being attacked?' asked Fred, indicating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the newspaper Mr Weasley had cast aside. 'No, of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "course not,' said Mr Weasley, with a slightly bitter smile, 'the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "wouldn't want everyone to know a dirty great serpent got - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Arthur!' Mrs Weasley warned him. '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "- got - er - me,' Mr Weasley said hastily, though Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "was quite sure that was not what he had meant to say.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'So where were you when it happened, Dad?' asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "George. 'That's my business,' said Mr Weasley, though with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "a small smile. He snatched up the Daily Prophet, shook it open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "again and said, '] was just reading about Willy Widdershins's arrest when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you arrived. You know Willy turned out to be behind those regurgitating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "toilets back in the summer? One of his jinxes backfired, the toilet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "exploded and they found him lying unconscious in the wreckage covered from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "head to foot in - ' When you say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you were `on duty`,' Fred interrupted in a low voice, 'what were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you doing?' 'You heard your father,' whispered Mrs Weasley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "'we are not discussing this here! Go on about Willy Widdershins, Arthur.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Well, don't ask me how, but he actually got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "off the toilet charge,' said Mr Weasley grimly. 'I can only suppose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "gold changed hands - ' 'You were guarding it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "weren't you?' said George quietly. The weapon? The thing You-Know-Who's after?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'George, be quiet!' snapped Mrs Weasley. 'Anyway,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "said Mr Weasley, in a raised voice, 'this time Willys been caught","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "selling biting doorknobs to Muggles and I don't think he'll be able","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to worm his way out of it because, according to this article,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "two Muggles have lost fingers and are now in St Mungo's for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "emergency bone re-growth and memory modification. Just think of it, Muggles in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "St Mungo's! I wonder which ward they're in?' And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "he looked eagerly around as though hoping to see a signpost. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Didn't you say You-Know-Who's got a snake, Harry?' asked Fred,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "looking at his father for a reaction. 'A massive one? You saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "it the night he returned, didn't you?' That's enough,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "said Mrs Weasley crossly. 'Mad-Eye and Tonks are outside, Arthur, they want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to come and see you. And you lot can wait outside,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "added to her children and Harry. 'You can come and say goodbye","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "afterwards. Go on.' They trooped back into the corridor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Mad-Eye and Tonks went in and closed the door of the ward","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "behind them. Fred raised his eyebrows. 'Fine,' he said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "coolly, rummaging in his pockets, 'be like that. Don't tell us anything.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Looking for these?' said George, holding out what looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "like a tangle of flesh-coloured string. 'You read my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "mind,' said Fred, grinning. 'Let's see if St Mungo's puts Imperturbable Charms","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "on its ward doors, shall we?' He and George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "disentangled the string and separated five Extendable Ears from each other. Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and George handed them around. Harry hesitated to take one. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Go on, Harry, take it! You saved Dad's life. If anyone's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "got the right to eavesdrop on him, it's you.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Grinning in spite of himself, Harry took the end of the string","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "and inserted it into his ear as the twins had done. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'OK, go!' Fred whispered. The flesh-coloured strings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "wriggled like long skinny worms and snaked under the door. At first,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Harry could hear nothing, then he jumped as he heard Tonks whispering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "as clearly as though she were standing right beside him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " '. . . they searched the whole area taut couldn't find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the snake anywhere. It just seems to have vanished after it attacked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "you, Arthur . . . but You-Know-Who can't have expected a snake","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "to get in, can he?' 'I reckon he sent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "it as a lookout,' growled Moody, `cause he's not had any luck","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "so far, has he? No, I reckon he's trying to get a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "clearer picture of what he's facing and if Arthur hadn't been there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "the beast would've had a lot more time to look around. So,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Potter says he saw it all happen?' 'Yes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Mrs Weasley. She sounded rather uneasy. 'You know, Dumbledore seems almost to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "have been waiting for Harry to see something like this.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Yeah, well,' said Moody, 'there's something funny about the Potter kid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "we all know that.' 'Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "when I spoke to him this morning,' whispered Mrs Weasley. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" " 'Course he's worried,' growled Moody. The boy's seeing things from inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "You-Know-Who's snake. Obviously, Potter doesn't realise what that means, but if You-Know-Who's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "possessing him - ' Harry pulled the Extendable Ear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "out of his own, his heart hammering very fast and heat rushing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "up his face. He looked around at the others. They were all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "staring at him, the strings still trailing from their ears, looking suddenly fearful. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-22" "Christmas on the Closed WardWas this why Dumbledore would no longer meet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry's eyes? Did he expect to see Voldemort staring out of them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "afraid, perhaps, that their vivid green might turn suddenly to scarlet, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "catlike slits for pupils? Harry remembered how the snakelike face of Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "had once forced itself out of the back of Professor Quirrell's head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and ran his hand over the back of his own, wondering what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "it would feel like if Voldemort burst out of his skull. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " He felt dirty, contaminated, as though he were carrying some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "deadly germ, unworthy to sit on the Underground train back from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "hospital with innocent, clean people whose minds and bodies were free of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the taint of Voldemort . . . he had not merely seen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the snake, he had been the snake, he knew it now .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . A truly terrible thought then occurred to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "him, a memory bobbing to the surface of his mind, one that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "made his insides writhe and squirm like serpents. What's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he after, apart from followers? Stuff he can only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "get by stealth . . . like a weapon. Something he didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "have last time. I'm the weapon, Harry thought, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "it was as though poison were pumping through his veins, chilling him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "bringing him out in a sweat as he swayed with the train","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "through the dark tunnel. I'm the one Voldemort's trying to use, that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "why they've got guards around me everywhere I go, it's not for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "my protection, it's for other people's, only it's not working, they can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "have someone on me all the time at Hogwarts . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I did attack Mr Weasley last night, it was me. Voldemort made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "me do it and he could be inside me, listening to my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "thoughts right now - ' 'Are you all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry, dear?' whispered Mrs Weasley, leaning across Ginny to speak to him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "as the train rattled along through its dark tunnel. 'You don't look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "very well. Are you feeling sick?' They were all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "watching him. He shook his head violently and stared up at an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "advertisement for home insurance. 'Harry, dear, are you sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you're all right?' said Mrs Weasley in a worried voice, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "walked around the unkempt patch of grass in the middle of Grimmauld","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Place. 'You look ever so pale . . . are you sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you slept this morning? You go upstairs to bed right now and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you can have a couple of hours of sleep before dinner, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "right?' He nodded; here was a ready-made excuse not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to talk to any of the others, which was precisely what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "wanted, so when she opened the front door he hurried straight past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the trolls-leg umbrella stand, up the stairs and into his and Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "bedroom. Here, he began to pace up and down,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "past the two beds and Phineas Nigellus's empty picture frame, his brain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "teeming and seething with questions and ever more dreadful ideas. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " How had he become a snake? Perhaps he was an Animagus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . . no, he couldn't be, he would know . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". perhaps Voldemort was an Animagus . . . yes, thought Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "that would fit, he would turn into a snake of course .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . and when he's possessing me, then we both transform .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . that still doesn't explain how I got to London and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "back to my bed in the space of about five minutes .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . but then Voldemort's about the most powerful wizard in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "world, apart from Dumbledore, it's probably no problem at all to him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to transport people like that. And then, with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "terrible stab of panic, he thought, but this is insane - if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Voldemort's possessing me, I'm giving him a clear view into the Headquarters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of the Order of the Phoenix right now! He'll know who's in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the Order and where Sirius is . . . and I've heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "loads of stuff I shouldn't have, everything Sirius told me the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "night I was here . . . There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "only one thing for it: he would have to leave Grimmauld Place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "straightaway. He would spend Christmas at Hogwarts without the others, which would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "keep them sate over the holidays at least . . . but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "no, that wouldn't do, there were still plenty of people at Hogwarts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to maim and injure. What if it was Seamus, Dean or Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "next time? He stopped his pacing and stood staring at Phineas Nigellus's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "empty frame. A leaden sensation was settling in the pit of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "stomach. He had no alternative: he was going to have to return","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to Privet Drive, cut himself off from other wizards entirely. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Well, if he had to do it, he thought, there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "no point hanging around. Trying with all his might not to think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "how the Dursleys were going to react when they found him on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "their doorstep six months earlier than they had expected, he strode over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to his trunk, slammed the lid shut and locked it, then glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "around automatically for Hedwig before remembering that she was still at Hogwarts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "- well, her cage would be one less thing to carry -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he seized one end of his trunk and had dragged it halfway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "towards the door when a snide voice said, 'Running away, are we?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " He looked around. Phineas Nigellus had appeared on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "canvas of his portrait and was leaning against the frame, watching Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "with an amused expression on his face. 'Not running","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "away, no,' said Harry shortly, dragging his trunk a few more feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "across the room. 'I thought,' said Phineas Nigellus, stroking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his pointed beard, 'that to belong in Gryffindor house you were supposed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to be brave? It looks to me as though you would have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "been better off in my own house. We Slytherins are brave, yes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "save our own necks.' 'It's not my own neck","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I'm saving,' said Harry tersely, tugging the trunk over a patch of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "particularly uneven, moth-eaten carpet right in front of the door. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Oh, I see,' said Phineas Nigellus, still stroking his beard, 'this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "is no cowardly flight - you are being noble.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry ignored him. His hand was on the doorknob when Phineas Nigellus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said lazily, 'I have a message for you from Albus Dumbledore.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Harry span round. 'What is it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " ' `Stay where you are.` ' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "haven't moved!' said Harry, his hand still upon the doorknob. 'So what's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the message?' 'I have just given it to you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "dolt,' said Phineas Nigellus smoothly. 'Dumbledore says, `Stay where you are.` '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Why?' said Harry eagerly, dropping the end of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "trunk. 'Why does he want me to stay? What else did he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "say?' 'Nothing whatsoever,' said Phineas Nigellus, raising a thin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "black eyebrow as though he found Harry impertinent. Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "temper rose to the surface like a snake rearing from long grass.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "He was exhausted, he was confused beyond measure, he had experienced terror,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "relief, then terror again in the last twelve hours, and still Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "did not want to talk to him! 'So that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "it, is it?' he said loudly. ' `Stay where you are`? That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "all anyone could tell me after I got attacked by those Dementors,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "loo! Just stay put while the grown-ups sort it out, Harry! We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "won't bother telling you anything, though, because your tiny little brain might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "not be able to cope with it!' 'You know,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Phineas Nigellus, even more loudly than Harry, 'this is precisely why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I loathed being a teacher! Young people are so infernally convinced that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "they are absolutely right about everything. Has it not occurred to you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "my poor puffed-up popinjay, that there might be an excellent reason why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the Headmaster of Hogwarts is not confiding every tiny detail of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "plans to you? Have you never paused, while feeling hard-done-by, to note","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "that following Dumbledore's orders has never yet led you into harm? No.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "No, like all young people, you are quite sure that you alone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "feel and think, you alone recognise danger, you alone are the only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "one clever enough to realise what the Dark Lord may be planning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "- ' 'He is planning something to do with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "me, then?' said Harry swiftly. 'Did I say that?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Phineas Nigellus, idly examining his silk gloves. 'Now, if you will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "excuse me, I have better things to do than listen to adolescent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "agonising . . . good-day to you.' And he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "strolled to the edge of his frame and out of sight. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Fine, go then!' Harry bellowed at the empty frame. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "tell Dumbledore thanks for nothing!' The empty canvas remained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "silent. Fuming, Harry dragged his trunk back to the foot of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "bed, then threw himself face down on the moth-eaten covers, his eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "shut, his body heavy and aching. He felt as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "though he had journeyed for miles and miles . . . it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "seemed impossible that less than twenty-four hours ago Cho Chang had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "approaching him under the mistletoe . . . he was so tired","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . . he was scared to sleep . . . yet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he did not know how long he could fight it . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". Dumbledore had told him to stay . . . that must","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "mean he was allowed to sleep . . . but he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "scared . . . what if it happened again? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "He was sinking into shadows . . . It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was as though a film in his head had been waiting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "start. He was walking down a deserted corridor towards a plain black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "door, past rough stone walls, torches, and an open doorway on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a flight of stone steps leading downstairs on the left . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". He reached the black door but could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "open it. . . he stood gazing at it, desperate for entry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . . something he wanted with all his heart lay beyond","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . . a prize beyond his dreams . . . if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "only his scar would stop prickling . . . then he would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "be able to think more clearly . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Harry,' said Ron's voice, from far, far away, 'Mum says dinners ready,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "but she'll save you something if you want to stay in bed.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Harry opened his eyes, but Ron had already left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the room. He doesn't want to be on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "own with me, Harry thought. Not after what he heard Moody say.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " He supposed none of them would want him there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "any more, now that they knew what was inside him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " He would not go down to dinner; he would not inflict","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his company on them. He turned over on to his other side","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and, after a while, dropped back off to sleep. He woke much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "later, in the early hours of the morning, his insides aching with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "hunger and Ron snoring in the next bed. Squinting around the room,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he saw the dark outline of Phineas Nigellus standing again in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "portrait and it occurred to Harry that Dumbledore had probably sent Phineas","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Nigellus to watch over him, in case he attacked somebody else. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " The feeling of being unclean intensified. He half-wished he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "not obeyed Dumbledore . . . if this was how life was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "going to be for him in Grimmauld Place from now on, maybe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he would be better off in Privet Drive after all.*Everybody else spent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the following morning putting up Christmas decorations. Harry could not remember Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "ever being in such a good mood; he was actually singing carols,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "apparently delighted that he was to have company over Christmas. Harry could hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his voice echoing up through the floor in the cold drawing room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "where he was sitting alone, watching the sky growing whiter outside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "windows, threatening snow, all the time feeling a savage pleasure that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was giving the others the opportunity to keep talking about him, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "they were bound to be doing. When he heard Mrs Weasley calling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his name softly up the stairs around lunchtime, he retreated further upstairs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and ignored her. Around six o'clock in the evening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the doorbell rang and Mrs Black started screaming again. Assuming that Mundungus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "or some other Order member had come to call, Harry merely settled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "himself more comfortably against the wall of Buckbeak's room where he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "hiding, trying to ignore how hungry he felt as he fed dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "rats to the Hippogriff. It came as a slight shock when somebody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "hammered hard on the door a few minutes later. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'I know you're in there,' said Hermione's voice. 'Will you please come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "out? I want to talk to you.' 'What are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you doing here?' Harry asked her, pulling open the door as Buckbeak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "resumed his scratching at the straw-strewn floor for any fragments of rat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he may have dropped. 'I thought you were skiing with your mum","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and dad?' 'Well, to tell the truth, skiing's not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "really my thing,' said Hermione. 'So, I've come here for Christmas.' There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was snow in her hair and her face was pink with cold.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'But don t tell Ron. I told him skiing's really good because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he kept laughing so much. Mum and Dad are a bit disappointed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "but I've told them that everyone who is serious about the exams","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "is staying at Hogwarts to study. They want me to do well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "they'll understand. Anyway,' she said briskly, 'let's go to your bedroom, Ron's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "mum has lit a fire in there and she's sent up sandwiches.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Harry followed her back to the second floor. When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he entered the bedroom, he was rather surprised to see both Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and Ginny waiting for them, sitting on Ron's bed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'I came on the Knight Bus,' said Hermione airily, pulling off her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "jacket before Harry had time to speak. 'Dumbledore told me what had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "happened first thing this morning, but I had to wait for term","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to end officially before setting off. Umbridge is already livid that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "lot disappeared right under her nose, even though Dumbledore told her Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Weasley was in St Mungo's and he'd given you all permission to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "visit. So . . .' She sat down next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to Ginny, and the two girls and Ron all looked up at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry. 'How're you feeling?' asked Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Fine,' said Harry stiffly. 'Oh, don't lie, Harry,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said impatiently. 'Ron and Ginny say you've been hiding from everyone since","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you got back from St Mungo's.' They do, do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "they?' said Harry, glaring at Ron and Ginny. Ron looked down at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his feet but Ginny seemed quite unabashed. 'Well, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "have!' she said. 'And you won't look at any of us!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'It's you lot who won't look at me!' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "angrily. 'Maybe you're taking it in turns to look,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and keep missing each other,' suggested Hermione, the corners of her mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "twitching. 'Very funny,' snapped Harry, turning away. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Oh, stop feeling all misunderstood,' said Hermione sharply. 'Look, the others","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "have told me what you overheard last night on the Extendable Ears","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "- ' 'Yeah?' growled Harry, his hands deep in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his pockets as he watched the snow now falling thickly outside. 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "been talking about me, have you? Well, I'm getting used to it.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'We wanted to talk to you, Harry' said Ginny,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'but as you've been hiding ever since we got back - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'I didn't want anyone to talk to me,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry, who was feeling more and more nettled. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "that was a bit stupid of you,' said Ginny angrily, 'seeing as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I can tell you how it feels.' Harry remained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "quite still as the impact of these words hit him. Then he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "wheeled round. 'I forgot,' he said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Lucky you,' said Ginny coolly. Tin sorry,' Harry said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and he meant it. 'So . . . so, do you think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I'm being possessed, then?' 'Well, can you remember everything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you've been doing?' Ginny asked. 'Are there big blank periods where you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "don't know what you've been up to?' Harry racked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his brains. 'No,' he said. Then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "You-Know-Who hasn't ever possessed you,' said Ginny simply. 'When he did it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to me, I couldn't remember what I'd been doing for hours at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a time. I'd find myself somewhere and not know how I got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "there.' Harry hardly dared believe her, yet his heart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was lightening almost in spite of himself. 'That dream","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I had about your dad and the snake, though - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Harry, you've had these dreams before,' Hermione said. 'You had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "flashes of what Voldemort was up to last year.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "This was different,' said Harry, shaking his head. T was inside that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "snake. It was like I was the snake . . . what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "if Voldemort somehow transported me to London - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'One day,' said Hermione, sounding thoroughly exasperated, 'you'll read Hogwarts: A History,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and perhaps it will remind you that you can't Apparate or Disapparaie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "inside Hogwarts. Even Voldemort couldn't just make you fly out of your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "dormitory, Harry.' 'You didn't leave your bed, male,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Ron. T saw you thrashing around in your sleep for at least","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a minute before we could wake you up.' Harry started","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "pacing up and down the room again, thinking. What they were all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "saying was not only comforting, it made sense . . . without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "really thinking, he took a sandwich from the plate on the bed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and crammed it hungrily into his mouth. I'm not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the weapon after all, thought Harry. His heart swelled with happiness and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "relief, and he felt like joining in as they heard ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Sirius tramping past their door towards Buckbeaks room, singing 'God Rest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Ye, Merry Hippogriffs' at the top of his voice.*How could he have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "dreamed of returning to Privet Drive for Christmas? Sirius's delight at having","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the house full again, and especially at having Harry back, was infectious.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "He was no longer their sullen host of the summer; now he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "seemed determined that everyone should enjoy themselves as much, if not more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "than they would have done at Hogwarts, and he worked tirelessly in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the run-up to Christmas Day, cleaning and decorating with their help, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "that by the time they all went to bed on Christmas Eve","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the house was barely recognisable. The tarnished chandeliers were no longer hung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "with cobwebs but with garlands of holly and gold and silver streamers;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "magical snow glittered in heaps over the threadbare carpets; a great Christmas","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "tree, obtained by Mundungus and decorated with live fairies, blocked Sirius's family","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "tree from view, and even the stuffed elf-heads on the hall wall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "wore Father Christmas hats and beards. Harry awoke on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Christmas morning to find a stack of presents at the foot of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his bed and Ron already halfway through opening his own, rather larger,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "pile. 'Good haul this year,' he informed Harry through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a cloud of paper. Thanks for the Broom Compass, it's excellent; beats","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Hermione's - she got me a homework planner - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Harry sorted through his presents and found one with Hermione's handwriting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "on it. She had given him, too, a book that resembled a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "diary except that every time he opened a page it said aloud","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "things like: 'Do it today or later you'll pay!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Sirius and Lupin had given Harry a set of excellent books entitled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Practical Defensive Magic and its Use Against the Dark Arts, which had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "superb, moving colour illustrations of all the counter-jinxes and hexes it described.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry flicked through the first volume eagerly; he could see it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "going to be highly useful in his plans for the DA. Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "had sent a furry brown wallet that had fangs, which were presumably","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "supposed to be an anti-theft device, but unfortunately prevented Harry putting any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "money in without getting his fingers ripped off. Tonks's present was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "small, working model of a Firebolt, which Harry watched fly around the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "room, wishing he still had his full-size version; Ron had given him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "an enormous box of Every-Flavour Beans, Mr and Mrs Weasley the usual","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "hand-knitted jumper and some mince pies, and Dobby a truly dreadful painting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "that Harry suspected had been done by the elf himself. He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "just turned it upside-down to see whether it looked better that way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "when, with a loud crack, Fred and George Apparated at the foot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of his bed. 'Merry Christmas,' said George. 'Don't go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "downstairs for a bit.' 'Why not?' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Mum's crying again,' said Fred heavily. 'Percy sent back his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Christmas jumper.' 'Without a note,' added George. 'Hasn't asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "how Dad is or visited him or anything.' 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "tried to comfort her,' said Fred, moving around the bed to look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "at Harry's portrait. Told her Percy's nothing more than a humungous pile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of rat droppings.' 'Didn't work,' said George, helping himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to a Chocolate Frog. 'So Lupin took over. Best let him cheer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "her up before we go down for breakfast, I reckon.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'What's that supposed to be, anyway?' asked Fred, squinting at Dobbys","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "painting. 'Looks like a gibbon with two black eyes.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'It's Harry!' said George, pointing at the back of the picture, 'says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "so on the back!' 'Good likeness,' said Fred, grinning.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry threw his new homework diary at him; it hit the wall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "opposite and fell to the floor where it said happily: 'If you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "dotted the `i`s and crossed the `t`s then you may do whatever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you please!' They got up and dressed. They could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "hear the various inhabitants of the house calling 'Merry Christmas' to one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "another. On their way downstairs they met Hermione. Thanks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "for the book, Harry,' she said happily. 'I've been wanting that New","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Theory of Numerology for ages! And that perfume's really unusual, Ron.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'No problem,' said Ron. 'Who's that for, anyway?' he added,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "nodding at the neatly wrapped present she was carrying. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Kreacher,' said Hermione brightly. 'It had better not be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "clothes!' Ron warned her. 'You know what Sirius said: Kreacher knows too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "much, we can't set him free!' 'It isn't clothes,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Hermione, 'although if I had my way I'd certainly give him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "something to wear other than that filthy old rag. No, it's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "patchwork quilt, I thought it would brighten up his bedroom.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'What bedroom?' said Harry, dropping his voice to a whisper as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "they were passing the portrait of Sirius's mother. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Sirius says it's not so much a bedroom, more a kind of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "- 'den,' said Hermione. 'Apparently he sleeps under the boiler in that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "cupboard off the kitchen.' Mrs Weasley was the only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "person in the basement when they arrived there. She was standing at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the stove and sounded as though she had a bad head cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "as she wished them 'Merry Christmas', and they all averted their eyes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'So, is this Kreacher's bedroom?' said Ron, strolling over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to a dingy door in the corner opposite the pantry. Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "never seen it open. 'Yes,' said Hermione, now sounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a little nervous. 'Er . . . I think we'd better knock.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Ron rapped on the door with his knuckles but there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was no reply. 'He must be sneaking around upstairs,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he said, and without further ado pulled open the door. 'Urgh!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Harry peered inside. Most of the cupboard was taken up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "with a very large and old-fashioned boiler, but in the foot of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "space underneath the pipes Kreacher had made himself something that looked like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a nest. A jumble of assorted rags and smelly old blankets were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "piled on the floor and the small dent in the middle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "it showed where Kreacher curled up to sleep every night. Here and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "there among the material were stale bread crusts and mouldy old bits","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of cheese. In a far corner glinted small objects and coins that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry guessed Kreacher had saved, magpie-like, from Sirius's purge of the house,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and he had also managed to retrieve the silver-framed family photographs that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Sirius had thrown away over the summer. Their glass might be shattered,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "but still the little black-and-white people inside them peered up at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "haughtily, including - he felt a little jolt in his stomach -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the dark, heavy-lidded woman whose trial he had witnessed in Dumbledore's Pensieve:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Bellatrix Lestrange. By the looks of it, hers was Kreachers favourite photograph;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he had placed it to the fore of all the others and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "had mended the glass clumsily with Spellotape. 'I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I'll just leave his present here,' said Hermione, laying the package neatly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "in the middle of the depression in the rags and blankets and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "closing the door quietly. 'He'll find it later, that'll be fine.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Come to think of it,' said Sirius, emerging from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "pantry carrying a large turkey as they closed the cupboard door, 'has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "anyone actually seen Kreacher lately?' 'I haven't seen him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "since the night we came back here,' said Harry. 'You were ordering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "him out of the kitchen.' 'Yeah . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Sirius, frowning. 'You know, I think that's the last time I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "saw him, too . . . he must be hiding upstairs somewhere.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'He couldn't have left, could he?' said Harry. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "mean, when you said `out`, maybe he thought you meant get out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of the house?' 'No, no, house-elves can't leave unless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "they're given clothes. They're tied to their family's house,' said Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " They can leave the house if they really want to,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry contradicted him. 'Dobby did, he left the Malfoy's' to give me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "warnings two years ago. He had to punish himself afterwards, but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "still managed it.' Sirius looked slightly disconcerted for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "moment, then said, 'I'll look for him later, I expect I'll find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "him upstairs crying his eyes out over my mother's old bloomers or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "something. Of course, he might have crawled into the airing cupboard and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "died . . . but I mustn't get my hopes up.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Fred, George and Ron laughed; Hermione, however, looked reproachful. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Once they had eaten their Christmas lunch, the Weasleys, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a:id Hermione were planning to pay Mr Weasley another visit, escorted by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Mad-Eye and Lupin. Mundungus turned up in time for Christmas pudding and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "trifle, having managed to 'borrow' a car for the occasion, as the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Underground did not run on Christmas Day. The car, which Harry doubted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "very much had been taken with the consent of its owner, had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "been enlarged with a spell like the Weasleys' old Ford Anglia had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "once been. Although normally proportioned outside, ten people with Mundungus driving were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "able to fit into it quite comfortably. Mrs Weasley hesitated before getting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "inside - Harry knew her disapproval of Mundungus was battling with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "dislike of travelling without magic - but, finally, the cold outside and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "her children's pleading triumphed, and she settled herself into the back seat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "between Fred and Bill with good grace. The journey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to St Mungo's was quite quick as there was very little traffic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "on the roads. A small trickle of witches and wizards was creeping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "furtively up the otherwise deserted street to visit the hospital. Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the others got out of the car, and Mundungus drove off around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the corner to wait for them. They strolled casually towards the window","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "where the dummy in green nylon stood, then, one by one, stepped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "through the glass. The reception area looked pleasantly festive:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the crystal orbs that illuminated St Mungo's had been coloured red and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "gold to become gigantic, glowing Christmas baubles; holly hung around every doorway;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and shining white Christmas trees covered in magical snow and icicles glittered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "in every corner, each one topped with a gleaming gold star. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was less crowded than the last time they had been there, although","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "halfway across the room Harry found himself shunted aside by a witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "with a satsuma jammed up her left nostril. 'Family","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "argument, eh?' smirked the blonde witch behind the desk. 'You're the third","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I've seen today . . . Spell Damage, fourth floor.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " They found Mr Weasley propped up in bed with the remains","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of his turkey dinner on a tray on his lap and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "rather sheepish expression on his face. 'Everything all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Arthur?' asked Mrs Weasley, after they had all greeted Mr Weasley and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "handed over their presents. 'Fine, fine,' said Mr Weasley,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a little too heartily. 'You - er - 'haven't seen Healer Smethwyck,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "have you?' 'No,' said Mrs Weasley suspiciously, 'why?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Nothing, nothing,' said Mr Weasley airily, starting to unwrap his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "pile of gifts. 'Well, everyone had a good day? What did you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "all get for Christmas? Oh, Harry - this is absolutely wonderful!' For","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he had just opened Harry's gift of fuse-wire and screwdrivers. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Mrs Weasley did not seem entirely satisfied with Mr Weasley's answer.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "As her husband leaned over to shake Harry's hand, she peered at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the bandaging under his nightshirt. 'Arthur,' she said, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a snap in her voice like a mousetrap, 'you've had your bandages changed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Why have you had your bandages changed a day early, Arthur? They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "told me they wouldn't need doing until tomorrow.' 'What?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Mr Weasley, looking rather frightened and pulling the bed covers higher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "up his chest. 'No, no - it's nothing - it's - 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "- ' He seemed to deflate under Mrs Weasley's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "piercing gaze. Well - now don't get upset, Molly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "but Augustus Pye had an idea . . . he's the Trainee","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Healer, you know, lovely young chap and very interested in . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". um . . . complementary medicine . . . I mean,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "some of these old Muggle remedies . . . well, they're called","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "stitches, Molly, and they work very well on - on Muggle wounds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "- ' Mrs Weasley let out an ominous noise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "somewhere between a shriek and a snarl. Lupin strolled away from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "bed and over to the werewolf, who had no visitors and was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "looking rather wistfully at the crowd around Mr Weasley; Bill muttered something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "s.bout getting himself a cup of tea and Fred and George leapt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "up to accompany him, grinning. 'Do you mean to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "tell me,' said Mrs Weasley, her voice growing louder with every word","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and apparently unaware that her fellow visitors were scurrying for cover, 'that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you have been messing about with Muggle remedies?' 'Not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "messing about, Molly, dear,' said Mr Weasley imploringly, 'it was just -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "just something Pye and I thought we'd try - only, most unfortunately","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "- well, with these particular kinds of wounds - it doesn't seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to work as well as we'd hoped - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Meaning?' 'Well . . . well, I don't know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "whether you know what - what stitches are?' 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "sounds as though you've been trying to sew your skin back together,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Mrs Weasley with a snort of mirthless laughter, 'but even you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Arthur, wouldn't be that stupid - ' 'I fancy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a cup of tea, too,' said Harry, jumping to his feet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Hermione, Ron and Ginny almost sprinted to the door with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "him. As it swung closed behind them, they heard Mrs Weasley shriek,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THAT'S THE GENERAL IDEA?' 'Typical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Dad,' said Ginny, shaking her head as they set off up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "corridor. 'Stitches . . . I ask you . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Well, you know, they do work well on non-magical wounds,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Hermione fairly. 'I suppose something in that snake's venom dissolves them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "or something. I wonder where the tearoom is?' 'Fifth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "floor,' said Harry, remembering the sign over the welcomewitch's desk. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " They walked along the corridor, through a set of double doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and found a rickety staircase lined with more portraits of brutal-looking Healers.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "As they climbed it, the various Healers called out to them, diagnosing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "odd complaints and suggesting horrible remedies. Ron was seriously affronted when a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "medieval wizard called out that he clearly had a bad case of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "spattergroit. 'And what's that supposed to be?' he asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "angrily, as the Healer pursued him through six more portraits, shoving the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "occupants out of the way. ' 'Tis a most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "grievous affliction of the skin, young master, that will leave you pockmarked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and more gruesome even than you are now - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Watch who you're calling gruesome!' said Ron, his ears turning red.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " ' - the only remedy is to take the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "liver of a toad, bind it tight about your throat, stand naked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "at the full moon in a barrel of eels' eyes - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'I have not got spattergroit!' 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the unsightly blemishes upon your visage, young master - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'They're freckles!' said Ron furiously. 'Now get back in your own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "picture and leave me alone!' He rounded on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "others, who were all keeping determinedly straight faces. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "floor's this?' 'I think it's the fifth,' said Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Nah, it's the fourth,' said Harry, 'one more -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " But as he stepped on to the landing he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "came to an abrupt halt, staring at the small window set into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the double doors that marked the start of a corridor signposted SPELL","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "DAMAGE. A man was peering out at them all with his nose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "pressed against the glass. He had wavy blond hair, bright blue eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and a broad vacant smile that revealed dazzlingly white teeth. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Blimey!' said Ron, also staring at the man. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Oh, my goodness,' said Hermione suddenly, sounding breathless. 'Professor Lockhart.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Their ex-Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher pushed open the doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and moved towards them, wearing a long lilac dressing gown. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Well, hello there!' he said. 'I expect you'd like my autograph,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "would you?' 'Hasn't changed much, has he?' Harry muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to Ginny, who grinned. 'Er - how are you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Professor?' said Ron, sounding slightly guilty. It had been Ron's malfunctioning wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "that had damaged Professor Lockhart's memory so badly that he had landed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "in St Mungo's in the first place, though as Lockhart had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "attempting to permanently wipe Harry and Ron's memories at the time, Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "sympathy was limited. 'I'm very well indeed, thank you!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said Lockhart exuberantly, palling a rather battered peacock-feather quill from his pocket.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Mow, how many autographs would you like? I can do joined-up writing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "now, you know!' 'Er - we don't want any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "at the moment, thanks,' said Ron, raising his eyebrows at Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "asked, 'Professor, should you be wandering around the corridors? Shouldn't you be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "in a ward?' The smile faded slowly from Lockhart's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "face. For a few moments he gazed intently at Harry, then he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "said, 'Haven't we met?' 'Er . . . yeah, we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "have,' said Harry. 'You used to teach us at Hogwarts, remember?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Teach?' repeated Lockhart, looking faintly unsettled. 'Me? Did I?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " And then the smile reappeared upon his face so suddenly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "it was rather alarming. Taught you everything you know,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I expect, did I? Well, how about those autographs, then? Shall we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "say a round dozen, you can give them to all your little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "friends then and nobody will be left out!' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "just then a head poked out of a door at the far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "end of the corridor and a voice called, 'Gilderoy, you naughty boy,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "where have you wandered off to?' A motherly-looking Healer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "wearing a tinsel wreath in her hair came bustling up the corridor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "smiling warmly at Harry and the others. 'Oh, Gilderoy,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you've got visitors! How lovely, and on Christmas Day, too! Do you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "know, he never gets visitors, poor lamb, and I can't think why,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "he's such a sweetie, aren't you?' 'We're doing autographs!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Gilderoy told the Healer with another glittering smile. They want loads of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "them, won't take no for an answer! I just hope we've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "enough photographs!' 'Listen to him,' said the Healer, taking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Lockhart's arm and beaming fondly at him as though he were a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "precocious two-year-old. 'He was rather well known a few years ago; we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "very much hope that this liking for giving autographs is a sign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "that his memory might be starting to come back. Will you step","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "this way? He's in a closed ward, you know, he must have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "slipped out while I was bringing in the Christmas presents, the door's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "usually kept locked . . . not that he's dangerous! But,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "lowered her voice to a whisper, 'he's a bit of a danger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to himself, bless him . . . doesn't know who he is,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you see, wanders off and can't remember how to get back .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" ". . it is nice of you to have come to see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "him.' 'Er,' said Ron, gesturing uselessly at the floor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "above, 'actually, we were just - er -' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the Healer was smiling expectantly at them, and Ron's feeble mutter of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'going to have a cup of tea' trailed away into nothingness. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "looked at each other helplessly, then followed Lockhart and his Healer along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the corridor. 'Let's not stay long,' Ron said quietly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " The Healer pointed her wand at the door of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the Janus Thickey Ward and muttered, 'Alohomora.' The door swung open and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "she led the way inside, keeping a firm grasp on Gilderoy's arm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "until she had settled him into an armchair beside his bed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " This is our long-term residents' ward,' she informed Harry, Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Hermione and Ginny in a low voice. 'For permanent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "spell damage, you know. Of course, with intensive remedial potions and charms","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and a bit of luck, we can produce some improvement. Gilderoy does","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "seem to be getting back some sense of himself; and we've seen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a real improvement in Mr Bode, he seems to be regaining the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "power of speech very well, though he isn't speaking any language w:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "recognise yet. Well, I must finish giving out the Christmas presents, I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "leave you all to chat.' Harry looked around. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "ward bore unmistakeable signs of being a permanent home to its residents.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "They had many more personal effects around their beds than in Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Weasley's ward; the wall around Gilderoy's headboard, for instance, was papered with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "pictures of himself, all beaming toothily and waving at the new arrivals.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "He had autographed many of them to himself in disjointed, childish writing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "The moment he had been deposited in his chair b> the Healer,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Gilderoy pulled a fresh stack of photographs towards him, seized a quill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and started signing them all feverishly. 'You can put","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "them in envelopes,' he said to Ginny, throwing the signed pictures into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "her lap one by one as he finished them. 'I am not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "forgotten, you know, no, I still receive a very great deal of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "fan mail . . . Gladys Gudgeon writes weekly . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I just wish I knew why . . .' He paused, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "faintly puzzled, then beamed again and returned to his signing with renewed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "vigour. 'I suspect it is simply my good looks . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " A sallow-skinned, mournful-looking wizard lay in the bed opposite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "staring at the ceiling; he was mumbling to himself and seemed quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "unaware of anything around him. Two beds along was a woman whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "entire head was covered in fur; Harry remembered something similar happening to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Hermione during their second year, although fortunately the damage, in her case,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "had not been permanent. At the far end of the ward flowery","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "curtains had been drawn around two beds to give the occupants and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "their visitors some privacy. 'Here you are, Agnes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the Healer brightly to the furry-faced woman, handing her a small pile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of Christmas presents. 'See, not forgotten, are you? And your son's sent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "an owl to say he's visiting tonight, so that's nice, isn't it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Agnes gave several loud barks. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "look, Broderick, you've been sent a pot plant and a lovely calendar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "with a different fancy Hippogriff for each month; they'll brighten things up,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "won't they?' said the Healer, bustling along to the mumbling man, setting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "a rather ugly plant with long, swaying tentacles on the bedside cabinet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and fixing the calendar to the wall with her wand. 'And -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "oh, Mrs Longbottom, are you leaving already?' Harry's head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "span round. The curtains had been drawn back from the two beds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "at the end of the ward and two visitors were walking back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "down the aisle between the beds: a formidable-looking old witch wearing a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "long green dress, a moth-eaten fox fur and a pointed hat decorated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "with what was unmistakeably a stuffed vulture and, trailing behind her looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "thoroughly depressed - Neville. With a sudden rush of understanding,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Harry realised who the people in the end beds must be. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "cast around wildly for some means of distracting the others so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Neville could leave the ward unnoticed and unquestioned, but Ron had also","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "looked up at the sound of the name 'Longbottom', and before Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "could stop him had called out, 'Neville!' Neville jumped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and cowered as though a bullet had narrowly missed him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'It's us, Neville!' said Ron brightly, getting to his feet. 'Have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "you seen - '? Lockhart's here! Who've you been visiting?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Friends of yours, Neville, dear?' said Neville's grandmother graciously, bearing down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "upon them all. Neville looked as though he would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "rather be anywhere in the world but here. A dull purple flush","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was creeping up his plump face and he was not making eye","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "contact with any of them. 'Ah, yes,' said his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "grandmother, looking closely at Harry and sticking out a shrivelled, clawlike hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "for him to shake. 'Yes, yes, I know who you are, of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "course. Neville speaks most highly of you.' 'Er -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "thanks,' said Harry, shaking hands. Neville did not look at him, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "surveyed his own feet, the colour deepening in his face all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "while. 'And you two are clearly Weasleys,' Mrs Longbottom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "continued, proffering her hand regally to Ron and Ginny in turn. 'Yes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I know your parents - not well, of course - but fine","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "people, fine people . . . and you must be Hermione Granger?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Hermione looked rather startled that Mrs Longbottom knew her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "name, but shook hands all the same. 'Yes, Neville's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "told me all about you. Helped him out of a few sticky","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "spots, haven't you? He's a good boy,' she said, casting a sternly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "appraising look down her rather bony nose at Neville, 'but be hasn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "got his father's talent, I'm afraid to say.' And she jerked her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "head in the direction of the two beds at the end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the ward, so that the stuffed vulture on her hat trembled alarmingly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'What?' said Ron, looking amazed. (Harry wanted to stamp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "on Ron's foot, but that sort of thing is much harder to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "bring off unnoticed when you're wearing jeans rather than robes.) 'Is that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "your dad down the end, Neville?' 'What's this?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Mrs Longbottom sharply. 'Haven't you told your friends about your parents, Neville?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Neville took a deep breath, looked up at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "ceiling and shook his head. Harry could not remember ever feeling sorrier","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "for anyone, but he could not think of any way of helping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Neville out of the situation. Well, it's nothing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "be ashamed of!' said Mrs Longbottom angrily. 'You should be proud, Neville,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "proud! They didn't give their health and their sanity so their only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "son would be ashamed of them, you know!' 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "not ashamed,' said Neville, very faintly, still looking anywhere but at Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and the others. Ron was now standing on tiptoe to look over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "at the inhabitants of the two beds. Well, you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "got a funny way of showing it!' said Mrs Longbottom. 'My son","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and his wife,' she said, turning haughtily to Harry, Ron, Hermione and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Ginny, 'were tortured into insanity by You-Know-Who's followers.' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "and Ginny both clapped their hands over their mouths. Ron stopped craning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his neck to catch a glimpse of Neville's parents and looked mortified.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " They were Aurors, you know, and very well respected","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "within the wizarding community,' Mrs Longbottom went on. 'Highly gifted, the pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "of them. I - yes, Alice dear, what is it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " Neville's mother had come edging down the ward in her nightdress.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "She no longer had the plump, happy-looking face Harry had seen in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Moody's old photograph of the original Order of the Phoenix. Her face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "was thin and worn now, her eyes seemed overlarge and her hair,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "which had turned white, was wispy and dead-looking. She did not seem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to want to speak, or perhaps she was not able to, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "she made timid motions towards Neville, holding something in her outstretched hand.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Again?' said Mrs Longbottom, sounding slightly weary. 'Very well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Alice dear, very well - Neville, take it, whatever it is.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his mother dropped an empty Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Very nice, dear,' said Neville's grandmother in a falsely cheery voice,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "patting his mother on the shoulder. But Neville said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "quietly, Thanks, Mum.' His mother tottered away, back up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "the ward, humming to herself. Neville looked around at the others, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "expression defiant, as though daring them to laugh, but Harry did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "think he'd ever found anything less funny in his life. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'Well, we'd better get back,' sighed Mrs Longbottom, drawing on long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "green gloves. 'Very nice to have met you all. Neville, put that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "wrapper in the bin, she must have given you enough of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "to paper your bedroom by now.' But as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "left, Harry was sure he saw Neville slip the sweet wrapper into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "his pocket. The door closed behind them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'I never knew,' said Hermione, who looked tearful. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "'Nor did I,' said Ron rather hoarsely. 'Nor me,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "whispered Ginny. They all looked at Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " 'I did,' he said glumly. 'Dumbledore told me but I promised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "I wouldn't tell anyone . . . that's what Bellatrix Lestrange got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "sent to Azkaban for, using the Cruciatus Curse on Neville's parents until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "they lost their minds.' 'Bellatrix Lestrange did that?' whispered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "Hermione, horrified. That woman Kreacher's got a photo of in his den?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" " There was a long silence, broken by Lockhart's angry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "voice. 'Look, I didn't learn joined-up writing for nothing, you know!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-23" "OcclumencyKreacher, it transpired, had been lurking in the attic. Sirius said he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "had found him up there, covered in dust, no doubt looking for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "more relics of the Black family to hide in his cupboard. Though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius seemed satisfied with this story, it made Harry uneasy. Kreacher seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to be in a better mood on his reappearance, his bitter muttering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "had subsided somewhat and he submitted to orders more docilely than usual,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "though once or twice Harry caught the house-elf staring at him avidly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "but always looking quickly away whenever he saw that Harry had noticed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Harry did not mention his vague suspicions to Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "whose cheerfulness was evaporating fast now that Christmas was over. As the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "date of their departure back to Hogwarts drew nearer, he became more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and more prone to what Mrs Weasley called 'fits of the sullens',","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in which he would become taciturn and grumpy, often withdrawing to Buckbeak's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "room for hours at a time. His gloom seeped through the house,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "oozing under doorways like some noxious gas, so that all of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "became infected by it. Harry didn't want to leave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius again with only Kreacher for company; in fact, for the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "time in his life, he was not looking forward to returning to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Hogwarts. Going back to school would mean placing himself once again under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the tyranny of Dolores Umbridge, who had no doubt managed to force","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "through another dozen decrees in their absence; there was no Quidditch to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "look forward to now that he had been banned, there was every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "likelihood that their burden of homework would increase as the exams drew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "even nearer; and Dumbledore remained as remote as ever. In fact, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it hadn't been for the DA, Harry thought he might have begged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius to let him leave Hogwarts and remain in Grimmauld Place. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Then, on the very last day of the holidays, something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "happened that made Harry positively dread his return to school. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Harry, dear,' said Mrs Weasley poking her head into his and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Ron's bedroom, where the pair of them were playing wizard chess watched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "by Hermione, Ginny and Crookshanks, 'could you come down to the kitchen?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Professor Snape would like a word with you.' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "did not immediately register what she had said; one of his castles","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was engaged in a violent tussle with a pawn of Ron's and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he was egging it on enthusiastically. 'Squash him -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "squash him, he's only a pawn, you idiot. Sorry, Mrs Weasley, what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "did you say?' 'Professor Snape, dear. In the kitchen.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "He'd like a word.' Harry's mouth fell open in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "horror. He looked around at Ron, Hermione and Ginny, all of whom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "were gaping back at him. Crookshanks, whom Hermione had been restraining with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "difficulty for the past quarter of an hour, leapt gleefully on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the board and set the pieces running for cover, squealing at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "top of their voices. 'Snape?' said Harry blankly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Professor Snape, dear,' said Mrs Weasley reprovingly. 'Now come on,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "quickly, he says he can't stay long.' 'What's he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "want with you?' said Ron, looking unnerved as Mrs Weasley withdrew from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the room. 'You haven't done anything, have you?' 'No!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Harry indignantly, racking his brains to think what he could have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "done that would make Snape pursue him to Grimmauld Place. Had his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "last piece of homework perhaps earned a 'T'? A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "minute or two later, he pushed open the kitchen door to find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius and Snape both seated at the long kitchen table, glaring in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "opposite directions. The silence between them was heavy with mutual dislike. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "letter lay open on the table in front of Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Er,' said Harry, to announce his presence. Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "looked around at him, his face framed between curtains of greasy black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "hair. 'Sit down, Potter.' 'You know,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Sirius loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to the ceiling, 'I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see.' An","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "ugly flush suffused Snape's pallid face. Harry sat down in a chair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "beside Sirius, facing Snape across the table. 'I was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "supposed to see you alone, Potter,' said Snape, the familiar sneer curling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his mouth, 'but Black - ' 'I'm his godfather,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Sirius, louder than ever. 'I am here on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Dumbledore's orders.' said Snape, whose voice, by contrast, was becoming more and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "more quietly waspish, 'but by all means stay, Black, I know you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "like lo feel . . . involved.' 'What's that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "supposed to mean?' said Sirius, letting his chair fall back on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "all four legs with a loud bang. 'Merely that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "I am sure you must feel - ah - frustrated by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "fact that you can do nothing useful,' Snape laid a delicate stress","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on the word, 'for the Order.' It was Sirius's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "turn to flush. Snape's lip curled in triumph as he turned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry. The Headmaster has sent me to tell you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "term.' 'Study what?' said Harry blankly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Snape's sneer became more pronounced. 'Occlumency, Potter. The magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "but a highly useful one.' Harry's heart began to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "pump very fast indeed. Defence against external penetration? But he was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "being possessed, they had all agreed on that . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Why do I have to study Occlu - thing?' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "blurted out. 'Because the Headmaster thinks it a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "idea,' said Snape smoothly. 'You will receive private lessons once a week,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Dolores Umbridge. You understand?' 'Yes,' said Harry. 'Who's going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to be teaching me?' Snape raised an eyebrow. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I am,' he said. Harry had the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "horrible sensation that his insides were melting. Extra lessons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "with Snape - what on earth had he done to deserve this?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "He looked quickly round at Sirius for support. 'Why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "can't Dumbledore teach Harry?' asked Sirius aggressively. 'Why you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'I suppose because it is a headmasters privilege to delegate less enjoyable","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "tasks,' said Snape silkily. 'I assure you I did not beg for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the job.' He got to his feet. 'I will expect you at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "are taking remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "could deny you need them.' He turned to leave,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his black travelling cloak billowing behind him. 'Wait a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "moment,' said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Snape turned back to face them, sneering. 'I am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "leisure time.' 'I'll get to the point, then,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius, standing up. He was rather taller than Snape who, Harry noticed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was sure was the handle of his wand. 'If I hear you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "me to answer to.' 'How touching,' Snape sneered. 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Yes, I have,' said Sirius proudly. 'Well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Snape said sleekly. Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and strode around the table towards Snape, pulling out his wand as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he went. Snape whipped out his own. They were squaring up to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "each other, Sirius looking livid, Snape calculating, his eyes darting from Sirius's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "wand-tip to his face. 'Sirius!' said Harry loudly, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius appeared not to hear him. 'I've warned you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Snivelus,' said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's, 'I don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Oh, but why don't you tell him so?' whispered Snape.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "six months?' Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Speaking of dogs,' said Snape softly, 'did you know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". . . gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "hidey-hole in future, didn't it?' Sirius raised his wand.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'NO!' Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to get in between them. 'Sirius, don't!' 'Are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "calling me a coward?' roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the way, but Harry would not budge. 'Why, yes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "I suppose I am,' said Snape. 'Harry - get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- out - of - it!' snarled Sirius, pushing him aside with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his free hand. The kitchen door opened and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very happy, with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Mr Weasley walking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "striped pyjamas covered by a mackintosh. 'Cured!' he announced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "brightly to the kitchen at large. 'Completely cured!' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold, gazing at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "scene in front of them, which was also suspended in mid-action, both","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius and Snape looking towards the door with their wands pointing into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "each other's faces and Harry immobile between them, a hand stretched out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to each, trying to force them apart. 'Merlins beard,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Mr Weasley, the smile sliding off his face, 'what's going on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "here?' Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "looked from one to the other. Each wore an expression of utmost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "contempt, yet the unexpected entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "brought them to their senses. Snape piocketed his wand, turned on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "heel and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasleys without comment.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "At the door he looked back. 'Six o'clock, Monday","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "evening, Potter.' And he was gone. Sirius glared after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "him, his wand at his side. 'What's been going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on?' asked Mr Weasley again. 'Nothing, Arthur,' said Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "who was breathing heavily as though he had just run a long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "distance. 'Just a friendly little chat between two old school friends.' With","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "what looked like an enormous effort, he smiled. 'So . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "you're cured? That's great news, really great.' 'Yes, isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it?' said Mrs Weasley, leading her husband forward to a chair. 'Healer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Smethwyck worked his magic in the end, found an antidote to whatever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that snake's got in its fangs, and Arthur's learned his lesson about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "dabbling in Muggle medicine, haven't you, dear?' she added, rather menacingly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Yes, Molly dear,' said Mr Weasley meekly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "That nights meal should have been a cheerful one, with Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "back amongst them. Harry could tell Sirius was trying to make it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "so, yet when his godfather was not forcing himself to laugh loudly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "at Fred and George's jokes or offering everyone more food, his face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "fell back into a moody, brooding expression. Harry was separated from him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "by Mundungus and Mad-Eye, who had dropped in to offer Mr Weasley their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "congratulations. He wanted to talk to Sirius, to tell him he shouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "listen to a word Snape said, that Snape was goading him deliberately","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and that the rest of them didn't think Sirius was a coward","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "for doing as Dumbledore told him and remaining in Grimmauld Place. But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he had no opportunity to do so, and, eyeing the ugly look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on Sirius's face, Harry wondered occasionally whether he would have dared to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "mention it even if he had the chance. Instead, he told Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and Hermione under his voice about having to take Occlumency lessons with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Snape. 'Dumbledore wants to stop you having those dreams","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "about Voldemort,' said Hermione at once. Well, you won't be sorry not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to have them any more, will you?' 'Extra lessons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "with Snape?' said Ron, sounding aghast. 'I'd rather have the nightmares!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " They were to return to Hogwarts on the Knight Bus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the following day, escorted once again by Tonks and Lupin, both of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "whom were eating breakfast in the kitchen when Harry, Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "came down next morning. The adults seemed to have been mid- ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " way through a whispered conversation as Harry opened the door;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a I of them looked round hastily and fell silent. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " After a hurried breakfast, they all pulled on jackets and scarves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "against the chilly grey January morning. Harry had an unpleasant constricted sensation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in his chest; he did not want to say goodbye to Sirius.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "He had a bad feeling about this parting; he didn't know when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "they would next see each other and he felt it was incumbent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "upon him to say something to Sirius to stop him doing anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "stupid - Harry was worried that Snape's accusation of cowardice had stung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius so badly he might even now be planning some foolhardy trip","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "beyond Grimmauld Place. Before he could think of what to say, however,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sirius had beckoned him to his side. 'I want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "you to take this,' he said quietly, thrusting a badly wrapped package","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "roughly the size of a paperback book into Harry's hands. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'What is it?' Harry asked. 'A way of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "letting me know if Snape's giving you a hard time. No, don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "open it in here!' said Sirius, with a wary look at Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Weasley, who was trying to persuade the twins to wear hand-knitted mittens.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'I doubt Molly would approve - but I want you to use","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it if you need me, all right?' 'OK,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry, stowing the package away in the inside pocket of his jacket,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "but he knew he would never use whatever it was. It would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "not be he, Harry, who lured Sirius from his place of safety,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "no matter how foully Snape treated him in their forthcoming Occlumency classes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Let's go, then,' said Sirius, clapping Harry on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "shoulder and smiling grimly, and before Harry could say anything else, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "were heading upstairs, stopping before the heavily chained and bolted front door,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "surrounded by Weasleys. 'Goodbye, Harry, take care,' said Mrs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Weasley, hugging him. 'See you, Harry, and keep an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "eye out for snakes for me!' said Mr Weasley genially, shaking his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "hand. 'Right - yeah,' said Harry distractedly; it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his last chance to tell Sirius to be careful; he turned, looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "into his godfathers face and opened his mouth to speak, but before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he could do so Sirius was giving him a brief, one-armed hug,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and saying gruffly, 'Look after yourself, Harry.' Next moment, Harry found himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "being shunted out into the icy winter air, with Tonks (today heavily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "disguised as a tall, tweedy woman with iron-grey hair) chivvying him down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the steps. The door of number twelve slammed shut","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "behind them. They followed Lupin down the front steps. As he reached","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the pavement, Harry looked round. Number twelve was shrinking rapidly as those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on either side of it stretched sideways, squeezing it out of sight.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "One blink later, it had gone. 'Come on, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "quicker we get on the bus the better,' said Tonks, and Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "thought there was nervousness in the glance she threw around the square.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Lupin flung out his right arm. BANG. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " A violently purple, triple-decker bus had appeared out of thin air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in front of them, narrowly avoiding the nearest lamppost, which jumped backwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "out of its way. A thin, pimply, jug-eared youth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in a purple uniform leapt down on to the pavement and said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Welcome to the - ' 'Yes, yes, we know,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "thank you,' said Tonks swiftly. 'On, on, get on - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " And she shoved Harry forwards towards the steps, past the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "conductor, who goggled at Harry as he passed. `Ere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- it's 'Any - '!' 'If you shout his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "name I will curse you into oblivion,' muttered Tonks menacingly, now shunting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Ginny and Hermione forwards. 'I've always wanted to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on this thing,' said Ron happily, joining Harry on board and looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "around. It had been evening the last time Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "had travelled by Knight Bus and its three decks had been full","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of brass bedsteads. Now, in the early morning, it was crammed with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "an assortment of mismatched chairs grouped haphazardly around windows. Some of these","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "appeared to have fallen over when the bus stopped abruptly in Grimmauld","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Place; a few witches and wizards were still getting to their feet,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "grumbling, and somebody's shopping bag had slid the length of the bus:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "an unpleasant mixture of frogspawn, cockroaches and custard creams was scattered all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "over the floor. 'Looks like we'll have to split","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "up,' said Tonks briskly, looking a.round for empty chairs. 'Fred, George and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Ginny, if you just take those seats at the back . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". Remus can stay with you.' She, Harry, Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Hermione proceeded up to the very top deck, where there were two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "unoccupied chairs at the very front of the bus and two at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the back. Stan Shunpike, the conductor, followed Harry and Ron eagerly to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the back. Heads turned as Harry passed and, when he sat down,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he saw all the faces flick back to the front again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " As Harry and Ron handed Stan eleven Sickles each, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "bus set off again, swaying ominously. It rumbled around Grimmauld Place, v/eaving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on and off the pavement, then, with another tremendous BANG, they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "all flung backwards; Ron's chair toppled right over and Pigwidgeon, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "been on his lap, burst out of his cage and flew twittering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "wildly up to the front of the bus where he fluttered down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on to Hermione s shoulder instead. Harry, who had narrowly avoided falling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "by seizing a candle bracket, looked out of the window: they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "now speeding down what appeared to be a motorway. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Just outside Birmingham,' said Stan happily, answering Harry's unasked question as Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "struggled up from the floor. 'You keepin' well, then, 'Any? I seen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "your name in the paper loads over the sammer, but it weren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "never nuflink very nice. I said to Ern, I said, 'e didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "seem like a nutter when we met 'im, just goes to siow,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "dunnit?' He handed over their tickets and continued to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "gaze, enthralled, at Harry. Apparently, Stan did not care how nutty somebody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was, if they were famous enough to be in the paper. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Knight Bus swayed alarmingly, overtaking a line of cars on the inside.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Looking towards the front of the bus, Harry saw Hermione cover her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "eyes with her hands, Pigwidgeon swaying happily on her shoulder. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " BANG. Chairs slid backwards again as the Knight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Bus jumped from the Birmingham motorway to a quiet country lane full","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of hairpin bends. Hedgerows on either side of the road were leaping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "out of their way as they mounted the verges. From here they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "moved to a main street in the middle of a busy town,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "then to a viaduct surrounded by tall hills, then to a windswept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "road between high-rise flats, each time with a loud BANG. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I've changed my mind,' muttered Ron, picking himself up from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "floor for the sixth time, 'I never want to ride on this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "thing again.' 'Listen, it's 'Ogwarts stop after this,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Stan brightly, swaying towards them. That bossy woman up front 'oo got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on with you, she's given us a little tip to move you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "up the queue. We're just gonna let Madam Marsh off first, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- ' there was a retching sound from downstairs, followed by a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "horrible spattering noise - she's not feeling 'er best.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "A few minutes later, the Knight Bus screeched to a halt outside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a small pub, which squeezed itself out of the way to avoid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a collision. They could hear Stan ushering the unfortunate Madam Marsh out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of the bus and the relieved murmurings of her fellow passengers on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the second deck. The bus moved on again, gathering speed, until -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "' BANG. They were rolling through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a snowy Hogsmeade. Harry caught a glimpse of the Hog's Head down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "its side street, the severed boar's head sign creaking in the wintry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "wind. Flecks of snow hit the large window at the front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the bus. At last they rolled to a halt outside the gates","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to Hogwarts. Lupin and Tonks helped them off the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "bus with their luggage, then got off to say goodbye. Harry glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "up at the three decks of the Knight Bus and saw all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the passengers staring down at them, noses flat against the windows. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'You'll be safe once you're in the grounds,' said Tonks,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "casting a careful eye around at the deserted road. 'Have a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "term, OK?' 'Look after yourselves,' said Lupin, shaking hands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "all round and reaching Harry last. 'And listen . . .' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "lowered his voice while the rest of them exchanged last-minute goodbyes with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Tonks, 'Harry, I know you don't like Snape, but he is a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "superb Occlumens and we all - Sirius included - want you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "learn to protect yourself, so work hard, all right?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Yeah, all right,' said Harry heavily, looking up into Lupin's prematurely lined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "face. 'See you, then.' The six of them struggled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "up the slippery drive towards the castle, dragging their trunks. Hermione was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "already talking about knitting a few elf hats before bedtime. Harry glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "back when they reached the oaken front doors; the Knight Bus had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "already gone and he half-wished, given what was coming the following evening,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that he was still on board.*Harry spent most of the next day","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "dreading the evening. His morning double-Potions lesson did nothing to dispel his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "trepidation, as Snape was as unpleasant as ever. His mood was further","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "lowered by the DA members constantly approaching him in the corridors between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "classes, asking hopefully if there would be a meeting that night. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I'll let you know in the usual way when the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "next one is,' Harry said over and over again, 'but I can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "do it tonight, I've got to go to - er - remedial","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Potions.' 'You take remedial Potions?' asked Zacharias Smith superciliously,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "having cornered Harry in the Entrance Hall after lunch. 'Good Lord, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "must be terrible. Snape doesn't usually give extra lessons, does he?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " As Smith strode away in an annoyingly buoyant fashion, Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "g'.ared after him. 'Shall I jinx him? I can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "still get him from here,' he said, raising his wand and taking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "aim between Smith's shoulder blades. 'Forget it,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "dismally. 'It's what everyone's going to think, isn't it? That I'm really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "stup - ' 'Hi, Harry,' said a voice behind him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "He turned round and found Cho standing there. 'Oh,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Harry as his stomach leapt uncomfortably. 'Hi.' 'We'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "be in the library, Harry,' said Hermione firmly as she seized Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "above the elbow and dragged him off towards the marble staircase. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Had a good Christmas?' asked Cho. 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "not bad,' said Harry. 'Mine was pretty quiet,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Cho. For some reason, she was looking rather embarrassed. 'Erm . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". there's another Hogsmeade trip next month, did you see the notice?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'What? Oh, no, I haven't checked the noticeboard since","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "I got back.' 'Yes, it's on Valentines Day .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". .' 'Right,' said Harry, wondering why she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "telling him this. 'Well, I suppose you want to - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Only if you do,' she said eagerly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry stared. He had been about to say, 'I suppose you want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to know when the next DA meeting is?' but her response did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "not seem to fit. 'I - er - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he said. 'Oh, it's OK if you don't,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said, looking mortified. 'Don't worry. I - I'll see you around.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " She walked away. Harry stood staring after her, his brain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "working frantically. Then something clunked into place. 'Cho! Hey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- CHO!' He ran after her, catching her halfway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "up the marble staircase. 'Er - d'you want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "come into Hogsmeade with me on Valentine s Day?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Oooh, yes!' she said, blushing crimson and beaming at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Right . . . well . . . that's settled then,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Harry, and feeling that the day was not going to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a complete loss after all, he virtually bounced off to the library","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to pick up Ron and Hermione before their afternoon lessons. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " By six o'clock that evening, however, even the glow of having","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "successfully asked out Cho Chang could not lighten the ominous feelings that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "intensified with every step Harry took towards Snape's office. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "He paused outside the door when he reached it, wishing he were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "almost anywhere else, then, taking a deep breath, he knocked and entered.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " The shadowy room was lined with shelves bearing hundreds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of glass jars in which slimy bits of animals and plants were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "suspended in variously coloured potions. In one corner stood the cupboard full","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of ingredients that Snape had once accused Harry - not without reason","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- of robbing. Harry's attention was drawn towards the desk, however, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a shallow stone basin engraved with runes and symbols lay in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "pool of candlelight. Harry recognised it at once - it was Dumbledore's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Pensieve. Wondering what on earth it was doing there, he jumped when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Snape's cold voice came out of the shadows. 'Shut","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the door behind you, Potter.' Harry did as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was told, with the horrible feeling that he was imprisoning himself. When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he turned back into the room, Snape had moved into the light","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and was pointing silently at the chair opposite his desk. Harry sat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "down and so did Snape, his cold black eyes fixed unblinkingly upon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry, dislike etched in every line of his face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Well, Potter, you know why you are here,' he said. 'The Headmaster","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "has asked me to teach you Occlumency. I can only hope that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "you prove more adept at it than at Potions.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Right,' said Harry tersely. This may not be an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "ordinary class, Potter,' said Snape, his eyes narrowed malevolently, 'but I am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "still your teacher and you will therefore call me `sir` or `Professor`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "at all times.' 'Yes . . . sir,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry. Snape continued to survey him through narrowed eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "for a moment, then said, 'Now, Occlumency. As I told you back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in your dear godfather's kitchen, this branch of magic seals the mind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "against magical intrusion and influence.' 'And why does Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Dumbledore think I need it, sir?' said Harry looking directly into Snape's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "eyes and wondering whether Snape would answer. Snape looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "back at him for a moment and then said contemptuously, 'Surely even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "you could have worked that out by now, Potter? The Dark Lord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "is highly skilled at Legilimency - ' 'What's that?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sir?' 'It is the ability to extract feelings and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "memories from another person's mind - ' 'He can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "read minds?' said Harry quickly, his worst fears confirmed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'You have no subtlety, Potter,' said Snape, his dark eyes glit-te'ing. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "do not understand fine distinctions. It is one of the shortcomings that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "makes you such a lamentable potion-maker.' Snape paused for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a moment, apparently to savour the pleasure of insulting Harry, before continuing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Only Muggles talk of `mind-reading`. The mind is not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "any invader, ihe mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "or at least, most minds are.' He smirked. 'It is true, however,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "utter falsehoods in his presence without detection.' Whatever Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said, Legilimency sounded like mind-reading to Harry, and he didn't like the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "sound of it at all. 'So he could know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "what we're thinking right now? Sir?' The Dark Lord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "is at a considerable distance and the walls and grounds of Hogwarts are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "guarded by many ancient spells and charms to ensure the bodily and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "mental safety of those who dwell within them,' said Snape. Time and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "space matter in magic, Potter. Eye contact is often essential to Legilimency.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Well then, why do I have to learn Occlumency?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Snape eyed Harry, tracing his mouth with one long,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "thin finger as he did so. The usual rules","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "do not seem to apply with you, Potter. The curse that failed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to kill you seems to have forged some kind of connection between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "you and the Dark Lord. The evidence suggests that at times, when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable - when you are asleep,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "for instance - you are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Harry's heart was pumping fast again. None of this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "added up. 'But why does Professor Dumbledore want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "stop it?' he asked abruptly. 'I don't like it much, but it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "been useful, hasn't it? I mean . . . I saw that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "snake attack Mr Weasley and if I hadn't, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "been able to save him, would he? Sir?' Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "stared at Harry for a few moments, still tracing his mouth with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his finger. When he spoke again, it was slowly and deliberately, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "though he weighed every word. 'It appears that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Dark Lord has bee a unaware of the connection between you and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "himself until very recently. Up till now it seems that you have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "been experiencing his emotions, and sharing his thoughts, without his being any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the wiser. However, the vision you had shortly before Christmas - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " The one with the snake and Mr Weasley?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Do not interrupt me, Potter,' said Snape in a dangerous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "voice. 'As I was saying, the vision you had shortly before Christmas","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "represented such a powerful incursion upon the Dark Lord's thoughts - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I saw inside the snake's head, not his!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I thought I just told you not to interrupt me, Potter?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " But Harry did not care if Snape was angry;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "at last he seemed to be getting to the bottom of this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "business; he had moved forwards in his chair so that, without realising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it, he was perched on the very edge, tense as though poised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "for flight. 'How come I saw through the snake's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "eyes if it's Voldemort's thoughts I'm sharing?' 'Do not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "say the Dark Lord's name!' spat Snape. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a nasty silence. They glared at each other across the Pensieve. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Professor Dumbledore says his name.' said Harry quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard,' Snape muttered. 'While he may","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "feel secure enough to use the name . . . the rest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of us . . .' He rubbed his left forearm, apparently unconsciously,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "on the spot where Harry knew the Dark Mark was burned into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his skin. 'I just wanted to know,' Harry began","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "again, forcing his voice back to politeness, 'why - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'You seem to have visited the snake's mind because that was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "where the Dark Lord was at that particular moment,' snarled Snape. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was possessing the snake at the time and so you dreamed you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "were inside it, too.' 'And Vol - he -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "realised I was there?' 'It seems so,' said Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "coolly. 'How do you know?' said Harry urgently. 'Is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "this just Professor Dumbledore guessing, or - ?' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "told you,' said Snape, rigid in his chair, his eyes slits, 'to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "call me `sir`. 'Yes, sir,' said Harry impatiently, 'but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "how do you know - '? 'It is enough","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that we know,' said Snape repressively. The important point is that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Dark Lord is now aware that you are gaining access to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "thoughts and feelings. He has also deduced that the process is likely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to work in reverse; that is to say, he has realised that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he might be able to access your thoughts and feelings in return","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- ' 'And he might try and make me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "do things?' asked Harry. 'Sir?' he added hurriedly. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "might,' said Snape, sounding cold and unconcerned. 'Which brings us back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Occlumency.' Snape pulled out his wand from an inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "pocket of his robes and Harry tensed in his chair, but Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "merely raised the wand to his temple and placed its tip into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the greasy roots of his hair. When he withdrew it, some silvery","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "substance came away, stretching from temple to wand like a thick gossamer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "strand, which broke as he pulled the wand away from it and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "fell gracefully into the Pensieve, where it swirled silvery-white, neither gas nor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "liquid. Twice more, Snape raised the wand to his temple and deposited","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the silvery substance into the stone basin, then, without offering any explanation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of his behaviour, he picked up the Pensieve carefully, removed it to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a shelf out of their way and returned to face Harry with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his wand held at the ready. 'Stand up and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "take out your wand, Potter.' Harry got to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "feet, feeling nervous. They faced each other with the desk between them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'You may use your wand to attempt to disarm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "me, or defend yourself in any other way you can think of,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Snape. 'And what are you going to do?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry asked, eyeing Snape's wand apprehensively. 'I am about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to attempt to break into your mind,' said Snape softly. 'We are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "going to see how well you resist. I have been told that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "have already shown aptitude at resisting the Imperius Curse. You will find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that similar powers are needed for this . . . brace yourself,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "now. Legilimens!' Snape had struck before Harry was ready,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "before he had even begun to summon any force of resistance. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "office swam in front of his eyes and vanished; image after image","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was racing through his mind like a flickering film so vivid it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "blinded him to his surroundings. He was five, watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Dudley riding a new red bicycle, and his heart was bursting with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "jealousy . . . he was nine, and Ripper the bulldog was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "chasing him up a tree and the Dursleys were laughing below on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the lawn . . . he was sitting under the Sorting Hat,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and it was telling him he would do well in Slytherin .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". . Hermione was lying in the hospital wing, her face covered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "with thick black hair . . . a hundred Dementors were closing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in on him beside the dark lake . . . Cho Chang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was drawing nearer to him under the mistletoe . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " No, said a voice inside Harry's head, as the memory","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of Cho drew nearer, you're not watching that, you're not watching it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it's private - ' He felt a sharp pain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "in his knee. Snape's office had come back into view and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "realised that he had fallen to the floor; one of his knees","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "had collided painfully with the leg of Snape's desk. He looked up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "at Snape, who had lowered his wand and was rubbing his wrist.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "There was an angry weal there, like a scorch mark. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?' asked Snape coolly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'No,' said Harry bitterly, getting up from the floor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I thought not,' said Snape, watching him closely. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "let me get in too far. You lost control.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Did you see everything I saw?' Harry asked, unsure whether he wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to hear the answer. 'Flashes of it,' said Snape,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his lip curling. To whom did the dog belong?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'My Aunt Marge,' Harry muttered, hating Snape. 'Well, for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a first attempt that was not as poor as it might have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "been,' said Snape, raising his wand once more. 'You managed to stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "me eventually, though you wasted time and energy shouting. You must remain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "focused. Repel me with your brain and you will not need to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "resort to your wand.' 'I'm trying,' said Harry angrily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'but you're not telling me how!' 'Manners, Potter,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Snape dangerously. 'Now, I want you to close your eyes.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Harry threw him a filthy look before doing as he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "told. He did not like the idea of standing there with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "eyes shut while Snape faced him, carrying a wand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Clear your mind, Potter,' said Snape's cold voice. 'Let go of all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "emotion . . .' But Harry's anger at Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "continued to pound through his veins like venom. Let go of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "anger? He could as easily detach his legs . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'You're not doing it, Potter . . . you will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "need more discipline than this . . . focus, now . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ".' Harry tried to empty his mind, tried not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to think, or remember, or feel . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Let's go again . . . on the count of three .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". . one - two - three - 'Legilimens!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "A great black dragon was rearing in front of him . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". his father and mother were waving at him out of an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "enchanted mirror . . . Cedric Diggory was lying on the ground","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "with blank eyes staring at him . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'NOOOOOOO!' Harry was on his knees again, his face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "buried in his hands, his brain aching as though someone had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "trying to pull it from his skull. 'Get up!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Snape sharply. 'Get up! You are not trying, you are making","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "no effort. You are allowing me access to memories you fear, handing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "me weapons!' Harry stood up again, his heart thumping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "wildly as though he had really just seen Cedric dead in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "graveyard. Snape looked paler than usual, and angrier, though not nearly as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "angry as Harry was. 'I - am - making","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- an - effort,' he said through clenched teeth. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'I told you to empty yourself of emotion!' 'Yeah?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Well, I'm finding that hard at the moment,' Harry snarled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Snape savagely. 'Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "themselves to be provoked so easily - weak people, in other words","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "- they stand no chance against his powers! He will penetrate your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "mind with absurd ease, Potter!' 'I am not weak,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Harry in a low voice, fury now pumping through him so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that he thought he might attack Snape in a moment. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Then prove it! Master yourself!' spat Snape. 'Control your anger, discipline","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "your mind! We shall try again! Get ready, now! Legilimens!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " He was watching Uncle Vernon hammering the letterbox shut . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". a hundred Dementors were drifting across the lake in the grounds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "towards him . . . he was running along a windowless passage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "with Mr Weasley . . . they were drawing nearer to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "plain black door at the end of the corridor . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry expected to go through it . . . but Mr Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "led him off to the left, down a flight of stone steps .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". . 'I KNOW! I KNOW!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "He was on all fours again on Snape's office floor, his scar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was prickling unpleasantly, but the voice that had just issued from his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "mouth was triumphant. He pushed himself up again to find Snape storing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "at him, his wand raised. It looked as though, this time, Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "had lifted the spell before Harry had even tried to fight back.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'What happened then, Potter?' he asked, eyeing Harry intently.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I saw - I remembered,' Harry panted. 'I've just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "realised . . .' 'Realised what?' asked Snape sharply.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Harry did not answer at once; he was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "savouring the moment of blinding realisation as he rubbed his forehead .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". . He had been dreaming about a windowless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "corridor ending in a locked door for months, without once realising that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it was a real place. Now, seeing the memory again, he knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that all along he had been dreaming about the corridor down which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he had run with Mr Weasley on the twelfth of August as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "they hurried to the courtrooms in the Ministry; it was the corridor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "leading to the Department of Mysteries and Mr Weasley had been there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the night that he had been attacked by Voldemort's snake. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " He looked up at Snape. 'What's in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Department of Mysteries?' 'What did you say?' Snape asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "quietly and Harry saw, with deep satisfaction, that Snape was unnerved. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'I said, what's in the Department of Mysteries, sir?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said. 'And why,' said Snape slowly, 'would you ask","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "such a thing?' 'Because,' said Harry, watching Snape's face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "closely, 'that corridor I've just seen - I've been dreaming about it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "for montns - I've just recognised it - it leads to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Department of Mysteries . . . and I think Voldemort wants something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "from - ' 'I have told you not to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "say the Dark Lord's name!' They glared at each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "other. Harry's scar seared again, but he did not care. Snape looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "agitated; but when he spoke again he sounded as though he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "trying to appear cool and unconcerned. There are many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "things in the Department of Mysteries, Potter, few of which you would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "understand and none of which concern you. Do I make myself plain?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Yes,' Harry said, still rubbing his prickling scar, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was becoming more painful. 'I want you back here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "same time on Wednesday. We will continue work then.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Fine,' said Harry. He was desperate to get out of Snape's office","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and find Ron and Hermione. 'You are to rid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "your mind of all emotion every night before sleep; empty it, make","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it blank and calm, you understand?' 'Yes,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "who was barely listening. 'And be warned, Potter .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". . I shall know if you have not practised . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ".' 'Right,' Harry mumbled. He picked up his schoolbag,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "swung it over his shoulder and hurried towards the office door. As","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he opened it, he glanced back at Snape, who had his back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to Harry and was scooping his own thoughts out of the Pensieve","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "with the tip of his wand and replacing them carefully inside his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "own head. Harry left without another word, closing the door carefully behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "him, his scar still throbbing painfully. Harry found Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and Hermione in the library, where they were working on Umbridge's most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "recent ream of homework. Other students, nearly all of them fifth-years, sat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "at lamp-lit tables nearby, noses close to books, quills scratching feverishly, while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the sky outside the mullioned windows grew steadily blacker. The only other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "sound was the slight squeaking of one of Madam Pince's shoes, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the librarian prowled the aisles menacingly, breathing down the necks of those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "touching her precious books. Harry felt shivery; his scar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was still aching, he felt almost feverish. When he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "sat down opposite Ron and Hermione, he caught sight of himself in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the window opposite; he was very white and his scar seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "be showing up more clearly than usual. 'How did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it go?' Hermione whispered, and then, looking concerned. 'Are you all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Harry?' 'Yeah . . . fine . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "I dunno,' said Harry impatiently, wincing as pain shot through his scar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "again. 'Listen . . . I've just realised something . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " And he told them what he had just seen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and deduced. 'So . . . so are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "saying . . .' whispered Ron, as Madam Pince swept past, squeaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "slightly 'that the weapon - the thing You-Know-Who's after - is in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the Ministry of Magic?' 'In the Department of Mysteries,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it's got to be,' Harry whispered. 'I saw that door when your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "dad took me down to the courtrooms for my hearing and it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "definitely the same one he was guarding when the snake bit him.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Hermione let out a long, slow sigh. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Of course,' she breathed. 'Of course what?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Ron rather impatiently. 'Ron, think about it. . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Sturgis Podmore was trying to get through a door at the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of Magic . . . it must have been that one, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "too much of a coincidence!' 'How come Sturgis was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "trying to break in when he's on our side?' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Well, I don't know,' Hermione admitted. That is a bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "odd . . .' 'So what's in the Department","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "of Mysteries?' Harry asked Ron. 'Has your dad ever mentioned anything about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it?' 'I know they call the people who work in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "there `Unspeakables`,' said Ron, frowning. 'Because no one really seems to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "what they do - weird place to have a weapon.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'It's not weird at all, it makes perfect sense,' said Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'It will be something top secret that the Ministry has been developing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "I expect . . . Harry, are you sure you're all right?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " For Harry had just run both his hands hard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "over his forehead as though trying to iron it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'Yeah . . . fine . . .' he said, lowering his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "hands, which were trembling. 'I just feel a bit . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "I don't like Occlumency much.' I expect anyone would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "feel snaky if they'd had their mind attacked over and over again,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Hermione sympathetically. 'Look, let's get back to the common room, we'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "be a bit more comfortable there.' But the common","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "room was packed and full of shrieks of laughter and excitement; Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "and George were demonstrating their latest bit of joke shop merchandise. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Headless Hats!' shouted George, as Fred waved a pointed hat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "decorated with a fluffy pink feather at the watching students. Two Galleons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "each, watch Fred, now!' Fred swept the hat on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to his head, beaming. For a second he merely looked rather stupid;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "then both hat and head vanished. Several girls screamed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "but everyone else was roaring with laughter. 'And off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "again!' shouted George, and Fred's hand groped for a moment in what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "seemed to be thin air over his shoulder; then his head reappeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "as he swept the pink-feathered hat from it. 'How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "do those hats work, then?' said Hermione, distracted from her homework and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "watching Fred and George closely. 'I mean, obviously it's some kind of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Invisibility Spell, but it's rather clever to have extended the field of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "invisibility beyond the boundaries of the charmed object . . . I'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "imagine the charm wouldn't have a very long life though.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " Harry did not answer; he was feeling ill. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "'I'm going to have to do this tomorrow,' he muttered, pushing the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "books he had just taken out of his bag back inside it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Well, write it in your homework planner then!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Hermione encouragingly. 'So you don't forget!' Harry and Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "exchanged looks as he reached into his bag, withdrew the planner and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "opened it tentatively. 'Don't leave it till later, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "big second-rater!' chided the book as Harry scribbled down Umbridge's homework. Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "beamed at it. 'I think I'll go to bed,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "said Harry, stuffing the homework planner back into his bag and making","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "a mental note to drop it in the fire the first opportunity","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he got. He walked across the common room, dodging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "George, who tried to put a Headless Hat on him, and reached","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "the peace and cool of the stone staircase to the boys' dormitories.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "He was feeling sick again, just as he had the night he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "had had the vision of the snake, but thought that if he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "could just lie down for a while he would be all right.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " He opened the door of his dormitory and was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "one step inside it when he experienced pain so severe he thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "that someone must have sliced into the top of his head. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "did not know where be was, whether he was standing or lying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "down, he did not even know his own name. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Maniacal laughter was ringing in his ears . . . he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "happier than he had been in a very long time . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". jubilant, ecstatic, triumphant . . . a wonderful, wonderful thing had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "happened . . . 'Harry? HARRY!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "Someone had hit him around the face. The insane laughter was punctuated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "with a cry of pain. The happiness was draining out of him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "but the laughter continued . . . He opened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his eyes and, as he did so, he became aware that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "wild laughter was coming out of his own mouth. The moment he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "realised this, it died away; Harry lay panting on the floor, staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "up at the ceiling, the scar on his forehead throbbing horribly. Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "was bending over him, looking very worried. 'What happened?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he said. 'I . . . dunno . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ".' Harry gasped, sitting up again. 'He's really happy . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "really happy . . .' 'You-Know-Who is?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" " 'Something good's happened,' mumbled Harry. He was shaking as badly as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "he had done after seeing the snake attack Mr Weasley and felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "very sick. 'Something he's been hoping for.' The words","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "came, just as they had back in the Gryffindor changing room, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "though a stranger was speaking them through Harry's mouth, yet he knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "they were true. He took deep breaths, willing himself not to vomit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "all over Ron. He was very glad that Dean and Seamus were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "not here to watch this time. 'Hermione told me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "to come and check on you,' said Ron in a low voice,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "helping Harry to his feet. 'She says your defences will be low","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "at the moment, after Snape's been fiddling around with your mind .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" ". . still, I suppose it'll help in the long run, won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "it?' He looked doubtfully at Harry as he helped him towards his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "bed. Harry nodded without any conviction and slumped back on his pillows,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "aching all over from having fallen to the floor so often that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "evening, his scar still prickling painfully. He could not help feeling that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "his first foray into Occlumency had weakened his mind's resistance rather than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "strengthening it, and he wondered, with a feeling of great trepidation, what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "had happened to make Lord Voldemort the happiest he had been in fourteen years.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-24" "The Beetle at BayHarry's question was answered the very next morning. When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hermione's Daily Prophet arrived she smoothed it out, gazed for a moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "at the front page and gave a yelp that caused everyone in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the vicinity to stare at her. 'What?' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and Ron together. For answer she spread the newspaper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "on the table in front of them and pointed at ten black-and-white","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "photographs that filled the whole of the front page, nine showing wizards'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "faces and the tenth, a witch's. Some of the people in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "photographs were silently jeering; others were tapping their fingers on the frame","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of their pictures, looking insolent. Each picture was captioned with a name","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and the crime for which the person had been sent to Azkaban.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Antonin Dolohov, read the legend beneath a wizard with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a long, pale, twisted face who was sneering up at Harry convicted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of the brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewett. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Algernon Rookwood, said the caption beneath a pockmarked man with greasy hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "who was leaning against the edge of his picture, looking bored, convicted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of leaking Ministry of Magic secrets to He Who Must Not Be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Named. But Harry's eyes were drawn to the picture","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of the witch. Her face had leapt out at him the moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he had seen the page. She had long, dark hair that looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "unkempt and straggly in the picture, though he had seen it sleek,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "thick and shining. She glared up at him through heavily lidded eyes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "an arrogant, disdainful smile playing around her thin mouth. Like Sirius, she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "retained vestiges of great good looks, but something - perhaps Azkaban -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "had taken most of her beauty. Bellatrix Lestrange, convicted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of the torture and permanent mca-pacitation of Frank and Alice LongbotWm. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Hermione nudged Harry and pointed at the headline over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pictures, which Harry, concentrating on Bellatrix, had not yet read.MASS BREAKOUT FROM","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "AZKABANMINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT'FOR OLD DEATH EATERS'Black?' said Harry loudly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Not - ?' 'Shhh!' whispered Hermione desperately. 'Not so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "loud - 'just read it!'The Ministry of Magic announced late last night","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Speaking to reporters in his private office, Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "confirmed that ten high-security prisoners escaped in the early hours of yesterday","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "evening and that he has already informed the Muggle Prime Minister of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the dangerous nature of these individuals. 'We find ourselves,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "most unfortunately, in the same position we were two and a half","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "years ago when the murderer Sirius Black escaped,' said Fudge last night.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Nor do we think the two breakouts are unrelated. An escape of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "this magnitude suggests outside help, and we must remember that Black, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the first person ever to break out of Azkaban, would be ideally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "placed to help others follow in his footsteps. We think it likely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that these individuals, who include Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Black as their leader. We are, however, doing all we can to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "round up the criminals, and we beg the magical community to remain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "alert and cautious. On no account should any of these individuals be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "approached.'There you are, Harry,' said Ron, looking awestruck. That's why he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "happy last night.' 'I don't believe this,' snarled Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Fudge is blaming the breakout on Sirius?' 'What other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "options does he have?' said Hermione bitterly. 'He can hardly say, `Sorry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "everyone, Dumbledore warned me this might happen, the Azkaban guards have joined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Lord Voldemort` - stop whimpering, Ron - `and now Voldemort's worst supporters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "have broken out, too.` I mean, he's spent a good six months","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "telling everyone you and Dumbledore are liars, hasn't he?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hermione ripped open the newspaper and began to read the report inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "while Harry looked around the Great Hall. He could not understand why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "his fellow students were not looking scared or at least discussing the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "terrible piece of news on the front page, but very few of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "them took the newspaper every day like Hermione. There they all were,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "talking about homework and Quidditch and who knew what other rubbish, when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "outside these walls ten more Death Eaters had swollen Voldemort's ranks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " He glanced up at the staff table. It was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "different story there: Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were deep in conversation, both","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "looking extremely grave. Professor Sprout had the Prophet propped against a bottle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of ketchup and was reading the front page with such concentration that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "she was not noticing the gentle drip o egg yolk falling into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "her lap from her stationary spoon. Meanwhile, at the far end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the table, Professor Umbridge was tucking into a bowl of porridge. For","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "once her pouchy toad's eyes were not sweeping the Great Hall looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "for misbehaving students. She scowled as she gulped down her food and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "every now and then she shot a malevolent glance up the table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to where Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking so intently. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Oh my - ' said Hermione wonderingly, still staring at the newspaper.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'What now?' said Harry quickly; he was feeling jumpy.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'It's . . . horrible,' said Hermione, looking shaken.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "She folded back page ten of the newspaper and handed it to Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and Ron.TRAGIC DEMISE OF MINISTRY OF MAGIC WORKERSt Mungo's Hospital promised a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "full inquiry last night after Ministry of Magic worker Broderich Bode, 49,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was discovered dead in his bed, strangled by a pot plant. Healers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "called to the scene were unable to revive Mr Bode, who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "been injured in a workplace accident some weeks prior to his death.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Healer Miriam Strout, who was in charge of Mr","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Bodes ward at the time of the incident, has been suspended on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "full pay and was unavailable for comment yesterday, but a spokeswizard for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the hospital said in a statement: 'St Mungo's deeply","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "regrets the death of Mr Bode, whose health was improving steadily prior","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to this tragic accident. 'We have strict guidelines on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the decorations permitted on our wards but it appears that Healer Strout,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "busy over the Christmas period, overlooked the dangers of the plant on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Mr Bode's bedside table. As his speech and mobility improved, Healer Strout","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "encouraged Mr Bode to look after the plant himself, unaware that it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was not an innocent Flitterbloom, but a cutting of Devil's Snare which,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "when touched by the convalescent Mr Bode, throttled him instantly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'St Mungo's is as vet unable to account for the presence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of the plant on the ward and asks any witch or wizard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "with information to come forward.''Bode . . .' said Ron. 'Bode. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "rings a bell . . .' 'We saw him,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hermione whispered. In St Mungo's, remember? He was in the bed opposite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Lockhart's, just lying there, staring at the ceiling. And we saw the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Devil's Snare arrive. She - the Healer - said it was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Christmas present.' Harry looked back at the story. A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "feeling of horror was rising like bile in his throat. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'How come we didn't recognise Devil's Snare? We've seen it before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . . we could've stopped this from happening.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Who expects Devil's Snare to turn up in a hospital disguised as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a pot plant?' said Ron sharply. 'It's not our fault, whoever sent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "it to the bloke is to blame! They must be a real","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "prat, why didn't they check what they were buying?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Oh, come on, Ron!' said Hermione shakily. 'I don't think anyone could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "put Devil's Snare in a pot and not realise it tries to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "kill whoever touches it? This - this was murder . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a clever murder, as well . . . if the plant was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "sent anonymously, how's anyone ever going to find out who did it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Harry was not thinking about Devil's Snare. He was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "remembering taking the lift down to the ninth level of the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "on the day of his hearing and the sallow-faced man who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "got in on the Atrium level. 'I met Bode,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he said slowly. 'I saw him at the Ministry with your dad.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Ron's mouth fell open. 'I've heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Dad talk about him at home! He was an Unspeakable ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " ' - he worked in the Department of Mysteries!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " They looked at each other for a moment, then Hermione pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the newspaper back towards her, closed it, glared for a moment at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the pictures of the ten escaped Death Eaters on the front, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "leapt to her feet. 'Where are you going?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Ron, startled. To send a letter,' said Hermione, swinging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "her bag on to her shoulder. 'It . . . well, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "don't know whether . . . but it's worth trying . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". and I'm the only one who can.' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "hate it when she does that,' grumbled Ron, as he and Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "got up from the table and made their own, slower way out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of the Great Hall. 'Would it kill her to tell us what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "she's up to for once? It'd take her about ten more seconds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "- hey, Hagrid!' Hagrid was standing beside the doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "into the Entrance Hall, waiting for a crowd of Ravenclaws to pass.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "He was still as heavily bruised as he had been on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "day he had come back from his mission to the giants and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "there was a new cut right across the bridge of his nose.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'All righ', you two?' he said, trying to muster","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a smile but managing only a kind of pained grimace. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Are you OK, Hagrid?' asked Harry, following him as he lumbered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "after the Ravenclaws. 'Fine, fine,' said Hagrid with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "feeble assumption of airiness; he w aved a hand and narrowly missed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "concussing a frightened-looking Professor Vector, who was passing. 'Jus' busy, yeh know,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "usual stuff ' - lessons ter prepare - couple","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "o' salamanders got scale rot - an' I'm on probation,' he mumbled.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'You're on probation?' said Ron very loudly, so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "many of the passing students looked around curiously. 'Sorry - I mean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "- you're on probation?' he whispered. 'Yeah,' said Hagrid.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "' 'S'no more'n I expected, ter tell yen the truth. Yeh migh'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "not've picked up on it, bu' that inspection didn' go too well, yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "know . . . anyway,' he sighed deeply. 'Bes' go an' rub","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a bit more chilli powder on them salamanders or their tails'll be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "hangin' off 'em next. See yeh, Harry . . . Ron .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". .' He trudged away, out of the front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "doors and down the stone steps into the damp grounds. Harry watched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "him go, wondering how much more bad news he could stand.*The fact","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that Hagrid was now on probation became common knowledge within the school","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "over the next few days, but to Harry's indignation, hardly anybody appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to be upset about it; indeed, some people, Draco Malfoy prominent among","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "them, seemed positively gleeful. As for the freakish death of an obscure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Department of Mysteries employee in St Mungo's, Harry, Ron and Hermione seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to be the only people who knew or cared. There was only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "one topic of conversation in the corridors now: the ten escaped Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Eaters, whose story had finally filtered through the school from those few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "people who read the newspapers. Rumours were flying that some of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "convicts had been spotted in Hogsmeade, that they were supposed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "hiding out in the Shrieking Shack and that they were going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "break into Hogwarts, just as Sirius Black had once done. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Those who came from wizarding families had grown up hearing the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "names of these Death Eaters spoken with almost as much fear as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Voldemorts; the crimes they had committed during the days of Voldemort's reign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of terror were legendary. There were relatives cf their victims among the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hogwarts students, who now found themselves the unwilling objects of a gruesome","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "sort of reflected fame as they walked the corridors: Susan Bones, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "uncle, aunt and cousins had all died at the hands of one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of the ten, said miserably during Herbology that she now had a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "good idea what it felt like to be Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'And I don't know how you stand it - it's horrible,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "said bluntly, dumping far too much dragon manure on her tray of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Screechsnap seedlings, causing them to wriggle and squeak in discomfort. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " It was true that Harry was the subject of much renewed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "muttering and pointing in the corridors these days, yet he thought he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "detected a slight difference in the lone of the whisperers' voices. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "sounded curious rather than hostile now, and once or twice he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "sure he overheard snatches of conversation that, suggested that the speakers were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "not satisfied with the Prophet's version of how and why ten Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Eaters had managed to break out of the Azkaban fortress. In their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "confusion and fear, these doubters now seemed to be turning to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "only other explanation available to them: the one that Harry and Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "had been expounding since the previous year. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "not only the students' mood that had changed. It was now quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "common to come across two or three teachers conversing in low, urgent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "whispers in the corridors, breaking off their conversations the moment they saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "students approaching. They obviously can't talk freely in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "staff room any more,' said Hermione in a low voice, as she,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Harry and Ron passed Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout huddled together outside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the Charms classroom one day. 'Not with Umbridge there.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Reckon they know anything new?' said Ron, gazing back over his shoulder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "at the three teachers. 'If they do, we're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "going to hear about it, are we?' said Harry angrily. 'Not after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Decree . . . what number are we on now?' For new","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "notices had appeared on the house noticeboards the morning after news of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the Azkaban breakout:BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTSTeachers are hereby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "banned from giving students any informationthat is not strictly related to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "subjects they are paid to teach.The above is in accordance with Educational","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "DecreeNumber Twenty-six.Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High InquisitorThis latest Decree had been the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "subject of a great number of jokes among the students. Lee Jordan","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "had pointed out to Umbridge that by the terms of the new","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "rule she was not allowed to tell Fred and George off for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "playing Exploding Snap in the back of the class. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Exploding Snap's got nothing to do with Defence Against the Dark Arts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Professor! That's not information relating to your subject!' When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Harry next saw Lee, the back of his hand was bleeding rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "badly. Harry recommended essence of Murtlap. Harry had thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the breakout from Azkaban might have humbled Umbridge a little, that she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "might have been abashed at the catastrophe that had occurred right under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the nose of her beloved Fudge. It seemed, however, to have only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "intensified her furious desire to bring every aspect of life at Hogwarts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "under her personal control. She seemed determined at the very least to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "achieve a sacking before long, and the only question was whether it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "would be Professor Trelawney or Hagrid who went first. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Every single Divination and Care of Magical Creatures lesson was now conducted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "in the presence of Umbridge and her clipboard. She lurked by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "fire in the heavily perfumed tower room, interrupting Professor Trelawney's increasingly hysterical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "talks with difficult questions about ornithomancy and heptomology, insisting that she predicted students'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "answers before they gave them and demanding that she demonstrate her skill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "at the crystal ball, the tea leaves and the rune stones in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "turn. Harry thought Professor Trelawney might soon crack under the strain. Several","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "times he passed her in the corridors - in itself a very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "unusual occurrence as she generally remained in her tower room - muttering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "wildly to herself, wringing her hands and shooting terrified glances over her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "shoulder, and all the while giving off a powerful smell of cooking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "sherry. If he had not been so worried about Hagrid, he would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "have felt sorry for her - but if one of them was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to be ousted from their job, there could be only one choice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "for Harry as to who should remain. Unfortunately, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "could not see that Hagrid was putting up a better show than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Trelawney. Though he seemed to be following Hermione's advice and had shown","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "them nothing more frightening than a Crup - a creature indistinguishable from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a Jack Russell terrier except for its forked tail - since before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Christmas, he too seemed to have lost his nerve. He was oddly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "distracted and jumpy during lessons, losing the thread of what he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "saying to the class, answering questions wrongly, and all the time glancing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "anxiously at Umbridge. He was also more distant with Harry, Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hermione than he had ever been before, and had expressly forbidden them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to visit him after dark. 'If she catches yeh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "it'll be all of our necks on the line,' he told ;:hem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "flatly, and with no desire to do anything that might jeopardise his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "job further they abstained from walking down to his hut :.n the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "evenings. It seemed to Harry that Umbridge was steadily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "depriving him of everything that made his life at Hogwarts worth living:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "visits to Hagrid's house, letters from Sirius, his Firebolt and Quidditch. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "took his revenge the only way he could - by redoubling his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "efforts for the DA. Harry was pleased to see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that all of them, even Zacharias Smith, had been spurred on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "work harder than ever by the news that ten more Death Eaters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "were now on the loose, but in nobody was this improvement more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pronounced than in Neville. The news of his parents' attackers' escape had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "wrought a strange and even slightly alarming change in him. He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "not once mentioned his meeting with Harry, Ron and Hermione on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "closed ward in St Mungo's and, taking their lead from him, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "had kept quiet about it too. Nor had he said anything on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the subject of Bellatrix and her fellow torturers' escape. In fact, Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "barely spoke during the DA meetings any more, but worked relentlessly on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "every new jinx and counter-curse Harry taught them, his plump face screwed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "up in concentration, apparently indifferent to injuries or accidents and working harder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "than anyone else in the room. He was improving so fast it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was quite unnerving and when Harry taught them, the Shield Charm -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a means of deflecting minor jinxes so that they rebounded upon the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "attacker - only Hermione mastered the charm faster than Neville. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Harry would have given a great deal to be making as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "much progress at Occlumency as Neville was making during the DA meetings.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Harry's sessions with Snape, which had started badly enough, were not improving.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "On the contrary, Harry felt he was getting \vorse with every lesson.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Before he had started studying Occlumency, his scar had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "prickled occasionally, usually during the night, or else following one of those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "strange flashes of Voldemort's thoughts or mood that he experienced every now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and then. Nowadays, however, his scar hardly ever stopped prickling, and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "often felt lurches of annoyance or cheerfulness that were unrelated to what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was happening to him at the time, which were always accompanied by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a particularly painful twinge from his scar. He had the horrible impression","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that he was slowly turning into a kind of aerial that was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "tuned in to tiny fluctuations in Voldemort's mood, and he was sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he could date this increased sensitivity firmly from his first Occlumency lesson","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "with Snape. What was more, he was now dreaming about walking down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the corridor towards the entrance to the Department of Mysteries almost every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "night, dreams which always culminated in him standing longingly in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the plain black door. 'Maybe it's a bit like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "an illness,' said Hermione, looking concerned when Harry confided in her and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Ron. 'A fever or something. It has to get worse before it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "gets better.' The lessons with Snape are making it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "worse,' said Harry flatly 'I'm getting sick of my scar hurting and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "I'm getting bored with walking down that corridor every night.' He rubbed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "his forehead angrily. 'I just wish the door would open, I'm sick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of standing staring at it - ' That's not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "funny,' said Hermione sharply. 'Dumbledore doesn't want you to have dreams about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that corridor at all, or he wouldn't have asked Snape to teach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "you Occlumency. You're just going to have to work a bit harder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "in your lessons.' 'I am working!' said Harry, nettled.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "`You try it some time - Snape: trying to get inside your head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "- it's not a bundle of laughs, you know!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Maybe . . .' said Ron slowly. 'Maybe what?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "said Hermione, rather snappishly. 'Maybe it's not Harry's fault","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he can't close his mind,' said Ron darkly. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "do you mean?' said Hermione. 'Well, maybe Snape isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "really trying to help Harry . . .' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and Hermione stared at him. Ron looked darkly and meaningfully from one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to the other. 'Maybe,' he said again, in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "lower voice, 'he's actually trying to open Harry's mind a bit wider","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . . make it easier for You-Know- 'Shut","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "up, Ron,' said Hermione angrily. 'How many times have you suspected Snape,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and when have you ever been right? Dumbledore trusts him, he works","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "for the Order, that ought to be enough.' 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "used to be a Death Eater,' said Ron stubbornly. 'And we've never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "seen proof that he really swapped sides.' 'Dumbledore trusts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "him,' Hermione repeated. 'And if we can't trust Dumbledore, we can't trust","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "anyone.'*With so much to worry about and so much to do -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "startling amounts of homework that frequently kept the fifth-years working until past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "midnight, secret DA sessions and regular classes with Snape - 'January seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to be passing alarmingly fast. Before Harry knew it, February had arrived,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "bringing with it wetter and warmer weather and the prospect of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "second Hogsmeade visit of the year. Harry had had very little time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to spare for conversations with Cho since they had agreed to visit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the village together, but suddenly found himself facing a Valentine's Day spent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "entirely in her company. On the morning of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "fourteenth he dressed particularly carefully. He and Ron arrived at breakfast just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "in time for the arrival of the post owls, Hedwig was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "there - not that Harry had expected her - but Hermione was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "tugging a letter from the beak of an unfamiliar brown owl as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "they sat down. 'And about time! If it hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "come today . . .' she said, eagerly tearing open the envelope","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and pulling out a small piece of parchment. Her eyes sped from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "left to right as she read through the message and a grimly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pleased expression spread across her face. 'Listen, Harry,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "said, looking up at him, 'this is really important. Do you think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "you could meet me in the Three Broomsticks around midday?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Well . . . I dunno,' said Harry uncertainly. 'Cho might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "be expecting me to spend the whole day with her. We never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "said what we were going to do.' Well, bring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "her along if you must,' said Hermione urgently. 'But will you come?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Well . . . all right, but why?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'I haven't got time to tell you now, I've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to answer this quickly.' And she hurried out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the Great Hall, the letter clutched in one hand and a piece","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of toast in the other. 'Are you coming?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "asked Ron, but he shook his head, looking glum. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'I can't come into Hogsmeade at all; Angelina wants a full day's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "training. Like it's going to help; we're the worst team I've ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "seen. You should see Sloper and Kirke, they're pathetic, even worse than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "I am.' He heaved a great sigh. 'I dunno why Angelina won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "just let me resign.' It's because you're good when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "you're on form, that's why,' said Harry irritably. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "found it very hard to be sympathetic to Ron's plight, when he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "himself would have given almost anything to be playing in the forthcoming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "match against Hufflepuff. Ron seemed to have noticed Harry's tone, because he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "did not mention Quidditch again during breakfast, and there was a slight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "frostiness in the way they said goodbye to each other shortly afterwards.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Ron departed for the Quidditch pitch and Harry, after attempting to flatten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "his hair while staring at his reflection in the back of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "teaspoon, proceeded alone to the Entrance Hall to meet Cho, feeling very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "apprehensive and wondering what on earth they were going to talk about.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " She was waiting for him a little to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "side of the oak front doors, looking very pretty with her hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "tied back in a long pony-tail. Harry's feet seemed to be too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "big for his body as he walked towards her and he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "suddenly horribly aware of his arms and how stupid they must look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "swinging at his sides. 'Hi,' said Cho slightly breathlessly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Hi,' said Harry. They stared at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "each other for a moment, then Harry said, 'Well - er -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "shall we go, then?' 'Oh - yes . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ".' They joined the queue of people being signed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "out by Filch, occasionally catching each others eye and grinning shiftily, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "not talking to each other. Harry was relieved when they reached the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "fresh air, finding it easier to walk along in silence than just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "stand about looking awkward. It was a fresh, breezy sort of a day","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and as they passed the Quidditch stadium Harry glimpsed Ron and ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Ginny skimming along over the stands and felt a horrible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pang that he was not up there with them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'You really miss it, don't you?' said Cho. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "looked round and saw her watching him. 'Yeah,' sighed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Harry. 'I do.' 'Remember the first time we played","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "against each other, in the third year?' she asked him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Yeah,' said Harry, grinning. 'You kept blocking me.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'And Wood told you not to be a gentleman and knock me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "off my broom if you had to,' said Cho, smiling reminiscently. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "heard he got taken on by Pride of Portree, is that right?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Nah, it was Puddlemere United; I saw him at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the World Cup last year.' 'Oh, I saw you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "there, too, remember? We were on the same campsite. It was really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "good, wasn't it?' The subject of the Quidditch World","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cup carried them all the way down the drive and out through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the gates. Harry could hardly believe how easy it was to talk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to her - no more difficult, in fact, than talking to Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and Hermione - and he was just starting to feel confident and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "cheerful when a large gang of Slytherin girls passed them, including Pansy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Parkinson. 'Potter and Chang!' screeched Pansy, to a chorus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of snide giggles. 'Urgh, Chang, I don't think much of your taste","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . . at least Diggory was good-looking!' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "girls sped up, talking and shrieking in a pointed fashion with many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "exaggerated glances back at Harry and Cho, leaving an embarrassed silence in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "their wake. Harry could think of nothing else to say about Quidditch,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and Cho, slightly flushed, was watching her feet. 'So","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . . where d'you want to go?' Harry asked as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "entered Hogsmeade. The High Street was full of students ambling up and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "down, peering into the shop windows and messing about together on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pavements. 'Oh . . . I don't mind,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cho, shrugging. 'Urn . . . shall we just have a look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "in the shops or something?' They wandered towards Dervish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and Banges. A large poster had been stuck up in the window","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and a few Hogsmeaders were looking at it. They moved aside when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Harry and Cho approached and Harry found himself staring once more at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the pictures of the ten escaped Death Eaters. The poster, 'By Order","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of the Ministry of Magic', offered a thousand-Galleon reward to any witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "or wizard with information leading to the recapture of any of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "convicts pictured. It's funny, isn't it,' said Cho in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a low voice, gazing up at the pictures of the Death Eaters,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'remember when that Sirius Black escaped, and there were Dementors all over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hogsmeade looking for him? And now ten Death Eaters are on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "loose and there are no Dementors anywhere . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Yeah,' said Harry, tearing his eyes away from Bellatrix Lestrange's face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to glance up and down the High Street. 'Yeah, that is weird.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " He wasn't sorry that there were no Dementors nearby,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "but now he came to think of it, their absence was highly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "significant. The) had not only let the Death Eaters escape, they weren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "bothering to look for them . . . it looked as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "they really were outside Ministry control now. The ten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "escaped Death Eaters were staring out of every shop window he and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cho passed. It started to rain as they passed. Scrivenshaft's; cold, heavy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "drops of water kept hitting Harry's face and the back of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "neck. 'Um . . . d'you want to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a coffee?' said Cho tentatively, as the rain began to fall more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "heavily. 'Yeah, all right,' said Harry, looking around. 'Where?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Oh, there's a really nice place just up here;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "haven't you ever been to Madam Puddifoot's?' she said brightly, leading him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "up a side road and into a small teashop that Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "never noticed before. It was a cramped, steamy little place where everything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "seemed to have been decorated with frills or bows. Harry was reminded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "unpleasantly of Umbndge's office. 'Cute, isn't it?' said Cho","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "happily. 'Er . . . yeah,' said Harry untruthfully.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Look, she's decorated it for Valentine's Day!' said Cho,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "indicating a number of golden cherubs that were hovering over each of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the small, circular tables, occasionally throwing pink confetti over the occupants. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Aaah . . .' They sat down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "at the last remaining table, which was over by the steamy window.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, was sitting about a foot and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a half away with a pretty blonde girl. They were holding hands.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "The sight made Harry feel uncomfortable, particularly when, looking around the teashop,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he saw that t was full of nothing but couples, all of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "them holding hands. Perhaps Cho would expect him to hold her hand.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'What can I get you, m'dears?' said Madam Puddifoot,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a very stout woman with a shiny black bun, squeezing between their table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and Roger Davies's with great difficulty. Two coffees, please,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "said Cho. In the time it took for their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "coffees to arrive, Roger Davies and his girlfriend had started kissing over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "their sugar bowl. Harry wished they wouldn't; he felt that Davies was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "setting a standard with which Cho would soon expect him to compete.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "He felt his face growing hot and tried staring out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "window, but it was so steamed up he couldn't see the street","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "outside. To postpone the moment when he would have to look at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cho, he stared up at the ceiling as though examining the paintwork","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and received a handful of confetti in the face from their hovering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "cherub. After a few more painful minutes, Cho mentioned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Umbridge. Harry seized on the subject with relief and they passed a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "few happy moments abusing her, but the subject had already been so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "thoroughly canvassed during DA meetings it did not last very long. Silence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "fell again. Harry was very conscious of the slurping noises coming from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the table next door and cast wildly around for something else to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "say. 'Er . . . listen, d'you want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "come with me to the Three Broomsticks at lunchtime? I'm meeting Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Granger there.' Cho raised her eyebrows. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'You're meeting Hermione Granger? Today?' 'Yeah. Well, she asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "me to, so I thought I would. D'you want to come with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "me? She said it wouldn't matter if you did.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Oh . . . well . . . that was nice of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "her.' But Cho did not sound as though she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "thought it was nice at all. On the contrary, her tone was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "cold and all of a sudden she looked rather forbidding. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " A few more minutes passed in total silence, Harry drinking his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "coffee so fast that he would soon need a fresh cup. Beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "them, Roger Davies and his girlfriend seemed glued together","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "at the tips. Cho's hand was lying on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "table beside her coffee and Harry was feeling a mounting pressure to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "take hold of it. Just do it, he told himself, as a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "fount of mingled panic and excitement surged up inside his chest, just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "reach out and grab it. Amazing, how much more difficult it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to extend his arm twelve inches and touch her hand than it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was to snatch a speeding Snitch from midair . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " But just as he moved his hand forwards, Cho took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "hers off the table. She was now watching Roger Davies kissing his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "girlfriend with a mildly interested expression. 'He asked me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "out, you know,' she said in a quiet voice. 'A couple: of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "weeks ago. Roger. I turned him down, though.' Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "who had grabbed the sugar bowl to excuse his sudden lunging movement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "across the table, could not think why she was telling him this.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "If she wished she were sitting at the next table being heartily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "kissed by Roger Davies, why had she agreed to come: out with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "him? He said nothing. Their cherub threw another handful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of confetti over them; some of it landed in the last cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "dregs of coffee Harry had been about to drink. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'I came in here with Cedric last year,' said Cho. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " In the second or so it took for him to take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "in what she had said, Harry's insides had become glacial. He could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "not believe she wanted to talk about Cedric now, while kissing couples","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "surrounded them and a cherub floated over their heads. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cho's voice was rather higher when she spoke again. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'I've been meaning to ask you for ages . . . did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cedric - did he - m - m - mention me at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "all before he died?' This was the very last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "subject on earth Harry wanted to discuss, and least of all with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cho. 'Well - no - ' he said quietly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "There - there wasn't time for him to say anything. Erm .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . so . . . d'you . . . d'you get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to see a lot of Quidditch in the holidays? You support the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Tornados, right?' His voice sounded falsely bright and cheery.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "To his horror, he saw that her eyes were swimming with tears","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "again, just as they had been after the last DA meeting before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Christmas. 'Look,' he said desperately, leaning in so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "nobody else could overhear, let's not talk about Cedric right now .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . let's talk about something else . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " But this, apparently, was quite the wrong thing to say. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'I thought,' she said, tears spattering down on to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "table, 'I thought you'd u - u - understand! I need to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "talk about it! Surely you n - need to talk about it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "t - too! I mean, you saw it happen, d - didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "you?' Everything was going nightmarishly wrong; Roger Davies's girlfriend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "had even unglued herself to look round at Cho crying. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Well - I have talked about it,' Harry said in a whisper,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'to Ron and Hermione, but - ' 'Oh, you'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "talk to Hermione Granger!' she said shrilly, her face now shining with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "tears. Several more kissing couples broke apart to stare. 'But you won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "talk to me! P - perhaps it would be best if we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "just . . . just p - paid and you went and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "met up with Hermione G - Granger, like you obviously want to!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Harry stared at her, utterly bewildered, as she seized","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a frilly napkin and dabbed at her shining face with it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Cho?' he said weakly, wishing Roger would seize his girlfriend","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and start kissing her again to stop her goggling at him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Cho. 'Go on, leave!' she said, now crying into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the napkin. 'I don't know why you asked me out in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "first place if you're going to make arrangements to meet other girls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "right after me . . . how many ere you meeting after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hermione?' 'It's not like that!' said Harry, and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was so relieved at finally understanding what she was annoyed about that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he laughed, which he realised a split second too late was also","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a mistake. Cho sprang to her feet. The whole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "tearoom was quiet and everybody was watching them now. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'I'll see you around, Harry,' she said dramatically, and hiccoughing slightly she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "dashed to the door, wrenched it open and hurried off into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pouring rain. 'Cho!' Harry called after her, but the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "door had already swung shut behind her with a tuneful tinkle. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " There was total silence within the teashop. Every eye was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "on ?larry. He threw a Galleon down on to the table, shook","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pink confetti out of his hair, and followed Cho out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "door. It was raining hard now and she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "nowhere to be seen, he simply did not understand what had happened;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "half an hour ago they had been getting along fine. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Women!' he muttered angrily, sloshing down the rain-washed street with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "hands in his pockets. 'What did she want to talk about Cedric","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "for, anyway? Why does she always want to drag up a subject","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that makes her act like a human hosepipe?' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "turned right and broke into a splashy run, and within minutes he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was turning into the doorway of the Three Broomsticks. He knew he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was too early to meet Hermione, but he thought it likely there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "would be someone in here with whom he could spend the intervening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "time. He shook his wet hair out of his eyes and looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "around. Hagrid was sitting alone in a corner, looking morose. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Hi, Hagrid!' he said, when he had squeezed through the crammed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "tables and pulled up a chair beside him. Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "jumped and looked down at Harry as though he barely recognised him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Harry saw that he had two fresh cuts on his face and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "several new bruises. 'Oh, it's yeh, Harry,' said Hagrid.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Yeh all righ?' 'Yeah, I'm fine,' lied Harry; but,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "next to this battered and mournful-looking Hagrid, he felt he didn't really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "have much to complain about. 'Er - are you OK?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Me?' said Hagrid. 'Oh yeah, I'm grand, Harry, grand.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " He gazed into the depths of his pewter tankard, which was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the size of a large bucket, and sighed. Harry didn't know what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to say to him. They sat side by side in silence for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a moment. Then Hagrid said abruptly, 'In the same boat, yeh an'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "me, aren' we, 'Any?' 'Er - ' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Yeah . . . I've said it before .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . both outsiders, like,' said Hagrid, nodding wisely. 'An' both orphans.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Yeah . . . both orphans.' He took a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "great swig from his tankard. 'Makes a diff'rence, havin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "a decent family,' he said. 'Me dad was decent. An' your mum","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "an' dad were decent. If they'd lived, life woulda bin diff'rent, eh?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Yeah . . . I s'pose,' said Harry cautiously.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hagrid seemed to be in a very strange mood. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Family,' said Hagrid gloomily. 'Whatever yeh say, blood's important . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " And he wiped a trickle of it out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "his eye. 'Hagrid,' said Harry, unable to stop himself,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'where are you getting all these injuries?' 'Eh?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hagrid, looking startled. 'Wha' injuries?' 'All those!' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "pointing at Hagrid's face. 'Oh . . . tha's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "jus' normal bumps an' bruises, Harry,' said Hagrid c.ismissively 'I got a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "rough job.' He drained his tankard, set it back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "on the table and got to his feet. 'I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "be seein' yeh, Harry . . . take care now.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " And he lumbered out of the pub looking wretched, and disappeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "into the torrential rain. Harry watched him go, feeling miserable. Hagrid was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "unhappy and he was hiding something, but he seemed determined not to accept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "help. What was going on? But before Harry could think about it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "any further, he heard a voice calling his name. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Harry! Harry, over here!' Hermione was waving at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "from the other side of the room. He got up and made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "his way towards her through the crowded pub. He was still a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "few tables away when he realised that Hermione was not alone. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "was sitting at a table with the unlikeliest pair of drinking mates","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he could ever have imagined: Luna Lovegood and none other than Rita","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Skeeter, ex-journalist on the Daily Prophet aid one of Hermione's least favourite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "people in the world. 'You're early!' said Hermione, moving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "along to give him room to sit down. '] thought you were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "with Cho, I wasn't expecting you for another hour at least!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Cho?' said Rita at once, twisting round in her seat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to stare avidly at Harry. 'A girl?' She snatched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "up her crocodile-skin handbag and groped within it. 'Its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "none of your business if Harry's been with a hundred girls,' Eermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "told Rita coolly. 'So you can put that away right now.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Rita had been on the point of withdrawing an acid-green","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "quill from her bag. Looking as though she had been forced to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "swallow Stinksap, she snapped her bag shut again. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "are you up to?' Harry asked, sitting down and staring from Rita","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to Luna to Hermione. 'Little Miss Perfect was just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "about to tell me when you arrived.' said Rita, taking a large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "slurp of her drink. 'I suppose I'm allowed to talk to him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "am I?' she shot at Hermione. 'Yes, I suppose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "you are,' said Hermione coldly. Unemployment did not suit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Rita. The hair that had once been set in elaborate curls now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "hung lank and unkempt around her face. The scarlet paint on her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "two-inch talons was chipped and there were a couple of false jewels","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "missing from her winged glasses. She took another great gulp of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "drink and said out of the corner of her mouth, 'Pretty girl,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "is she, Harry?' 'One more word about Harry's love","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "life and the deal's off and that's a promise,' said Hermione irritably.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'What deal?' said Rita, wiping her mouth on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "back of her hand. 'You haven't mentioned a deal yet, Miss Prissy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "you just told me to turn up. Oh, one of these days","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . .' She took a deep shuddering breath. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Yes, yes, one of these days you'll write more horrible stories about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Harry and me,' said Hermione indifferently. 'Find someone who cares, why don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "you?' They've run plenty of horrible stories about Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "this year without my help,' said Rita, shooting a sideways look at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "him over the top of her glass and adding in a rough","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "whisper, 'How has that made you feel, Harry? Betrayed? Distraught? Misunderstood?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'He feels angry, of course,' said Hermione in a hard,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "clear voice. 'Because he's told the Minister for Magic the truth and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the Minister's too much of an idiot to believe him.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'So you actually stick to it, do you, that He Who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Must Not Be Named is back?' said Rita, lowering her glass and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "subjecting Harry to a piercing stare while her finger strayed longingly to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the clasp of the crocodile bag. 'You stand by all this garbage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Dumbledore'5 been telling everybody about You-Know-Who returning and you being the sole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "witness?' 'I wasn't the sole witness,' snarled Harry. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "were a dozen-odd Death Eaters there as well. Want their names?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'I'd love them,' breathed Rita, now fumbling in her bag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "once more and gazing at him as though he was the most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "beautiful thing she had ever seen. 'A great bold headline: `Potter Accuses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . .` A sub-heading, `Harry Potter Names Death Eaters Still Among","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Us`. And then, beneath a nice big photograph of you, `Disturbed teenage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "survivor of You-Know-Who's attack, Harry Potter, 15, caused outrage yesterday by accusing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "respectable and prominent members of the wizarding community of being Death Eaters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" ". . .` ' The Quick-Quotes Quill was actually","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "in her hand and halfway to her mouth when the rapturous expression","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "on her face died. 'But of course,' she said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "lowering the quill and looking daggers at Hermione, 'Little Miss Perfect wouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "want that story out there, would she?' 'As a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "matter of fact,' said Hermione sweetly, 'that's exactly what Little Miss Perfect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "does want.' Rita stared at her. So did Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Luna, on the other hand, sang 'Weasley is our King' dreamily under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "her breath and stirred her drink with a cocktail onion on a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "stick. 'You want me to report what he says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "about He Who Must Not Be Named?' Rita asked Hermione in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "hushed voice. 'Yes, I do,' said Hermione. 'The true","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "story. All the facts. Exactly a; Harry reports them. He'll give you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "all the details, he'll tell you the names of the undiscovered Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Eaters he saw there, he'll tell you what Voldemort looks like now -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "oh, get a grip on yourself,' she added contemptuously, throwing a napkin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "across the table, for, at the sound of Voldemort's name, Rita had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "jumped so badly she had slopped half her glass of Firewhisky down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "herself. Rita blotted the front of her grubby raincoat,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "still staring at Hermione. Then she said baldly, The Prophet wouldn't print","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "it. In case you haven't noticed, nobody believes his cock-and-bull story. Everyone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "thinks he's delusional. Now, if you let me write the story from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "that angle - ' 'We don't need another story","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "about how Harry's lost his marbles!' said Hermione angrily. 'We've had plenty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "of those already, thank you! I want him given the opportunity to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "tell the truth!' There's no market for a story","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "like that,' said Rita coldly. 'You mean the Prophet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "won't print it because Fudge won't let them,' said Hermione irritably. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Rita gave Hermione a long, hard look. Then, leaning forwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "across the table towards her, she said in a businesslike tone, 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "right, Fudge is leaning on the Prophet, but it comes to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "same thing. They won't print a story that shows Harry in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "good light. Nobody wants to read it. It's against the public mood.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "This last Azkaban breakout has got people quite worried enough. People just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "don't want to believe You-Know-Who's back.' 'So the Daily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Prophet exists to tell people what they want to hear, does it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "said Hermione scathingly. Rita sat up straight again, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "eyebrows raised, and drained her glass of Firewhisky, The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Prophet exists to sell itself, you silly girl,' she said coldly ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'My dad thinks it's an awful paper,' said Luna, chipping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "into the conversation unexpectedly. Sucking on her cocktail onion, she gazed at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Rita with her enormous, protuberant, slightly mad eye;. 'He publishes important stories","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "he thinks the public needs to know. He doesn't care about making","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "money.' Rita looked disparagingly at Luna. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'I'm guessing your father runs some stupid little village newsletter?' she said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Probably, Twenty-five Ways to Mingle With Muggles and the dates of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "next Bring and Fly Sale?' 'No,' said Luna, dipping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "her onion back into her Gillywater, 'he's the editor of The Quibbler.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " Rita snorted so loudly that people at a nearby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "table looked round in alarm. ' `Important stories he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "thinks the public needs to know`, eh?' she said witheringly. 'I could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "manure my garden with the contends of that rag.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'Well, this is your chance to raise the tone of it a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "bit, isn't it?' said Hermione pleasantly. 'Luna says her father's quite happy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to take Harry's interview. That's who'll be publishing it.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Rita stared at them both for a moment, then let out a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "great whoop of laughter. 'The Quibbler!' she said, cackling.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'You think people will take him seriously if he's published in The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Quibbler!' 'Some people won't,' said Hermione in a level","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "voice. 'But the Daily Prophet's version of the Azkaban breakout had some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "gaping holes in it. I think a lot of people will be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "wondering whether there isn't a better explanation of what happened, and if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "there's an alternative story available, even if it is published in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "- ' she glanced sideways at Luna, 'in a - well, an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "unusual magazine - I think they might be rather keen to read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "it.' Rita didn't say anything for a while, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "eyed Hermione shrewdly, her head a little to one side. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'All right, let's say for a moment I'll do it,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "said abruptly. 'What kind of fee am I going to get?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'I don't think Daddy exactly pays people to write for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "the magazine,' said Luna dreamily. They do it because it's an honour","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "and, of course, to see their names in print.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Rita Skeeter looked as though the taste of Stinksap was strong in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "her mouth again as she rounded on Hermione. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "supposed to do this for free?' 'Well, yes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Hermione calmly, taking a sip of her drink. 'Otherwise, as you very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "well know, I will inform the authorities that you are an unregistered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Animagus. Of course, the Prophet might give you rather a lot for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "an insider's account of life in Azkaban.' Rita looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "as though she would have liked nothing better than to seize the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "paper umbrella sticking out of Hermione's drink and thrust it up her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "nose. 'I don't suppose I've got any choice, have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "I?' said Rita, her voice shaking slightly. She opened her crocodile bag","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "once more, withdrew a piece of parchment, and raised her Quick-Quotes Quill.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" " 'Daddy will be pleased,' said Luna brightly. A muscle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "twitched in Rita's jaw. 'OK, Harry?' said Hermione, turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "to him. 'Ready to tell the public the truth?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "'I suppose,' said Harry, watching Rita balancing the Quick-Quotes Quill at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "ready on the parchment between them. 'Fire away, then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Rita,' said Hermione serenely, fishing a cherry out from the bottom of her glass.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-25" "Seen and UnforseenLuna said vaguely that she did not know how soon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Rita's interview with Harry would appear in The Quibbler, that her father","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was expecting a lovely long article on recent sightings of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "' - and of course, that'll be a very important story, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry's might have to wait for the following issue,' said Luna. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Harry had not found it an easy experience to talk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "about the night when Voldemort had returned. Rita had pressed him for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "every little detail and he had given her everything he could remember,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "knowing that this was his one big opportunity to tell the world","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the truth. He wondered how people would react to the story. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "guessed that it would confirm a lot of people in the view","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that he was completely insane, not least because his story would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "appearing alongside utter rubbish about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. But the breakout of Bellatrix","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Lestrange and her fellow Death Eaters had given Harry a burning desire","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to do something, whether or not it worked . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Can't wait to see what Umbridge thinks of you going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "public,' said Dean, sounding awestruck at dinner on Monday night. Seamus was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "shovelling down large amounts of chicken and ham pie on Dean's other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "side, but Harry knew he was listening. 'It's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "right thing to do, Harry,' said Neville, who was sitting opposite him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "He was rather pale, but went on in a low voice, 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "must have been . . . tough . . . talking about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it . . . was it?' 'Yeah,' mumbled Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'but people have got to know what Voldemort's capable of, haven't they?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " That's right,' said Neville, nodding, 'and his Death Eaters,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "too . . . people should know . . .` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Neville left his sentence hanging and returned to his baked potato.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Seamus looked up, but when he caught Harry's eye he looked quickly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "back at his plate again. After a while, Dean, Seamus and Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "departed for the common room, leaving Harry and Hermione at the table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "waiting for Ron, who had riot yet had dinner because of Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "practice. Cho Chang walked into the Hall with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "friend Marietta. Harry's stomach gave an unpleasant lurch, but she did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "look over at the Gryffindor table, and sat down with her back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to him. 'Oh, I forgot to ask you,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Hermione brightly, glancing over at the Ravenclaw table, 'what happened on your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "date with Cho? How come you were back so early?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Er . . . well, it was . . .' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry, pulling a dish of rhubarb crumble towards him and helping himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to seconds, 'a complete fiasco, now you mention it.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "And he told her what had happened in Madam Puddifoot's teashop. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " '. . . so then,' he finished several minutes later,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "as the final bit of crumble disappeared, 'she jumps up, right, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "says, `I'll see you around, Harry,` and runs out of the place!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "He put down his spoon and looked at Hermione. 'I mean, what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was all that about? What was going on?' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "glanced over at the back of Clio's head and sighed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Oh, Harry' she said sadly. 'Well, I'm sorry but you were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a bit tactless.' 'Me, tactless?' said Harry, outraged. 'One","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "minute we were getting on fine, next minute she was telling me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that Roger Davies asked her out and how she used to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and snog Cedric in that stupid teashop - how was I supposed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to feel about that?' Well, you see,' said Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "with the patient air of someone explaining that one plus one equals","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "iwo to an over-emotional toddler, 'you shouldn't have told her that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "wanted to meet me halfway through your date.' 'But,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "but,' spluttered Harry, 'but - you told me to meet you at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "twelve and to bring her along, how was I supposed to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that w:.thout telling her?' 'You should have told her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "differently' said Hermione, still with that maddeningly patient air. 'You should have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said it was really annoying, but I'd made you promise to come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "along to the Three Broomsticks, and you really didn't want to go,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you'd much rather spend the whole day with her, but unfortunately you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "thought you really ought to meet me and would she please, please","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "come along with you and hopefully you'd be able to get away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "more quickly. And it might have been a good idea to mention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "how ugly you think I am, too,' Hermione added as an afterthought.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'But I don't think you're ugly,' said Harry, bemused.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Hermione laughed. 'Harry, you're worse than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Ron . . . well, no, you're not,' she sighed, as Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "himself came stumping into the Hall splattered with mv.d and looking grumpy.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Look - you upset Cho when you said you were going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "meet me, so she tried to make you jealous. It was her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "way of trying to find out how much you liked her.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Is that what she was doing?' said Harry, as Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "dropped on .o the bench opposite them and pulled every dish within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "reach towards him. 'Well, wouldn't it have been easier if she'd just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "asked me whether I liked her better than you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Girls don't often ask questions like that,' said Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Well, they should!' said Harry forcefully. 'Then I could've just told her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "I fancy her, and she wouldn't have had to get herself all worked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "up again about Cedric dying!' 'I'm not saying what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "she did was sensible,' said Hermione, as Ginny joined them, just as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "muddy as Ron and looking equally disgruntled. 'I'm just trying to make","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you see how she was feeling at the time.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'You should write a book,' Ron told Hermione as he cut up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his potatoes, 'translating mad things girls do so boys can understand them.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Yeah,' said Harry fervently, looking over at the Ravenclaw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "table. Cho had just got up, and, still not looking at him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "she left the Great Hall. Feeling rather depressed, he looked back at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Ron and Ginny. 'So, how was Quidditch practice?' 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was a nightmare,' said Ron in a surly voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Oh come on,' said Hermione, looking at Ginny, 'I'm sure it wasn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that - ' 'Yes, it was,' said Ginny. 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was appalling. Angelina was nearly in tears by the end of it.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Ron and Ginny went off for baths after dinner;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry and Hermione returned to the busy Gryffindor common room and their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "usual pile of homework. Harry had been struggling with a new star-chart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "for Astronomy for half an hour when Fred and George turned up.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Ron and Ginny not here?' asked Fred, looking around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "as he pulled up a chair, and when Harry shook his head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he said, 'Good. We were watching their practice. They're going to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "slaughtered. They're complete rubbish without us.' 'Come on, Ginny's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "not bad,' said George fairly, sitting down next to Fred. 'Actually, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "dunno how she got so good, seeing how we never let her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "play with us.' 'She's been breaking into your broom","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "shed in the garden since the age of six and taking each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of your brooms out in turn when you weren't looking,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from behind her tottering pile of Ancient Rune books. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Oh,' said George, looking mildly impressed. 'Well - that'd explain it.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Has Ron saved a goal yet?' asked Hermione, peering over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the top of Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms. 'Well, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "can do it if he doesn't think anyone's watching him,' said Fred,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "rolling his eyes. 'So all we have to do is ask the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "crowd to turn their backs and talk among themselves every time the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Qua! fie goes up his end on Saturday.' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "got up again and moved restlessly to the window, staring out across","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the dark grounds. 'You know, Quidditch was about the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "only thing in this place worth staying for.' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "cast him a stern look. 'You've got exams coming!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Told you already, we're not fussed about NEWTs,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Fred. 'The Snackboxes are ready to roll, we found out how to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "get rid of those boils, just a couple of drops of Murtlap","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "essence sorts them, Lee put us on to it.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "George yawned widely and looked out disconsolately at the cloudy night sky.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'I dunno if I even want to watch this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "match. 11 Zacharias Smith beats us I might have to kill myself.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Kill him, more like,' said Fred firmly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'That's the trouble with Quidditch,' said Hermione absent-mindedly, once again bent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "over her Runes translation, 'it creates all this bad feeling and tension","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "between the houses.' She looked up to find her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "copy of Spellman's Syllabary, and caught Fred, George and Harry all staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "at her with expressions of mingled disgust and incredulity on their faces.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Well, it does!' she said impatiently. 'It's only a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "game, isn't it?' 'Hermione,' said Harry, shaking his head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'you're good on feelings and stuff, but you just don't understand about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Quidditch.' 'Maybe not,' she said darkly, returning to her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "translation, 'but at least my happiness doesn't depend on Ron's goalkeeping ability.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " And though Harry would rather have jumped off the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Astronomy Tower than admit it to her, by the time he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "watched the game the following Saturday he would have given any number","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of Galleons not to care about Quidditch either. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "very best thing you could say about the match was that it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was short; the Gryffindor spectators had to endure only twenty-two minutes of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "agony. It was hard to say what the worst thing was: Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "thought it was a close-run contest between Ron's fourteenth failed save, Sloper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "missing the Bludger but hitting Angelina in the mouth with his bat,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and Kirke shrieking and falling backwards off his broom when Zacharias Smith","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "zoomed at him carrying the Quaffle. The miracle was that Gryffindor only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "lost by ten points: Ginny managed to snatch the Snitch from right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "under Hufflepuff Seeker Summerby's nose, so that the final score was two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hundred and forty versus two hundred and thirty. 'Good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "catch,' Harry told Ginny back in the common room, where the atmosphere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "resembled that of a particularly dismal funeral. 'I was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "lucky,' she shrugged. 'It wasn't a very fast Snitch and Summerby's got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a cold, he sneezed and closed his eyes at exactly the wrong","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "moment. Anyway, once you're back on the team - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Ginny, I've got a lifelong ban.' 'You're banned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "as long as Umbridge is in the school,' Ginny corrected him. There's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a difference. Anyway, once you're back, I think I'll,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "try out for Chaser. Angelina and Alicia are both leaving next year and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "I prefer goal-scoring to Seeking anyway' Harry looked over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "at Ron, who was hunched in a corner, staring at his knees,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a bottle of Butlerbeer clutched in his hand. 'Angelina","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "still won't let him resign,' Ginny said, as though reading Harry's mind.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'She says she knows he's got it in him.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry liked Angelina for the faith she was showing in Ron, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "at the same time thought it would really be kinder to let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "him leave the team. Ron had left the pitch to another booming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "chorus of 'Weasley is our King' sung with great gusto by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Slytherins, who were now favourites to win the Quidditch Cup. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Fred and George wandered over. 'I haven't even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "got the heart to take the mickey out of him,' said Fred,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "looking over at Ron's crumpled figure. 'Mind you . . . when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he missed the fourteenth - ' He made wild","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "motions with his arms as though doing an upright dcggy-paddle. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " ' - well, I'll save it for parties, eh?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Ron dragged himself up to bed shortly after this. Out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "respect for his feelings, Harry waited a while before going up to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the dormitory himself, so that Ron could pretend to be asleep if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he wanted to Sure enough, when Harry finally entered the room Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was snoring a little too loudly to be entirely plausible. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Harry got into bed, thinking about the match. It had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "immensely frustrating watching from the sidelines. He was quite impressed by Ginny's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "performance but he knew if he had been playing he could have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "caught the Snitch sooner . . . there had been a moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "when it had been fluttering near Kirke's ankle; if Ginny hadn't hesitated,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "she might have been able to scrape a win for Gryffindor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Umbridge had been sitting a few rows below Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Hermione. Once or twice she had turned squatly in her seat to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "look at him, her wide toad's mouth stretched in what he thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had been a gloating smile. The memory of it made him feel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hot with anger as he lay there in the dark. After a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "few minutes, however, he remembered that he was supposed to be emptying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his mind of all emotion before he slept, as Snape kept instructing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "him at the end of every Occlumency lesson. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "tried for a moment or two, but the thought of Snape on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "top of memories of Umbridge merely increased his sense of grumbling resentment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and he found himself focusing instead on how much he loathed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "pair of them. Slowly, Ron's snores died away to be replaced by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the sound of deep, slow breathing. It took Harry much longer to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "get to sleep; his body was tired, but it took his brain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a long time to close down. He dreamed that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Neville and Professor Sprout were waltzing around the Room of Requirement while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Professor McGonagall played the bagpipes. He watched them happily for a while,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "then decided to go and find the other members of the DA.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " But when he left the room he found himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "facing, not the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, but a torch burning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in its bracket on a stone wall. He turned his head slowly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to the left. There, at the far end of the windowless passage,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was a plain, black door. He walked towards it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "with a sense of mounting excitement. He had the strangest feeling that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "this time he was going to get lucky at last, and find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the way to open it . . . he was feet from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it, and saw with a leap of excitement that there was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "glowing strip of faint blue light down the right-hand side . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". the door was ajar . . . he stretched out his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hand to push it wide and - ' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "gave a loud, rasping, genuine snore and Harry awoke abruptly with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "right hand stretched in front of him in the darkness, to open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a door that was hundreds of miles away. He let it fall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "with a feeling of mingled disappointment and guilt. He knew he should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "not have seen the door, but at the same time felt so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "consumed with curiosity about what was behind it that he could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "help feeling annoyed with Ron . . . if only he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "have saved his snore for just another minute.*They entered the Great Hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "for breakfast at exactly the same moment as the post owls on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Monday morning. Hermione was not the only person eagerly awaiting her Daily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Prophet: nearly everyone was eager for more news about the escaped Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Eaters, who, despite many reported sightings, had still not been caught. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "gave the delivery owl a Knut and unfolded the newspaper eagerly while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry helped himself to orange juice; as he had only received one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "note during the entire year, he was sure, when the first owl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "landed with a thud in front of him, that it had made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a mistake. 'Who're you after?' he asked it, languidly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "removing his orange juice from underneath its beak and leaning forwards to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "see the recipient's name and address:Harry PotterGreat HallHogwarts SchoolFrowning, he made to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "take the letter from the owl, but before he could do so,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "three, four, five more owls had fluttered down beside it and were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "jockeying for position, treading in the butter and knocking over the salt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "as each one attempted to give him their letter first. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'What's going on?' Ron asked in amazement, as the whole of Gryffindor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "table leaned forwards to watch and another seven owls landed amongst the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "first ones, screeching, hooting and flapping their wings. 'Harry!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said Hermione breathlessly, plunging her hands into the feathery mass and pulling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "out a screech owl bearing a long, cylindrical package. 'I think I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "know what this means - open this one first!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry ripped off the brown packaging. Out rolled a tightly furled copy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of the March edition of The Quibbler. He unrolled it to see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his own face grinning sheepishly at him from the front cover. In","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "large red letters across this picture were the words:HARRY POTTER SPEAKS OUT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "AT LAST:THE TRUTH ABOUT HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMEDAND THE NIGHT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "I SAW HIM RETURN'It's good, isn't it?' said Luna, who had drifted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "over to the Gryffindor table and now squeezed herself on to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "bench between Fred and Ron. 'It came out yesterday, I asked Dad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to send you a free copy. I expect all these,' she waved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a hand at the assembled owls still scrabbling around on the table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in front of Harry, 'are letters from readers.' Thais","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "what I thought,' said Hermione eagerly. Harry, d'you mind if we -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "?' 'Help yourself,' said Harry, feeling slightly bemused. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Ron and Hermione both started ripping open envelopes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'This one's from a bloke who thinks you're off your rocker,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said Ron, glancing down his letter. 'Ah well . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " This woman recommends you try a good course of Shock","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Spells at St Mungo's,' said Hermione, looking disappointed and crumpling up a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "second. This one looks OK, though,' said Harry slowly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "scanning a long letter from a witch in Paisley. 'Hey she says","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "she believes me!' This one's in two minds,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Fred, who had joined in the letter-opening with enthusiasm. 'Says you don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "come across as a mad person, but he really doesn't want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "believe You-Know-Who's back so he doesn't know what to think now. Blimey,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "what a waste of parchment.' 'Here's another one you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "convinced, Harry!' said Hermione excitedly. 'Having read your side of the story,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "I am forced to the conclusion that the Daily Prophet has treated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you very unfairly . . . little though I want to think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned, I am forced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to accept that you are telling the truth . . . Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "this is wonderful!' 'Another one who thinks you're barking,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said Ron, throwing a crumpled letter over his shoulder '. . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "but this one says you've got her converted and she now thinks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you're a real hero - she's put in a photograph, too -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "wow!' 'What is going on here?' said a falsely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "sweet, girlish voice. Harry looked up with his hands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "full of envelopes. Professor Umbridge was standing behind Fred and Luna, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "bulging toad's eyes scanning the mess of owls and letters on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "table in front of Harry. Behind her he saw many of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "students watching them avidly. 'Why have you got all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "these letters, Mr Potter?' she asked slowly. 'Is that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a crime now?' said Fred loudly. 'Getting mail?' 'Be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "careful, Mr Weasley or I shall have to put you in detention,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said Umbridge. 'Well, Mr Potter?' Harry hesitated, but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "did not see how he could keep what he had done quiet;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it was surely only a matter of time before a copy of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "The Quibbler came to Umbridge's attention. 'People have written","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to me because I gave an interview,' said Harry. 'About what happened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to me last June.' For some reason he glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "up at the staff table as he said this. Harry had the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "strangest feeling that Dumbledore had been watching him a second before, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "when he looked towards the Headmaster he seemed to be absorbed in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "conversation with Professor Flitwick. 'An interview?' repeated Umbridge, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "voice thinner and higher than ever. 'What do you mean?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'I mean a reporter asked me questions and I answered them,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said Harry. 'Here - ' And he threw the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "copy of The Quibbler to her. She caught it and stared down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "at the cover. Her pale, doughy face turned an ugly, patchy violet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'When did you do this?' she asked, her voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "trembling slightly. 'Last Hogsmeade weekend,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " She looked up at him, incandescent with rage, the magazine shaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in her stubby fingers. There will be no more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Hogsmeade trips for you, Mr Potter,' she whispered. 'How you dare .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . how you could . . .' She took a deep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "breath. 'I have tried again and again to teach you not to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "tell lies. The message, apparently, has still not sunk in. Fifty points","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from Gryffindor and another week's worth of detentions.' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "stalked away, clutching The Quibbler to her chest, the eyes of many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "students following her. By mid-morning enormous signs had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "put up all over the school, not just on house noticeboards, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in the corridors and classrooms too.BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "HOGWARTSAny student found in possession of the magazineThe Quibbler will be expelled.The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-seven.Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "High InquisitorFor some reason, every time Hermione caught sight of one of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "these signs she beamed with pleasure. 'What exactly are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "so happy about?' Harry asked her. 'Oh, Harry, don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you see?' Hermione breathed. 'If she could have done one thing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "make absolutely sure that every single person in this school will read","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "your interview, it was banning it!' And it seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that Hermione was quite right. By the end of the day, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry had not seen so much as a corner of The Quibbler","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "anywhere in the school, the whole place seemed to be quoting the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "interview to each other. Harry heard them whispering about it as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "queued up outside classes, discussing it over lunch and in the back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of lessons, while Hermione even reported that every occupant of the cubicles","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in the girls' toilets had been talking about it when she nipped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in there before Ancient Runes. Then they spotted me,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and obviously they know I know you, so they bombarded me with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "questions,' Hermione told Harry, her eyes shining, 'and Harry, I think they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "believe you, I really do. I think you've finally got them convinced!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Meanwhile, Professor Umbridge was stalking the school, stopping students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "at random and demanding that they turn out their books and pockets:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry knew she was looking for copies of The Quibbler, but the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "students were several steps ahead of her. Tie pages carrying Harry's interview","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had been bewitched to resemble extracts from textbooks if anyone but themselves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "read it, or else wiped magically blank until they wanted to peruse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it again. Soon it seemed that every single person in the school","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had read it. The teachers were of course forbidden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from mentioning I ie interview by Educational Decree Number Twenty-six, but they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "found ways to express their feelings about it all the same. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Sprout awarded Gryffindor twenty points when Harry passed her a watering can;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a beaming Professor Flitwick pressed a box of squeaking sugar mice on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "him at the end of Charms, said, 'Shh!' and hurried away; and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Professor Trelawney broke into hysterical sobs during Divination and announced to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "startled class, and a very disapproving Umbridge, that Harry was not going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to suffer an early death after all, but would live to a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "ripe old age, become Minister for Magic and have twelve children. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " But what made Harry happiest was Cho catching up with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "him as he was hurrying along to Transfiguration the next day. Before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he knew what had happened, her hand was in his and she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was breathing in his ear, 'I'm really, really sorry. That interview was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "so brave . . . it made me cry.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "He was sorry to hear she had shed even more tears over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it, but very glad they were on speaking terms again, and even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "more pleased when she gave him a swift kiss on the cheek","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and hurried off again. And unbelievably, no sooner had he arrived outside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Transfiguration than something just as good happened: Seamus stepped out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "queue to face him. 'I just wanted to say,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he mumbled, squinting at Harry's left knee, 'I believe you. And I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "sent a copy of that magazine to me mam.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "If anything more was needed to complete Harry's happiness, it was the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "reaction he got from Malfoy Crabbe and Goyle, He saw them with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "their heads together later that afternoon in the library; they were with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a weedy-looking boy Hermione whispered was called Theodore Nott. They looked round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "at Harry as he browsed the shelves for the book he needed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "on Partial Vanishment: Goyle cracked his knuckles threateningly and Malfoy whispered something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "undoubtedly malevolent to Crabbe. Harry knew perfectly well why they were acting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "like this: he had named all of their fathers as Death Eaters.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'And the best bit,' whispered Hermione gleefully, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "left the library, 'is they can't contradict you, because they can't admit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "they've read the article!' To cap it all, Luna","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "told him over dinner that no issue of The Quibbler had ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "sold out faster. 'Dad's reprinting!' she told Harry, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "eyes popping excitedly. 'He can't believe it, he says people seem even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "more interested in this than the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was a hero in the Gryffindor common room that night. Daringly, Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and George had put an Enlargement Charm on the front cover of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "The Quibbler and hung it on the wall, so that Harry's giant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "head gazed down upon the proceedings, occasionally saying things like THE MINISTRY","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "ARE MORONS' and 'EAT DUNG, UMBRIDGE' in a booming voice. Hermione did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "not find this very amusing; she said it interfered with her concentration,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and she ended up going to bed early out of irritation. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had to admit that the poster was not quite as funny after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "an hour or two, especially when the talking spell had started to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "wear off, so that it merely shouted disconnected words like 'DUNG' and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'UMBRIDGE' at more and more frequent intervals in a progressively higher voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "In fact, it started to make his head ache and his scar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "began prickling uncomfortably again. To disappointed moans from the many people who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "were s t-ting around him, asking him to relive his interview for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the umpteenth time, he announced that he too needed an early night.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " The dormitory was empty when he reached it. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "rested his forehead for a moment against the cool glass of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "window beside his bed; it felt soothing against his scar. Then he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "undressed and got into bed, wishing his headache would go away. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "also felt slightly sick. He rolled over on to his side, closed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his eyes, and fell asleep almost at once . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " He was standing in a dark, curtained room lit by a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "single branch of candles. His hands were clenched on the back of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a chair in front of him. They were long-fingered and white as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "though they had not seen sunlight for years and looked like large,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "pale spiders agairst the dark velvet of the chair. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Beyond the chair, in a pool of light cast upon the floor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "by t'le candles, knelt a man in black robes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'I have been badly advised, it seems,' said Harry, in a high,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "cold voice that pulsed with anger. 'Master, I crave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "your pardon,' croaked the man kneeling on the floor. The back of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his head glimmered in the candlelight. He seemed to be trembling. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'I do not blame you, Rookwood,' said Harry in that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "cold, cruel voice. He relinquished his grip on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "chair and walked around it, closer to the man cowering on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "floor, until he stood directly over him in the darkness, looking down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from a far greater height than usual. 'You are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "sure of your facts, Rookwood?' asked Harry. 'Yes, My","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Lord, yes . . . I used to work in the Department","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "aftet - 'after all . . .` 'Avery told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "me Bode would be able to remove it.' 'Bode","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "could never have taken it, Master . . . Bode would have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "known he could not . . . undoubtedly, that is why he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "fought so hard against Malfoy's Imperius Curse . . .` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Stand up, Rookwood,' whispered Harry. The kneeling man","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "almost fell over in his haste to obey. His face was pockmarked;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the scars were thrown into relief by the candlelight. He remained a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "little stooped when standing, as though halfway through a bow, and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "darted terrified looks up at Harry's face. 'You have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "done well to tell me this,' said Harry. 'Very well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". I have wasted months on fruitless schemes, it seems . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". but no matter . . . we begin again, from now.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "You have Lord Voldemort's gratitude, Rookwood . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'My Lord . . . yes, My Lord,' gasped Rookwood, his voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hoarse with relief. 'I shall need your help. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "shall need all the information you can give me.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Of course, My Lord, of course . . . anything . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ".' 'Very well . . . you may go.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Send Avery to me.' Rookwood scurried backwards, bowing, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "disappeared through a door. Left alone in the dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "room, Harry turned towards the wall. A cracked, age-spotted mirror hung on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the wall in the shadows. Harry moved towards it. His reflection grew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "larger and clearer in the darkness . . . a face whiter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "than a skull . . . red eyes with slits ior pupils","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . . 'NOOOOOOOOO!' 'What?' yelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a voice nearby. Harry Hailed around madly, became entangled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in the hangings and fell out of his bed. For a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "seconds he did not know where he was; he was convinced he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was about to see the white, skull-like lace looming at him out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of the dark again, then very near to him Ron's voice spoke.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Will you stop acting like a maniac so I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "can get you out of here!' Ron wrenched the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hangings apart and Harry stared up at him in the moonlight, flat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "on his back, his scar searing with pain. Ron ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "looked as though he had just been getting ready for bed; one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "arm was out of his robes. 'Has someone been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "attacked again?' asked Ron, pulling Harry roughly to his feet. 'Is it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Dad? Is it that snake?' 'No - everyone's fine","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "- ' gasped Harry, whose forehead felt as though it were on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "fire. 'Well . . . Avery isn't . . . he's in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "trouble . . . he gave him the wrong information . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". Voldemort's really angry . . .' Harry groaned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and sank, shaking, on to his bed, rubbing his scar. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'But Rookwood's going to help him now . . . he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "on the right track again 'What are you talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "about?' said Ron, sounding scared. 'D'you mean . . . did you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "just see You-Know-Who?' 'I was You-Know-Who,' said Harry, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he stretched out his hands in the darkness and held them up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to his face, to check that they were no longer deathly white","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and long-fingered. 'He was with Rookwood, he's one of the Death Eaters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "who escaped from Azkaban, remember? Rookwood's just told him Bode couldn't have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "done it.' 'Done what?' 'Remove something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . . he said Bode would have known he couldn't have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "done it . . . Bode was under the Imperius Curse .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . I think he said Malfoy's dad put it on him.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Bode was bewitched to remove something?' Ron said. 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "- 'Harry, that's got to be - ' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "weapon,' Harry finished the sentence for him. 'I know.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "The dormitory door opened; Dean and Seamus came in. Harry swung his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "legs back into bed. He did not want to look as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "anything odd had just happened, seeing as Seamus had only just stopped thinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry was a nutter. 'Did you say,' murmured Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "putting his head close to Harry's on the pretence of helping himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to water from the jug on his bedside table, 'that you were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "You-Know-Who?' 'Yeah,' said Harry quietly. Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "took an unnecessarily large gulp of water; Harry saw it spill over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his chin on to his chest. 'Harry,' he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "as Dean and Seamus clattered around noisily, pulling off their robes and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "talking, 'you've got to tell - ' 'I haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "got to tell anyone,' said Harry shortly. 'I wouldn't have seen it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "at all if I could do Occlumency. I'm supposed to have learned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to shut this stuff out. That's what they want/ ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "By 'they' he meant Dumbledore. He got back into bed and rolled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "over on to his side with his back to Ron and after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a while he heard Ron's mattress creak as he, too, lay back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "down. Harry's scar began to burn; he bit hard on his pillow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to stop himself making a noise. Somewhere, he knew, Avery was being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "punished.*Harry and Ron waited until break next morning to tell Hermione exactly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "what had happened; they wanted to be absolutely sure they could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "be overheard. Standing in their usual corner of the cool and breezy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "courtyard, Harry told her every detail of the dream he could remember.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "When he had finished, she said nothing at all for a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "moments, but stared with a kind of painful intensity at Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "George, who were both headless and selling their magical hats from under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "their cloaks on the other side of the yard. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'So that's why they killed him,' she said quietly, withdrawing her gaze","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from Fred and George at last. 'When Bode tried to steal this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "weapon, something funny happened to him. I think there must be defensive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "spells on it, or around it, to stop people touching it. That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "why he was in St Mungos, his brain had gone all funny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and he couldn't talk. But remember what the Healer told us? He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was recovering. And they couldn't risk him getting better, could they? I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "mean, the shock of whatever happened when he touched that weapon probably","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "made the Imperius Curse lift. Once he'd got his voice back, he'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "explain what he'd been doing, wouldn't he? They would have known he'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "been sent to steal the weapon. Of course, it would have been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "easy for Lucius Malfoy to put the curse on him. Never out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of the Ministry, is he?' 'He was even hanging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "around that day I had my hearing,' said Harry. Tn the -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hang on . . .' he said slowly. 'He was in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Department of Mysteries corridor that day! Your dad said he was probably","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "trying to sneak down and find out what happened in my hearing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "but what if - ' 'Sturgis!' gasped Hermione, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "thunderstruck. 'Sorry?' said Ron, looking bewildered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Sturgis Podmore - ' said Hermione breathlessly, 'arrested for trying to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "through a door! Lucius Malfoy must have got him too! I bet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he did it the day you saw him there, Harry. Sturgis had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Moody's Invisibility Cloak, right? So, what if he was standing guard by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the door, invisible, and Malfoy heard him move - or guessed someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was there - or just did the Imperius Curse on the off-chance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "there'd be a guard there? So, when Sturgis next had an opportunity","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "- probably when it was his turn on guard duty again -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he tried to get into the Department to steal the weapon for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Voldemort - Ron, be quiet - but he got caught and sent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to Azkaban . . .' She gazed at Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'And now Rookwood's told Voldemort how to get the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "weapon?' 'I didn't hear all the conversation, but that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "what it sounded like,' said Harry. 'Rookwood used to work there .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . maybe Voldemort'll send Rookwood to do it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Hermione nodded, apparently still lost in thought. Then, quite abruptly, she said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'But you shouldn't have seen this at all, Harry.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'What?' he said, taken aback. 'You're supposed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "learning how to close your mind to this sort of thing,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Hermione, suddenly stern. 'I know I am,' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'But - ' 'Well, I think we should just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "try and forget what you saw,' said Hermione firmly. 'And you ought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to put in a bit more effort on your Occlumency from now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "on.' Harry was so angry with her he did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "not talk to her for the rest of the day, which proved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to be another bad one. When people were not discussing the escaped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Death Eaters in the corridors, they were laughing at Gryffindor's abysmal performance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in their match against Hufflepuff; the Slytherins were singing Weasley is our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "King' so loudly and frequently that by sundown Filch had banned it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from the corridors out of sheer irritation. The week","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "did not improve as it progressed. Harry received two more 'Ds in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Potions; he was still on tenterhooks that Hagrid might get the sack;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and he couldn't stop himself dwelling on the dream in which he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had been Voldemort - though he didn't bring it up with Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and Hermione again; he didn't want another telling-off from Hermione. He wished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "very much that he could have talked to Sirius about it, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that was out of the question, so he tried to push the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "matter to the back of his mind. Unfortunately, the back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of his mind was no longer the secure place it had once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "been. 'Get up, Potter.' A couple","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of weeks after his dream of Rookwood, Harry was to be found,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "yet again, kneeling on the floor of Snape's office, trying to clear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his head. He had just been forced, yet again, to relive a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "stream of very early memories he had not even realised he still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had, most of them concerning humiliations Dudley and his gang had inflicted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "upon him in primary school. That last memory,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Snape. 'What was it?' 'I don't know,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "getting wearily to his feet. He was finding it increasingly difficult to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "disentangle separate memories from the rush of images and sound that Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "kept calling forth. 'You mean the one where my cousin tried to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "make me stand in the toilet?' 'No,' said Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "softly. 'I mean the one with a man kneeling in the middle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of a darkened room . . .' 'Its .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . nothing,' said Harry. Snape's dark eyes bored","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "into Harry's. Remembering what Snape had said about eye contact being crucial","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to Legilimency, Harry blinked and looked away. 'How do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that man and that room come to be inside your head, Potter?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said Snape. 'It - ' said Harry, looking everywhere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "but at Snape, 'it was -just a dream I had.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'A dream?' repeated Snape. There was a pause","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "during which Harry stared fixedly at a large dead frog suspended in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a jar of purple liquid. 'You do know why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "we are here, don t you, Potter?' said Snape, in a low,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "dangerous voice. 'You do know why I am giving up my evenings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to this tedious job?' 'Yes,' said Harry stiffly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Remind me why we are here, Potter.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'So I can learn Occlumency, said Harry, now glaring at a dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "eel. 'Correct, Potter. And dim though you may be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "- ' Harry looked back at Snape, hating him ' - I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "would have thought that after over two months of lessons you might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "have made some progress. How many other dreams about the Dark Lord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "have you had?' 'Just that one,' lied Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Perhaps,' said Snape, his dark, cold eyes narrowing slightly, 'perhaps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you actually enjoy having these visions and dreams, Potter. Maybe they make","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you feel special - important?' 'No, they don't,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry, his jaw set and his fingers clenched tightly around the handle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of his wand. That is just as well, Potter,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "said Snape coldly, 'because you a;-e neither special nor important, and it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "is saying to his Death Eaters.' 'No - that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "your job, isn't it?' Harry shot at him. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in temper. For a long moment they stared at each other, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "convinced he had gone too far. But there was a curious, almost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "satisfied expression on Snape's face when he answered. 'Yes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Potter,' he said, his eyes glinting. That is my job. Now, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you are ready, we will start again.' He raised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his wand: 'One - two - three - Legilimens!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "A hundred Dementors were swooping towards Harry across the lake in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "grounds . . . he screwed up his face in concentration .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . they were coming closer . . . he could see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the dark holes beneath their hoods . . . yet he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "also see Snape standing in front of him, his eyes fixed on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry's face, muttering under his breath . . . and somehow, Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was growing clearer, and the Dementors were growing fainter . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Harry raised his own wand. 'Protego!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Snape staggered - his wand flew upwards, away from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry - 'and suddenly Harry's mind was teeming with memories that were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "not his: a hook-nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a small dark-haired boy cried in a corner . . . a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "greasy-haired teenager sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his wand at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the ceiling, shooting down flies . . . a girl was laughing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "as a scrawny boy tried to mount a bucking broomstick - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'ENOUGH!' Harry felt as though he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had been pushed hard in the chest; he staggered several steps backwards,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hit some of the shelves covering Snapes walls and heard something crack.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Snape was shaking slightly, and was very white in the face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " The back of Harry's robes was damp. One of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "jars behind him had broken when he fell against it; the pickled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "slimy thing within was swirling in its draining potion. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Reparo,' hissed Snape, and the jar sealed itself at once. 'Well, Potter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". . . that was certainly an improvement . . .' Panting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "slightly, Snape straightened the Pensieve in which he had again stored some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of his thoughts before starting the lesson, almost as though he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "checking they were still there. 'I don't remember telling you to use","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a Shield Charm . . . but there is no doubt that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it was effective . . .` Harry did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "speak; he felt that to say anything might be dangerous. He was sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he had just broken into Snape's memories, that he had just seen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "scenes from Snape's childhood. It was unnerving to think that the little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "boy who had been crying as he watched his parents shouting was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "actually standing in front of him with such loathing in his eyes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Let's try again, shall we?' said Snape. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Harry felt a thrill of dread; he was about to pay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "for what had just happened, he was sure of it. They moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "back into position with the desk between them, Harry feeling he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "going to find it much harder to empty his mind this time.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'On the count of three, then,' said Snape, raising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his wand once more. 'One - two - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry did not have time to gather himself together and attempt to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "clear his mind before Snape cried, 'Legllimens!' He was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hurtling along the corridor towards the Department of Masteries, past the blank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "stone walls, past the torches - the plain black door was growing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "ever larger; he was moving so fast he was going to collide","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "with it, he was feet from it and again he could see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that chink of faint blue light - ' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "door had flown open! He was through it at last, inside a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "black-walled, black-floored circular room lit with blue-flamed candles, and there were more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "doors all around him - he needed to go on - but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "which door ought he to take - '? 'POTTER!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Harry opened his eyes. He was flat on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "back again with no memory of having got there; he was also","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "panting as though hi; really had run the length of the Department","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of Mysteries corridor, really had sprinted through the black door and found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the circular room. 'Explain yourself!' said Snape, who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "standing over him, looking furious. 'I . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "dunno what happened,' said Harry truthfully, standing up. There was a lump","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "on the back of his head from where he had hit the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "ground and he felt feverish. 'I've never seen that before. I mean,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "I told you, I've dreamed about the door . . . but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it's never opened before 'You are not working hard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "enough!' For some reason, Snape seemed even angrier than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he had done two minutes before, when Harry had seen into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "teacher's memories. 'You are lazy and sloppy, Potter, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "is small wonder that the Dark Lord - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Can you tell me something, sir?' said Harry, firing up again. 'Why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "do you call Voldemort the Dark Lord? I've only ever heard Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Eaters call him that.' Snape opened his mouth in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a snarl - and a woman screamed from somewhere outside the room.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Snape's head jerked upwards; he was gazing at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "ceiling. 'What the - ?' he muttered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Harry could hear a muffled commotion coming from what he thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "might be the Entrance Hall. Snape looked round at him, frowning. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Did you see anything unusual on your way down here,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Potter?' Harry shook his head. Somewhere above them, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "woman screamed again. Snape strode to his office door, his wand still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "held at the ready, and swept out of sight. Harry hesitated for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "a moment, then followed. The screams were indeed coming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from the Entrance Hall; they grew louder as Harry ran towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "stone steps leading up from the dungeons. When he reached the top","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "he found the Entrance Hall packed; students had come flooding out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the Great Hall, where dinner was still in progress, to see what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was going on; others had crammed themselves on to the marble staircase.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Harry pushed forwards through a knot of tall Slytherins and saw that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the onlookers had formed a great ring, some of them looking shocked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "others even frightened. Professor McGonagall was directly opposite Harry en the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "side of the Hall; she looked as though what she was watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "made her feel faintly sick. Professor Trelawney was standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in the middle of the Entrance Hall with her wand in one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "hand and an empty sherry bottle in the other, looking utterly mad.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Her hair was sticking up on end, her glasses were lopsided so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that one eye was magnified more than the other; her innumerable shawls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and scarves were trailing haphazardly from her shoulders, giving the impression that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "she was falling apart at the seams. Two large trunks lay on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the floor beside her, one of them upside-down; it looked very much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "as though it had been thrown down the stairs after her. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Trelawney was staring, apparently terrified, at something Harry could not see but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "which seemed to be standing at the foot of the stairs. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'No!' she shrieked. 'NO! This cannot be happening . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ". it cannot . . . I retuse to accept it!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'You didn't realise this was coming?' said a high girlish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "voice, sounding callously amused, and Harry, moving slightly to his right, saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that Trelawney's terrifying vision was nothing other than Professor Umbridge. 'Incapable though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you are of predicting even tomorrows weather, you must surely have realised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that your pitiful performance during my inspections, and lack of any improvement,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "would make it inevitable that you would be sacked?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'You c - can't!' howled Professor Trelawney, tears streaming down her face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "from behind her enormous lenses, 'you c - can't sack me! I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "b - been here sixteen years! H - Hogwarts is m - my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "h - home!' 'It was your home,' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Umbridge, and Harry was revolted to see the enjoyment stretching her toadlike","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "face as she watched Professor Trelawney sink, sobbing uncontrollably, on to one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of her trunks, 'until an hour ago, when the Minister for Magic:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "countersigned your Order of Dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this Hall.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "You are embarrassing us.' But she stood and watched,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "with an expression of gloating enjoyment, as Professor Trelawney shuddered and moaned,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "rocking backwards and forwards on her trunk in paroxysms of grief. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "heard a muffled sob to his left and looked around. Lavender and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Parvati were both crying quietly, their arms round each other. Then he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "heard footsteps. Professor McGonagall had broken away from the spectators, marched straight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "up to Professor Trelawney and was patting her firmly on the back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "while withdrawing a large handkerchief from within her robes. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "There, there, Sybill . . . calm down . . . blow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "your nose on this . . . it's not as bad as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "you think, now . . . you are not going to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to leave Hogwarts . . .' 'Oh really, Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "McGonagall?' said Umbridge in a deadly voice, taking a few steps forward.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'And your authority for that statement is . . . ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " That would be mine,' said a deep voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " The oaken front doors had swung open. Students beside them scuttled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "out of the way as Dumbledore appeared in the entrance. What he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "had been doing out in the grounds Harry could not imagine, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "there was something impressive about the sight of him framed in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "doorway against an oddly misty night. Leaving the doors wide open behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "him he strode forwards through the circle of onlookers towards Professor Trelawney,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "tear-stained and trembling, on her trunk, Professor McGonagall alongside her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Yours, Professor Dumbledore?' said Umbridge, with a singularly unpleasant little laugh.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "' she pulled a parchment scroll from within her robes'- an Order","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister for Magic. Under the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the power to inspect, place upon probation and sack any teacher she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "- that is to say, I - feel is not performing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the standards required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " To Harry's very great surprise, Dumbledore continued to smile. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "looked down at Professor Trelawney, who was still sobbing and choking on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "her trunk, and said, 'You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "castle. I am afraid,' he went on, with a courteous little bow,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'that the power to do that still resides with the Headmaster, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " At this, Professor Trelawney gave a wild little laugh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "in which a hiccough was barely hidden. 'No -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "no, I'll g - go, Dumbledore! I sh - shall - leave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Hogwarts and s - seek my fortune elsewhere - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'No,' said Dumbledore sharply. 'It is my wish that you remain,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Sybill: He turned to Professor McGonagall. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'Might I ask you to escort Sybill back upstairs, Professor McGonagall?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Of course,' said McGonagall. 'Up you get, Sybill . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" ".' Professor Sprout came hurrying forwards out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "crowd and grabbed Professor Trelawney's other arm. Together, they guided her past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Umbridge and up the marble stairs. Professor Flitwick went scurrying after them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "his wand held out before him; he squeaked 'Locomotor trunks!' and Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Trelawney's luggage rose into the air and proceeded up the staircase after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "her, Professor Flitwick bringing up the rear. Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "was standing stock still, staring at Dumbledore, who continued to smile benignly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'And what,' she said, in a whisper that carried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "all around the Eintrance Hall, 'are you going to do with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "once I appoint a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " 'Oh, that won't be a problem,' said Dumbledore pleasantly. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "see, I have already found us a new Divination teacher, and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "will prefer lodgings on the ground floor.' 'You've found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "- ?' said Umbridge shrilly. 'You've found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "that under Educational Decree Number Twenty-two - ' 'The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable candidate if - and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "only if - the Headmaster is unable to find one,' said Dumbledore.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "'And I am happy to say that on this occasion I have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "succeeded. May I introduce you?' He turned to face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "the open front doors, through which night mist was now drifting. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "heard hooves. There was a shocked murmur around the Hall and those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "nearest the doors hastily moved even further backwards, some of them tripping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "over in their haste to clear a path for the newcomer. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" " Through the mist came a face Harry had seen once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "before on a dark, dangerous night in the Forbidden Forest: white-blond hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "and astonishingly blue eyes; the head and torso of a man joined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "to the palomino body of a horse. This is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "Firenze,' said Dumbledore happily to a thunderstruck Umbridge. 'I think you'll find him suitable.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-26" "The Centaur andThe Sneak'I'll bet you wish you hadn't given up Divination","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "now, don't you, Hermione?' asked Parvati, smirking. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "breakfast time, two days after the sacking of Professor Trelawney, and Parvati","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was curling her eyelashes around her wand and examining the effect in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the back of her spoon. They were to have their first lesson","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "with Firenze that morning. 'Not really,' said Hermione indifferently,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "who was reading the Daily Prophet. 'I've never really liked horses.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " She turned a page of the newspaper and scanned its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "columns. 'He's not a horse, he's a centaur!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Lavender, sounding shocked. 'A gorgeous centaur . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "sighed Parvati. 'Either way, he's still got four legs,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "said Hermione coolly. 'Anyway, I thought you two were all upset that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Trelawney had gone?' 'We are!' Lavender assured her. 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "went up to her office to see Ler; we took her some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "daffodils - not the honking ones that Sprout's got, nice ones.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'How is she?' asked Harry. 'Not very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "good, poor thing,' said Lavender sympathetically. 'She v/as crying and saying she'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "rather leave the castle for ever than stay here where Umbridge is,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "and I don't blame her, Umbridge was horrible to her, wasn't she?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'I've got a feeling Umbridge has only just started","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "being horrible,' said Hermione darkly. 'Impossible,' said Ron, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was tucking into a large plate of eggs and bacon. 'She can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "get any worse than she's been already.' 'You mark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "my words, she's going to want revenge on Dumbledore for appointing a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "new teacher without consulting her,' said Hermione, closing the newspaper. 'Especially another","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "part-human. You saw the look on her face when she saw Firenze.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " After breakfast Hermione departed for her Arithmancy class as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry and Ron followed Parvati and Lavender into the Entrance: Hall, heading","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "for Divination. 'Aren't we going up to North Tower?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "asked Ron, looking puzzled, as Parvati bypassed the marble staircase. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Parvati looked at him scornfully over her shoulder. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'How d'you expect Firenze to climb that ladder? We're in classroom eleven","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "now, it was on the noticeboard yesterday.' Classroom eleven","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was on the ground floor along the corridor leading off the Entrance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Hall from the opposite side to the Great Hall. Harry knew it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was one of those classrooms that were never used regularly, and therefore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "had the slightly neglected feeling of a cupboard or storeroom. When he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "entered it right behind Ron, and found himself in the middle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a forest clearing, he was therefore momentarily stunned. What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the - ?' The classroom floor had become springily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "mossy and trees were growing out of it; their leafy branches fanned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "across the ceiling and windows, so that the room was full of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "slanting shafts of soft, dappled, green light. The students who had already","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "arrived were sitting on the earthy floor with their backs resting against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "tree trunks or boulders, arms wrapped around their knees or folded tightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "across their chests, and all looking rather nervous. In the middle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the clearing, where there were no trees, stood Firenze. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Harry Potter,' he said, holding out a hand when Harry entered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Er - hi,' said Harry, shaking hands with the centaur,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "who surveyed him unblinkingly through those astonishingly blue eyes but did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "smile. 'Er - good to see you,' 'And you,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "said the centaur, inclining his white-blond head. 'It was foretold that we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "would meet again.' Harry noticed there was the shadow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of a hoof-shaped bruise on Firenze's chest. As he turned to join","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the rest of the class on the ground, he saw they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "all looking at him in awe, apparently deeply impressed that he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "on speaking terms with Firenze. whom they seemed to find intimidating. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " When the door was closed and the last student had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "sat down on a tree stump beside the wastepaper basket, Firenze gestured","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "around the room. 'Professor Dumbledore has kindly arranged this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "classroom for us,' said Firenze, when everyone had settled down, 'in imitation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of my natural habitat. I would have preferred to teach you in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the Forbidden Forest, which was - until Monday - my home .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" ". . but that is no longer possible.' 'Please","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "- er - sir - ' said Parvati breathlessly, raising her hand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "- why not? We've been in there with Hagrid, we're not frightened!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'It is not a question of your bravery,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Firenze, 'but of my position. I cannot return to the Forest. My","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "herd has banished me.' 'Herd?' said Lavender in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "confused voice, and Harry knew she was thinking of cows. 'What -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "oh!' Comprehension dawned on her face. 'There are more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of you?' she said, stunned. 'Did Hagrid breed you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "like the Thestrals?' asked Dean eagerly. Firenze turned his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "head very slowly to face Dean, who seemed to realise at once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "that he had said something very offensive. 'I didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "- I meant - sorry' he finished in a hushed voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Centaurs are not the servants or playthings of humans,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Firenze quietly. There was a pause, then Parvati raised her hand again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Please, sir . . . why have the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "centaurs banished you?' 'Because I have agreed to work","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "for Professor Dumbledore,' said Firenze. They see this as a betrayal of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "our kind.' Harry remembered how, nearly four years ago,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the centaur Bane had shouted at Firenze for allowing Harry to ride","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to safety on his back; he had called him a 'common mule'.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "He wondered whether it had been Bane who had kicked Firenze in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the chest. 'Let us begin,' said Firenze. He swished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "his long palomino tail, raised his hand towards the leafy canopy overhead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "then lowered it slowly, and as he did so, the light in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the room dimmed, so that they now seemed to be sitting in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a forest clearing by twilight, and stars appeared on the ceiling. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "were oohs and gasps and Ron said audibly, 'Blimey!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Lie back on the floor, said Firenze in his calm voice, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "observe the heavens. Here is written, for those who can see, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "fortune of our races.' Harry stretched out on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "back and gazed upwards at the ceiling. A twinkling red star winked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "at him from overhead. 'I know that you have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "learned the names of the planets and their moons in Astronomy,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Firenze's calm voice, 'and that you have mapped the stars' progress through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the heavens. Centaurs have unravelled the mysteries of these movements over centuries.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Our findings teach us that the future may be glimpsed in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "sky above us - ' 'Professor Trelawney did astrology","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "with us!' said Parvati excitedly, raising her hand in front of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "so that it stuck up in the air as she lay on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "her back. 'Mars causes accidents and burns and things like that, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "when it makes an angle to Saturn, like now - ' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "drew a right-angle in the air above her '- that means people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "need to be extra careful when handling hot things - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'That,' said Firenze calmly, 'is human nonsense.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Parvati's hand fell limply to her side. Trivial hurts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "tiny human accidents,' said Firenze, as his hooves thudded over the mossy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "floor. These are of no more significance than the scurryings of ants","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to the wide universe, and are unaffected by planetary movements.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Professor Trelawney - ' began Parvati, in a hurt and indignant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "voice. ' - is a human,' said Firenze simply.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'And is therefore blinkered and fettered by the limitations of your kind.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Harry turned his head very slightly to look at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Parvati. She looked very offended, as did several of the people surrounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "her. 'Sybill Trelawney may have Seen, I do not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "know,' continued Firenze, and Harry heard the swishing of his tail again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "as he walked up and down before them, 'but she wastes her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "time, in the main, on the self-flattering nonsense humans call fortune-telling. I,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "however, am here to explain the wisdom of centaurs, which is impersonal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "and impartial. We watch the skies for the great tides of evil","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "or change that are sometimes marked there. It may take ten years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to be sure of what we are seeing.' Firenze","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "pointed to the red star directly above Harry. 'In","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the past decade, the indications have been that wizardkind is living through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "nothing more than a brief calm between two wars. Mars, bringer of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "battle, shines brightly above us, suggesting that the fight must soon break","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "out again. How soon, centaurs may attempt to divine by the burning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of certain herbs and leaves, by the observation of fume and flame","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" ". . .' It was the most unusual lesson","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry had ever attended. They did indeed burn sage and mallowsweet there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "on the classroom floor, and Firenze told them to look for certain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "shapes and symbols in the pungent fumes, but he seemed perfectly unconcerned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "that not one of them could see any of the signs he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "described, telling them that humans were hardly ever good at this, that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "it took centaurs years and years to become competent, and finished by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "telling them that it was foolish to put too much faith in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "such things, anyway, because even centaurs sometimes read them wrongly. He was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "nothing like any human teacher Harry had ever had. His priority did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "not seem to be to teach them what he knew, but rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to impress upon them that nothing, not even centaurs' knowledge, was foolproof.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'He's not very definite on anything, is he?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Ron in a low voice, as they put out their mallowsweet fire.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'I mean, I could do with a few more details about this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "war we're about to have, couldn't you?' The bell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "rang right outside the classroom door and everyone jumped; Harry had completely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "forgotten they were still inside the castle, and quite convinced that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was really in the Forest. The class filed out, looking slightly perplexed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Harry and Ron were on the point of following","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "them when Firenze called, 'Harry Potter, a word, please.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry turned. The centaur advanced a little towards him. Ron hesitated. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'You may stay,' Firenze told him. 'But close the door,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "please.' Ron hastened to obey. 'Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Potter, you are a friend of Hagrid's, are you not?' said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "centaur. 'Yes,' said Harry. Then give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "him a warning from me. His attempt is not working. He would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "do better to abandon it.' 'His attempt is not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "working?' Harry repeated blankly. 'And he would do better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to abandon it,' said Firenze, nodding. 'I would warn Hagrid myself, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "I am banished - it would be unwise for me to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "too near the Forest now - Hagrid has troubles enough, without a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "centaurs' battle.' 'But - what's Hagrid attempting to do?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "said Harry nervously. Firenze surveyed Harry impassively. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Hagrid has recently rendered me a great service,' said Firenze, 'and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he has long since earned my respect for the care he shows","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "all living creatures. I shall not betray his secret. But he must","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "be brought to his senses. The attempt is not working. Tell him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry Potter. Good-day to you.'*The happiness Harry had felt in the aftermath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of The Quibbler interview had long since evaporated. As a dull March","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "blurred into a squally April, his life seemed to have become one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "long series of worries and problems again. Umbridge had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "continued attending all Care of Magical Creatures lessons, so it had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "very difficult to deliver Firenze's warning to Hagrid. At last, Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "managed it by pretending he'd lost his copy of Fantastic Beasts and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Where to Find Them, and doubling back after class one day. When he'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "repeated Firenze's words, Hagrid gazed at him for a moment through his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "puffy, blackened eyes, apparently taken aback. Then he seemed to pull himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "together. 'Nice bloke, Firenze,' he said gruffly 'but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "don' know what he's talkin' abou' on this. The attemp's comin' on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "fine.' 'Hagrid, what're you up to?' asked Harry seriously.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Because you've got to be careful, Umbridge has already sacked Trelawney and,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "if you ask me, she's on a roll. If you're doing anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "you shouldn't be, you'll be - ' There's things","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "more importan' than keepin' a job,' said Hagrid. though his hands shook","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "slightly as he said this and a basin full of Knarl droppings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "crashed to the floor. 'Don' worry abou' me, Harry, jus' get along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "now, there's a good lad.' Harry had no choice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "but to leave Hagrid mopping up the dung all over his floor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "but he felt thoroughly dispirited as he trudged back up to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "castle. Meanwhile, as the teachers and Hermione persisted in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "reminding them, the OWLs were drawing ever nearer. All the fifth-years were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "suffering from stress to some degree, but Hannah Abbott became the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to receive a Calming Draught from Madam Pomfrey after she burst into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "tears during Herbology and sobbed that she was too stupid to take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "exams and wanted to leave school now. If it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "had not been for the DA lessons, Harry thought he would have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "been extremely unhappy. He sometimes felt he was living for the hours","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he spent in the Room of Requirement, working hard but thoroughly enjoying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "himself at the same time, swelling with pride as he looked around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "at his fellow DA members and saw how far they had come.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Indeed, Harry sometimes wondered how Umbridge was going to react when all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the members of the DA received 'Outstanding' in their Defence Against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dark Arts OWLs. They had finally started work on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Patronuses, which everybody had been very keen to practise, though, as Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "kept reminding them, producing a Patronus in the middle of a brightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "lit classroom when they were not under threat was very different from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "producing it when confronted by something like a Dementor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Oh, don't be such a killjoy,' said Cho brightly, watching her silvery","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "swan-shaped Patronus soar around the Room of Requirement C-Uring their last lesson","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "before Easter. They're so pretty!' They're not supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "be pretty, they're supposed to protect you,' said Harry patiently. 'What we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "really need is a Boggart or something; that's how I learned, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "had to conjure a Patronus while t'le Boggart was pretending to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a Dementor - ' 'But that would be really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "scary!' said Lavender, who was shooting puffs of silver vapour out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the end of her wand. 'And I still - 'can't - do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "it!' she added angrily. Neville was having trouble, Loo.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "His Face was screwed up in concentration, but only feeble wisps of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "silver smoke issued from his wand tip. 'You've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to think of something happy,' Harry reminded him. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "trying,' said Neville miserably, who was trying so hard his round face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was actually shining with sweat. 'Harry, I think I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "doing it!' yelled Seamus, who had been brought along to his first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "ever DA meeting by Dean. 'Look - ah - 'it's gone .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" ". . but it was definitely something hairy, Harry!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Hermione's Patronus, a shining silver otter, was gambolling around her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " They are sort of nice, aren't they?' she said, looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "it fondly. The door of the Room of Requirement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "opened, and closed. Harry looked round to see who had entered, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "there did not seem to be anybody there. It was a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "moments before he realised that the people close to the door had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "fallen silent. Next thing he knew, something was tugging at his robes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "somewhere near the knee. He looked down and saw, to his very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "great astonishment, Dobby the house-elf peering up at him from beneath his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "usual eight woolly hats. 'Hi, Dobby!' he said. 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "are you - What's wrong?' The elf's eyes were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "wide with terror and he was shaking. The members of the DA","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "closest to Harry had fallen silent; everybody in the room was watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dobby. The few Patronuses people had managed to conjure faded away into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "silver mist, leaving the room looking much darker than before. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Harry Potter, sir . . .' squeaked the elf, trembling from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "head to foot, 'Harry Potter, sir . . . Dobby has come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to warn you . . . but the house-elves have been warned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "not to tell . . .' He ran head-first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "at the wall. Harry, who had some experience of Dobby s habits","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of self-punishment, made to seize him, but Dobby merely bounced off the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "stone, cushioned by his eight hats. Hermione and a few of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "other girls let out squeaks of fear and sympathy. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'What's happened, Dobby?' Harry asked, grabbing the elf's tiny arm and holding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "him away from anything with which he might seek to hurt himself.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Harry Potter . . . she . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "she . . .' Dobby hit himself hard on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the nose with his free fist. Harry seized that, too. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Who's `she`, Dobby?' But he thought he knew;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "surely only one 'she' could induce such fear in Dobby? The elf","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "looked up at him, slightly cross-eyed, and mouthed wordlessly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Umbridge?' asked Harry, horrified. Dobby nodded, then tried to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "bang his head on Harry's knees. Harry held him at arm's length.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'What about her? Dobby - she hasn't found out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "about this - 'about us - about the DA?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "He read the answer in the elf's stricken face. His hands held","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "fast by Harry, the elf tried to kick himself and fell to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the floor. 'Is she coming?' Harry asked quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Dobby let out a howl, and began beating his bare","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "feet hard on the floor. 'Yes, Harry Potter, yes!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Harry straightened up and looked around at the motionless,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "terrified people gazing at the thrashing elf. 'WHAT ARE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "YOU WAITING FOR?' Harry bellowed. 'RUN!' They all pelted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "towards the exit at once, forming a scrum at the door, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "people burst through. Harry could hear them sprinting along the corridors and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "hoped they had the sense not to try and make it all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the way to their dormitories. It was only ten to nine; if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "they just took refuge in the library or the Owlery, which were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "both nearer - ' 'Harry, come on!' shrieked Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "from the centre of the knot of people now fighting to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "out. He scooped up Dobby, who was still attempting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to do himself serious injury, and ran with the elf in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "arms to join the back of the queue. 'Dobby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "- this is an order - get back down to the kitchen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "with the other elves and, if she asks you whether you warned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "me, lie and say no!' said Harry. 'And I forbid you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "hurt yourself!' he added, dropping the elf as he made it over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the threshold at last and slammed the door behind him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Thank you, Harry Potter!' squeaked Dobby, and he streaked off. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "glanced left and right, the others were all moving so fast he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" ":aught only glimpses of flying heels at either end of the corridor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "before they vanished; he started to run right; there was a boys'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "bathroom up ahead, he could pretend he'd been in there all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "time if he could just reach it - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'AAARGH! Something caught him around the ankles and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "fell spectacularly, skidding along on his front for six feet before coming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to a halt. Someone behind him was laughing. He rolled over on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to his, back and saw Malfoy concealed in a niche beneath an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "ugly dragon-shaped vase. 'Trip Jinx, Potter!' he said. 'Hey,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Professor - PROFESSOR! I've got one!' Umbridge came bustling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "round the far corner, breathless but wearing a delighted smile. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'It's him!' she said jubilantly at the sight of Harry on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the floor, 'Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh, very good - fifty points to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Slytherin! I'll take him from here . . . stand up, Potter!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Harry got to his feet, glaring at the pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of them. He had never seen Umbridge looking so happy. She seized","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "his arm in a vice-like grip and turned, beaming broadly, to Malfoy.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'You hop along and see if you can round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "up any more of them, Draco,' she said. 'Tell the others to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "look in the library - anybody out of breath - check the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "bathrooms, Miss Parkinson can do the girls' ones - off you go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "- and you,' she added in her softest, mos: dangerous voice, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Malfoy walked away, 'you can come with me to the Headmaster's office,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Potter.' They were at the stone gargoyle within minutes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry wondered how many of the others had been caught. He thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of Ron - Mrs Weasley would kill him - and of how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Hermione would feel if she was expelled before she could take her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "OWLs. And it had been Seamus's very first meeting . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "and Neville had been getting so good . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Fizzing Whizzbee,' sang Umbridge; the stone gargoyle jumped aside, the wall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "behind split open, and they ascended the moving stone staircase. They reached","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the polished door with the griffin knocker, but Umbridge did not bother","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to knock, she strode straight inside, still holding tight to Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " The office was full of people. Dumbledore was sitting behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "his desk, his expression serene, the tips of his long fingers together.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Professor McGonagall stood rigidly beside him, her face extremely tense. Cornelius Fudge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Minister for Magic, was rocking backwards and forwards on his toes beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the fire, apparently immensely pleased with the situation; Kingsley Shacklebolt and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "tough-looking wizard with very short wiry hair whom Harry did not recognise,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "were positioned either side of the door like guards, and the freckled,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "bespectacled form of Percy Weasley hovered excitedly beside the wall, a quill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "and a heavy scroll of parchment in his hands, apparently poised to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "take notes. The portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "were not shamming sleep tonight. All of them were alert and serious,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "watching what was happening below them. As Harry entered, a few flitted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "into neighbouring frames and whispered urgently into their neighbour's ear. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Harry pulled himself free of Umbridge's grasp as the door swung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "shut behind them. Cornelius Fudge was glaring at him with a kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of vicious satisfaction on his face. 'Well,' he said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Well, well, well . . .' Harry replied with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the dirtiest look he could muster. His heart drummed madly inside him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "but his brain was oddly cool and clear. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was heading back to Gryffindor Tower,' said Umbridge. There was an indecent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "excitement in her voice, the same callous pleasure Harry had heard as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "she watched Professor Trelawney dissolving with misery in the Entrance Hall. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Malfoy boy cornered him.' 'Did he, did he?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Fudge appreciatively. 'I must remember to tell Lucius. Well, Potter . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" ". I expect you know why you are here?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry fully intended to respond with a defiant 'yes': his mouth had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "opened and the word was half-formed when he caught sight of Dumbledore's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "face. Dumbledore was not looking directly at Harry - his eyes were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "fixed on a point just over his shoulder - but as Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "stared at him, he shook his head a fraction of an inch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to each side. Harry changed direction mid-word. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Ye - no.' 'I beg your pardon?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Fudge. 'No,' said Harry, firmly. You don","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "t know why you are here?' 'No, I don't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "said Harry. Fudge looked incredulously from Harry to Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Umbridge. Harry took advantage of his momentary inattention to steal another quick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "look at Dumbledore, who gave the carpet the tiniest of nods and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the shadow of a wink. 'So you have no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "idea,' said Fudge, in a voice positively sagging with sarcasm, 'why Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Umbridge has brought you to this office? You are not aware that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "you have broken any school rules?' 'School rules?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry. 'No.' 'Or Ministry Decrees?' amended Fudge angrily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Not that I'm aware of,' said Harry blandly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " His heart was still hammering very fast. It was almost worth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "telling these lies to watch Fudges blood pressure rising, but he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "not see how on earth he would get away with them; if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "somebody had tipped off Umbridge about the DA then he, the leader,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "might as well be packing his trunk right now. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'So, it's news to you, is it,' said Fudge, his voice now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "thick with anger, 'that an illegal student organisation has been discovered within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "this school?' 'Yes, it is,' said Harry, hoisting an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "unconvincing look of innocent surprise on to his face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'I think, Minister,' said Umbridge silkily from beside him, 'we might make","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "better progress if I fetch our informant.' 'Yes, yes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "do,' said Fudge, nodding, and he glanced maliciously at Dumbledore as Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "left the room. There's nothing like a good witness, is there, Dumbledore?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Nothing at all, Cornelius,' said Dumbledore gravely, inclining his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "head. There was a wait of several minutes, in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "which nobody looked at each other, then Harry heard the door open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "behind him. Umbridge moved past him into the room, gripping by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "shoulder Cho's curly-haired friend, Marietta, who was hiding her face in her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "hands. 'Don't be scared, dear, don't be frightened,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Professor Umbridge softly, patting her on the back, 'it's quite all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "now. You have done the right thing. The Minister is very pleased","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "with you. He'll be telling your mother what a good girl you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "been. Marietta's mother, Minister,' she added, looking up at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Fudge, 'is Madam Edgecombe from the Department of Magical Transportation, Floo Network","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "office - she's been helping us police the Hogwarts lins, you know.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Jolly good, jolly good!' said Fudge heartily. 'Like mother,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "like daughter, eh? Well, come on, now, dear, look up, don't be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "shy, let's hear what you've got to - galloping gargoyles!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " As Marietta raised her head, Fudge leapt backwards in shock, nearly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "landing himself in the fire. He cursed, and stamped on the hem","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of his cloak which had started to smoke. Marietta gave a wail","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "and pulled the neck of her robes right up to her eyes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "but not before everyone had seen that her face was horribly disfigured","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "by a series of close-set purple pustules that had spread across her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "nose and cheeks to form the word 'SNEAK'. 'Never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "mind the spots now, dear,' said Umbridge impatiently, 'just take your robes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "away from your mouth and tell the Minister - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " But Marietta gave another muffled wail and shook her head frantically.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Oh, very well, you silly girl, I'll tell him,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "snapped Umbridge. She hitched her sickly smile back on to her face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "and said, 'Well, Minister, Miss Edgecombe here came to my office shortly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "after dinner this evening and told me she had something she wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to tell me. She said that if I proceeded to a secret","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "room on the seventh floor, sometimes known as the Room of Requirement,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "I would find out something to my advantage. I questioned her a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "little further and she admitted that there was to be some kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of meeting there. Unfortunately, at that point this hex,' she waved impatiently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "at Marietta's concealed face, 'came into operation and upon catching sight of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "her face in my mirror the girl became too distressed to tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "me any more.' 'Well, now,' said Fudge, fixing Marietta","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "with what he evidently imagined was a kind and fatherly look, 'it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "is very brave of you, my dear, coming to tell Professor Umbridge.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "You did exactly the right thing. Now, will you tell me what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "happened at this meeting? What was its purpose? Who was there?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " But Marietta would not speak; she merely shook her head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "again, her eyes wide and fearful. 'Haven't we got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a counter-jinx for this?' Fudge asked Umbridge impatiently, gesturing at Marietta's face.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'So she can speak freely?' 'I have not yet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "managed to find one,' Umbridge admitted grudgingly, and Harry felt a surge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of pride in Hermione's jinxing ability 'But it doesn't matter if she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "won't speak, I can take up the story from here. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'You will remember, Minister, that I sent you a report back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "in October that Potter had met a number of fellow students in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade - ' 'And what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "is your evidence for that?' cut in Professor McGonagall ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'I have testimony from Willy Widdershins, Minerva, who happened to be in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the bar at the time. He was heavily bandaged, it is true,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "but his hearing was quite unimpaired,' said Umbridge smugly 'He heard every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "word Potter said and hastened straight to the school to report to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "me - ' 'Oh, so that's why he wasn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "prosecuted for setting up all those regurgitating toilets!' said Professor McGonagall, raising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "her eyebrows. 'What an interesting insight into our justice system!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Blatant corruption!' roared the portrait of the corpulent, red-nosed wizard on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the wall behind Dumbledore's desk. The Ministry did not cut deals with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "petty criminals in my day, no sir, they did not!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Thank you, Fortescue, that will do,' said Dumbledore softly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " The purpose of Potters meeting with these students,' continued Professor Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'was to persuade them to join an illegal society, whose aim was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to learn spells and curses the Ministry has decided are inappropriate for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "school-age - ' 'I think you'll find you're wrong","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "there, Dolores,' said Dumbledore quietly, peering at her over the half-moon spectacles","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "perched halfway down his crooked nose. Harry stared at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "him. He could not see how Dumbledore was going to talk him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "out of this one; if Willy Widdershins had indeed heard every word","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he had said in the Hog's Head there was simply no escaping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "it. 'Oho!' said Fudge, bouncing up and down on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the balls of his feet again. 'Yes, do let's hear the latest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "cock-and-bull story designed to pull Potter out of trouble! Go on, then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dumbledore, go on - ' Willy Widdershins was lying,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was he? Or was it Potter's identical twin in the Hog's Head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "that day? Or is there the usual simple explanation involving a reversal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of time, a dead man coming back to life and a couple","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of invisible Dementors?' Percy Weasley let out a hearty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "laugh. 'Oh, very good, Minister, very good!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Harry could have kicked him. Then he saw, to his astonishment,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "that Dumbledore was smiling gently, too. 'Cornelius, I do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "not deny - and nor, I am sure, does Harry - 'that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he was in the Hog's Head that day, nor that he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "trying to recruit students to a Defence Against the Dark Arts group.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "I am merely pointing out that Dolores is quite wrong to suggest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "that such a group was, at that time, illegal. If you remember,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the Ministry Decree banning all student societies was not put into effect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "until two days after Harry's Hogsmeade meeting, so he was not breaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "any rules at all in the Hog's Head.' Percy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "looked as though he had been struck in the face by something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "very heavy. Fudge remained motionless in mid-bounce, his mouth hanging open. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Umbridge recovered first. That's all very fine,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Headmaster,' she said, smiling sweetly, 'but we are now nearly six months","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "on from the introduction of Educational Decree Number Twenty-four. If the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "meeting was not illegal, all those that have happened since most certainly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "are.' 'Well,' said Dumbledore, surveying her with polite interest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "over the top of his interlocked fingers, 'they certainly would be, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "they had continued after the Decree came into effect. Do you have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "any evidence that any such meetings continued?' As Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "spoke, Harry heard a rustle behind him and rather thought Kingsley whispered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "something. He could have sworn, too, that he felt something brush against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "his side, a gentle something like a draught or bird wings, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "looking down he saw nothing there. 'Evidence?' repeated Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "with that horrible wide toad-like smile. 'Have you not been listening, Dumbledore?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Why do you think Miss Edgecombe is here?' 'Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "can she tell us about six months' worth of meetings?' said Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "raising his eyebrows. 'I was under the impression that she was merely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "reporting a meeting tonight.' 'Miss Edgecombe,' said Umbridge at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "once, 'tell us how long these meetings have been going on, dear.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "You can simply nod or shake your head, I'm sure that won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "make the spots worse. Have they been happening regularly over the last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "six months?' Harry felt a horrible plummeting in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "stomach. This was it, they had hit a dead end of solid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "evidence that not even Dumbledore would be able to shift aside. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Just nod or shake your head, dear,' Umbridge said coaxingly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to Marietta, 'come on, now, that won't re-activate the jinx.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Everyone in the room was gazing at the top of Marietta's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "face. Only her eyes were visible between the pulled-up robes and her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "curly fringe. Perhaps it was a trick of the firelight, but her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "eyes looked oddly blank. And then - to Harry's utter amazement -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Marietta shook her head. Umbridge looked quickly at Fudge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "then back at Marietta. 'I don't think you understood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the question, did you, dear? I'm asking whether you've been going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "these meetings for the past six months? You have, haven't you?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Again, Marietta shook her head. 'What do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "you mean by shaking your head, dear?' said Umbridge in a testy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "voice. 'I would have thought her meaning was quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "clear,' said Professor McGonagall harshly, 'there have been no secret meetings for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the past six months. Is that correct, Miss Edgecombe?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Marietta nodded. 'But there was a meeting tonight!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Umbridge furiously. There was a meeting, Miss Edgecombe, you told me about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "it, in the Room of Requirement! And Potter was the leader, was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he not, Potter organised it, Potter - why are you shaking your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "head, girl?' 'Well, usually when a person shakes their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "head,' said McGonagall coldly, 'they mean `no`. So unless Miss Edgecombe is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "using a form of sign-language as yet unknown to humans - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Professor Umbridge seized Marietta, pulled her round to face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "her and began shaking her very hard. A split second later Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was on his feet, his wand raised; Kingsley started forwards and Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "leapt back from Marietta, waving her hands in the air as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "they had been burned. 'I cannot allow you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "manhandle my students, Dolores,' said Dumbledore and, for the first time, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "looked angry. 'You want to calm yourself, Madam Umbridge,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "said Kingsley, in his deep, slow voice. 'You don't want to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "yourself into trouble, now.' 'No,' said Umbridge breathlessly, glancing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "up at the towering figure of Kingsley. 'I mean, yes - you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "right, Shacklebolt - I - I forgot myself.' Marietta","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "was standing exactly where Umbridge had released her. She seemed neither perturbed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "by Umbridge's sudden attack, nor relieved by her release; she was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "clutching her robe up to her oddly blank eyes and staring straight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "ahead of her. A sudden suspicion, connected to Kingsley's whisper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "and the thing he had felt shoot past him, sprang into Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "mind. 'Dolores,' said Fudge, with the air of trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to settle something once and for all, 'the meeting tonight - the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "one we know definitely happened - ' 'Yes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Umbridge, pulling herself together, 'yes . . . well, Miss Edgecombe tipped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "me off and I proceeded at once to the seventh floor, accompanied","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "by certain trustworthy students, so as to catch those in the meeting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "red-handed. It appears that they were forewarned of my arrival, however, because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "when we reached the seventh floor they were running in every direction.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "It does not matter, however. I have all their names here, Miss","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Parkinson ran into the Room of Requirement for me to see if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "they had left anything behind. We needed evidence and the room provided.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " And to Harry's horror, she withdrew from her pocket","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the list of names that had been pinned upon the Room of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Requirement's wall and handed it to Fudge. The moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "I saw Potter's name on the list, I knew what we were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "dealing with,' she said softly. 'Excellent,' said Fudge, a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "smile spreading across his face, 'excellent, Dolores. And . . . by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "thunder . . .' He looked up at Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "who was still standing beside Marietta, his wand held loosely in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "hand. 'See what they've named themselves?' said Fudge quietly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Dumbledore's Army.' Dumbledore reached out and took the piece","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of parchment from Fudge. He gazed at the heading scribbled by Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "months before and for a moment seemed unable to speak. Then he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "looked up, smiling. 'Well, the game is up,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "said simply. 'Would you like a written confession from me, Cornelius -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "or will a statement before these witnesses suffice?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "saw McGonagall and Kingsley look at each other. There was fear in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "both faces. He did not understand what was going on, and nor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "apparently, did Fudge. 'Statement?' said Fudge slowly. 'What -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "I don't - ?' 'Dumbledore's Army, Cornelius,' said Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "still smiling as he waved the list of names before Fudge's face.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Not Potter's Army. Dumbledore's Army.' 'But - but -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "' Understanding blazed suddenly in Fudge's face. He took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a horrified step backwards, yelped, and jumped out of the fire again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'You?' he whispered, stamping again on his smouldering cloak.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " That's right,' said Dumbledore pleasantly. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "organised this?' 'I did,' said Dumbledore. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'You recruited these students for - for your army?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting,' said Dumbledore, nodding. 'Merely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to see whether they would be interested in joining me. I see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "now that it was a mistake to invite Miss Edgecombe, of course.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Marietta nodded. Fudge looked from her to Dumbledore, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "chest swelling. Then you have been plotting against me!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he yelled. That's right,' said Dumbledore cheerfully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'NO!' shouted Harry. Kingsley flashed a look of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "warning at him, McGonagall widened her eyes threateningly, but it had suddenly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "dawned on Harry what Dumbledore was about to do, and he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "not let it happen. 'No - Professor Dumbledore -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'!' 'Be quiet, Harry, or I am afraid you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "will have to leave my office,' said Dumbledore calmly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Yes, shut up, Potter!' barked Fudge, who was still ogling Dumbledore with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a kind of horrified delight. 'Well, well, well - I came here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "tonight expecting to expel Potter and instead - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Instead you get to arrest me,' said Dumbledore, smiling. 'It's like losing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a Knut and finding a Galleon, isn't it?' 'Weasley!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "cried Fudge, now positively quivering with delight, 'Weasley, have you written it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "all down, everything he's said, his confession, have you got it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Yes, sir, I think so, sir!' said Percy eagerly, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "nose was splattered with ink from the speed of his note-taking. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " The bit about how he's been trying to build up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "an army against the Ministry, how he's been working to destabilise me?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Yes, sir, I've got it, yes!' said Percy, scanning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "his notes joyfully. 'Very well, then,' said Fudge, now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "radiant with glee, 'duplicate your notes, Weasley, and send a copy to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the Daily Prophet at once. If we send a fast owl we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "should make the morning edition!' Percy dashed from the room, slamming the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "door behind him, and Fudge turned back to Dumbledore. 'You will now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "be escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be formally charged,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "then sent to Azkaban to await trial!' 'Ah,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dumbledore gently, 'yes. Yes, I thought we might hit that little snag.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Snag?' said Fudge, his voice still vibrating with joy.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'I see no snag, Dumbledore!' Well,' said Dumbledore apologetically,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'I'm afraid I do.' 'Oh, really?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Well - it's just that you seem to be labouring under the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase? -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "come quietly. I am afraid I am not going to come quietly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Azkaban. I could break out, of course - but what a waste","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "things I would rather be doing.' Umbridge's face was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "growing steadily redder; she looked as though she was being filled with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "boiling water. Fudge stared at Dumbledore with a very silly expression on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "his face, as though he had just been stunned by a sudden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "blow and could not quite believe it had happened. He made a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "small choking noise, then looked round at Kingsley and the man with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "short grey hair, who alone of everyone in the room had remained","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "entirely silent so fa;-. The latter gave Fudge a reassuring nod and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "moved forwards a little, away from the wall. Harry saw his hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "drift, almost casually, towards his pocket. 'Don't be silly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dawlish,' said Dumbledore kindly. 'I'm sure you are an excellent Auror -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "I seem to remember that you achieved `Outstanding` in all your NEWTs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "- but if you attempt to - er - 'bring me in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "by force, I will have to hurt you.' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "man called Dawlish blinked rather foolishly. He looked towards Fudge again, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "this time seemed to be hoping for a clue as to what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to do next. 'So,' sneered Fudge, recovering himself, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores and myself single-handed, do you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dumbledore?' 'Merlin's beard, no,' said Dumbledore, smiling, 'not unless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "you are foolish enough to force me to.' 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "will not be single-handed!' said Professor McGonagall loudly, plunging her hand inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "her robes. 'Oh yes he will, Minerva!' said Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "sharply. 'Hogwar.s needs you!' 'Enough of this rubbish!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Fudge, pulling out his own wand. 'Dawlish! Shacklebolt! Take him!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " A streak of silver light flashed around the room; there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a bang like a gunshot and the floor trembled; a hand grabbed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the scruff of Harry's neck and forced him down on the floor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "as a second silver flash went off; several of the portraits yelled,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Fawkes screeched and a cloud of dust filled the air. Coughing in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the dust, Harry saw a dark figure fall to the ground with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "a crash in front of him; there was a shriek and a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "thud and somebody cried, 'No!'; then there was the sound of breaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "glass, frantically scuffling footsteps, a groan . . . and silence. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Harry struggled around to see who was half-strangling him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "saw Professor McGonagall crouched beside him; she had forced both him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Marietta out of harm's way. Dust was still floating gently down through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the air on to them. Panting slightly, Harry saw a very tall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "figure moving towards them. 'Are you all right?' Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "asked. 'Yes!' said Professor McGonagall, getting up and dragging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Harry and Marietta with her. The dust was clearing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "The wreckage of the office loomed into view: Dumbledore's desk had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "overturned, all of the spindly tables had been knocked to the floor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "their silver instruments in pieces. Fudge, Umbridge, Kingsley and Dawlish lay motionless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "on the floor. Fawkes the phoenix soared in wide circles above them,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "singing softly. 'Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "or it would have looked very suspicious,' said Dumbledore in a low","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "voice. 'He was remarkably quick on the uptake, modifying Miss Edgecombe's memory","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "like that while everyone was looking the other way - thank him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "for me, won't you, Minerva? 'Now, they will all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "awake very soon and it will be best if they do not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "know that we had time to communicate - you must act as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "though no time has passed, as though they were merely knocked to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "the ground, they will not remember - ' 'Where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "will you go, Dumbledore?' whispered Professor McGonagall. 'Grimmauld Place?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "'Oh no,' said Dumbledore, with a grim smile, 'I am not leaving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "to go into hiding. Fudge will soon wish he'd never dislodged me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "from Hogwarts, I promise you.' 'Professor Dumbledore . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" ".' Harry began. He did not know what to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "say first: how sorry he was that he had started the DA","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "in the first place and caused all this trouble, or how terrible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he felt that Dumbledore was leaving to save him from expulsion? But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dumbledore cut him off before he could say another word. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Listen to me, Harry,' he said urgently. 'You must study Occlumency","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "as hard as you can, do you understand me? Do everything Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Snape tells you and practise it particularly every night before sleeping so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "that you can close your mind to bad dreams - you will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "understand why soon enough, but you must promise me - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " The man called Dawlish was stirring. Dumbledore seized Harry's wrist.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'Remember - close your mind - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " But as Dumbledore's fingers closed over Harry's skin, a pa n","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "shot through the scar on his forehead and he felt again that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "terrible, snakelike longing to strike Dumbledore, to bite him, to hurt him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "- ' ' - you will understand,' whispered Dumbledore.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Fawkes circled the office and swooped low over him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Dumbledore released Harry, raised his hand and grasped the phoenix's long golden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "tail. There was a flash of fire and the pair of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "were gone. 'Where is he?' yelled Fudge, pushing himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "up from the floor. 'Where is he?' 'I don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "know!' shouted Kingsley, also leaping to his feet. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he can't have Disapparated!' cried Umbridge. 'You can't do it from inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "this school - ' The stairs!' cried Dawlish, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "he flung himself upon the door, wrenched it open and disappeared, followed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "closely by Kingsley and Umbridge. Fudge hesitated, then got slowly to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "feet, brushing dust from his front. There was a long and painful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "silence. 'Well, Minerva,' said Fudge nastily, straightening his torn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "shirtsleeve, 'I'm afraid this is the end of your friend Dumbledore.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'You think so, do you?' said Professor McGonagall scornfully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Fudge seemed not to hear her. He was looking around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "at the wrecked office. A few of the portraits hissed at him;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "one or two even made rude hand gestures. 'You'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "better get those two off to bed,' said Fudge, looking back at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Professor McGonagall with a dismissive nod towards Harry and Marietta. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " Professor McGonagall said nothing, but marched Harry and Marietta to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "door. As it swung closed behind them, Harry heard Phineas Nigellus's voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" " 'You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "counts . . . but you cannot deny he's got style . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-27" "Snapes Worst MemoryBY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGICDolores Jane Umbridge (High","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Inquisitor) has replacedAlbus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School ofWitchcraft and Wizardry.The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Minister for MagicThe notices had gone up all around the school overnight,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "but they did not explain how every single person within the castle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "seemed to know that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the Minister for Magic and his Junior Assistant to escape. No matter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "where Harry went within the castle, the sole topic of conversation was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Dumbledore's flight, and though some of the details may have gone awry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in the retelling (Harry overheard one second-year girl assuring another that Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was now lying in St Mungo's with a pumpkin for a head)","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it was surprising how accurate the rest of their information was. Everybody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "knew, for instance, that Harry and Marietta were the only students to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore's office and, as Marietta was now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in the hospital wing, Harry found himself besieged with requests to give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a first-hand account. 'Dumbledore will be back before long,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "said Ernie Macmillan confidently on the way back from Herbology, after listening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "intently to Harry's story. They couldn't keep him away in our second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "year and they won't be able to this time. The Fat Friar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "told me - ' he dropped his voice conspiratorially, so that Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Ron and Hermione had to lean closer to him to hear '-","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "they'd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldn't get past the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her.' Ernie smirked. 'Apparently,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "she had a right little tantrum.' 'Oh, I expect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Hermione viciously, as they walked up the stone steps into the Entrance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Hall. 'Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "old - ' 'Now, do you really want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "finish that sentence, Granger?' Draco Malfoy had slid out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "from behind the door, closely followed by Crabbe and Goyle. His pale,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pointed face was alight w th malice. 'Afraid I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "going to have to dock a few points from Gryffincor and Hufflepuff,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he drawled. 'It's only teachers who can dock points","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "from houses, Malfoy,' said Ernie at once. 'Yeah, we're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "prefects, too, remember?' snarled Ron. 'I know prefects can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "dock points, Weasel King,' sneered Maltby. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. 'But members","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of the Inquisitorial Squad - ' 'The what?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Hermione sharply. 'The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger,' said Malfoy, pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "towards a tiny silver 'I' on his robes just beneath his prefect's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "badge. 'A select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of Magic, hand-picked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway, members of the Inquisitorial Squad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "do have the power to dock points . . . so, Granger,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "I'll have five from you for being rude about our new Headmistress.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Macmillan, five for contradicting me. Five because I don't like you, Potter.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Weasley, your shirt's untucked, so I'll have another five for that. Oh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "yeah, I forgot, you're a Mudblood, Granger, so ten off for that.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Ron pulled out his wand, but Hermione pushed it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "away, whispering, 'Don't!' 'Wise move, Granger,' breathed Malfoy. 'New","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Head, new times . . . be good now, Potty . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". Weasel King . . .' Laughing heartily, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "strode away with Crabbe and Goyle. 'He was bluffing,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "said Ernie, looking appalled. 'He can't be allowed to dock points .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". . that would be ridiculous . . . it would completely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "undermine the prefect system.' But Harry, Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "had turned automatically towards the giant hour-glasses set in niches along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "wall behind them, which recorded the house-points. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "neck and neck in the lead that morning. Even as they watched,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "stones flew upwards, reducing the amounts in the lower bulbs. In fact,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the only glass that seemed unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Noticed, have you?' said Fred's voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "He and George had just come down the marble staircase and joined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ernie in front of the hour-glasses. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points,' said Harry furiously,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "as they watched several more stones fly upwards from the Gryffindor hour-glass.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "George. 'What do you mean, `tried`?' said Ron quickly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'He never managed to get all the words out,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "said Fred, 'due to the fact that we forced him head-first into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor.' Hermione looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "very shocked. 'But you'll get into terrible trouble!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Not until Montague reappears, and that could take weeks, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "dunno where we sent him,' said Fred coolly. 'Anyway . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "we've decided we don't care about getting into trouble any more.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Have you ever?' asked Hermione. 'Course we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "have,' said George. 'Never been expelled, have we?' 'We've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "always known where to draw the line,' said Fred. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "We might have put a toe across it occasionally,' said George. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'But we've always stopped short of causing real mayhem,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Fred. 'But now?' said Ron tentatively. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Well, now -' said George. ' - what with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Dumbledore gone - ' said Fred. ' - we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "reckon a bit of mayhem - ' said George. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "' - is exactly what our dear new Head deserves,' said Fred.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'You mustn't!' whispered Hermione. 'You really mustn't! She'd love","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a reason to expel you!' 'You don't get it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Hermione, do you?' said Fred, smiling at her. 'We don't care about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "staying any more. We'd walk out right now if we weren't determined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to do our bit for Dumbledore first. So, anyway,' he checked his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "watch, 'phase one is about to begin. I'd get in the Great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Hall for lunch, if I were you, that way the teachers will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "see you can't have had anything to do with it.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Anything to do with what?' said Hermione anxiously. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'You'll see,' said George. 'Run along, now.' Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "George turned away and disappeared into the swelling crowd descending the stairs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "towards lunch. Looking highly disconcerted, Ernie muttered something about unfinished Transfiguration homework","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and scurried away. 'I think we should get out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of here, you know,' said Hermione nervously. 'Just in case ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Yeah, all right,' said Ron, and the three of them moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "towards the doors to the Great Hall, but Harry had barely glimpsed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the day's ceiling of scudding white clouds when somebody tapped him on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the shoulder and, turning, he found himself almost nose-to-nose with Filch the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "caretaker. He took several hasty steps backwards; Filch was best viewed at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a distance. The Headmistress would like to see you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Potter,' he leered. 'I didn't do it,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "stupidly, thinking of whatever Fred and George were planning. Filch's jowls wobbled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "with silent laughter. 'Guilty conscience, eh?' he wheezed. 'Follow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "me.' Harry glanced back at Ron and Hermione, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "were both looking worried. He shrugged, and followed Filch back into the Entrance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Hall, against the tide of hungry students. Filch seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to be in an extremely good mood; he hummed creakily under his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "breath as they climbed the marble staircase. As they reached the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "landing he said, Things are changing around here, Potter.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'I've noticed,' said Harry coldly. 'Yerse . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "I've been telling Dumbledore for years and years he's too soft with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you all,' said Filch, chuckling nastily. 'You filthy little beasts would never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "have dropped Stink Pellets if you'd known I had it in my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "power to whip you raw, would you, now? Nobody would have thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of throwing Fanged Frisbees down the corridors if I could've strung you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "up by the ankles in my office, would they? But when Educational","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Decree Number Twenty-nine comes in, Potter, I'll be allowed to do them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "things . . . and she's asked the Minister to sign an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "order for the expulsion of Peeves . . . oh, things are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "going to be very different around here with her in charge ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Umbridge had obviously gone to some lengths to get Filch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "on her side, Harry thought, and the worst of it was that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he would probably prove an important weapon; his knowledge of the school's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "secret passageways and hiding places was probably second only to that of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the Weasley twins. 'Here we are,' he said, leering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "down at Harry as he rapped three times on Professor Umbridge's door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and pushed it open. The Potter boy to see you, Ma'am.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Umbridge's office, so very familiar to Harry from his many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "detentions, was the same as usual except for the large wooden block","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "lying across the front of her desk on which golden letters spelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the word: HEADMISTRESS. Also, his Firebolt and Fred and George's Cleansweeps, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he saw with a pang, were chained and padlocked to a stout","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "iron peg in the wall behind the desk. Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was sitting behind the desk, busily scribbling on some of her pink","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "parchment, but she looked up and smiled widely at their entrance. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Thank you, Argus,' she said sweetly. 'Not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "at all, Ma'am, not at all,' said Filch, bowing as low as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his rheumatism would permit, and exiting backwards. 'Sit,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Umbridge curtly, pointing towards a chair. Harry sat. She continued to scribble","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "for a few moments. He watched some of the foul kittens gambolling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "around the plates over her head, wondering what fresh horror she had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in store for him. 'Well, now,' she said finally,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "setting down her quill and surveying him complacently, like a toad about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to swallow a particularly juicy fly. 'What would you like to drink?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'What? said Harry, quite sure he had misheard her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " To drink, Mr Potter,' she said, smiling still more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "widely. Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?' As she named each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "drink, she gave her short wand a wave, and a cup or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "glass of it appeared on her desk. 'Nothing, thank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you,' said Harry. 'I wish you to have a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "drink with me,' she said, her voice becoming dangerously sweet. 'Choose one.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Fine . . . tea then,' said Harry shrugging.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " She got up and made quite a performance of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "adding milk w.th her back to him. She then bustled around the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "desk with it, smiling in a sinisterly sweet fashion. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "There,' she said, handing it to him. 'Drink it before it gets","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "cold, won't you? Well, now, Mr Potter . . . I thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "we ought to have a little chat, after the distressing events of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "last night.' He said nothing. She settled herself back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "into her seat and waited. When several long moments had passed in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "silence, she said gaily, 'You're not drinking up!' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "raised the cup to his lips and then, just as suddenly, lowered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it. One of the horrible painted kittens behind Umbridge had great round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "blue eyes just like Mad-Eye Moody's magical one and it had just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "occurred to Harry what Mad-Eye would say if he ever heard that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry had drunk anything offered by a known enemy. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'What's the matter?' said Umbridge, who was still watching him closely. 'Do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you want sugar?' 'No,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "He raised the cup to his lips again and pretended to take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a sip, though keeping his mouth tightly closed. Umbridge's smile widened. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Good,' she whispered. 'Very good. Now then . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "She leaned forwards a little. 'Where is Albus Dumbledore?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'No idea,' said Harry promptly. 'Drink up, drink up,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "she said, still smiling. 'Now, Mr Potter, let us not play childish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "games. I know that you know where he has gone. You and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Dumbledore have been in this together from the beginning. Consider your position,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Mr Potter . . .' 'I don't know where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he is,' Harry repeated. He pretended to drink again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "She was watching him very closely. 'Very well,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "said, though she looked displeased. 'In that case, you will kindly tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "me the whereabouts of Sirius Black.' Harry's stomach turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "over and his hand holding the teacup shook so that it rattled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in its saucer. He tilted the cup to his mouth with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "lips pressed together, so that some of the hot liquid trickled down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "on to his robes. 'I don't know,' he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a little too quickly. 'Mr Potter,' said Umbridge, 'let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "me remind you that it was I who almost caught the criminal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Black in the Gryffindor fire in October. I know perfectly well it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was you he was meeting and if I had had any proof","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "neither of you would be at large today, I promise you. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "repeat, Mr Potter . . . where is Sirius Black?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'No idea,' said Harry loudly. 'Haven't got a clue.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " They stared at each other so long that Harry felt his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "eyes watering. Then Umbridge stood up. 'Very well, Potter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "I will take your word for it this time, but be warned:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the might of the Ministry stands behind me. All channels of communication","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in and out of this school are being monitored. A Floo Network","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Regulator is keeping watch over every fire in Hogwarts - except my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "own, of course. My Inquisitorial Squad is opening and reading all owl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "post entering and leaving the castle. And Mr Filch is observing all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "secret passages in and out of the castle. If I find a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "shred of evidence . . .' BOOM! ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " The very floor of the office shook. Umbridge slipped sideways, clutching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "her desk for support, and looking shocked. 'What was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "- ?' She was gazing towards the door. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "took the opportunity to empty his almost-full cup of tea into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "nearest vase of dried flowers. He could hear people running and screaming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "several floors below. 'Back to lunch you go, Potter!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "cried Umbridge, raising her wand and dashing out of the office. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "gave her a few seconds' start, then hurried after her to see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "what the source of all the uproar was. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was not difficult to find. One floor down, pandemonium reigned. Somebody (and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry had a very shrewd idea who) had set off what seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to be an enormous crate of enchanted fireworks. Dragons comprised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "entirely of green and gold sparks were soaring up and down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "corridors, emitting loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went; shocking-pink Catherine","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "wheels five feet in diameter were whizzing lethally through the air like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "so many flying saucers; rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "were ricocheting off the walls; sparklers were writing swear words in midair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of their own accord; firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere Harry looked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and instead of burning themselves out, fading from sight or fizzling to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a halt, these pyrotechnical miracles seemed to be gaining in energy and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "momentum the longer he watched. Filch and Umbridge were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "standing, apparently transfixed in horror, halfway down the stairs. As Harry watched,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "one of the larger Catherine wheels seemed to decide that what it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "needed was more room to manoeuvre; it whirled towards Umbridge and Filch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "with a sinister 'wheeeeeeeeee'. They both yelled with fright and ducked, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it soared straight out of the window behind them and off across","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the grounds. Meanwhile, several of the dragons and a large purple bat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "that was smoking ominously took advantage of the open door at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "end of the corridor to escape towards the second floor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Hurry, Filch, hurry!' shrieked Umbridge, 'they'll be all over the school","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "unless we do something - Stupefy!' A jet of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "red light shot out of the end of her wand and hit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "one of the rockets. Instead of freezing in midair, it exploded with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "such force that it blasted a hole in a painting of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "soppy-looking witch in the middle of a meadow; she ran for it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "just in time, reappearing seconds later squashed into the next painting, where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a couple of wizards playing cards stood up hastily to make room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "for her. 'Don't Stun them, Filch!' shouted Umbridge angrily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "for all the world as though it had been his incantation. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Right you are, Headmistress!' wheezed Filch, who as a Squib","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "could no more have Stunned the fireworks than swallowed them. He dashed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to a nearby cupboard, pulled out a broom and began swatting at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the fireworks in midair; within seconds the head of the broom was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "ablaze. Harry had seen enough; laughing, he ducked down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "low, ran to a door he knew was concealed behind a tapestry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a little way along the corridor and slipped through it to find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Fred and George hiding just behind it, listening to Umbridge and Filch's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "yells and quaking with suppressed mirth. 'Impressive,' Harry said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "quietly, grinning. 'Very impressive . . . you'll put Dr Filibuster out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of business, no problem . . .' 'Cheers,' whispered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "George, wiping tears of laughter from his face. 'Oh, I hope she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tries Vanishing them next . . . they multiply by ten every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "time you try.' The fireworks continued to burn and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to spread all over the school that afternoon. Though they caused plenty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of disruption, particularly the firecrackers, the other teachers didn't seem to mind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "them very much. 'Dear, dear,' said Professor McGonagall sardonically,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "as one of the dragons soared around her classroom, emitting loud bangs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and exhaling flame. 'Miss Brown, would you mind running along to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Headmistress and informing her that we have an escaped firework in our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "classroom?' The upshot of it all was that Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Umbridge spent her first afternoon as Headmistress running all over the school","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "answering the summonses of the other teachers, none of whom seemed able","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her. When the final","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "bell rang and they were heading back to Gryffindor Tower with their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "bags, Harry saw, with immense satisfaction, a dishevelled and soot-blackened Umbridge tottering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "sweaty-faced from Professor Flitwick's classroom. Thank you so much,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Professor!' said Professor Flitwick in his squeaky little voice. 'I could have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "got rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn't sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "whether or not I had the authority.' Beaming, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "closed his classroom door in her snarling face. Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and George were heroes that night in the Gryffindor common room. Even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Hermione fought her way through the excited crowd to congratulate them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " They were wonderful fireworks,' she said admiringly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Thanks,' said George, looking both surprised and pleased. 'Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs. Only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "thing is, we used our whole stock; we're going to have to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "start again from scratch now.' 'It was worth it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "though,' said Fred, who was taking orders from clamouring Gryffindors. 'If you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "want to add your name to the waiting list, Hermione, it's five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Galleons for your Basic Blaze box and twenty for the Deflagration Deluxe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". . .' Hermione returned to the table where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry and Ron were sitting staring at their schoolbags as though hoping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "their homework would spring out and start doing itself. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Oh, why don't we have a night off?' said Hermione brightly, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a silver-tailed Weasley rocket zoomed past the window. 'After all, the Easter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "holidays start on Friday, we'll have plenty of time then.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Are you feeling all right?' Ron asked, staring at her in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "disbelief. 'Now you mention it,' said Hermione happily, 'd'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "know . . . I think I'm feeling a bit . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". rebellious.' Harry could still hear the distant bangs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of escaped firecrackers when he and Ron went up to bed an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "hour later; and as he got undressed a sparkler floated past the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tower, still resolutely spelling out the word 'POO'. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "got into bed, yawning. With his glasses off, the occasional firework passing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the window had become blurred, looking like sparkling clouds, beautiful and mysterious","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "against the black sky. He turned on to his side, wondering how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Umbridge was feeling about her first day in Dumbledore's job, and how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Fudge would react when he heard that the school had spent most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of the day in a state of advanced disruption. Smiling to himself,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry closed his eyes . . . The whizzes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and bangs of escaped fireworks in the grounds seemed to be growing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "more distant . . . or perhaps he was simply speeding away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "from them . . . He had fallen right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "into the corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries. He was speeding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "towards the plain black door . . . let it open .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". . let it open . . . It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "did. He was inside the circular room lined with doors . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". he crossed it, placed his hand on an identical door and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it swung inwards . . . Now he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in a long, rectangular room full of an odd mechanical clicking. There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "were dancing flecks of light on the walls but he did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pause to investigate . . . he had to go on .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". . There was a door at the far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "end . . . it, too, opened at his touch . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". And now he was in a dimly lit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "room as high and wide as a church, full of nothing but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "rows and rows of towering shelves, each laden with small, dusty, spun-glass","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "spheres . . . now Harry's heart was beating fast with excitement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". . . he knew where to go . . . he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "ran forwards, but his footsteps made no noise in the enormous, deserted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "room . . . There was something in this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "room he wanted very, very much . . . Something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he wanted . . . or somebody else wanted . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " His scar was hurting . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " BANG! Harry awoke instantly, confused and angry. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "dark dormitory was full of the sound of laughter. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Cool!' said Seamus, who was silhouetted against the window. 'I think one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of those Catherine wheels hit a rocket and it's like they mated,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "come and see!' Harry heard Ron and Dean scramble","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "out of bed for a better look. He lay quite still and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "silent while the pain in his scar subsided and disappointment washed over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "him. He felt as though a wonderful treat had been snatched from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "him at the very last moment . . . he had got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "so close that time. Glittering pink and silver winged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "piglets were now soaring past the windows of Gryffindor Tower. Harry lay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and listened to the appreciative whoops of Gryffindors in the dormitories below","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "them. His stomach gave a sickening jolt as he remembered that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "had Occlumency the following evening.*Harry spent the whole of the next day","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "dreading what Snape was going to say if he found out how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "much further into the Department of Mysteries Harry had penetrated during his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "last dream. With a surge of guilt he realised that he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "not practised Occlumency once since their last lesson: there had been too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "much going on since Dumbledore had left; he was sure he would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "not have been able to empty his mind even if he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tried. He doubted, however, whether Snape would accept that excuse. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " He attempted a little last-minute practice during classes that day, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it was no good. Hermione kept asking him what was wrong whenever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he fell silent trying to rid himself of all thought and emotion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and, after all, the best moment to empty his brain was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "while teachers were firing revision questions at the class. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Resigned to the worst, he set off for Snape's office after dinner.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Halfway across the Entrance Hall, however, Cho came hurrying up to him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Over here,' said Harry, glad of a reason to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "postpone his meeting with Snape, and beckoning her across to the corner","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of the Entrance Hall where the giant hour-glasses stood. Gryffindor's was now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "almost empty. 'Are you OK? Umbridge hasn't been asking you about the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "DA, has she?' 'Oh, no,' said Cho hurriedly. 'No,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it was only . . . well, I just wanted to say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". . . Harry, I never dreamed Marietta would tell . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Yeah, well,' said Harry moodily. He did feel Cho","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "might have chosen her friends a bit more carefully; it was small","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "consolation that the last he had heard, Marietta was still up in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey had not been able to make","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the slightest improvement to her pimples. 'She's a lovely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "person really,' said Cho. 'She just made a mistake - ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Harry looked at her incredulously. 'A lovely person","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "who made a mistake? She sold us all out, including you!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Well . . . we all got away, didn't we?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "said Cho pleadingly. 'You know, her mum works for the Ministry, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "really difficult for her - ' 'Ron's dad works","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "for the Ministry too!' Harry said furiously. 'And in case you hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "noticed, he hasn't got sneak written across his face - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " That was a really horrible trick of Hermione Granger's,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Cho fiercely. 'She should have told us she'd jinxed that list -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "' 'I think it was a brilliant idea,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry coldly. Cho flushed and her eyes grew brighter. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Oh yes, I forgot - of course, if it was darling Hermione's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "idea - ' 'Don't start crying again,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "warningly. 'I wasn't going to!' she shouted. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Yeah . . . well . . . good,' he said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'I've got enough to cope with at the moment.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Go and cope with it then!' Cho said furiously, turning on her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "heel and stalking off. Fuming, Harry descended the stairs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to Snape's dungeon and, though he knew from experience how much easier","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it would be for Snape to penetrate his mind if he arrived","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "angry and resentful, he succeeded in nothing but thinking of a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "more things he should have said to Cho about Marietta before reaching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the dungeon door. 'You're late, Potter,' said Snape coldly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "as Harry closed the door behind him. Snape was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "standing with his back to Harry, removing, as usual, certain of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "thoughts and placing them carefully in Dumbledore's Pensieve. He dropped the last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "silvery strand into the stone basin and turned to face Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'So,' he said. 'Have you been practising?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Yes,' Harry lied, looking carefully at one of the legs of Snape's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "desk. 'Well, we'll soon find out, won't we?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Snape smoothly. 'Wand out, Potter.' Harry moved into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "usual position, facing Snape with the desk between them. His heart was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pumping last with anger at Cho and anxiety about how much Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was about to extract from his mind. 'On the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "count of three then,' said Snape lazily. 'One - two - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Snape's office door banged open and Draco Malfoy sped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in. 'Professor Snape, sir - oh - sorry -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "' Malfoy was looking at Snape and Harry in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "some surprise. 'It's all right, Draco,' said Snape, lowering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his wand. 'Potter is here for a little remedial Potions.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Harry had not seen Malfoy look so gleeful since Umbridge had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "turned up to inspect Hagrid. 'I didn't know,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "said, leering at Harry, who knew his face was burning. He would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "have given a great deal to be able to shout the truth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "at Malfoy - or, even better, to hit him with a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "curse. 'Well, Draco, what is it?' asked Snape. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'It's Professor Umbridge, sir - she needs your help,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Malfoy. They've found Montague, sir, he's turned up jammed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "inside a toilet on the fourth floor.' 'How did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he get in there?' demanded Snape. 'I don't know,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "sir, he's a bit confused.' 'Very well, very well.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Potter,' said Snape, 'we shall resume this lesson tomorrow evening.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " He turned and swept from his office. Malfoy mouthed, 'Remedial Potions?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "at Harry behind Snape's back before following him. Seething,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry replaced his wand inside his robes and made to leave the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "room. At least he had twenty-four more hours in which to practise;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he knew he ought to feel grateful for the narrow escape, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it was hard that it came at the expense of Malfoy telling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the whole school that he needed remedial Potions. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was at the office door when he saw it: a patch of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "shivering light dancing on the doorframe. He stopped, and stood looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it, reminded of something . . . then he remembered: it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a little like the lights he had seen in his dream last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "night, the lights n the second room he had walked through on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his journey through the Department of Mysteries. He turned around.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "The light was coming from the Pensieve sitting on Snape's desk. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "silver-white contents were ebbing and swirling within. Snape's thoughts . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "things he did not want Harry to see if he broke through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Snape's defences accidentally . . . Harry gazed at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the Pensieve, curiosity welling inside him . . . what was it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "that Snape was so keen to hide from Harry? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "The silvery lights shivered on the wall . . . Harry took","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "two steps towards the desk, thinking hard. Could it possibly be information","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "about the Department of Mysteries that Snape was determined to keep from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "him? Harry looked over his shoulder, his heart now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pumping harder and faster than ever. How long would it take Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to release Montague from the toilet? Would he come straight back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his office afterwards, or accompany Montague to the hospital wing? Surely the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "latter . . . Montague was Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Snape would want to make sure he was all right. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Harry walked the remaining few feet to the Pensieve and stood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "over it, gazing into its depths. He hesitated, listening, then pulled out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his wand again. The office and the corridor beyond were completely silent.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "He gave the contents of the Pensieve a small prod with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "end of his wand. The silvery stuff within began","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to swirl very fast. Harry leaned forwards over it and saw that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it had become transparent. He was, once again, looking down into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "room as though through a circular window in the ceiling . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". in fact, unless he was much mistaken, he was looking down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "into the Great Hall. His breath was actually fogging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the surface of Snape's thoughts . . . his brain seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "be in limbo . . . it would be insane to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the thing he was so strongly tempted to do . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he was trembling . . . Snape could be back at any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "moment . . . but Harry thought of Cho's anger, of Malfoy's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "jeering face, and a reckless daring seized him. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "took a great gulp of breath, and plunged his face into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "surface of Snape's thoughts. At once, the floor of the office lurched,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tipping Harry head-first into the Pensieve . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "He was falling through cold blackness, spinning furiously as he went, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "then - ' He was standing in the middle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of the Great Hall, but the four house tables were gone. Instead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "there were more than a hundred smaller tables, all facing the same","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "way, at each of which sat a student, head bent low, scribbling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "on a roll of parchment. The only sound was the scratching of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "quills and the occasional rustle as somebody adjusted their parchment. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "clearly exam time. Sunshine was streaming through the high","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "windows on to the bent heads, which shone chestnut and copper and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "gold in the bright light. Harry looked around carefully. Snape had to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "be here somewhere . . . this was his memory . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". And there he was, at a table right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "behind Harry. Harry stared. Snape-the-teenager had a stringy, pallid look about him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "like a plant kept in the dark. His hair was lank and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "greasy and was flopping on to the table, his hooked nose barely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "half an inch from the surface of the parchment as he scribbled.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry moved around behind Snape and read the heading of the examination","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "paper: DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS - ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " So Snape had to be fifteen or sixteen, around Harry's own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "age. His hand was flying across the parchment; he had written at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "least a foot more than his closest neighbours, and yet his writing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was minuscule and cramped. 'Five more minutes!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " The voice made Harry jump. Turning, he saw the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Professor Flitwick's head moving between the desks a short distance away. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Flitwick was walking past a boy with untidy black hair . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". very untidy black hair . . . Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "moved so quickly that, had he been solid, he would have knocked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "desks flying. Instead he seemed to slide, dreamlike, across two aisles and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "up a third. The back of the black-haired boy's head drew nearer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and . . . he was straightening up now, putting down his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "quill, pulling his roll of parchment towards him so as to reread","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "what he had written . . . Harry stopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "in front of the desk and gazed down at his fifteen-year-old father.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Excitement exploded in the pit of his stomach: it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was as though he was looking at himself but with deliberate mistakes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James's eyes were hazel, his nose was slightly longer than Harry's and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "there was no scar on his forehead, but they had the same","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "thin face, same mouth, same eyebrows; James's hair stuck up at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "back exactly as Harry's did, his hands could have been Harry's and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry could tell that, when James stood up, they would be within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "an inch of each other in height. James yawned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "hugely and rumpled up his hair, making it even messier than it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "had been. Then, with a glance towards Professor Flitwick, he turned in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his seat and grinned at a boy sitting four seats behind him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " With another shock of excitement, Harry saw Sirius give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James the thumbs-up. Sirius was lounging in his chair at his ease,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tilting it back on two legs. He was very good-looking; his dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "hair fell into his eyes with a sort of casual elegance neither","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James's nor Harry's could ever have achieved, and a girl sitting behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "him was eyeing him hopefully, though he didn't seem to have noticed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "And two seats along from this girl - Harry's stomach gave another","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pleasurable squirm - was Remus Lupin. He looked rather pale and peaky","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "(was the full moon approaching?) and was absorbed in the exam: as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he reread his answers, he scratched his chin with the end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his quill, frowning slightly. So that meant Wormtail had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to be around here somewhere, too . . . and sure enough,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry spotted him within seconds: a small, mousy-haired boy with a pointed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "nose. Wormtail looked anxious; he was chewing his fingernails, staring down at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his paper, scuffing the ground with his toes. Every now and then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he glanced hopefully at his neighbour's paper. Harry stared at Wormtail for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a moment, then back at James, who was now doodling on a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "bit of scrap parchment. He had drawn a Snitch and was now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tracing the letters 'L.E.'. What did they stand for? ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Quills down, please!' squeaked Professor Flitwick. That means you too, Stebbins! Please","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!' Over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people laughed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows and lifted him back on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his feet. 'Thank you . . . thank you,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "panted Professor Flitwick. 'Very well, everybody, you're free to go!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Harry looked down at his father, who had hastily crossed out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the 'L.E.' he had been embellishing, jumped to his feet, stuffed his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "quill and the exam paper into his bag, which he slung over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his back, and stood waiting for Sirius to join him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry looked around and glimpsed Snape a short way away, moving between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the tables towards the doors to the Entrance Hall, still absorbed in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his own exam paper. Round-shouldered yet angular, he walked in a twitchy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "manner that recalled a spider, and his oily hair was jumping about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his face. A gang of chattering girls separated Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "from James, Sirius and Lupin, and by planting himself in their midst,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry managed to keep Snape in sight while straining his ears to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "catch the voices of James and his friends. 'Did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you like question ten, Moony?' asked Sirius as they emerged into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Entrance Hall. Loved it, said Lupin briskly. 'Give five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question.' 'D'you think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you managed to get all the signs?' said James in tones of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "mock concern. 'Think I did,' said Lupin seriously, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "they joined the crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "out into the sunlit grounds. 'One: he's sitting on my chair. Two:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Wormtail was the only one who didn't laugh. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tail,' he said anxiously, 'but I couldn't think what else - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'How thick are you, Wormtail?' said James impatiently. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "run round with a werewolf once a month - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Keep your voice down,' implored Lupin. Harry looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "anxiously behind him again. Snape remained close by, still buried in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "exam questions - but this was Snape's memory and Harry was sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "that if Snape chose to wander off in a different direction once","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "outside in the grounds, he, Harry, would not be able to follow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James any further. To his intense relief, however, when James and his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "three friends strode off down the lawn towards the lake, Snape followed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "still poring over the exam paper and apparently with no fixed idea","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of where he was going. By keeping a little ahead of him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry managed to maintain a close watch on James and the others.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Well, I thought that paper was a piece of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "cake,' he heard Sir us say. 'I'll be surprised if I don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "get `Outstanding` on it at least.' 'Me too,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "struggling Golden Snitch. 'Where'd you get that?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'Nicked it,' said James casually. He started playing with the Snitch,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "allowing it to fly as much as a foot away before seizing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "it again; his reflexes were excellent. Wormtail watched him in awe. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " They stopped in the shade of the very same beech","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tree on the edge of the lake where Harry, Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "had once spent a Sunday finishing their homework, and threw themselves down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "on the grass. Harry looked over his shoulder yet again and saw,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to his delight, that Snape had settled himself on the grass in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the dense shadow of a clump of bushes. He was as deeply","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "immersed in the OWL paper as ever, which left Harry free to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "sit down on the grass between the beech and the bushes and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "watch the foursome under the tree. The sunlight was dazzling on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "smooth surface of the lake, on the bank of which the group","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of laughing girls who had just left the Great Hall were sitting,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "with their shoes and socks off, cooling their feet in the water.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Lupin had pulled out a book and was reading.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Sirius stared around at the students milling over the grass, looking rather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "haughty and bored, but very handsomely so. James was still playing with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the Snitch, letting it zoom further and further away, almost escaping but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "always grabbed at the last second. Wormtail was watching him with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "mouth open. Every time James made a particularly difficult catch, Wormtail gasped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and applauded. After five minutes of this, Harry wondered why James didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "tell Wormtail to get a grip on himself, but James seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "be enjoying the attention. Harry noticed that his father had a habit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of rumpling up his hair as though to keep it from getting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Loo tidy, and he also kept looking over at the girls by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the waters edge. 'Put that away, will you,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Sirius finally, as James made a fine catch and Wormtail let out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a cheer, 'before Wormtail wets himself with excitement.' Wormtail","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "turned slightly pink, but James grinned. 'If it bothers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you,' he said, stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket. Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the distinct impression that Sirius was the only one for whom James","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "would have stopped showing off. 'I'm bored,' said Sirius.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Wish it was full moon.' 'You might,' said Lupin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "darkly from behind his book. We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you could test me. Here . . .' and he held out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his book. But Sirius snorted. 'I don't need to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "look at that rubbish, I know it all.' 'This'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "liven you up, Padfoot,' said James quietly. 'Look who it is Sirius's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "head turned. He became very still, like a dog that has scented","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a rabbit. 'Excellent,' he said softly. 'Snivellus.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Harry turned to see what Sirius was looking at. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Snape was on his feet again, and was stowing the OWL","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "paper in his bag. As he left the shadows of the bushes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and set off across the grass, Sirius and James stood up. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Lupin and Wormtail remained sitting: Lupin was still staring down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "at his book, though his eyes were not moving and a faint","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "frown line had appeared between his eyebrows; Wormtail was looking from Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and James to Snape with a look of avid anticipation on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "face. 'All right, Snivellus?' said James loudly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Snape reacted so fast it was as though he had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "expecting an attack: dropping his bag, he plunged his hand inside his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "robes and his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Expelliarmus!' Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him. Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "let out a bark of laughter. 'Impedimenta!' he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pointing his wand at Snape, who was knocked off his feet halfway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "through a dive towards his own fallen wand. Students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "all around had turned to watch. Some of them had got to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "their feet and were edging nearer. Some looked apprehensive, others entertained. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Snape lay panting on the ground. James and Sirius advanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "on him, wands raised, James glancing over his shoulder at the girls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "at the water's edge as he went. Wormtail was on his feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "now, watching hungrily, edging around Lupin to get a clearer view. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'How'd the exam go, Snivelly?' said James. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment,' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "viciously. There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "able to read a word.' Several people watching laughed;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Snape was clearly unpopular. Wormtail sniggered shrilly. Snape was trying to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "up, but the jinx was still operating on him; he was struggling,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "as though bound by invisible ropes. 'You - wait,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he panted, staring up at James with an expression of purest loathing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'you - wait!' 'Wait for what?' said Sirius coolly. 'What're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " Snape let out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "but with his wand ten feet away nothing happened. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Wash out your mouth,' said James coldly. 'Scourgify!' Pink","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once; the froth was covering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his lips, making him gag, choking him - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Leave him ALONE!' James and Sirius looked round. James's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "free hand immediately jumped to his hair. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "one of the girls from the lake edge. She had thick, dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "red hair that fell to her shoulders, and startlingly green almond-shaped eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "- Harry's eyes. Harry's mother. 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "right, Evans?' said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pleasant, deeper, more mature. 'Leave him alone,' Lily repeated.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. 'What's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "he done to you?' 'Well,' said James, appearing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "deliberate the point, 'it's more the fact that he exists, if you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "know what I mean . . .' Many of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the surrounding students laughed, Sirius and Wormtail included, but Lupin, still apparently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "intent on his book, didn't, and nor did Lily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'You think you're funny,' she said coldly. 'But you're just an arrogant,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone.' 'I will if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you go out with me, Evans,' said James quickly. 'Go on .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" ". . go out with me and I'll never lay a wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "on old Snivelly again.' Behind him, the Impediment Jinx","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was wearing off. Snape was beginning to inch towards his fallen wand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "spitting out soapsuds as he crawled. 'I wouldn't go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "out with you if it was a choice between you and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "giant squid,' said Lily. 'Bad luck, Prongs,' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "briskly, and turned back to Snape. 'OI!' But too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "face, spattering his robes with blood. James whirled about: a second flash","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of light later, Snape was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of greying underpants. Many people in the small crowd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "cheered; Sirius, James and Wormtail roared with laughter. Lily,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "going to smile, said, 'Let him down!' 'Certainly,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James and he jerked his wand upwards; Snape fell into a crumpled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, 'Petrificus Totalus!' and Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "keeled over again, rigid as a board. 'LEAVE HIM","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "ALONE!' Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Sirius eyed it warily. 'Ah, Evans, don't make me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "hex you,' said James earnestly. Take the curse off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "him, then!' James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "and muttered the counter-curse. There you go,' he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "as Snape struggled to his feet. 'You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "- ' 'I don't need help from filthy little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Mudbloods like her!' Lily blinked. 'Fine,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "she said coolly. 'I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "pants if I were you, Snivellus.' 'Apologise to Evans!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'I don't want you to make him apologise,' Lily shouted, rounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "on James. 'You're as bad as he is.' 'What?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "yelped James. 'Id NEVER call you a - you-know-what!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "you can - I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "with that fat head on it. You make me SICK.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " She turned on her heel and hurried away. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Evans!' James shouted after her. 'Hey, EVANS!' But she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "didn't look back. 'What is it with her?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "James, trying and failing to look as though this was a throwaway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "question of no real importance to him. 'Reading between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Sirius. 'Right,' said James, who looked furious now, 'right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "- ' There was another flash of light, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Snape was once again hanging upside-down in the air. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "But whether James really did take off Snape's pants, Harry never found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "out. A hand had closed tight over his upper arm, closed with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "a pincer-like grip. Wincing, Harry looked round to see who had hold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of him, and saw, with a thrill of horror, a fully grown,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "adult-sized Snape standing right beside him, white with rage. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Having fun?' Harry felt himself rising into the air;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the summer's day evaporated around him; he was floating upwards through icy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "blackness, Snape's hand still tight upon his upper arm. Then, with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "swooping feeling as though he had turned head-over-heels in midair, his feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "hit the stone floor of Snape's dungeon and he was standing again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "beside the Pensieve on Snape's desk in the shadowy, present-day Potion master's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "study. 'So,' said Snape, gripping Harry's arm so tightly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Harry's hand was starting to feel numb. 'So . . . been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "enjoying yourself, Potter?' 'N-no,' said Harry, trying to free","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his arm. It was scary: Snape's lips were shaking,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "his face was white, his teeth were bared. 'Amusing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "man, your father, wasn't he?' said Snape, shaking Harry so hard his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "glasses slipped down his nose. 'I - didn't -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "' Snape threw Harry from him with all his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "might. Harry fell hard on to the dungeon floor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'You will not repeat what you saw to anybody!' Snape bellowed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" " 'No,' said Harry, getting to his feet as far from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Snape as he could. 'No, of course I w- ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "'Get out, get out, I don't want to see you in this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "office ever again!' And as Harry hurtled towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "door, a jar of dead cockroaches exploded over his head. He wrenched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the door open and Hew along the corridor, stopping only when he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "had put three floors between himself and Snape. There he leaned against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "the wall, panting, and rubbing his bruised arm. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "had no desire at all to return to Gryffindor Tower so early,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "nor to tell Ron and Hermione what he had just seen. What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "was making Harry feel so horrified and unhappy was not being shouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "at or having jars thrown at him; it was that he knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "how it felt to be humiliated in the middle of a circle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "of onlookers, knew exactly how Snape had felt as his father had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "taunted him, and that judging from what he had just seen, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "father had been every bit as arrogant as Snape had always told him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-28" "Careers Advice 'But why haven't you got Occlumency lessons any more?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Hermione, frowning. 'I've told you,' Harry muttered. 'Snape reckons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "I can carry on by myself now I've got the basics.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'So you've stopped having funny dreams?' said Hermione sceptically. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Pretty much,' said Harry, not looking at her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Well, I don't think Snape should stop until you're absolutely sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you can control them!' said Hermione indignantly. 'Harry, I think you should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "go back to him and ask - ' 'No,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Harry forcefully. 'Just drop it, Hermione, OK?' It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was the first day of the Easter holidays and Hermione, as was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her custom, had spent a large part of the day drawing up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "revision timetables for the three of them. Harry and Ron had let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her do it; ii. was easier than arguing with her and, in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "any case, they might come in useful. Ron had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "been startled to discover there were only six weeks left until their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "exams. 'How can that come as a shock?' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "demanded, as she tapped each little square on Ron's timetable with her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "wand so that il flashed a different colour according to its subject.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I dunno,' said Ron, 'there's been a lot going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "on.' 'Well, there you are,' she said, handing him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his timetable, 'if you follow that you should do fine.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Ron looked down it gloomily, but then brightened. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'You've given me an evening off every week!' 'That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "for Quidditch practice,' said Hermione. The smile faded from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Ron's face. 'What's the point?' he said dully. 'We've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "got about as much chance of winning the Quidditch Cup this year","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "as Dad's got of becoming Minister for Magic.' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said nothing; she was looking at Harry, who was staring blankly at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the opposite wall of the common room while Crookshanks pawed at his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hand, trying to get his ears scratched. 'What's wrong,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry?' 'What?' he said quickly. 'Nothing.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "He seized his copy of Defensive Magical Theory and pretended to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "looking something up in the index. Crookshanks gave him up as a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "bad job and slunk away under Hermione's chair. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "saw Cho earlier,' said Hermione tentatively. 'She looked really miserable, too .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . have you two had a row again?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Wha- oh, yeah, we have,' said Harry, seizing gratefully on the excuse.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'What about?' That sneak friend of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hers, Marietta,' said Harry. 'Yeah, well, I don't blame","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you!' said Ron angrily, setting down his revision timetable. 'If it hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "been for her . . .' Ron went into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a rant about Marietta Edgecombe, which Harry found helpful; all he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to do was look angry, nod and say 'Yeah' and That's right'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "whenever Ron drew breath, leaving his mind free to dwell, ever more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "miserably, on what he had seen in the Pensieve. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "He felt as though the memory of it was eating him from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "inside. He had been so sure his parents were wonderful people that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he had never had the slightest difficulty in disbelieving the aspersions Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "cast on his father's character. Hadn't people like Hagrid and Sirius told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry how wonderful his father had been? (Yeah, well, look what Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was like himself, said a nagging voice inside Harry's head . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". he was as bad, wasn't he?) Yes, he had once overheard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Professor McGonagall saying that his father and Sirius had been troublemakers at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "school, but she had described them as forerunners of the Weasley twins,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and Harry could not imagine Fred and George dangling someone upside-down for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the fun of it . . . not unless they really loathed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "them . . . perhaps Malfoy or somebody who really deserved it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". Harry tried to make a case for Snape","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "having deserved what he had suffered at James's hands: but hadn't Lily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "asked, 'What's he done to you?' And hadn't James replied, 'It's more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean.' Hadn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "James started it all simply because Sirius had said he was bored?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry remembered Lupin saying back in Grimmauld Place that Dumbledore had made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "him prefect in the hope that he would be able to exercise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "some control over James and Sirius . . . but in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Pensieve, he had sat there and let it all happen . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". Harry kept reminding himself that Lily had intervened;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his mother had been decent. Yet, the memory of the look on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her face as she had shouted at James disturbed him quite as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "much as anything else; she had clearly loathed James, and Harry simply","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "could not understand how they could have ended up married. Once or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "twice he even wondered whether James had forced her into it .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . For nearly five years the thought of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his father had been a source of comfort, of inspiration. Whenever someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "had told him he was like James, he had glowed with pride","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "inside. And now . . . now he felt cold and miserable","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "at the thought of him. The weather grew breezier,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "brighter and warmer as the Easter holidays passed, but Harry, along with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the rest of the fifth- and seventh-years, was trapped inside, revising, traipsing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "back and forth to the library. Harry pretended his bad mood had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "no other cause but the approaching exams, and as his fellow Gryffindors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "were sick of studying themselves, his excuse went unchallenged. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Harry, I'm talking to you, can you hear me?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Huh?' He looked round. Ginny Weasley, looking very windswept,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "had joined him at the library table where he had been sitting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "alone. It was late on Sunday evening: Hermione had gone back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Gryffindor Tower to revise Ancient Runes, and Ron had Quidditch practice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Oh, hi,' said Harry, pulling his books towards him. 'How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "come you're not at practice?' 'It's over,' said Ginny.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Ron had to take Jack Sloper up to the hospital wing.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Why?' 'Well, we're not sure, but we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "think he knocked himself out with his own bat.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "She sighed heavily. 'Anyway . . . a package just arrived, it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "only just got through Umbridge's new screening process.' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hoisted a box wrapped in brown paper on to the table; it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "had clearly been unwrapped and carelessly re-wrapped. There was a scribbled note","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "across it in red ink, reading: Inspected and Passed by the Hogwarts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "High Inquisitor. 'It's Easter eggs from Mum,' said Ginny.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "There's one for you . . . there you go.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " She handed him a handsome chocolate egg decorated with small, iced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Snitches and, according to the packaging, containing a bag of Fizzing Whizzbees.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry looked at it for a moment, then, to his horror, felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a lump rise in his throat. 'Are you OK,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry?' Ginny asked quietly. 'Yeah, I'm fine,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "gruffly. The lump in his throat was painful. He did not understand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "why an Easter egg should have made him feel like this. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'You seem really down lately,' Ginny persisted. 'You know, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "sure if you just talked to Cho . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'It's not Cho I want to talk to,' said Harry brusquely.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Who is it, then?' asked Ginny, watching him closely.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I . . .' He glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "around to make quite sure nobody was listening. Madam Pince was several","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "shelves away, stamping out a pile cf books for a frantic-looking Hannah","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Abbott. 'I wish I could talk to Sirius,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "muttered. 'But I know I can't.' Ginny continued to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "watch him thoughtfully. More to give himself something to do than because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he really wanted any, Harry unwrapped his Easter egg, broke off a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "large bit and put it into his mouth. 'Well,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Ginny slowly, helping herself to a bit of egg, too, 'if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you really want to talk to Sirius, I expect we could think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of a way to do it.' 'Come on,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry dully. 'With Umbridge policing the fires and reading all our mail?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " The thing about growing up with Fred and George,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Ginny thoughtfully, 'is that you sort of start thinking anything's possible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "if you've got enough nerve.' Harry looked at her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Perhaps it was the effect of the chocolate - '- Lupin had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "always advised eating some after encounters with Dementors - or simply because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he had finally spoken aloud the wish that had been burning inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "him for a week, but he felt a bit more hopeful. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Oh damn,' whispered Ginny, jumping to her feet. 'I forgot - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Madam Pince was swooping down on them, her shrivelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "face contorted with rage. 'Chocolate in the library!' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "screamed. 'Out - out - OUT!' And whipping out her wand, she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "caused Harry's books, bag and ink bottle to chase him and Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "from the library, whacking them repeatedly over the head as they ran.*As","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "though to underline the importance of their upcoming examinations, a batch of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "pamphlets, leaflets and notices concerning various wizarding careers appeared on the tables","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "in Gryffindor Tower shortly before the end of the holidays, along with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "yet another notice on the board, which read:CAREERS ADVICEAll fifth-years are required","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to attend a short meeting with theirHead of House during the first week","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of the summer term to discusstheir future careers. Times of individual appointments","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "are listed below.Harry looked down the list and found that he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "expected in Professor McGonagall's office at half past two on Monday, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "would mean missing most of Divination. He and the other fifth-years spent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a considerable part of the final weekend of the Easter break reading","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "all the careers information that had been left there for their perusal.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Well, I don't fancy Healing,' said Ron on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "last evening of the holidays. He was immersed in a leaflet that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "carried the crossed bone-and-wand emblem of St Mungo's on its front. 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "says here you need at least `E` at NEWT level in Potions,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts. I mean .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . blimey . . . don't want much, do they?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Well, it's a very responsible job, isn't it?' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "absently. She was poring over a bright pink and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "orange leaflet, that was headed, 'SO YOU THINK YOU'D LIKE TO WORK","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "IN MUGGLE RELATIONS?' 'You don't seem to need many qualifications to liaise","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "with Muggles; all they want is an OWL in Muggle Studies: Much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "more important is your enthusiasm, patience and a good sense of fun!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'You'd need more than a good sense of fun","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to liaise with my uncle,' said Harry darkly. 'Good sense of when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to duck, more like.' He was halfway through a pamphlet on wizard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "banking. 'Listen to this: Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "adventure and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse-Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . They want Arithmancy, though; you could do it, Hermione!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I don't much fancy banking,' said Hermione vaguely, now immersed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "in: 'HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO TRAIN SECURITY TROLLS?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Hey,' said a voice in Harry's ear. He looked round;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Fred and George had come to join them. 'Ginny's had a word","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "with us about you,' said Fred, stretching out his legs on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "table in front of them and causing several booklets on careers with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the Ministry of Magic to slide off on to the floor. 'She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "says you need to talk to Sirius?' 'What?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Hermione sharply, freezing with her hand halfway towards picking up 'MAKE A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "BANG AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGICAL ACCIDENTS AND CATASTROPHES'. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Yeah . . .' said Harry, trying to sound casual, 'yeah, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "thought I'd like - ' 'Don't be so ridiculous,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Hermione, straightening up and looking at him as though she could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "not believe her eyes. 'With Umbridge groping around in the fires and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "frisking all the owls?' 'Well, we think we can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "find a way around that,' said George, stretching and smiling. 'It's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "simple matter of causing a diversion. Now, you might have noticed that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "we have been rather quiet on the mayhem front during the Easter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "holidays?' 'What was the point, we asked ourselves, of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "disrupting leisure time?' continued Fred. 'No point at all, we answered ourselves.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "And of course, we'd have messed up people's revision, too, which would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "be the very last thing we'd want to do.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "He gave Hermione a sanctimonious little nod. She looked rather taken aback","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "by this thoughtfulness. 'But it's business as usual from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "tomorrow,' Fred continued briskly. 'And if we're going to be causing a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "bit of uproar, why not do it so that Harry can have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his chat with Sirius?' 'Yes, but still,' said Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "with an air of explaining something very simple to somebody very obtuse,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'even if you do cause a diversion, how is Harry supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "talk to him?' 'Umbridge's office,' said Harry quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " He had been thinking about it for a fortnight and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "could come up with no alternative. Umbridge herself had told him that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the only fire that was not being watched was her own. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Are - you - insane?' said Hermione in a hushed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "voice. Ron had lowered his leaflet on jobs in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the Cultivated Fungus Trade and was watching the conversation warily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I don't think so,' said Harry, shrugging. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "how are you going to get in there in the first place?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Harry was ready for this question. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Sirius's knife,' he said. 'Excuse me?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Christmas before last Sirius gave me a knife that'll open any lock,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Harry. 'So even if she's bewitched the door so Alahomora won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "work, which I bet she has - ' 'What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "do you think about this?' Hermione demanded of Ron, and Harry was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "reminded irresistibly of Mrs Weasley appealing to her husband during Harry's first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "dinner in Grimmauld Place. 'I dunno,' said Ron, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "alarmed at being asked to give an opinion. 'If Harry wants to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "do it, it's up to him, isn't it?' 'Spoken","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "like a true friend and Weasley,' said Fred, clapping Ron hard on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the back. 'Right, then. We're thinking of doing it tomorrow, just after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "lessons, because it should cause maximum impact ii everybody's in the corridors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "- Harry, we'll set it off in the east wing somewhere, draw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her right away from her own office - I reckon we should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "be able to guarantee you, what, twenty minutes?' he said, looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "George. 'Easy,' said George. 'What sort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of diversion is it?' asked Ron. 'You'll see, little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "bro', said Fred, as he and George got up again. 'At least,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you will if you trot along to Gregory the Smarmy's corridor round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "about five o'clock tomorrow.'*Harry awoke very early the next day, feeling almost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "as anxious as he had done on the morning of his disciplinary","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hearing at the Ministry of Magic. It was not only the prospect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of breaking into Umbridge's office and using her fire to speak to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Sirius that was making him feel nervous, though that was certainly bad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "enough; today also happened to be the first time Harry would be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "in close proximity to Snape since Snape had thrown him out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his office. After lying in bed for a while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "thinking about the day ahead, Harry got up very quietly and moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "across to the window beside Neville's bed, and stared out on a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "truly glorious morning. The sky was a clear, misty, opalescent blue. Directly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "ahead of him, Harry could see the towering beech tree below which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his father had once tormented Snape. He was not sure what Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "could possibly say to him that would make up for what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "had seen in the Pensieve, but he was desperate to hear Sirius's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "own account of what had happened, to know of any mitigating factors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "there might have been, any excuse at all for his fathers behaviour","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . . Something caught Harry's attention: movement on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Harry squinted into the sun and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "saw Hagrid emerging from between the trees. He seemed to be limping.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "As Harry watched, Hagrid staggered to the door of his cabin and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "disappeared inside it. Harry watched the cabin for several minutes. Hagrid did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "not emerge again, but smoke furled from the chimney, so Hagrid could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "not be so badly injured that he was unequal tc stoking the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "fire. Harry turned away from the window, headed back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to his trunk and started to dress. With the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "prospect of forcing entry into Umbridge's office ahead. Harry had never expected","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the day to be a restful one, but he had not reckoned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "on Hermione's almost continual attempts to dissuade him from what he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "planning to do at five o'clock. For the first time ever, she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was at least as inattentive to Professor Binns in ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "History of Magic as Harry and Ron were, keeping up a stream","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of whispered admonitions that Harry tried very hard to ignore. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " '. . . and if she does catch you there, apart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "from being expelled, she'll be able to guess you've been talking to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Snuffles and this time I expect she'll force you to drink Veritaserum","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and answer her questions . . .' 'Hermione,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Ron in a low and indignant voice, 'are you going to stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "telling Harry off and listen to Binns, or am I going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "have to take my own notes?' 'You take notes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "for a change, it won't kill you!' By the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "time they reached the dungeons, neither Harry nor Ron was speaking to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Hermione. Undeterred, she took advantage of their silence to maintain an uninterrupted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "flow oi dire warnings, all uttered under her breath in a vehement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hiss that caused Seamus to waste five whole minutes checking his cauldron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "for leaks. Snape, meanwhile, seemed to have decided to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "act as though Harry were invisible. Harry was, of course, well-used to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "this tactic, as it was one of Uncle Vernons favourites, and on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the whole was grateful he had to suffer nothing worse. In fact,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "compared to what he usually had to endure from Snape in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "way of taunts and snide remarks, he found the new approach something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of an improvement, and was pleased to find that when left well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "alone, he was able to concoct an Invigoration Draught quite easily. At","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the end of the lesson he scooped some of the potion into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a flask, corked it and took it up to Snape's desk for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "marking, feeling that he might at last have scraped an 'E'. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " He had just turned away when he heard a smashing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "noise. Malfoy gave a gleeful yell of laughter. Harry whipped around. His potion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "sample lay in pieces on the floor and Snape was surveying him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "with a look of gloating pleasure. 'Whoops,' he said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "softly. 'Another zero, then, Potter.' Harry was too incensed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to speak. He strode back to his cauldron, intending to fill another","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "flask and force Snape to mark it, but saw to his horror","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "that the rest of the contents had vanished. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "sorry!' said Hermione, with her hands over her mouth. I'm really sorry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry. I thought you'd finished, so I cleared up!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry could not bring himself to answer. When the bell rang, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hurried out of the dungeon without a backwards glance, and made sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "that he found himself a seat between Neville and Seamus for lunch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "so that Hermione could not start nagging him again about using Umbridge's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "office. He was in such a bad mood by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the time he got to Divination that he had quite forgotten his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "careers appointment with Professor McGonagall, remembering it only when Ron asked him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "why he wasn't in her office. He hurtled back upstairs and arrived","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "out of breath, only a few minutes late. 'Sorry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Professor,' he panted, as he closed the door. 'I forgot.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'No matter, Potter,' she said briskly, but as she spoke, somebody","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "else sniffed from the corner. Harry looked round. Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Umbridge was sitting there, a clipboard on her knee, a fussy little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "pie-frill around her neck and a small, horribly smug smile on her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "face. 'Sit down, Potter,' said Professor McGonagall tersely. Her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hands shook slightly as she shuffled the many pamphlets littering her desk.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Harry sat down with his back to Umbridge and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "did his best to pretend he could not hear the scratching of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her quill on her clipboard. 'Well, Potter, this meeting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "is to talk over any career ideas you might have, and to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "help you decide which subjects you should continue into the sixth and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "seventh years,' said Professor McGonagall. 'Have you had any thoughts about what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you would like to do after you leave Hogwarts?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Er - ' said Harry. He was finding the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "scratching noise from behind him very distracting. 'Yes?' Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "McGonagall prompted Harry. 'Well, I thought of, maybe, being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "an Auror,' Harry mumbled. 'You'd need top grades for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "that,' said Professor McGonagall, extracting a small, dark leaflet from under the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "mass on her desk and opening it. They ask for a minimum","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of five NEWTs, and nothing under `Exceeds Expectations` grade, I see. Then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you would be required to undergo a stringent series of character and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "aptitude tests at the Auror office. It's a difficult career path, Potter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "they only take the best. In fact, I don't think anybody has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "been taken on in the last three years.' At","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "this moment, Professor Umbridge gave a very tiny cough, as though she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was trying to see how quietly she could do it. Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "ignored her. 'You'll want to know which subjects you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "ought to take, I suppose?' she went on, talking a little louder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "than before. 'Yes,' said Harry. 'Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Arts, I suppose?' 'Naturally,' said Professor McGonagall crisply. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "would also advise -' Professor Umbridge gave another cough,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a little more audible this time. Professor McGonagall closed her eyes for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a moment, opened them again, and continued as though nothing had happened.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I would also advise Transfiguration, because Aurors frequently need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to Transfigure or Untransfigure in their work. And I ought to tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you now, Potter, that I do not accept students into my NEWT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "classes unless they have achieved `Exceeds Expectations` or higher at Ordinary Wizarding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Level. I'd say you're averaging `Acceptable` at the moment, so you'll need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to put in some good hard work before the exams to stand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a chance of continuing. Then you ought to do Charms, always useful,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and Potions. Yes, Potter, Potions,' she added, with the merest flicker of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a smile. 'Poisons and antidotes are essential study for Aurors. And I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "must tell you that Professor Snape absolutely refuses to take students who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "get anything other than `Outstanding` in their OWLs, so - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Professor Umbridge gave her most pronounced cough yet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'May I offer you a cough drop, Dolores?' Professor McGonagall asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "curtly, without looking at Professor Umbridge. 'Oh, no, thank","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you very much,' said Umbridge, with that simpering laugh Harry hated so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "much. 'I just wondered whether I could make the teensiest interruption, Minerva?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I daresay you'll find you can,' said Professor McGonagall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "through tightly gritted teeth. 'I was just wondering whether","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Mr Potter has quite the temperament for an Auror?' said Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "sweetly. 'Were you?' said Professor McGonagall haughtily. 'Well, Potter,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "she continued, as though there had been no interruption, if you are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "serious in this ambition, I would advise you to concentrate hard on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "bringing your Transfiguration and Potions up to scratch. I see Professor Flitwick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "has graded you between `Acceptable` and `Exceeds Expectations` for the last two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "years, so your Charmwork seems satisfactory. As for Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Arts, your marks have been generally high, Professor Lupin in particular thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you - are you quite sure you wouldn't like a cough drop,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Dolores?' 'Oh, no need, thank you, Minerva,' simpered Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Umbridge, who had just coughed her loudest yet. 'I was just concerned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "that you might not have Harry's most recent Defence Against the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Arts marks in front of you. I'm quite sure I slipped in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a note.' 'What, this thing?' said Professor McGonagall in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a tone of revulsion, as she pulled a sheet of pink parchment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "from between the leaves of Harry's folder. She glanced down it, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "eyebrows slightly raised, then placed it back into the folder without comment.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Yes, as I was saying, Potter, Professor Lupin thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you showed a pronounced aptitude for the subject, and obviously for an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Auror - ' 'Did you not understand my note,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Minerva?' asked Professor Umbndge in honeyed tones, quite forgetting to cough. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Of course I understood it,' said Professor McGonagall, her teeth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "clenched so tightly the words came out a little muffled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Well, then, I am confused . . . I'm afraid I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "don't quite understand how you can give Mr Potter false hope that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "- ' 'False hope?' repeated Professor McGonagall, still refusing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to look round at Professor Umbridge. 'He has achieved high marks in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "all his Defence Against the Dark Arts tests - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I'm terribly sorry to have to contradict you, Minerva, but as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you will see from my note, Harry has been achieving very poor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "results in his classes with me - ' 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "should have made my meaning plainer,' said Professor McGonagall, turning at last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to look Umbridge directly in the eyes. 'He has achieved high marks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "in all Defence Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "teacher.' Professor Umbridge's smile vanished as suddenly as a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "light bulb blowing. She sat back in her chair, turned a sheet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "on her clipboard and began scribbling very fast indeed, her bulging eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "rolling from side to side. Professor McGonagall turned back to Harry, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "thin nostrils flared, her eyes burning. 'Any questions, Potter?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Yes,' said Harry. 'What sort of character and aptitude","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "tests do the Ministry do on you, if you get enough NEWTs?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Well, you'll need to demonstrate the ability to react","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "well to pressure and so forth,' said Professor McGonagall, 'perseverance and dedication,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "because Auror training takes a further three years, not to mention very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "high skills in practical Defence. It will mean a lot more study","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "even after you've left school, so unless you're prepared to - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I think you'll also find,' said Umbridge, her voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "very cold now, 'that the Ministry looks into the records of those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "applying to be Aurors. Their criminal records.' '- unless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you're prepared to take even more exams after Hogwarts, you should really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "look at another - ' 'Which means that this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "boy has as much chance of becoming an Auror as Dumbledore has","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of ever returning to this school.' 'A very good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "chance, then,' said Professor McGonagall. 'Potter has a criminal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "record,' said Umbridge loudly. 'Potter has been cleared of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "all charges,' said McGonagall, even more loudly. Professor Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "stood up. She was so short that this did not make a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "great deal of difference, but her fussy, simpering demeanour had given place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to a hard fury that made her broad, flabby face look oddly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "sinister. 'Potter has no chance whatsoever of becoming an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Auror!' Professor McGonagall got to her feet, too, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "in her case this was a much more impressive move: she towered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "over Professor Umbridge. 'Potter,' she said in ringing tones,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'I will assist you to become an Auror if it is the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "last thing I do! If I have to coach you nightly, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "will make sure you achieve the required results!' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Minister for Magic will never employ Harry Potter!' said Umbridge, her voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "rising furiously. There may well be a new Minister","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "for Magic by the time Potter is ready to join!' shouted Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "McGonagall. 'Aha! shrieked Professor Umbridge, pointing a stubby linger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "at McGonagall. 'Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Of course! That's what you want, isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "it, Minerva McGonagall? You want Cornelius Fudge replaced by Albus Dumbledore! You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "think you'll be where I am, don't you: Senior Undersecretary to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Minister and Headmistress to boot!' 'You are raving,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Professor McGonagall, superbly disdainful. Totter, that concludes our careers consultation.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Harry swung his bag over his shoulder and hurried out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the room, not daring to look at Professor Umbridge. He could hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her and Professor McGonagall continuing to shout at each other all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "way back along the corridor. Professor Umbridge was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "breathing as though she had just run a race when she strode","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "into their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson that afternoon. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I hope you've thought better of what you were planning to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "do, Harry,' Hermione whispered, the moment they had opened their books to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Chapter Thirty-four, Non-Retaliation and Negotiation'. 'Umbridge looks like she's in a really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "bad mood already . . .' Every now and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "then Umbridge shot glowering looks at Harry, who kept his head down,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "staring at Defensive Magical Theory, his eyes unfocused, thinking . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " He could just imagine Professor McGonagall's reaction if he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was caught trespassing in Professor Umbridge's office mere hours after she had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "vouched for him . . . there was nothing to stop him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "simply going back to Gryffindor Tower and hoping that some time during","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the next summer holidays he would have a chance to ask Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "about the scene he had witnessed in the Pensieve . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "nothing, except that the thought of taking this sensible course of action","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "made him feel as though a lead weight had dropped into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "stomach . . . and then there was the matter of Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and George, whose diversion was already planned, not to mention the knife","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Sirius had given him, which was currently residing in his schoolbag along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "with his father's old Invisibility Cloak. But the fact","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "remained that if he was caught . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Dumbledore sacrificed himself to keep you in school, Harry!' whispered Hermione, raising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her book to hide her face from Umbridge. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "if you get thrown out today it will all have been for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "nothing!' He could abandon the plan and simply learn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to live with the memory of what his father had done on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a summer's day more than twenty years ago . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " And then he remembered Sirius in the fire upstairs in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the Gryffindor common room . . . You're less","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "like your father than I thought . . . the risk would've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "been what made it fun for James . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " But did he want to be like his father any more?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Harry, don't do it, please don't do it!' Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said in anguished tones as the bell rang at the end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the class. He did not answer; he did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "know what to do. Ron seemed determined to give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "neither his opinion nor his advice; he would not look at Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "though when Hermione opened her mouth to try dissuading Harry some more,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he said in a low voice, 'Give it a rest, OK? He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "can make up his own mind.' Harry's heart beat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "very fast as he left the classroom. He was halfway along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "corridor outside when he heard the unmistakeable sounds of a diversion going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "off in the distance. There were screams and yells reverberating from somewhere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "above them; people exiting the classrooms all around Harry were stopping in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "their tracks and looking up at the ceiling fearfully - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Umbridge came pelting out of her classroom as fast as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her short legs would carry her. Pulling out her wand, she hurried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "off in the opposite direction: it was now or never. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Harry - please!' Hermione pleaded weakly. But he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "had made up his mind; hitching his bag more securely on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his shoulder, he set off at a run, weaving in and out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of students now hurrying in the opposite direction to see what all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the fuss was about in the east wing. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "reached the corridor to Umbridge's office and found it deserted. Dashing behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a large suit of armour whose helmet creaked around to watch him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he pulled open his bag, seized Sirius's knife and donned the Invisibility","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Cloak. He then crept slowly and carefully back out from behind the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "suit of armour and along the corridor until he reached Umbridge's door.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " He inserted the blade of the magical knife into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the crack around it and moved it gently up and down, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "withdrew it. There was a tiny click, and the door swung open.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "He ducked inside the office, closed the door quickly behind him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "looked around. Nothing was moving except the horrible kittens","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "that were still frolicking on the wall plates above the confiscated broomsticks.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Harry pulled off his Cloak and, striding over to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the fireplace, found what he was looking for within seconds: a small","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "box containing glittering Floo powder. He crouched down in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "front of the empty grate, his hands shaking. He had never done","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "this before, though he thought he knew how it must work. Sticking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his head into the fireplace, he took a large pinch of powder","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and dropped it on to the logs stacked neatly beneath him. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "exploded at once into emerald green flames. 'Number twelve,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Grimmauld Place!' Harry said loudly and clearly It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "one of the most curious sensations he had ever experienced. He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "travelled by Floo powder before, of course, but then it had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his entire body that had spun around and around ir. the flames","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "through the network of wizarding fireplaces that stretchec over the country. This","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "time, his knees remained firm upon the cole floor of Umbridge's office,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and only his head hurtled through the emerald fire . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " And then, as abruptly as it had begun, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "spinning stopped. Feeling rather sick and as though he were wearing an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "exceptionally hot muffler around his head, Harry opened his eyes to find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "that he was looking up out of the kitchen fireplace at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "long, wooden table, where a man sat poring over a piece of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "parchment. 'Sirius?' The man jumped and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "looked around. It was not Sirius, bu. Lupin. 'Harry!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he said, looking thoroughly shocked. 'What are you - 'what's happened, is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "everything all right?' 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'I just wondered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "- I mean, I just fancied a - 'a chat with Sirius.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I'll call him,' said Lupin, getting to his feet,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "still looking perplexed, 'he went upstairs to look for Kreacher, he seems","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to be hiding in the attic again . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " And Harry saw Lupin hurry out of the kitchen. Now he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was left with nothing to look at but the chair and table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "legs. He wondered why Sirius had never mentioned how very uncomfortable it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was to speak out of the fire; his knees were already objecting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "painfully to their prolonged contact with Umbridge's hard stone floor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Lupin returned with Sirius at his heels moments later. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'What is it?' said Sirius urgently, sweeping his long dark hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "out of his eyes and dropping to the ground in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the fire, so that he and Harry were on a level. Lupin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "knelt down too, looking very concerned. 'Are you all right? Do you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "need help?' 'No,' said Harry, 'it's nothing like that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . . I just wanted to talk . . . about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "my dad.' They exchanged a look of great surprise,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "but Harry did not have time to feel awkward or embarrassed; his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "knees were becoming sorer by the second and he guessed five minutes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "had already passed from the start of the diversion; George had only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "guaranteed him twenty. He therefore plunged immediately into the story of what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he had seen in the Pensieve. When he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "finished, neither Sirius nor Lupin spoke for a moment. Then Lupin said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "quietly, 'I wouldn't like you to judge your father on what you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "saw there, Harry. He was only fifteen - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'I'm fifteen' said Harry heatedly. 'Look, Harry' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "placatingly, 'James and Snape hated each other from the moment they set","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "eyes on each other, it was just one of those things, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "can understand that, can't you? I think James was everything Snape wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to be - he was popular, he was good at Quidditch -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "good at pretty much everything. And Snape was just this little oddball","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "who was up to his eyes in the Dark Arts, and James","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "- whatever else he may have appeared to you, Harry - always","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hated the Dark Arts.' 'Yeah,' said Harry, 'but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "just attacked Snape for no good reason, just because - well, just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "because you said you were bored,' he finished, with a slightly apologetic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "note in his voice. 'I'm not proud of it,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Sirius quickly. Lupin looked sideways at Sirius, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said, 'Look, Harry, what you've got to understand is that your father","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and Sirius were the best in the school at whatever they did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "- everyone thought they were the height of cool - if they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "sometimes got a bit carried away - ' 'If","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "we were sometimes arrogant little berks, you mean,' said Sirius. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Lupin smiled. 'He kept messing up his hair,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Harry in a pained voice. Sirius and Lupin laughed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I'd forgotten he used to do that,' said Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "affectionately. 'Was he playing with the Snitch?' said Lupin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "eagerly. 'Yeah,' said Harry, watching uncomprehendingly as Sirius and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Lupin beamed reminiscently. 'Well . . . I thought he was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "bit of an idiot.' 'Of course he was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "bit of an idiot!' said Sirius bracingly, 'we were all idiots! Well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "- not Moony so much,' he said fairly, looking at Lupin. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " But Lupin shook his head. 'Did I ever tell you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to lay off Snape?' he said. 'Did I ever have the guts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to tell you I thought you were out of order?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Yeah, well,' said Sirius, 'you made us feel ashamed of ourselves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "sometimes . . . that was something . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'And,' said Harry doggedly, determined to say everything that was on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his mind now he was here, 'he kept looking over at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "girls by the lake, hoping they were watching him!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Oh, well, he always made a fool of himself whenever Lily was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "around,' said Sirius, shrugging, 'he couldn't stop himself showing off whenever he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "got near her.' 'How come she married him?' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "asked miserably. 'She hated him!' 'Nah, she didn't,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Sirius. 'She started going out with him in seventh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "year,' said Lupin. 'Once James had deflated his head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a bit,' said Sirius. 'And stopped hexing people just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "for the fun of it,' said Lupin. 'Even Snape?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Harry. 'Well,' said Lupin slowly, 'Snape was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "special case. I mean, he never lost an opportunity to curse James","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "so you couldn't really expect James to take that lying down, could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you?' 'And my mum was OK with that?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'She didn't know too much about it, to tell you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the truth,' said Sirius. 'I mean, James didn't take Snape on dates","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "with her and jinx him in front of her, did he?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Sirius frowned at Harry, who was still looking unconvinced. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Look,' he said, 'your father was the best friend I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "ever had and he was a good person. A lot of people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "are idiots at the age of fifteen. He grew out of it.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Yeah, OK,' said Harry heavily. 'I just never thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "I'd feel sorry for Snape.' 'Now you mention it,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Lupin, a faint crease between his eyebrows, 'how did Snape react","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "when he found you'd seen all this?' 'He told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "me he'd never teach me Occlumency again,' said Harry indifferently, 'like that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a big disappoint- 'He WHAT?' shouted Sirius, causing Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to jump and inhale a mouthful of ashes. 'Are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "you serious, Harry?' said Lupin quickly. 'He's stopped giving you lessons?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Yeah,' said Harry, surprised at what he considered a great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "over-reaction. 'But it's OK, I don't care, it's a bit of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "relief to tell you the - ' 'I'm coming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "up there to have a word with Snape!' said Sirius forcefully, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he actually made to stand up, but Lupin wrenched him back down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "again. 'If anyone's going to tell Snape it will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "be me!' he said firmly. 'But Harry, first of all, you're to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "go back to Snape and tell him that on no account is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "he to stop giving you lessons - when Dumbledore hears - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'I can't tell him that, he'd kill me!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Harry, outraged. 'You didn't see him when we got out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Pensieve.' 'Harry there is nothing so important as you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "learning Occlumency!' said Lupin sternly. 'Do you understand me? Nothing!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'OK, OK,' said Harry, thoroughly discomposed, not to mention annoyed. 'I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . . I'll try and say something to him . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". but it won't be - ' He fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "silent. He could hear distant footsteps. 'Is that Kreacher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "coming downstairs?' 'No,' said Sirius, glancing behind him. 'It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "must be somebody your end.' Harry's heart skipped several","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "beats. 'I'd better go!' he said hastily and pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his head backwards out of the Grimmauld Place fire. For a moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "his head seemed to be revolving on his shoulders, then he found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "himself kneeling in front of Umbridge's fire with it firmly back on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and watching the emerald flames flicker and die. 'Quickly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "quickly!' he heard a wheezy voice mutter right outside the office door.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Ah, she's left it open - ' Harry dived","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "for the Invisibility Cloak and had just managed to pull it back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "over himself when Filch burst into the office. He looked absolutely delighted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "about something and was talking to himself feverishly as he crossed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "room, pulled open a drawer in Umbridge's desk and began rifling through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the papers inside it. 'Approval for Whipping . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". Approval for Whipping . . . I can do it at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "last . . . they've had it coming to them for years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ". . .' He pulled out a piece of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "parchment, kissed it, then shuffled rapidly back out of the door, clutching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "it to his chest. Harry leapt to his feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and, making sure he had his bag and that the Invisibility Cloak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "was completely covering him, he wrenched open the door and hurried out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of the office after Filch, who was hobbling along faster than Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "had ever seen him go. One landing down from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Umbridge's office, Harry thought it was safe to become visible again. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "pulled off the Cloak, shoved it in his bag and hurried onwards.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "There was a great deal of shouting and movement coming from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Entrance Hall. He ran down the marble staircase and found what looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "like most of the school assembled there. It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "just like the night when Trelawney had been sacked. Students were standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "all around the walls in a great ring (some of them, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "noticed, covered in a substance that looked very like Stinksap); teachers and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "ghosts were also in the crowd. Prominent among the onlookers were members","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of the Inquisitorial Squad, who were all looking exceptionally pleased with themselves,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and Peeves, who was bobbing overhead, gazed down at Fred and George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "who stood in the middle of the floor with the unmistakeable look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "of two people who had just been cornered. 'So!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Umbridge triumphantly. Harry realised she was standing just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "a few stairs in front of him, once more looking down upon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "her prey. 'So - you think it amusing to turn a school","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "corridor into a swamp, do you?' 'Pretty amusing, yeah,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "said Fred, looking up at her without the slightest sign of fear.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " Filch elbowed his way closer to Umbridge, almost crying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "with happiness. 'I've got the form, Headmistress,' he said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "hoarsely, waving the piece of parchment Harry had just seen him take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "from her desk. 'I've got the form and I've got the whips","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "waiting . . . oh, let me do it now . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" ".' 'Very good, Argus,' she said. 'You two,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "went on, gazing down at Fred and George, 'are about to learn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "what happens to wrongdoers in my school.' 'You know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "what?' said Fred. 'I don't think we are.' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "turned to his twin. 'George,' said Fred, 'I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "we've outgrown full-time education.' 'Yeah, I've been feeling that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "way myself,' said George lightly. Time to test our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "talents in the real world, d'you reckon?' asked Fred. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "'Definitely,' said George. And before Umbridge could say a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "word, they raised their wands and said together: 'Accio","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "brooms!' Harry heard a loud crash somewhere in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "distance. Looking to his left, he ducked just in time. Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "George's broomsticks, one still trailing the heavy chain and iron peg with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "which Umbridge had fastened them to the wall, were hurtling along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "corridor towards their owners; they turned left, streaked down the stairs and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "stopped sharply in front of the twins, the chain clattering loudly on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the flagged stone floor. 'We won't be seeing you,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Fred told Professor Umbridge, swinging his leg over his broomstick. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch,' said George, mounting his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "own. Fred looked around at the assembled students, at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "the silent, watchful crowd. 'It anyone fancies buying a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "Weasley' Wizarding Wheezes,' he said in a loud voice. 'Our new premises!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "to use our products to get rid of this old bat,' added","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "George, pointing at Professor Umbridge. 'STOP THEM!' shrieked Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "but it was too late. As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "and George kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below. Fred looked across the hall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "at the poltergeist bobbing on his level above the crowd. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" " 'Give her hell from us, Peeves.' And Peeves,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "who Harry had never seen take an order from a student before,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "below and sped out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-29" "GrawpThe story of Fred and George's flight to freedom was retold so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "often over the next few days that Harry could tell it would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "soon become the stuff of Hogwarts legend: within a week, even those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "who had been eye-witnesses were half-convinced they had seen the twins dive-bomb","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Umbridge on their brooms and pelt her with Dungbombs before zooming out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the doors. In the immediate aftermath of their departure there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a great wave of talk about copying them. Harry frequently heard students","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "saying things like, 'Honestly, some days I just feel like jumping on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "my broom and leaving this place,' or else, 'One more lesson like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "that and I might just do a Weasley.' Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and George had made sure nobody was likely to forget them too","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "soon. For one thing, they had not left instructions on how to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "remove the swamp that now filled the corridor on the fifth floor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the east wing. Umbridge and Filch had been observed trying different","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "means of removing it but without success. Eventually, the area was roped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "off and Filch, gnashing his teeth furiously, was given the task of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "punting students across it to their classrooms. Harry was certain that teachers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "like McGonagall or Flitwick could have removed the swamp in an instant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "but, just as in the case of Fred and George's Wildfire Whiz-bangs,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "they seemed to prefer to watch Umbridge struggle. Then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "there were the two large broom-shaped holes in Umbridge's office door, through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "which Fred and George's Cleansweeps had smashed to rejoin their masters. Filch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "fitted a new door and removed Harry's Firebolt to the dungeons where,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it was rumoured, Umbridge had set an armed security troll to guard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it. However, her troubles were far from over. Inspired","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "by Fred and George's example, a great number of students were now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "vying for the newly vacant positions of Troublemakers-in-Chief. In spite of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "new door, somebody managed to slip a hairy-snouted Niffler into Umbridge's office,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "which promptly tore the place apart in its search for shiny objects,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "leapt on Umbridge when she entered and tried to gnaw the rings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "off her stubby fingers. Dungbombs and Stink Pellets were dropped so frequently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the corridors that it became the new fashion for students to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "perform Bubble-Head Charms on themselves before leaving lessons, which ensured them a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "supply of fresh air, even though it gave them all the peculiar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "appearance of wearing upside-down goldfish bowls on their heads. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Filch prowled the corridors with a horsewhip ready in his hands, desperate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to catch miscreants, but the problem was that there were now so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "many of them he never knew which way to turn. The Inquisitorial","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Squad was attempting to help him, but odd things kept happening to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "its members. Warrington of the Slytherin Quidditch team reported to the hospital","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "wing with a horrible skin complaint that made him look as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he had been coated in cornflakes; Pansy Parkinson, to Hermione's delight, missed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "all her lessons the following day as she had sprouted antlers. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Meanwhile, it became clear just how many Skiving Snackboxes Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and George had managed to sell before leaving Hogwarts. Umbridge only had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to enter her classroom for the students assembled there to faint, vomit,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "develop dangerous fevers or else spout blood from both nostrils. Shrieking with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "rage and frustration, she attempted to trace the mysterious symptoms to their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "source, but the students told her stubbornly they were suffering from 'Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- 'itis'. Alter putting four successive classes in detention and failing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "discover their secret, she was forced to give up and allow the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "bleeding, swooning, sweating and vomiting students to leave her classes in droves.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " But not even the users of the Snackboxes could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "compete with that master of chaos, Peeves, who seemed to have taken","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Fred's parting words deeply to heart. Cackling madly, he soared through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "school, upending tables, bursting out of blackboards, toppling statues and vases; twice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he shut Mrs Norris inside a suit of armour, ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "from which she was rescued, yowling loudly, by the furious caretaker. Peeves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "smashed lanterns and snuffed out candles, juggled burning torches over the heads","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of screaming students, caused neatly stacked piles of parchment to topple into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "fires or out of windows; flooded the second floor when he pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "off all the taps in the bathrooms, dropped a bag of tarantulas","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the middle of the Great Hall during breakfast and, whenever he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "fancied a break, spent hours at a time floating along after Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and blowing loud raspberries every time she spoke. None","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the staff but Filch seemed to be stirring themselves to help","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "her. Indeed, a week after Fred and Georges departure Harry witnessed Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "McGonagall walking right past Peeves, who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and could have sworn he heard her tell the poltergeist out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the corner of her mouth, 'It unscrews the other way.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " To cap matters, Montague had still not recovered from his sojourn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the toilet; he remained confused and disorientated and his parents were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to be observed one Tuesday morning striding up the front drive, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "extremely angry. 'Should we say something?' said Hermione in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a worried voice, pressing her cheek against the Charms window so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "she could see Mr and Mrs Montague marching inside. 'About what happened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to him? In case it helps Madam Pomfrey cure him?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Course not, he'll recover,' said Ron indifferently. 'Anyway,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "more trouble for Umbridge, isn't it?' said Harry in a satisfied voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " He and Ron both tapped the teacups they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "supposed to be charming with their wands. Harry's spouted four very short","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "legs that could not reach the desk and wriggled pointlessly in midair.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Ron's grew four very thin spindly legs that hoisted the cup off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the desk with great difficulty, trembled for a few seconds, then folded,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "causing the cup to crack into two. 'Reparo,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione quickly, mending Ron's cup with a wave of her wand. That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "all very well, but what if Montague's permanently injured?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'Who cares?' said Ron irritably, while his teacup stood up drunkenly again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "trembling violently at the knees. 'Montague shouldn't have tried to take all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "those points from Gryffindor, should he? If you want to worry about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "anyone, Hermione, worry about me!' 'You?' she said, catching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "her teacup as it scampered happily away across the desk on four","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "sturdy little willow-patterned legs, and replacing it in front of her. 'Why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "should I be worried about you?' 'When Mum's next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "letter finally gets through Umbridge's screening process,' said Ron bitterly, now holding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his cup up while its frail legs tried feebly to support its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "weight, 'I'm going to be in deep trouble. I wouldn't be surprised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "if she's sent another Howler.' 'But - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'It'll be my fault Fred and George left, you wait,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said Ron darkly. 'She'll say I should've stopped them leaving, I should've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "grabbed the ends of their brooms and hung on or something .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . yeah, it'll be all my fault.' 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "if she dot's say that it'll be very unfair, you couldn't have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "done anything! But I'm sure she won't, I mean, if it's really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "true they've got premises in Diagon Alley, they must have been planning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "this for ages.' 'Yeah, but that's another thing, how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "did they get premises?' said Ron, hitting his teacup so hard with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his wand that its legs collapsed again and it lay twitching before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "him. 'It's a bit dodgy, isn't it? They'll need loads of Galleons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to afford the rent on a place in Diagon Alley. She'll want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to know what they've been up to, to get their hands on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "that sort of gold.' 'Well, yes, that occurred to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "me, too,' said Hermione, allowing her teacup to jog in neat little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "circles around Harry's, whose stubby little legs were still unable to touch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the desktop, 'I've been wondering whether Mundungus has persuaded them to sell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "stolen goods or something awful.' 'He hasn't,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "curtly. 'How do you know?' said Ron and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "together. 'Because - ' Harry hesitated, but the moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to confess finally seemed to have come. There was no good to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "be gained in keeping silent if it meant anyone suspected that Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and George were criminals. 'Because they got the gold from me. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "gave them my Triwizard winnings last June.' There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a shocked silence, then Hermione's teacup jogged right over the edge of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the desk and smashed on the floor. 'Oh, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "you didn't!' she said. 'Yes, I did,' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mutinously. 'And I don't regret it, either. I didn't need the gold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and they'll be great at running a joke shop.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'But this is excellent!' said Ron, looking thrilled. 'It's all your fault,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry - Mum can't blame me at all! Can I tell her?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Yeah, I suppose you'd better,' said Harry dully, `specially","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "if she thinks they're receiving stolen cauldrons or something.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione said nothing at all for the rest of the lesson, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry had a shrewd suspicion that her self-restraint was bound to crack","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "before long. Sure enough, once they had left the castle for break","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and were standing around in the weak May sunshine, she fixed Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with a beady eye and opened her mouth with a determined air.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Harry interrupted her before she had even started. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'It's no good nagging me, it's done,' he said firmly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'Fred and George have got the gold - spent a good bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of it, too, by the sounds of it - and I can't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "get it back from them and I don't want to. So save","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "your breath, Hermione.' 'I wasn't going to say anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "about Fred and George!' she said in an injured voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Ron snorted disbelievingly and Hermione threw him a very dirty look.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'No, I wasn't!' she said angrily. 'As a matter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of fact, I was going to ask Harry when he's going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "go back to Snape and ask for more Occlumency lessons!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Harry's heart sank. Once they had exhausted the subject of Fred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and George's dramatic departure, which admittedly had taken many hours, Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione had wanted to hear news of Sirius. As Harry had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "confided in them the reason he had wanted to talk to Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the first place, it had been hard to think of what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to tell them; he had ended up saying, truthfully, that Sirius wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry to resume Occlumency lessons. He had been regretting this ever since;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione would not let the subject drop and kept reverting to it when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry least expected it. 'You can't tell me you've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "stopped having funny dreams,' Hermione said now, 'because Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "told me you were muttering in your sleep again last night.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Harry threw Ron a furious look. Ron had the grace","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to look ashamed of himself. 'You were only muttering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a bit,' he mumbled apologetically. 'Something about `just a bit further`.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'I dreamed I was watching you lot play Quidditch,' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "lied brutally. 'I was trying to get you to stretch out a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "bit further to grab the Quaffle.' Ron's ears went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "red. Harry felt a kind of vindictive pleasure; he had not, of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "course, dreamed anything of the sort. Last night, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "had once again made the journey along the Department of Mysteries corridor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "He had passed through the circular room, then the room full of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "clicking and dancing light, until he found himself again inside that cavernous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "room full of shelves on which were ranged dusty glass spheres. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " He had hurried straight towards row number ninety-seven, turned left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and run along it . . . it had probably been then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "that he had spoken aloud . . . just a bit further","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . . for he felt his conscious self struggling to wake","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . . and before he had reached the end of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "row, he had found himself lying in bed again, gazing up at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the canopy of his four-poster. 'You are trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "block your mind, aren't you?' said. Hermione, looking beadily at Harry. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "are keeping going with your Occlumency?' 'Of course I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "am,' said Harry, trying to sound as though this question was insulting,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "but not quite meeting her eye. The truth was he was so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "intensely curious about what was hidden in that room full of dusty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "orbs, that he was quite keen for the dreams to continue. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " The problem was that with just under a month to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "go until the exams and every free moment devoted to revision, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mind seemed so saturated with information when he went to bed he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "found it very difficult to get to sleep at all; and when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he did, his overwrought brain presented him most nights with stupid dreams","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "about the exams. He also suspected that part of his mind -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the part that often spoke in Hermione's voice - now felt guilty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "on the occasions it strayed down that corridor ending","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the black door, and sought to wake him before he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "reach the journey's end. 'You know,' said Ron, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ears were still flaming red, 'if Montague doesn't recover before Slytherin play","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hufflepuff, we might be in with a chance of winning the Cup.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Yeah, I s'pose so,' said Harry, glad of a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "change of subject. 'I mean, we've won one, lost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "one - if Slytherin lose to Hufflepuff next Saturday - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Yeah, that's right,' said Harry, losing track of what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "was agreeing to. Cho Chang had just walked across the courtyard, determinedly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "not looking at him.*The final match of the Quidditch season, Gryffindor versus","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Ravenclaw, was to take place on the last weekend of May. Although","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Slytherin had been narrowly defeated by Hufflepuff in their last match, Gryffindor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "were not daring to hope for victory, due mainly (though of course","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "nobody said it to him) to Ron's abysmal goal-keeping record. He, however,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "seemed to have found a new optimism. 'I mean,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "I can't get any worse, can I?' he told Harry and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "grimly over breakfast on the morning of the match. 'Nothing to lose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "now, is there?' 'You know,' said Hermione, as she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and Harry walked down to the pitch a little later in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "midst of a very excitable crowd, 'I think Ron might do better","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "without Fred and George around. They never exactly gave him a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of confidence.' Luna Lovegood overtook them with what appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to be a live eagle perched on top of her head. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Oh, gosh, I forgot!' said Hermione, watching the eagle flapping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "its wings as Luna walked serenely past a group of cackling and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "pointing Slytherins. 'Cho will be playing, won't she?' Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "who had not forgotten this, merely grunted. They found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "seats in the topmost row of the stands. It was a fine,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ckar day; Ron could not wish for better, and Harry found himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "hoping against hope that Ron would not give the Slytherins cause for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "more rousing choruses of 'Weasley is our King'. Lee","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Jordan, who had been very dispirited since Fred and George ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " had left, was commentating as usual. As the teams zoomed out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "on to the pitch he named the players with something less than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his usual gusto. '. . . Bradley . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". Davies . . . Chang,' he said, and Harry felt his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "stomach perform, less of a back flip, more a feeble lurch as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Cho walked out on to the pitch, her shiny black hair rippling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the slight breeze.. He was not sure what he wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "happen any more, except that he could not stand any more rows.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Even the sight of her chatting animatedly to Roger Davies as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "prepared to mount their brooms caused him only a slight twinge of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "jealousy. 'And they're off!' said Lee. 'And Davies takes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the Quaffle immediately, Ravenclaw Captain Davies with the Quaffle, he dodges Johnson,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he dodges Bell, he dodges Spinnet as well . . . he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "going straight for goal! He's going to shoot - and - and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- ' Lee swore very loudly. 'And he's scored.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry and Hermione groaned with the rest of the Gryffindors. Predictably, horribly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the Slytherins on the other side of the stands began to sing:'Weasley","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "cannot save a thingHe cannot block a single ring . . .''Harry,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said a hoarse voice in Harry's ear. 'Hermione . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Harry looked round and saw Hagrid's enormous bearded face sticking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "between the seats. Apparently, he had squeezed his way all along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "row behind, for the first- and second-years he had just passed had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a ruffled, flattened look about them. For some reason, Hagrid was bent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "double as though anxious not to be seen, though he was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "at least four feet taller than everybody else. 'Listen,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he whispered, 'can yeh come with me? Now? While ev'ryone's watchin' the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "match?' 'Er . . . can't it wait, Hagrid?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "asked Harry. till the match is over?' 'No,' said Hagrid. 'No, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it's gotta be now . . . while ev'ryone's lookin' the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "way . . . please?' Hagrid's nose was gently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "dripping blood. His eyes were both blackened. Harry had not seen him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "this close-up since his return to the school; he looked utterly woebegone.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Course,' said Harry at once, 'course we'll come.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " He and Hermione edged back along their row of seats,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "causing much grumbling among the students who had to stand up for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "them. The people in Hagrid's row were not complaining, merely attempting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "make themselves as small as possible. 'I 'ppreciate this,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "you two, I really do,' said Hagrid as they reached the stairs.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "He kept looking around nervously as they descended towards the lawn below.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'I jus' hope she doesn' notice us goin'.' 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mean Umbridge?' said Harry. 'She won't, she's got her whole Inquisitorial Squad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "sitting with her, didn't you see? She must be expecting trouble at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the match.' 'Yeah, well, a bit o' trouble wouldn'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "hurt,' said Hagrid, pausing to peer around the edge of the stands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to make sure the stretch of lawn between there and his cabin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "was deserted. 'Give us more time.' 'What is it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid?' said Hermione, looking up at him with a concerned expression on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "her face as they hurried across the grass towards the edge of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the Forest. 'Yeh - yeh'll see in a mo','","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said Hagrid, looking over his shoulder as a great roar rose from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the stands behind them. 'Hey - did someone jus' score?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'It'll be Ravenclaw,' said Harry heavily. 'Good .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . good . . .' said Hagrid distractedly. 'Tha's good .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". .' They had to jog to keep up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with him as he strode across the lawn, looking around with every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "other step. When they reached his cabin, Hermione turned automatically left towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the front door. Hagrid, however, walked straight past it into the shade","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the trees on the outermost edge of the Forest, where he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "picked up a crossbow that was leaning against a tree. When he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "realised they were no longer with him, he turned. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'We're goin' in here,' he said, jerking his shaggy head behind him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Into the Forest?' said Hermione, perplexed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'Yeah,' said Hagrid. 'C'mon now, quick, before we're spotted!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then ducked into the cover","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the trees behind Hagrid, who was already striding away from them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "into the green gloom, his crossbow over his arm. Harry and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ran to catch up with him. 'Hagrid, why are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "you armed?' said Harry. 'Jus' a precaution,' said Hagrid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "shrugging his massive shoulders. 'You didn't bring your crossbow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the day you showed us the Thestrals,' said Hermione timidly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Nah, well, we weren' goin' in so far then,' said Hagrid.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'An' anyway, tha' was before Firenze left the Forest, wasn' it?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Why does Firenze leaving make a difference?' asked Hermione curiously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " `Cause the other centaurs are good an' riled at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "me, tha's why,' said Hagrid quietly, glancing around. They used ter be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- well, yeh couldn' call 'em friendly - but we got on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "all righ'. Kept 'emselves to 'emselves, bu' always turned up if I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "wanted a word. Not any more.' He sighed deeply.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Firenze said they're angry because he went to work","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "for Dumbledore,' Harry said, tripping on a protruding root because he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "busy watching Hagrid's profile. 'Yeah,' said Hagrid heavily. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "angry doesn' cover it. Ruddy livid. If I hadn' stepped in, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "reckon they'd've kicked Firenze ter death - ' They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "attacked him?' said Hermione, sounding shocked. 'Yep,' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "gruffly, forcing his way through several low-hanging branches. 'He had half the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "herd on to him.' 'And you stopped it?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry, amazed and impressed. 'By yourself?' 'Course I did, couldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "stand by an' watch 'em kill 'im, cou!d I?' said Hagrid. 'Lucky","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "I was passin', really . . . an' I'd've thought Firenze mighta","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "remembered tha' before he started sendin' me stup d warnin's!' he added","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "hotly and unexpectedly. Harry and Hermione looked at each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "other, startled, but Hagrid, scowling, did not elaborate. 'Anyway,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he said, breathing a little more heavily than usud, 'since then the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "other centaurs've bin livid with me, an' the trouble is they've got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a lot of influence in the Forest . . . cleverest creatures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in here.' 'Is that why we're here, Hagrid?' asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione. The centaurs?' 'Ah, no,' said Hagrid, shaking his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "head dismissively, 'no, it's not them. Well, o' course, they could complicate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the problem, yeah . . . but yeh'll see what I mean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in a bit.' On this incomprehensible note he fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "silent and forged a little ahead, taking one stride for every three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of theirs, so that they had great trouble keeping up with him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " The path was becoming increasingly overgrown and the trees","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "grew so closely together as they walked further and further into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Forest that it was as dark as dusk. They were soon a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "long way past the clearing where Hagrid had shown them the Thestrals,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "but Harry felt no sense of unease until Hagrid stepped unexpectedly off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the path and began wending his way in and out of trees","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "towards the dark heart of the Forest. 'Hagrid!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry, fighting his way through thickly knotted brambles, over which Hagrid had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "stepped with ease, and remembering very vividly what had happened to him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "on the other occasion he had stepped off the Forest path. 'Where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "are we going?' 'Bit further,' said Hagrid over his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "shoulder. 'C'mon, Harry . . . we need ter keep together now.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " It was a great struggle to keep up with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid, what with branches and thickets of thorn through which Hagrid marched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "as easily as if they were cobwebs, but which snagged Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione's robes, frequently entangling them so severely that they had to stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "for minutes at a time to free themselves. Harry's arms and legs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "were soon covered in small cuts and scratches. They were so deep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the Forest now that sometimes all Harry could see of Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the gloom was a massive dark shape ahead of him. Any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "sound seemed threatening in the muffled silence. The breaking of a twig","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "echoed loudly and the tiniest rustle of movement, even though it might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "have been made by an innocent sparrow, caused Harry to peer through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the gloom for a culprit. It occurred to him that he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "never managed to get this far into the Forest without meeting some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "kind of creature; their absence struck him as rather ominous. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Hagrid, would it be all right if we lit our wands?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said Hermione quietly. 'Er . . . all righ','","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid whispered back. Tn fact - ' He stopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "suddenly and turned around; Hermione walked right into him and was knocked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "over backwards. Harry caught her just before she hit the Forest floor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Maybe we bes' jus' stop fer a momen', so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "I can . . . fill yeh in,' said Hagrid. 'Before we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ge' there, like.' 'Good!' said Hermione, as Harry set","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "her back on her feet. They both murmured 'Lumos/' and their wand-tips","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ignited. Hagrid's face swam through the gloom by the light of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "two wavering beams and Harry saw again that he looked nervous and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "sad. 'Righ',' said Hagrid. 'Well . . . see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . . the thing is . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "He took a great breath. 'Well, there's a good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "chance I'm goin' ter be gettin' the sack any day now,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "back at him 'But you've lasted this long -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "' Hermione said tentatively. 'What makes you think - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Umbridge reckons it was me that put tha' Niffler in her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "office.' 'And was it?' said Harry, before he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "stop himself. 'No, it ruddy well wasn'!' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "indignantly. 'On'y any-thin' ter do with magical creatures an' she thinks it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "got somethin' ter do with me. Yeh know she's bin lookin' fer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a chance ter get rid of me ever since I got back.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "I don' wan' ter go, o' course, but if it wasn' fer","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . . well . . . the special circumstances I'm abou'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ter explain to yeh, I'd leave righ' now, before she's go' the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "chance ter do it in front o' the whole school, like she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "did with Trelawney' Harry and Hermione both made noises","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of protest, but Hagrid overrode them with a wave of one of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his enormous hands. 'It's not the end o' the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "world, I'll be able ter help Dumbledo-e once I'm outta here, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "can be useful ter the Order. Air you lot'll have Grubbly-Plank, yeh'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- yeh'll get through yer exams fine . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " His voice trembled and broke. 'Don' worry abou'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "me,' he said hastily, as Hermione made to pat his arm. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "pulled his enormous spotted handkerchief from the pocket of his waistcoat and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mopped his eyes with it. 'Look, I wouldn' be tellin' yer this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "at all if I didn' have ter. See, if I go .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . well, I can' leave withou' . . . withou' tellin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "someone . . . because I'll - I'll need yeh two ter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "help me. An' Ron, if he's willin'.' 'Of course","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "we'll help you,' said Harry at once. 'What do you want us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to do?' Hagrid gave a great sniff and patted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry wordlessly on the shoulder with such force Harry was knocked sideways","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "into a tree. 'I knew yeh'd say yes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid into his handkerchief, 'but I won' . . . never .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . forget . . . well . . . c'mon .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . jus' a little bit further through here . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "watch yerselves, now, there's nettles . . .' They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "walked on in silence for another fifteen minutes; Harry had opened his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mouth to ask how much further they had to go when Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "threw out his right arm to signal that they should stop. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Really easy,' he said softly. 'Very quiet, now . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ".' They crept forwards and Harry saw that they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "were facing a large, smooth mound of earth nearly as tall as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid that he thought, with a jolt of dread, was sure to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "be the lair of some enormous animal. Trees had been ripped up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "at the roots all around the mound, so that it stood on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a bare patch of ground surrounded by heaps of trunks and boughs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "that formed a kind of fence or barricade, behind which Harry, Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and Hagrid now stood. 'Sleepin',' breathed Hagrid. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Sure enough, Harry could hear a distant, rhythmic rumbling that sounded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "like a pair of enormous lungs at work. He glanced sideways at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione, who was gazing at the mound with her mouth slightly open.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "She looked utterly terrified. 'Hagrid,' she said in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "whisper barely audible over the sound of the sleeping creature, 'who is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he?' Harry found this an odd question . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". 'What is it?' was the one he; had been planning on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "asking. 'Hagrid, you told us - ' said Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "her wand now shaking in her hand, 'you told us none of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "them, wanted to come!' Harry looked from her to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid and then, as realisation hit him, he looked back at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mound with a small gasp of horror. The great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mound of earth, on which he, Hermione and Hagrid could easily have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "stood, was moving slowly up and down in time with the deep,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "grunting breathing. It was not a mound at all. It was the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "curved back of what was clearly - ' 'Well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- no - he didn' want ter come,' said Hagrid, sounding desperate.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'But I had ter bring him, Hermione, I had ter!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'But why?' asked Hermione, who sounded as though she wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "cry. 'Why - what - oh, Hagrid!' 'I knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "if I jus' got him back,' said Hagrid, sounding close to tears","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "himself, 'an` - an' taught him a few manners - I'd be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "able ter take him outside an' show ev'ryone he's harmless!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Harmless!' said Hermione shrilly, and Hagrid made frantic hushing noises with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his hands as the enormous creature before them grunted loudly and shifted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in its sleep. 'He's been hurting you all this time, hasn't he?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "That's why you've had all these injuries!' 'He don'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "know his own strength!' said Hagrid earnestly. 'An' he's gettin' better, he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "not fightin' so much any more -' 'So, this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "is why it took you two months to get home!' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "distractedly. 'Oh, Hagrid, why did you bring him back if he didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "want to come? Wouldn't he have been happier with his own people?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " They were all bullyin' him, Hermione, 'cause he's so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "small!' said Hagrid. 'Small?' said Hermione. 'Small?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Hermione, I couldn' leave him,' said Hagrid, tears now trickling down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his bruised face into his beard. 'See - he's my brother!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Hermione simply stared at him, her mouth open. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Hagrid, when you say `brother`,' said Harry slowly, 'do you mean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- ?' 'Well - half-brother,' amended Hagrid. Turns out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "me mother took up with another giant when she left me dad,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "an' she went an' had Grawp here - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'Grawp?' said Harry. 'Yeah . . . well, tha's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "what it sounds like when he says his name,' said Hagrid anxiously.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'He don' speak a lot of English . . . I've bin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "tryin' ter teach him . . . anyway, she don' seem ter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "have liked him much more'n she liked me. See, with giantesses, what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "counts is producin' good big kids, and he's always been a bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "on the runty side fer a giant - on'y sixteen foot -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "' 'Oh, yes, tiny!' said Hermione, with a kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of hysterical sarcasm. 'Absolutely minuscule!' 'He was bein' kicked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "aroun' by all o' them - I jus' couldn' leave him -'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Did Madame Maxime want to bring him back?' asked Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'She - well, she could see it was right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "importan' ter me,' said Hagrid, twisting his enormous hands. 'Bu' - bu'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "she got a bit tired o' him after a while, I must","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "admit . . . so we split up on the journey home","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". . . she promised not ter tell anyone, though . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ".` 'How on earth did you gel him back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "without anyone noticing?' said Harry. 'Well, tha's why it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "took so long, see,' said Hagrid. 'Could on'y travel by nigh' an'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "through wild country an' stuff. Course, he covers the ground pretty well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "when he wants ter, but he kep' wantin' ter go back.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Oh, Hagrid, why on earth didn't you let him!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione, flopping down on to a ripped up tree and burying her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "face in her hands. 'What do you think you're going to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with a violent giant who doesn't even want to be here!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Well, now - `violent` - tha's a bit harsh,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid, still twisting his hands agitatedly. 'I'll admit he mighta taken a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "couple o' swings at me when he's bin in a bad mood,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "but he's gettin' better, loads better, settlin' down well.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'What are those ropes for, then?' Harry asked. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "had just noticed ropes thick as saplings stretching from around the trunks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the largest nearby trees towards the place where Grawp lay curled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "on the ground with his back to them. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "have to keep him tied up?' said Hermione faintly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'Well . . . yeah . . .' said Hagrid, looking anxious.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'See - it's like I say - he doesn' really know 'is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "own strength.' Harry understood now why there had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "such a suspicious lack of any other living creature in this part","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the Forest. 'So, what is it you want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry and Ron and me to do?' Hermione as-ked apprehensively. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Look after him,' said Hagrid croakily. 'After I'm gone.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Harry and Hermione exchanged miserable looks, Harry uricom-fcriably aware that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "had already promised Hagrid that he would do whatever he asked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'What - what does that involve, exactly?' Hermione enquired. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Not food or anythin'!' said Hagrid eagerly. 'He can get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his own fcod, no problem. Birds an' deer an' stuff . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". no, it's company he needs. It I jus' knew someone was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "carryin on trym ter help him a bit . . . teachin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "him, yeh know.' Harry said nothing, but turned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "look back at the gigantic form lying asleep on the ground in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "front of them. Unlike Hagrid, who simply looked like an oversized human,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Grawp looked strangely misshapen. What Harry had taken to be a vast","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "mossy boulder to the left of the great earthen mound he now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "recognised as Grawp's head. It was much larger in proportion to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "body than a human head, and was almost perfectly round and covered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with tightly curling, close-growing hair the colour of bracken. The rim of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a single large, fleshy ear was visible on top of the head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "which seemed to sit, rather like Uncle Vernon's, directly upon the shoulders","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with little or no neck in between. The back, under what looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "like a dirty brownish smock comprised of animal skins sewn roughly together,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "was very broad; and as Grawp slept, it seemed to strain a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "little at the rough seams of the skins. The legs were curled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "up under the body. Harry could see the soles of enormous, filthy,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "bare feet, large as sledges, resting one on top of the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "on the earthy Forest floor. 'You want us to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "teach him,' Harry said in a hollow voice. He now understood what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Firenze's warning had meant. His attempt is not working. He would do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "better to abandon it. Of course, the other creatures who lived in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the Forest would have heard Hagrid's fruitless attempts to teach Grawp English.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Yeah - even if yeh jus' talk ter him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a bit,' said Hagrid hopefully. `Cause I reckon, if he can talk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ter people, he'll understand more that we all like 'im really, an'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "want 'im ter stay.' Harry looked at Hermione, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "peered back at him from between the fingers over her face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Kind of makes you wish we had Norbert back, doesn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it?' he said, and she gave a very shaky laugh. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Yeh'll do it, then?' said Hagrid, who did not seem to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "have caugit what Harry had just said. 'We'll .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". .' said Harry, already bound by his promise. 'We'll try, Hagrid.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'I knew I could count on yeh, Harry,' Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said, beaming .n a very watery way and dabbing at his face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with his handkerchief again. 'An' I don' wan' yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ter put yerself out too much, like . . . I know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "yeh've got exams . . . if yeh could jus' nip down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "here in yer Invisibility Cloak maybe once a week an' have a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "little chat with 'im. I'll wake 'im up, then - introduce yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- ' 'Wha- no!' said Hermione, jumping up. 'Hagrid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "no, don't wake him, really, we don't need - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " But Hagrid had already stepped over the great tree trunk in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "front of them and was proceeding towards Grawp. When he was about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ten feet away, he lifted a long, broken bough from the ground,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "smiled reassuringly over his shoulder at Harry and Hermione, then poked Grawp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "hard in the middle of the back with the end of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "bough. The giant gave a roar that echoed around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the silent Forest; birds in the treetops overhead rose twittering from their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "perches and soared away. In front of Harry and Hermione, meanwhile, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "gigantic Grawp was rising from the ground, which shuddered as he placed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "an enormous hand upon it to push himself on to his knees.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "He turned his head to see who and what had disturbed him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'All righ', Grawpy?' said Hagrid, in a would-be cheery","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "voice, backing away with the long bough raised, ready to poke Grawp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "again. 'Had a nice sleep, eh?' Harry and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "retreated as far as they could while still keeping the giant within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "their sights. Grawp knelt between two trees he had not yet uprooted.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "They looked up into his startlingly huge face that resembled a grey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "full moon swimming in the gloom of the clearing. It was as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "though the features had been hewn on to a great stone ball.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "The nose was stubby and shapeless, the mouth lopsided and full of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "misshapen yellow teeth the size of half-bricks; the eyes, small by giant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "standards, were a muddy greenish-brown and just now were half-gummed together with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "sleep. Grawp raised dirty knuckles, each as big as a cricket ball,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to his eyes, rubbed vigorously, then, without warning, pushed himself to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "feet with surprising speed and agility. 'Oh my!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "heard Hermione squeal, terrified, beside him. The trees to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "which the other ends of the ropes around Grawp's wrists and ankles","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "were attached creaked ominously. He was, as Hagrid had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said, at least sixteen feet tall. Gazing blearily around, Grawp reached out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a hand the size of a beach umbrella, seized a bird's nest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "from the upper branches of a towering pine and turned it upside-down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with a roar of apparent displeasure that there was no bird in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it; eggs fell like grenades towards the ground and Hagrid threw his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "arms over his head to protect himself. 'Anyway, Grawpy,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "shouted Hagrid, looking up apprehensively in case of further falling eggs, 'I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "brought some friends ter meet yeh. Remember, I told yeh I might?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Remember, when I said I might have ter go on a little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "trip an' leave them ter look after yeh fer a bit? Remember","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "that, Grawpy?' But Grawp merely gave another low roar;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it was hard to say whether he was listening to Hagrid or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "whether he even recognised the sounds Hagrid was making as speech. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "had now seized the top of the pine tree and was pulling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it towards him, evidently for the simple pleasure of seeing how far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it would spring back when he let go. 'Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Grawpy, don' do that!' shouted Hagrid. 'Tha's how you ended up pullin'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "up the others - ' And sure enough, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "could see the earth around the tree's roots beginning to crack. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'I got company for yeh!' Hagrid shouted. 'Company, see! Look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "down, yeh big buffoon, I brought yeh some friends!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'Oh, Hagrid, don't,' moaned Hermione, but Hagrid had already raised the bough","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "again and gave Grawp's knee a sharp poke. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "giant let go of the top of the tree, which swayed alarmingly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and deluged Hagrid with a rain of pine needles, and looked down.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " This,' said Hagrid, hastening over to where Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Herrmone stood, 'is Harry, Grawp! Harry Potter! He migh' be comin' ter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "visit yeh if I have ter go away, understand?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "The giant had only just realised that Harry and Hermione were there.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "They watched, in great trepidation, as he lowered his huge boulder of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "a head so that he could peer blearily at them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'An' this is Hermione, see? Her-' Hagrid hesitated. Turning to Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he said, 'Would yeh mind if he called yeh Hermy, Hermione? On'y","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "it's a difficult name fer him ter remember.' 'No,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "not at all,' squeaked Hermione. 'This is Hermy, Grawp!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "An' she's gonna be comin' an' all! Is'n' tha' nice? Eh? Two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "friends fer yeh ter - GRAWPY, NO!' Grawp's hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "had shot out of nowhere towards Hermione; Harry seized her and pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "her backwards behind the tree, so that Grawp's fist scraped the trunk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "but closed on thin air. 'BAD BOY, GRAWPY!' they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "heard Hagrid yelling, as Hermione clung to Harry behind the tree, shaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and whimpering. 'VERY BAD BOY! YEH DON' GRAB - OUCH!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Harry poked his head out from around the trunk and saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hagrid lying on his back, his hand over his nose. Grawp, apparently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "losing interest, had straightened up and was again engaged in pulling back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the pine as far as it would go. 'Righ','","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said Hagrid thickly, getting up with one hand pinching his bleeding nose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and the other grasping his crossbow, 'well . . . there yeh","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "are . . . yeh've met him an' - an' now he'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "know yeh when yeh come back. Yeah . . . well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ".' He looked up at Grawp, who was now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "pulling back the pine with an expression of detached pleasure on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "boulderish face; the roots were creaking as he ripped them away from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the ground. 'Well, I reckon tha's enough fer one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "day,' said Hagrid. 'We'll - 'er - we'll go back now, shall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "we?' Harry and Hermione nodded. Hagrid shouldered his crossbow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "again and, still pinching his nose, led the way back into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "trees. Nobody spoke for a while, not even when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "they heard the distant crash that meant Grawp had pulled over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "pine tree at last. Hermione's face was pale and set. Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "not think of a single thing to say. What on earth was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "going to happen when somebody found out that Hagrid had hidden Grawp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in the Forbidden Forest? And he had promised that he, Ron and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione would continue Hagrid's totally pointless attempts to civilise the giant. How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "could Hagrid, even with his immense capacity to delude himself that fanged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "monsters were loveably harmless, fool himself that Grawp would ever be fit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to mix with humans? 'Hold it,' said Hagrid abruptly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "just as Harry and Hermione were struggling through a patch of thick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "knotgrass behind him. He pulled an arrow out of the quiver over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his shoulder and fitted it into the crossbow. Harry and Hermione raised","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "their wands; now that they had stopped walking, they, too, could hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "movement close by. 'Oh, blimey,' said Hagrid quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'I thought we told you, Hagrid,' said a deep male","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "voice, 'That you are no longer welcome here?' A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "man's naked torso seemed for an instant to be floating towards them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "through the dappled green half-light; then they saw that his waist joined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "smoothly into a horse's chestnut body. This centaur had a proud, high-cheekboned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "face and long black hair. Like Hagrid, he was armed; a quiverful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of arrows and a longbow v/ere slung over his shoulders. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'How are yeh, Magorian?' said Hagrid warily. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "trees behind the centaur rustled and four or five more centaurs emerged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "behind him. Harry recognised the black-bodied and bearded Bane, whom he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "met nearly four years ago on the same night he had met","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Firenze. Bane gave no sign that he had ever seen Harry before.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'So,' he said, with a nasty inflection in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "voice, before turning immediately to Magorian. 'We agreed, I think, what we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "would do if this human ever showed his face in the Forest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "again?' ' `This human` now, am I?' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "testily. 'Jus' fer stoppin' all of yeh committin' murder?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'You ought not to have meddled, Hagrid,' said Magorian. 'Our ways are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "not yours, nor are our laws. Firenze has betrayed and dishonoured us.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'I dunno how yeh work that out,' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "impatiently. 'He's done nothin' except help Albus Dumbledore - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Firenze has entered into servitude to humans,' said a grey centaur","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "with a hard, deeply lined face. 'Servitude!' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "scathingly. 'He's doin' Dumbledore a favour is all - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'He is peddling our knowledge and secrets among humans,' said Magorian","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "quietly. 'There can be no return from such disgrace.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'If yeh say so,' said Hagrid, shrugging, 'but personally I think yeh're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "makin' a big mistake - ' 'As are you,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "human,' said Bane, 'coming back into our Forest when we warned you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- ' 'Now, yeh listen ter me,' said Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "angrily. 'I'll have less of the `our` Forest, if it's all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "same ter yeh. It's not up ter yeh who comes an' goes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in here - ' 'No more is it up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to you, Hagrid,' said Magorian smoothly. 'I shall let you pass today","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "because you are accompanied by your young - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'They're not his!' interrupted Bane contemptuously. 'Students, Magorian, from up at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "school! They have probably already profited from the traitor Firenze's teachings.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Nevertheless,' said Magorian calmly, 'the slaughter of foals is a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "terrible crime - we do not touch the innocent. Today, Hagrid, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "pass. Henceforth, stay away from this place. You forfeited the friendship of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the centaurs when you helped the traitor Firenze escape us.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'I won' be kept outta the Fores' by a bunch o'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "old mules like yeh!' said Hagrid loudly. 'Hagrid,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Hermione in a high-pitched and terrified voice, as both Bane and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "grey centaur pawed at the ground, 'let's go, please let's go!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " Hagrid moved forwards, but his crossbow was still raised and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "his eyes were still fixed threateningly upon Magorian. 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "know what you are keeping in the Forest, Hagrid!' Magorian called after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "them, as the centaurs slipped out of sight. 'And our tolerance is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "waning!' Hagrid turned and gave every appearance of wanting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to walk straight back to Magorian. 'Yeh'll tolerate 'im","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "as long as he's here, it's as much his Forest as yours!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he yelled, as Harry and Hermione both pushed with all their might","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "against Hagrid's moleskin waistcoat in an effort to keep him moving forwards.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Still scowling, he looked down; his expression changed to mild surprise at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the sight of them both pushing him; he seemed not to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "felt it. 'Calm down, you two,' he said, turning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "to walk on while they parted along behind him. 'Ruddy old mules,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "though, eh?' 'Hagrid,' said Hermione breathlessly, skirting the patch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of nettles they had passed on their way there, 'if the centaurs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "don't want humans in the Forest, it doesn't really look as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry and I will be able - ' Ah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "you heard what they said, said Hagrid dismissively, they wouldn't hurt foals","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "- I mean, kids. Anyway, we can' let ourselves be pushed aroun'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "by that lot.' 'Nice try,' Harry murmured to Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "who looked crestfallen. At last they rejoined the path","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and, after another ten minutes, the trees began to thin; they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "able to see patches of clear blue sky again and, in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "distance, the definite sounds of cheering and shouting. 'Was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "that another goal?' asked Hagrid, pausing in the shelter of the trees","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "as the Quidditch stadium came into view. 'Or d'yeh reckon the match","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "is over?' 'I don't know,' said Hermione miserably. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "saw that she looked much the worse for wear; her hair was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "full of twigs and leaves, her robes were ripped in several places","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and there were numerous scratches on her face and arms. He knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he must look little better. 'I reckon it's over,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "yeh know!' said Hagrid, still squinting towards the stadium. 'Look - there's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "people comin' out already - if yeh two hurry yeh'll be able","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "ter blend in with the crowd an' no one'll know yeh weren't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "there!' 'Good idea,' said Harry. 'Well . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "see you later, then, Hagrid.' 'I don't believe him,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "said Hermione in a very unsteady voice, the moment they were out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of earshot of Hagrid. 'I don't believe him. I really don't believe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "him.' 'Calm down,' said Harry. 'Calm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "down!' she said feverishly. 'A giant! A giant in the Forest! And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "we're supposed to give him English lessons! Always assuming, of course, we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "can get past the herd of murderous centaurs on the way in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "and out! I - don't - believe - him!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'We haven't got to do anything yet!' Harry tried to reassure her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in a quiet voice, as they joined a stream of jabbering Hufflepuffs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "heading back towards the castle. 'He's not asking us to do anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "unless he gets chucked out and that might not even happen.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'Oh, come off it, Harry!' said Hermione angrily, stopping dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in her tracks so that the people behind had to swerve to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "avoid her. 'Of course he's going to be chucked out and, to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "be perfectly honest, after what we've just seen, who can blame Umbridge?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " There was a pause in which Harry glared at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "her, and her eyes filled slowly with tears. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "didn't mean that,' said Harry quietly. 'No . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" ". well . . . all right . . . I didn't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "she said, wiping her eyes angrily. 'But why does he have to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "make life so difficult for himself - for us?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "'I dunno - ''Weasley is our King,Weasley is our King,He didn't let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the Quaffle in, Weasley is our King . . .''And I wish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "they'd stop singing that stupid song,' said Hermione miserably, 'haven't they gloated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "enough?' A great tide of students was moving up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the sloping lawns from the pitch. 'Oh, let's get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "in before we have to meet the Slytherins,' said Hermione.'Weasley can save","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "anything,He never leaves a single ring,That's why Gryffindors all sing:Weasley is our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "King.''Hermione . . .' said Harry slowly. The song","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "was growing louder, but it was issuing not from a crowd of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "green-and-silver-clad Slytherins, but from a mass of red and gold moving slowly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "towards the castle, bearing a solitary figure upon its many shoulders.'Weasley is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "our King,Weasley is our King,He didn't let the Quaffle in,Weasley is our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "King . . .''No?' said Hermione in a hushed voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" " 'YES!' said Harry loudly. 'HARRY! HERMIONE!' yelled Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "waving the silver Quidditch cup in the air and looking quite beside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "himself. 'WE DID IT! WE WON!' They beamed up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "at him as he passed. There was a scrum at the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of the castle and Ron's head got rather badly bumped on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "lintel, but nobody seemed to want to put him down. Still singing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the crowd squeezed itself into the Entrance Hall and out of sight.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "Harry and Hermione watched them go, beaming, until the last echoing strains","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "of 'Weasley is our King' died away. Then they turned to each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "other, their smiles fading. 'We'll save our news till","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "tomorrow, shall we?' said Harry 'Yes, all right,' said Hermione wearily. 'I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "not in any hurry.' They climbed the steps together. At the front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "doors both instinctively looked back at the Forbidden Forest. Harry was not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "sure whether or not it was his imagination, but he rather thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "he saw a small cloud of birds erupting into the air over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "the tree tops in the distance, almost as though the tree in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "which they had been nesting had just been pulled up by the roots. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-30" "OWLsRon's euphoria at helping Gryffindor scrape the Quidditch cup was such that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he couldn't settle to anything next day. All he wanted to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was talk over the match, so Harry and Hermione found it very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "difficult to find an opening in which to mention Grawp. Not that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "either of them tried very hard; neither was keen to be the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "one to bring Ron back to reality in quite such a brutal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "fashion. As it was another fine, warm day, they persuaded him to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "join them in revising under the beech tree at the edge of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the lake, where they had less chance of being overheard than in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the common room. Ron was not particularly keen on this idea at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "first - he was thoroughly enjoying being patted on the back by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "every Gryffindor who walked past his chair, not to mention the occasional","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "outbursts of 'Weasley is our King' - but after a while he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "agreed that some fresh air might do him good. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "They spread their books out in the shade of the beech tree","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and sat down while Ron talked them through his first save of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the match for what felt like the dozenth time. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Well, I mean, I'd already let in that one of Daviess, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "I wasn't feeling all that confident, but I dunno, when Bradley came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "towards me, just out of nowhere, I thought - you can do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "this! And I had about a second to decide which way to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "fly, you know, because he looked like he was aiming for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "right goalhoop - my right, obviously, his left - but I had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a funny feeling that he was feinting, and so I took the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "chance and flew left - his right, I mean - and -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "well - you saw what happened,' he concluded modestly, sweeping his hair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "back quite unnecessarily so that it looked interestingly windswept and glancing around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to see whether the people nearest to them -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a bunch of gossiping third-year Hufflepulis - had heard him. 'And then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "when Chambers came at me about five minutes later - What?' Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "asked, having stopped mid-sentence at the look on Harry's face. 'Why are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "you grinning?' 'I'm not,' said Harry quickly, and looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "down at his Transfiguration notes, attempting to straighten his lace. The truth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was that Ron had just reminded Harry forcibly of another Gryffindor Quidditch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "player who had once sat rumpling his hair under this very tree.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'I'm just glad we won, that's all.' 'Yeah,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron slowly, savouring the words, 'we won. Did you see the look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "on Chang's face when Ginny got the Snitch right out from under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "her nose?' 'I suppose she cried, did she?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry bitterly. 'Well, yeah - more out of temper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "than anything, though . . .' Ron frowned slightly. 'But you saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "her chuck her broom away when she got back to the ground,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "didn't you?' 'Er - ' said Harry ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Well, actually . . . no, Ron,' said Hermione with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "heavy sigh, putting down her book and looking at him apologetically. 'As","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a matter of fact, the only bit of the match Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "I saw was Davies's first goal.' Ron's carefully ruffled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "hair seemed to wilt with disappointment. 'You didn't watch?' he said faintly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "looking from one to the other. 'You didn't see me make any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of those saves?' Well - no,' said Hermione, stretching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "out a placatory hand towards him. 'But Ron, we didn't want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "leave - we had to!' 'Yeah?' said Ron, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "face was growing rather red. 'How come?' 'It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hagrid,' said Harry. 'He decided to tell us why he's been covered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in injuries ever since he got back from the giants. He wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "us to go into the Forest with him, we had no choice,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "you know how he gets. Anyway . . .` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "The story was told in five minutes, by the end of which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron's indignation had been replaced by a look of total incredulity. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'He brought one back and hid it in the Forest?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Yep,' said Harry grimly. 'No,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron, as though by saying this he could make it untrue. 'No,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he can't have.' 'Well, he has,' said Hermione firmly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Grawps about sixteen feet tall, enjoys ripping up twenty-foot pine trees, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "knows me,' she snorted, 'as Hermy.' Ron gave a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "nervous laugh. 'And Hagrid wants us to . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". ?' Teach him English, yeah,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'He's lost his mind,' said Ron in an almost awed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "voice. 'Yes,' said Hermione irritably, turning a page of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Intermediate Transfiguration and glaring at a series of diagrams showing an owl","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "turning into a pair of opera glasses. 'Yes, I'm starting to think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he has. But, unfortunately, he made Harry and me promise.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Well, you're just going to have to break your promise, that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "all,' said Ron firmly. 'I mean, come on . . . we've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "got exams and we're about that far - ' he held up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "his hand to show thumb and forefinger almost touching '- from being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "chucked out as it is. And anyway . . . remember Norbert?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Remember Aragog? Have we ever come off better for mixing with any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of Hagrid's monster mates?' 'I know, it's just that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "- we promised,' said Hermione in a small voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron smoothed his hair flat again, looking preoccupied. 'Well,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he sighed, 'Hagrid hasn't been sacked yet, has he? He's hung on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "this long, maybe he'll hang on till the end of term and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "we won't have to go near Grawp at all.'*The castle grounds were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "gleaming in the sunlight as though freshly painted; the cloudless sky smiled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "at itself in the smoothly sparkling lake; the satin green lawns rippled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "occasionally in a gentle breeze. June had arrived, but to the fifth-years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "this meant only one thing: their OWLs were upon them at last.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Their teachers were no longer setting them homework; lessons","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "were devoted to revising those topics the teachers thought most likely to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "come up in the exams. The purposeful, feverish atmosphere drove nearly everything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "but the OWLs from Harry's mind, though he did wonder occasionally during","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Potions lessons whether Lupin had ever told Snape that he must continue","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "giving Harry Ooclumency tuition. If he had, then Snape had ignored Lupin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "as thoroughly as he was now ignoring Harry. This suited Harry very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "well; he was quite busy and tense enough without extra classes with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Snape, and to his relief Hermione was much too preoccupied these days","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to badger him about Occlumency; she was spending a lot of time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "muttering to herself, and had not laid out any elf clothes for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "days. She was not the only person acting oddly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "as the OWLs drew steadily nearer. Ernie Macmillan had developed an irritating","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "habit of interrogating people about their revision practices. 'How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "many hours d'you think you're doing a day?' he demanded of Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and Ron as they queued outside Herbology, a manic gleam in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "eyes. 'I dunno,' said Ron. 'A few.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'More or less than eight?' 'Less, I s'pose,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "said Ron, looking slightly alarmed. 'I'm doing eight,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ernie, puffing out his chest. 'Eight or nine. I'm getting an hour","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in before breakfast every day. Eights my average. I can do ten","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "on a good weekend day. I did nine and a half on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Monday. Not so good on Tuesday - only seven and a quarter.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Then on Wednesday - ' Harry was deeply thankful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "that Professor Sprout ushered them into greenhouse three at that point, forcing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ernie to abandon his recital. Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "found a different way to induce panic. 'Of course,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it's not what you know,' he was heard to tell Crabbe and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Goyle loudly outside Potions a few days before the exams were to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "start, 'it's who you know. Now, Father's been friendly with the head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of the Wizarding Examinations Authority for years - old Griselda Marchbanks -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "we've had her round for dinner and everthing . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Do you think that's true?' Hermione whispered in alarm to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry and Ron. 'Nothing we can do about it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "if it is,' said Ron gloomily. 'I don't think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it's true,' said Neville quietly from behind them. 'Because Griselda Marchbanks is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a friend of my gran's, and she's never mentioned the Malfoy's.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'What's she like, Neville?' asked Hermione at once. 'Is she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "strict?' 'Bit like Gran, really,' said Neville in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "subdued voice. 'Knowing her won't hurt your chances, though,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "will it?' Ron told him encouragingly. 'Oh, I don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "think it will make any difference,' said Neville, still more miserably. 'Gran's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "always telling Professor Marchbanks I'm not as good as my dad .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". . well . . . you saw what she's like at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "St Mungo's Neville looked fixedly at the floor. Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron and Hermione glanced at each other, but didn't know what to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "say. It was the first time Neville had acknowledged that they had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "met at the wizarding hospital. Meanwhile, a flourishing black-market","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "trade in aids to concentration, mental agility and wakefulness had sprung up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "among the fifth- and seventh-years. Harry and Ron were much tempted by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the bottle of Baruffio's Brain Elixir offered to them by Ravenclaw sixth-year","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Eddie Carmichael, who swore it was solely responsible for the nine 'Outstanding'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "OWLs he had gained the previous summer and was offering a whole","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "pint for a mere twelve Galleons. Ron assured Harry he would reimburse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "him for his half the moment he left Hogwarts and got a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "job, but before they could close the deal, Hermione had confiscated the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "bottle from Carmichael and poured the contents down a toilet. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Hermione, we wanted to buy that!' shouted Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Don't be stupid,' she snarled. 'You might as well take Harold Dingle's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "powdered dragon claw and have done with it.' 'Dingle's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "got powdered dragon claw?' said Ron eagerly. 'Not any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "more,' said Hermione. 'I confiscated that, too. None of these things actually","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "work, you know.' 'Dragon claw does work!' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'It's supposed to be incredible, really gives your brain a boost, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "come over all cunning for a few hours - Hermione, let me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "have a pinch, go on, it can't hurt - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " This stuff can,' said Hermione grimly. 'I've had a look at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it, and it's actually dried Doxy droppings.' This information","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "took the edge off Harry and Ron's desire for brain stimulants. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " They received their examination timetables and details of the procedure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "for OWLs during their next Transfiguration lesson. 'As you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "can see,' Professor McGonagall told the class as they copied down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "dates and times of their exams from the blackboard, 'your OWLs are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "spread over two successive weeks. You will sit the theory papers in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the mornings and the practice in the afternoons. Your practical Astronomy examination","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "will, of course, take place at night. 'Now, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "must warn you that the most stringent anti-cheating charms have been applied","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to your examination papers. Auto-Answer Quills are banned from the examination hall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "as are Remembralls, Detachable Cribbing Cuffs and Self-Correcting Ink. Every year, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "am afraid to say, seems to harbour at least one student who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "thinks that he or she can get around the Wizarding Examinations Authority's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "rules. I can only hope that it is nobody in Gryffindor. Our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "new - Headmistress - ' Professor McGonagall pronounced the word with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "same look on her face that Aunt Petunia had whenever she was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "contemplating a particularly stubborn bit of dirt '- has asked the Heads","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of House to tell their students that cheating will be punished most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "severely - because, of course, your examination results will reflect upon the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Headmistress's new regime at the school - ' Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "McGonagall gave a tiny sigh; Harry saw the nostrils of her sharp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "nose flare. ' - however, that is no reason","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "not to do your very best. You have your own futures to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "think about.' 'Please, Professor,' said Hermione, her hand in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the air, 'when will we find out our results?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'An owl will be sent to you some time in July,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Professcr McGonagall. 'Excellent,' said Dean Thomas in an audible","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "whisper, 'so we don't have to worry about it till the holidays.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Harry imagined sitting in his bedroom in Privet Drive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in six weeks' time, waiting for his OWL results. Well, he thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "dully', at least he would be sure of one bit of post","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "that summer. Their first examination, Theory of Charms, was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "scheduled for Monday morning. Harry agreed to test Hermione after lunch on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Sunday, but regretted it almost at once; she was very agitated and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "kept snatching the book back from him to check that she had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "got the answer completely right, finally hitting him hard on the nose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "with the sharp edge of Achievements in Charming. 'Why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "don't you just do it yourself?' he said firmly, handing the book","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "back to her, his eyes watering. Meanwhile, Ron was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "reading two years' worth of Charms notes with his fingers in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "ears, his lips moving soundlessly; Seamus Finnigan was lying flat on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "back on the floor, reciting the definition of a Substantive Charm while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Dean checked it against The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5; and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Parvati and Lavender, who were practising basic Locomotion Charms, were making their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "pencil-cases race each other around the edge of the table. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Dinner was a subdued affair that night. Harry and Ron did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "not talk much, but ate with gusto, having studied hard all day.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hermione, on the other hand, kept putting down her knife and fork","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and diving under the table for her bag, from which she would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "seize a book to check some fact or figure. Ron was just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "telling her that she ought to eat a decent meal or she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "would not sleep that night, when her fork slid from her limp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "fingers and landed with a loud tinkle on her plate. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Oh, my goodness,' she said faintly, staring into the Entrance Hall.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Is that them? Is that the examiners?' Harry and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron whipped around on their bench. Through the doors to the Great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hall they could see Umbridge standing with a small group of ancient-looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "witches and wizards. Umbridge, Harry was pleased to see, looked rather nervous.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Shall we go and have a closer look?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron. Harry and Hermione nodded and they hastened towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the double doors into the Entrance Hall, slowing down as they stepped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "over the threshold to walk sedately past the examiners. Harry thought Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Marchbanks must be the tiny, stooped witch with a face so lined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it looked as though it had been draped in cobwebs; Umbridge was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "speaking to her deferentially. Professor Marchbanks seemed to be a little deaf;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "she was answering Professor Umbridge very loudly considering they were only a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "foot apart. 'Journey was fine, journey was fine, we've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "made it plenty of times before!' she said impatiently. 'Now, I haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "heard from Dumbledore lately!' she added, peering around the Hall as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "hopeful he might suddenly emerge from a broom cupboard. 'No idea where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he is, I suppose?' 'None at all,' said Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "shooting a malevolent look at Harry, Ron and Hermione, who were now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "dawdling around the foot of the stairs as Ron pretended to do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "up his shoelace. 'But I daresay the Ministry of Magic will track","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "him down soon enough.' 'I doubt it,' shouted tiny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Professor Marchbanks, 'not it Dumbledore doesn't want to be found! I should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "know . . . examined him personally in Transfiguration and Charms when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he did NEWTs . . . did things with a wand I'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "never seen before.' 'Yes . . . well .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". .' said Professor Umbridge as Harry, Ron and Hermione dragged their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "feet up the marble staircase as slowly as they dared, 'let me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "show you to the staff room. I daresay you'd like a cup","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of tea after your journey.' It was an uncomfortable","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "sort of an evening. Everyone was trying to do some last-minute revising","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "but nobody seemed to be getting very far. Harry went to bed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "early but then lay awake for what felt like hours. He remembered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "his careers consultation and McGonagall's furious declaration that she would help him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "become an Auror if it was the last thing she did. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "wished he had expressed a more achievable ambition now that exam time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was here. He knew he was not the only one lying awake,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "but none of the others in the dormitory spoke and finally, one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "by one, they fell asleep. None of the fifth-years","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "talked very much at breakfast next day, either: Parvati was practising incantations","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "under her breath while the salt cellar in front of her twitched;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hermione was rereading Achievements in Charming so fast that her eyes appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "blurred; and Neville kept dropping his knife and fork and knocking over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the marmalade. Once breakfast was over, the fifth- and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "seventh-years milled around in the Entrance Hall while the other students went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "off to lessons; then, at half past nine, they were called forwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "class by class to re-enter the Great Hall, which had been rearranged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "exactly as Harry had seen it in the Pensieve when his father,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Sirius and Snape had been taking their OWLs; the four house tables","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had been removed and replaced instead with many tables for one, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "facing the staff-table end of the Hall where Professor McGonagall stood facing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "them. When they were all seated and quiet, she said, 'You may","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "begin,' and turned over an enormous hour-glass on the desk beside her,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "on which there were also spare quills, ink bottles and rolls of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "parchment. Harry turned over his paper, his heart thumping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "hard - three rows to his right and four seats ahead Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was already scribbling - and lowered his eyes to the first question:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a) Give the incantation and b) describe the wand movement required to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "make objects fly. Harry had a fleeting memory of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a club soaring high into the air and landing loudly on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "thick skull of a troll . . . smiling slightly, he bent","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "over the paper and began to write.*'Well, it wasn't too bad, was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it?' asked Hermione anxiously in the Entrance Hall two hours later, still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "clutching the exam paper. 'I'm not sure I did myself justice on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Cheering Charms, I just ran out of time. Did you put in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the counter-charm for hiccoughs? I wasn't sure whether I ought to, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "felt like too much - and on question twenty-three - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Hermione,' said Ron sternly, 'we've been through this before .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". . we're not going through every exam afterwards, it's bad enough","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "doing them once.' The fifth-years ate lunch with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "rest of the school (the four house tables had reappeared for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lunch hour), then they trooped off into the small chamber beside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Great Hall, where they were to wait until called for their practical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "examination. As small groups of students were called forwards in alphabetical order,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "those left behind muttered incantations and practised wand movements, occasionally poking each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "other in the back or eye by mistake. Hermione's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "name was called. Trembling, she kit the chamber with Anthony Goldstein, Gregory","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Goyle and Daphne Greengrass. Students who had already been tested did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "return afterwards, so Harry and Ron had no idea how Hermione had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "done. 'She'll be fine, remember she got a hundred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and twelve per cent on one of our Charms tests?' said Ron.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Ten minutes later, Professor Flitwick called, 'Parkinson, Pansy -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Patil, Padma - Patil, Parvati - Potter. Harry.' 'Good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "luck,' said Ron quietly. Harry walked into the Great Hall, clutching his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "wand so tightly his hand shook. 'Professor Tofty is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "free, Potter,' squeaked Professor Flitwick, who was standing just inside the door.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "He pointed Harry towards what looked like the very oldest and baldest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "examiner who was sitting behind a small table in a far corner,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a short distance from Professor Marchbanks, who was halfway through testing Draco","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Malfoy. 'Potter, is it?' said Professor Tofty, consulting his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "notes and peering over his pince-nez at Harry as he approached. 'The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "famous Potter?' Out of the corner of his eye,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry distinctly saw Malfoy throw a scathing look over at him; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "wine-glass Malfoy had been levitating fell to the floor and smashed. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "could not suppress a grin; Professor Tofty smiled back at him encouragingly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " That's it,' he said in his quavery old voice,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'no need to be nervous. Now, if I could ask you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "take this egg cup and make it do some cartwheels for me.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " On the whole, Harry thought it went rather well.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "His Levitation Charm was certainly much better than Malfoy's had been, though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he wished he had not mixed up the incantations for Colour Change","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and Growth Charms, so that the rat he was supposed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "turning orange swelled shockingly and was the size of a badger before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry could rectify his mistake. He was glad Hermione had not been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in the Hall at the time and neglected to mention it to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "her afterwards. He could tell Ron, though; Ron had caused a dinner","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "plate to mutate into a large mushroom and had no idea how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it had happened. There was no time to relax","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "that night; they went straight to the common room after dinner and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "submerged themselves in revision for Transfiguration next day; Harry went to bed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "with his head buzzing with complex spell models and theories. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " He forgot the definition of a Switching Spell during his written","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "paper next morning but thought his practical could have been a lot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "worse. At least he managed to Vanish the whole of his iguana,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "whereas poor Hannah Abbott lost her head completely at the next table","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and somehow managed to multiply her ferret into a flock of flamingos,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "causing the examination to be halted for ten minute; while the birds","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "were captured and carried out of the Hall. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had their Herbology exam on Wednesday (other than a small bite from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a Fanged Geranium, Harry felt he had done reasonably well); and then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "on Thursday, Deience Against the Dark Arts. Here, tor the first time,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry felt sure he had passed. He had no problem with any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of the written questions and took particular pleasure, during the practical examination,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in performing all the counter-jinxes and defensive spells right in front of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Umbridge, who was watching coolly from near the doors into the Entrance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hall. 'Oh, bravo!' cried Professor Tolty, who was examining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry again, when Harry demonstrated a perfect Boggart banishing spell. 'Very good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "indeed! Well, I think that's all, Potter . . . unless .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". .' He leaned forwards a little. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'I heard, from my dear friend Tiberius Ogden, that you can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "produce a Patronus? For a bonus point . . . ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Harry raised his wand, looked directly at Umbridge and imagined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "her being sacked. 'Expecto patronum!' His","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "silver stag erupted from the end of his wand and cantered the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "length of the Hall. All of the examiners looked around to watch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "its progress and when it dissolved into silver mist Professor Tofty clapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "his veined and knotted hands enthusiastically. 'Excellent!' he said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Very well, Potter, you may go!' As Harry passed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Umbridge beside the door, their eyes met. There was a nasty smile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "playing around her wide, slack mouth, but he did not care. Unless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he was very much mistaken (and he was not planning on telling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "anybody, in case he was), he had just achieved an 'Outstanding' OWL.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " On Friday, Harry and Ron had a day off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "while Hermione sat her Ancient Runes exam, and as they had the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "whole weekend in front of them they permitted themselves a break from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "revision. They stretched and yawned beside the open window, through which warm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "summer air was wafting as they played wizard chess. Harry could see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hagrid in the distance, teaching a class on the edge of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Forest. He was trying to guess what creatures they were examining -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he thought it must be unicorns, because the boys seemed to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "standing back a little - when the portrait hole opened and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "clambered in, looking thoroughly bad-tempered. 'How were the Runes?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "said Ron, yawning and stretching. 'I mis-translated ehwaz,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hermione furiously. 'It means partnership, not defence', I mixed it up with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "eihwaz.' 'Ah well,' said Ron lazily, 'that's only one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "mistake, isn't it, you'll still get - ' 'Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "shut up!' said Hermione angrily. 'It could be the one mistake that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "makes the difference between a pass and a fail. And what's more,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "someone's put another Nifiler in Umbridge's office. I don't know how they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "got it through that new door, but I just walked past there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and Umbridge is shrieking her head off - by the sound of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it, it tried to take a chunk out of her leg -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "' 'Good,' said Harry and Ron together. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'It is not good!' said Hermione hotly. 'She thinks it's Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "doing it, remember? And we do not want Hagrid chucked out!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'He's teaching at the moment; she can't blame him,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry, gesturing out of the window. 'Oh, you're so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "naive sometimes, Harry. You really think Umbridge will wait for proof?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hermione, who seemed determined to be in a towering temper, and she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "swept off towards the girls' dormitories, banging the door behind her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Such a lovely, sweet-tempered girl,' said Ron, very quietly, prodding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "his queen forward to beat up one of Harry's knights. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Hermione's bad mood persisted for most of the weekend, though Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and Ron found it quite easy to ignore as they spent most","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of Saturday and Sunday revising for Potions on Monday, the exam which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry had been looking forward to least - and which he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "sure would be the downfall of his ambitions to become an Auror.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Sure enough, he found the written paper difficult, though he thought he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "might have got full marks on the question about Polyjuice Potion; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "could describe its effects accurately, having taken it illegally in his second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "year. The afternoon practical was not as dreadful as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he had expected, it to be. With Snape absent from the proceedings,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he found that he was much more relaxed than he usually was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "while making potions. Neville, who was sitting very near Harry, also looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "happier than Harry had ever seen him during a Potions class. When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Professor Marchbanks said, 'Step away from your cauldrons, please, the examination is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "over,' Harry corked his sample flask feeling that he might not have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "achieved a good grade but he had, with luck, avoided a fail.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Only four exams left,' said Parvati Patil wearily as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "they headed back to Gryffindor common room. 'Only!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hermione snappishly. 'I've got Arithmancy and it's probably the toughest subject there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "is!' Nobody was foolish enough to snap back, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "she was unable to vent her spleen on any of them and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was reduced to telling off some first-years for giggling too loudly in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the common room. Harry was determined to perform well","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in Tuesday's Care of Magical Creatures exam so as not to let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hagrid down. The practical examination took place in the afternoon on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lawn on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where students were required","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to correctly identify the Knarl hidden among a dozen hedgehogs (the trick","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was to offer them all milk in turn: Knarls, highly suspicious creatures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "whose quills had many magical properties, generally went berserk at what they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "saw as an attempt to poison them); then demonstrate correct handling of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a Bowtruckle; feed and clean out a Fire Crab without sustaining serious","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "burns; and choose, from a wide selection of food, the diet they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "would give a sick unicorn. Harry could see Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "watching anxiously out of his cabin window. When Harry's examiner, a plump","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "little witch this time, smiled at him and told him he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "leave, Harry gave Hagrid a fleeting thumbs-up before heading back to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "castle. The Astronomy theory paper on Wednesday morning went","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "well enough. Harry was not convinced he had got the names of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "all Jupiter's moons right, but was at least confident that none of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "them was inhabited by mice. They had to wait until evening for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "their practical Astronomy; the afternoon was devoted instead to Divination. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Even by Harry's low standards in Divination, the exam went very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "badly. He might as well have tried to see moving pictures on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the desktop as in the stubbornly blank crystal ball; he lost his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "head completely during tea-leaf reading, saying it looked to him as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Professor Marchbanks would shortly be meeting a round, dark, soggy stranger, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "rounded off the whole fiasco by mixing up the life and head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lines on her palm and informing her that she ought to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "died the previous Tuesday. 'Well, we were always going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to fail that one,' said Ron gloomily as they ascended the marble","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "staircase. He had just made Harry feel rather better by telling him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "how he had told the examiner in detail about the ugly man","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "with a wart on his nose in his crystal ball, only to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "look up and realise he had been describing his examiner's reflection. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'We shouldn't have taken the stupid subject in the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "place,' said Harry. 'Still, at least we can give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it up now.' 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'No more pretending","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "we care what happens when Jupiter and Uranus get too friendly.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'And from now on, I don't care if my tea-leaves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "spell die, Ron, die - I'm just chucking them in the bin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "where they belong.' Harry laughed just as Hermione came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "running up behind them. He stopped laughing at once, in case it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "annoyed her. 'Well, I think I've done all right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in Arithmancy,' she said, and Harry and Ron both sighed with relief.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Just time for a quick look over our star-charts before dinner, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". . .' When they reached the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the Astronomy Tower at eleven o'clock, they found a perfect night for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "stargazing, cloudless and still. The grounds were bathed in silvery moonlight and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "there was a slight chill in the air. Each of them set","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "up his or her telescope and, when Professor Marchbanks gave the word,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "proceeded to fill in the blank star-chart they had been given. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Professors Marchbanks and Tofty strolled among them, watching as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "entered the precise positions of the stars and planets the) were observing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "All was quiet except for the rustle of parchment, the occasional creak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of a telescope as it was adjusted on its stand, and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "scribbling of many quills. Half an hour passed, then ar hour; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "little squares of reflected gold light flickering on the: ground below started","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to vanish as lights in the castle windows were extinguished. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " As Harry completed the constellation Orion on his chart, however, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "front doors of the castle opened directly below the parapet where he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was standing, so that light spilled down the stone steps a little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "way across the lawn. Harry glanced down as he made a slight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "adjustment to the position of his telescope and saw five or six","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "elongated shadows moving over the brightly lit grass before the doors swung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "shut and the lawn became a sea of darkness once more. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Harry put his eye back to his telescope and refocused","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it, now examining Venus. He looked down at his chart to enter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the planet there, but something distracted him; pausing with his quill suspended","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "over the parchment, he squinted down into the shadowy grounds and saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "half a dozen figures walking over the lawn. If they had not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "been moving, and the moonlight had not been gilding the tops of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "their heads, they would have been indistinguishable from the dark ground on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "which they walked. Even at this distance, Harry had a funny feeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he recognised the walk of the squattest of them, who seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "be leading the group. He could not think why","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Umbridge would be taking a stroll outside after midnight, much less accompanied","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "by five others. Then somebody coughed behind him, and he remembered that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he was halfway through an exam. He had quite forgotten Venus's position.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Jamming his eye to his telescope, he found it again and was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "once more about to enter it on his chart when, alert for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "any odd sound, he heard a distant knock which echoed through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "deserted grounds, followed immediately by the muffled barking of a large dog.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " He looked up, his heart hammering. There were lights","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "on in Hagrids windows and the people he had observed crossing the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lawn were now silhouetted against them. The door opened and he distinctly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "saw six sharply defined figures walk over the threshold. The door closed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "again and there was silence. Harry felt very uneasy.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "He glanced around to see whether Ron or Hermione had noticed what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he had, but Professor Marchbanks came walking behind him at that moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and, not wanting to look as though he was sneaking looks at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "anyone else's work, Harry hastily bent over his star-chart and pretended to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "be adding notes to it while really peering over the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the parapet towards Hagrid's cabin. Figures were now moving across the cabin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "windows, temporarily blocking the light. He could feel Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Marchbanks's eyes on the back of his neck and pressed his eye","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "again to his telescope, staring up at the moon though he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "marked its position an hour ago, but as Professor Marchbanks moved on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he heard a roar from the distant cabin that echoed through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "darkness right to the top of the Astronomy Tower. Several of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "people around Harry ducked out from behind their telescopes and peered instead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in the direction of Hagrid's cabin. Professor Tofty gave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "another dry little cough. Try and concentrate, now, boys","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and girls,' he said softly. Most people returned to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "their telescopes. Harry looked to his left. Hermione was gazing transfixed at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hagrid's cabin. 'Ahem - twenty minutes to go,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Professor Tofty. Hermione jumped and returned at once to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "her star-chart; Harry looked down at his own and noticed that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had mis-labelled Venus as Mars. He bent to correct it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " There was a loud BANG from the grounds. Several people cried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Ouch!' when they poked themselves in the face with the ends of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "their telescopes as they hastened to see what was going on below.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Hagrid's door had burst open and by the light","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "flooding out of the cabin they saw him quite clearly, a massive","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "figure roaring and brandishing his fists, surrounded by six people, all of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "whom, judging by the tiny threads of red light they were casting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in his direction, seemed to be attempting to Stun him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'No!' cried Hermione. 'My dear!' said Professor Tofty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in a scandalised voice. This is an examination!' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "nobody was paying the slightest attention to their star-charts any more. Jets","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of red light were still flying about beside Hagrid's cabin, yet somehow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "they seemed to be bouncing off him; he was still upright and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "still, as far as Harry could see, fighting. Cries and yells echoed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "across the grounds; a man yelled, 'Be reasonable, Hagrid!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hagrid roared, 'Reasonable be damned, yeh won' take me like this, Dawlish!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Harry could see the tiny outline of Fang, attempting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to defend Hagrid, leaping repeatedly at the wizards surrounding him until a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Stunning Spell caught him and he fell to the ground. Hagrid gave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "a howl of fury, lifted the culprit bodily from the ground and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "threw him; the man flew what looked like ten feet and did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "not get up again. Hermione gasped, both hands over her mouth; Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "looked round at Ron and saw that he, too, was looking scared.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "None of them had ever seen Hagrid in a real temper before.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Look!' squealed Parvati, who was leaning over the parapet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and pointing to the foot of the castle where the front doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had opened again; more light was spilling out on to the dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lawn and a single long black shadow was now rippling across the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lawn. 'Now, really!' said Professor Tofty anxiously. 'Only sixteen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "minutes left, you know!' But nobody paid him the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "slightest attention: they were watching the person now sprinting towards the battle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "beside Hagrid's cabin. 'How dare you!' the figure shouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "as she ran. 'How dare you!' 'It's McGonagall!' whispered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Hermione. 'Leave him alone! Alone, I say!' said Professor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "McGonagall's voice through the darkness. 'On what grounds are you attacking him?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "He has done nothing, nothing to warrant such - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Hermione, Parvati and Lavender all screamed. The figures around the cabin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had shot no fewer than lour Stunners at Professor McGonagall. Halfway between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "cabin and castle the red beams collided with her; for a moment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "she looked luminous and glowed an eerie red, then she lifted right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "off her feet, landed hard on her back, and moved no more.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Galloping gargoyles!' shouted Professor Tofty, who also seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "have forgotten the exam completely. 'Not so much as a warning! Outrageous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "behaviour!' 'COWARDS!' bellowed Hagrid; his voice carried clearly to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the top of the tower, and several lights flickered back on inside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the castle. 'RUDDY COWARDS! HAVE SOME O' THAT - AN' THAT -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "' 'Oh my - ' gasped Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Hagrid took two massive swipes at his closest attackers; judging by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "their immediate collapse, they had been knocked cold. Harry saw Hagrid double","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "over, and thought he had finally been overcome by a spell. But,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "on the contrary, next moment Hagrid was standing again with what appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to be a sack on his back - then Harry realised that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "bangs limp body was draped around his shoulders. 'Get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "him, get him!' screamed Umbridge, but her remaining helper seemed highly reluctant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to go within reach of Hagrid's fists; indeed, he was backing away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "so fast he tripped over one of his unconscious colleagues and fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "over. Hagrid had turned and begun to run with Fang still hung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "around his neck. Umbridge sent one last Stunning Spell after him but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it missed; and Hagrid, running full-pelt towards the distant gates, disappeared into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the darkness. There was a long minute's quivering silence","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "as everybody gazed open-mouthed into the grounds. Then Professor Tofty's voice said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "feebly, 'Um . . . five minutes to go, everybody.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Though he had only filled in two-thirds of his chart, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was desperate for the exam to end. When it came at last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he, Ron and Hermione forced their telescopes haphazardly back into their holders","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and dashed back down the spiral staircase. None of the students were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "going to bed; they were all talking loudly and excitedly at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "foot of the stairs about what they had witnessed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "That evil woman!' gasped Hermione, who seemed to be having difficulty talking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "due to rage. Trying to sneak up on Hagrid in the dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of night!' 'She clearly wanted to avoid another scene","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "like Trelawney's,' said Ernie Macmillan sagely, squeezing over to join them. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'Hagrid did well, didn't he?' said Ron, who looked more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "alarmed than impressed. 'How come all the spells bounced off him?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'It'll be his giant blood,' said Hermione shakily. 'Its very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "hard to Stun a giant, they're like trolls, really tough . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". but poor Professor McGonagall . . . four Stunners straight in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the chest and she's net exactly young, is she?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Dreadful, dreadful,' said Ernie, shaking his head pompously. 'Well, I'm off to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "bed. Night, all.' People around them were drifting away,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "still talking excitedly about what they had just seen. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'At least they didn't get to take Hagrid off to Azkaban,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Ron. 'I 'spect he's gone to join Dumbledore, hasn't he?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " 'I suppose so,' said Hermione, who looked tearful. 'Oh, this is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "awful, I really thought Dumbledore would be back before long, but now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "we've lost Hagrid too.' They traipsed back to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Gryffindor common room to find it full. The commotion out in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "grounds had woken several people, who had hastened to rouse their friends.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Seamus and Dean, who had arrived ahead of Harry, Ron and Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "were now telling everyone what they had seen and heard from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "top of the Astronomy Tower. 'But why sack Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "now?' asked Angelina Johnson, shaking her head. 'It's not like Trelawney; he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "been teaching much better than usual this year!' 'Urnbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "hates part-humans,' said Hermione bitterly, flopping down into an armchair. 'She was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "always going to try and get Hagrid out.' 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "she thought Hagrid was putting Nifflers in her office,' piped up Katie","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Bell. 'Oh, blimey,' said Lee Jordan, covering his mouth.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'It's me who's been putting the Nifflers in her office. Fred and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "George left me a couple; I've been levitating them in through her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "window.' 'She'd have sacked him anyway,' said Dean. 'He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was too close to Dumbledore.' That's true,' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "sinking into an armchair beside Hermione's. 'I just hope","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Professor McGonagall's all right,' said Lavender tearfully. They carried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "her back up to the castle, we watched through the dormitory window,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "said Colin Creevey. 'She didn't look very well.' 'Madam","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Pomfrey will sort her out,' said Alicia Spinnet firmly. 'She's never failed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "yet.' It was nearly four in the morning before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the common room cleared. Harry felt wide awake; the image of Hagrid","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "sprinting away into the dark was haunting him; he was so angry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "with Umbridge he could not think of a punishment bad enough for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "her, though Ron's suggestion of having her fed to a box of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "starving Blast-Ended Skrewts had its merits. He fell asleep contemplating hideous revenges","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and arose from bed three hours later feeling distinctly unrested. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Their final exam, History of Magic, was not to take place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "until that afternoon. Harry would very much have liked to go back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to bed after breakfast, but he had been counting on the morning","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "for a spot of last-minute revision, so instead he sat with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "head in his hands by the common-room window, trying hard not to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "doze off as he read through some of the three-and-a-half-feet-high stack of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "notes that Hermione had lent him. The fifth-years entered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the Great Hall at two o'clock and took their places in front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of their face-down examination papers. Harry felt exhausted. He just wanted this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to be over, so that he could go and sleep; then tomorrow,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he and Ron were going to go down to the Quidditch pitch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "- he was going to have a fly on Ron's broom -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and savour their freedom from revision. Turn over your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "papers,' said Professor Marchbanks from the front of the Hall, flicking over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the giant hour-glass. 'You may begin ' Harry stared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "fixedly at the first question. It was several seconds before it occurred","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to him that he had not taken in a word of it;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "there was a wasp buzzing distractingly against one of the high windows.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Slowly, tortuously, he at last began to write an answer. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " He was finding it very difficult to remember names and kept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "confusing dates. He simply skipped question four (In your opinion, did wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "legislation contribute to, or lead to better control of, goblin riots of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the eighteenth century?), thinking that he would go back to it if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he had time at the end. He had a stab at question","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "five (How was the Statute of Secrecy breached in 1749 and what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "measures were introduced to prevent a recurrence?) but had a nagging suspicion","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "that he had missed several important points; he had a feeling vampires","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had come into the story somewhere. He looked ahead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "for a question he could definitely answer and his eyes alighted upon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "number ten: Describe the circumstances that led to the formation of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "International Confederation of Wizards and explain why the warlocks of Liechtenstein refused","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to join. I know this, Harry thought, though his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "brain felt torpid and slack. He could visualise a heading, in Hermione's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "handwriting: The formation of the International Confederation of Wizards . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he had read those notes only this morning. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "began to write, looking up now and again to check the large","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "hour-glass on the desk beside Professor Marchbanks. He was sitting right behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Parvati Patil, whose long dark hair fell below the back of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "chair. Once or twice he found himself staring at the tiny golden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lights that glistened in it when she moved her head slightly, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had to give his own head a little shake to clear it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " . . . the first Supreme Mugwump of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "International Confederation of Wizards was Pierre Bonaccord, hut his appointment was contested","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "by the wizarding community of Liechtenstein, because - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "All around Harry quills were scratching on parchment like scurrying, burrowing rats.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "The sun was very hot on the back of his head. What","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was it that Bonaccord had done to offend the wizards of Liechtenstein?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Harry had a feeling it had something to do with trolls .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". . he gazed blankly at the back of Parvati's head again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "If he could only perform Legilimency and open a window in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "back of her head and see what it was about trolls that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "had caused the breach between Pierre Bonaccord and Liechtenstein . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Harry closed his eyes and buried his face in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "his hands, so that the glowing red of his eyelids grew dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and cool. Bonaccord had wanted to stop troll-hunting and give the trolls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "rights . . . but Liechtenstein was having problems with a tribe","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of particularly vicious mountain trolls . . . that was it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " He opened his eyes; they stung and watered at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "sight of the blazing white parchment. Slowly, he wrote two lines about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the foils, then read through what he had done so far. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "did not seem very informative or detailed, yet he was sure Hermione's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "notes on the Confederation had gone on for pages and pages. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " He closed his eyes again, trying to see them, trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "to remember . . . the Confederation had met for the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "time in France, yes, he had written that already . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Goblins had tried to attend and been ousted .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". . he had written that, too . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " And nobody from Liechtenstein had wanted to come . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " Think, he told himself, his face in his hands,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "while all around him quills scratched out never-ending answers and the sand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "trickled through the hour-glass at the front . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " He was walking along the cool, dark corridor to the Department","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "of Mysteries again, walking with a firm and purposeful tread, breaking occasionally","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "into a run, determined to reach his destination at last . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". the black door swung open for him as usual, and here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he was in the circular room with its many doors . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". Straight across the stone floor and through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "second door . . . patches of dancing light on the walls","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "and floor and that odd mechanical clicking, but no time to explore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "he must hurry . . . He jogged the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "last few feet to the third door, which swung open just like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the others . . . Once again he was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in the cathedral-sized room full of shelves and glass spheres . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". his heart was beating very fast now . . . he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "was going to get there this time . . . when he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "reached number ninety-seven he turned left and hurried along the aisle between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "two rows . . . But there was a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "shape on the floor at the very end, a black shape moving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "on the floor like a wounded animal . . . Harry's stomach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "contracted with fear . . . with excitement . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " A voice issued from his own mouth, a high, cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "voice empty of any human kindness . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'Take it for me . . . lift it down, now .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". . I cannot touch it . . . but you can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" ". . .' The black shape on the floor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "shifted a little. Harry saw a long-fingered white hand clutching a wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "rise at the end of his own arm . . . heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the high, cold voice say 'Crucio!' The man on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "the floor let out a scream of pain, attempted to stand but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "fell back, writhing. Harry was laughing. He raised his wand, the curse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "lifted and the figure groaned and became motionless. 'Lord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Voldemort is waiting . . .' Very slowly, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "arms trembling, the man on the ground raised his shoulders a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "inches and lifted his head. His face was bloodstained and gaunt, twisted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "in pain yet rigid with defiance . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "'You'll have to kill me,' whispered Sirius. 'Undoubtedly I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "shall in the end,' said the cold voice. 'But you will fetch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "it for me first, Black . . . you think you have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "felt pain thus far? Think again . . . we have hours","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "ahead of us and nobody to hear you scream . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" " But somebody screamed as Voldemort lowered his wand again;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "somebody yelled and fell sideways off a hot desk on to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "cold stone floor; Harry awoke as he hit the ground, still yelling,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "his scar on fire, as the Great Hall erupted all around him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-31" "Out of the Fire'I'm not going . . . I don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "need the hospital wing . . . I don't want . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ".' He was gibbering as he tried to pull","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "away from Professor Tofty, who was looking at Harry with much concern","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "after helping him out into the Entrance Hall with the students all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "around them staring. I'm - I'm fine, sir,' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "stammered, wiping the sweat from his face. 'Really . . . I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "just fell asleep . . . had a nightmare . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Pressure of examinations!' said the old wizard sympathetically, patting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry shakily on the shoulder. 'It happens, young man, it happens! Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a cooling drink of water, and perhaps you will be ready to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "return to the Great Hall? The examination is nearly over, but you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "may be able to round off your last answer nicely?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Yes,' said Harry wildly. 'I mean . . . no .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . I've done - done z.s much as I can, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "think . . .` 'Very well, very well,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the old wizard gently. 'I shall go and collect your examination paper","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and I suggest that you go and have a nice lie down.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I'll do that,' said Harry, nodding vigorously. 'Thanks very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "much.' The second that the old man's heels disappeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "over the threshold into the Great Hall, Harry ran up the marble","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "staircase, hurtled along the corridors so fast the portraits he passed muttered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "reproaches, up more flights of stairs, and finally burst like a hurricane","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "through the double doors of the hospital wing, causing Madam Pomfrey -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "who had been spooning some bright blue liquid into Montagues open mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "- to shriek in alarm. 'Potter, what do you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "think you're doing?' 'I need to see Professor McGonagall,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "gasped Harry, the breath tearing his lungs. 'Now . . . it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "urgent!' 'She's not here, Potter,' said Madam Pomfrey sadly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'She was transferred to St Mungo's this morning. Four Stunning Spells straight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to the chest at her age? It's a wonder they didn't kill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "her.' 'She's . . . gone?' said Harry, shocked.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " The bell rang just outside the dormitory and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "heard the usual distant rumbling of students starting to flood out into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the corridors above and below him. He remained quite still, looking at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Madam Pomfrey. Terror was rising inside him. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "nobody left to tell. Dumbledore had gone, Hagrid had gone, but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "had always expected Professor McGonagall to be there, irascible and inflexible, perhaps,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "but always dependably, solidly present . . . 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "don't wonder you're shocked, Potter,' said Madam Pomfrey, with a kind of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "fierce approval in her face. 'As if one of them could have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Stunned Minerva McGonagall face-on by daylight! Cowardice, that's what it was .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . despicable cowardice . . . if I wasn't worried what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "would happen to you students without me, I'd resign in protest.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Yes,' said Harry blankly. He wheeled around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and strode blindly from the hospital wing into the teeming corridor where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "he stood, buffeted by the crowd, panic expanding inside him like poison","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "gas so that his head swam and he could not think what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to do . . . Ron and Hermione, said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a voice in his head. He was running again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "pushing students out of the way, oblivious to their angry protests. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sprinted, back down two floors and was at the top of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "marble staircase when he saw them hurrying towards him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'Harry!' said Hermione at once, looking very frightened. 'What happened? Are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "all right? Are you ill?' 'Where have you been?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "demanded Ron. 'Come with me,' Harry said quickly. 'Come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "on, I've got to tell you something.' He led","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "them along the first-floor corridor, peering through doorways, and at last found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "an empty classroom into which he dived, closing the door behind Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and Hermione the moment they were inside, and leaned against it, facing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "them. 'Voldemorts got Sirius.' 'What?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'How d'you - ?' 'Saw it. Just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "now. When I fell asleep in the exam.' 'But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "- but where? How?' said Hermione, whose face was white. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I dunno how,' said Harry. 'But I know exactly where. There's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a room in the Department of Mysteries full of shelves covered in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "these little glass balls and they're at the end of row ninety-seven","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . he's trying to use Sirius to get whatever it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "is he wants from in there . . . he's torturing him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . says he'll end by killing him!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry found his voice was shaking, as were his knees. He moved","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "over to a desk and sat down on it, trying to master","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "himself. 'How're we going to get there?' he asked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "them. There was a moment's silence. Then Ron said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'G-get there?' 'Get to the Department of Mysteries, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "we can rescue Sirius!' Harry said loudly. 'But -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry . . .' said Ron weakly. 'What? What?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said Harry. He could not understand why they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "both gaping at him as though he was asking them something unreasonable.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Harry,' said Hermione in a rather frightened voice, 'er","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . how . . . how did Voldemort get into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the Ministry of Magic without anybody realising he was there?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'How do I know?' bellowed Harry. The question is how we're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "going to get in there!' 'But . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry, think about this,' said Hermione, taking a step towards him, 'its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "five o'clock in the afternoon . . . the Ministry of Magic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "must be full of workers . . . how would Voldemort and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Sirius have got in without being seen? Harry . . . they're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "probably the two most wanted wizards in the world . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you think they could get into a building full of Aurors undetected?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I dunno, Voldemort used an Invisibility Cloak or something!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry shouted. 'Anyway, the Department of Mysteries has always been completely empty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "whenever I've been - ' 'You've never been there,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry,' said Hermione quietly. 'You've dreamed about the place, that's all.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'They're not normal dreams!' Harry shouted in her face, standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "up and taking a step closer to her in turn. He wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to shake her. 'How d'you explain Ron's dad then, what was all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "that about, how come I knew what had happened to him?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'He's got a point,' said Ron quietly, looking at Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'But this is just - just so unlikely!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Hermione desperately. 'Harry, how on earth could Voldemort have got hold of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Sirius when he's been in Grimmauld Place all the time?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Sirius might've cracked and just wanted some fresh air,' said Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sounding worried. 'He's been desperate to get out of that house for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "ages - ' 'But why,' Hermione persisted, 'why on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "earth would Voldemort want to use Sirius to get the weapon, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "whatever the thing is?' 'I dunno, there could be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "loads of reasons!' Harry yelled at her. 'Maybe Sirius is just someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Voldemort doesn't care about seeing hurt - ' 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "know what, I've just thought of something,' said Ron in a hushed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "voice. 'Sirius's brother was a Death Eater, wasn't he? Maybe he told","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Sirius the secret of how to get the weapon!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'Yeah - and that's why Dumbledore's been so keen to keep Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "locked up all the time!' said Harry. 'Look, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sorry,' cried Hermione, 'but neither of you is making sense, and we've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "got no proof for any of this, no proof Voldemort and Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "are even there - ' 'Hermione, Harry's seen them!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said Ron, rounding on her. 'OK,' she said, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "frightened yet determined, 'I've just got to say this - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'What?' 'You . . . this isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a criticism, Harry! But you do . . . sort of .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . I mean - don't you think you've got a bit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of a - a - saving-people thing?' she said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "He glared at her. 'And what's that supposed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "mean, a `saving-people thing`?' 'Well . . . you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . .' she looked more apprehensive than ever. 'I mean .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . last year, for instance . . . in the lake","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . during the Tournament . . . you shouldn't have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . I mean, you didn't need to save that little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Delacour girl . . . you got a bit . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "carried away . . .' A wave of not,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "prickly anger swept through Harry's body; now could she remind him of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "that blunder now? 'I mean, it was really great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of you and everything,' said Hermione quickly, looking positively petrified at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "look on Harry's face, 'everyone thought it was a wonderful thing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "do - That's funny,' said Harry through gritted teeth,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'because I definitely remember Ron saying I'd wasted time acting the hero","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . is that what you think this is? You reckon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I want to act the hero again?' 'No, no,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "no!' said Hermione, looking aghast. That's not what I mean at all!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Well, spit out what you've got to say, because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "we're wasting time here!' Harry shouted. I'm trying to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "say - Voldemort knows you, Harry! He took Ginny down into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Chamber of Secrets to lure you there, it's the kind of thing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "he does, he knows you're the - the sort of person who'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "go to Sirius's aid! What if he's just trying to get you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "into the Department of Myst - ?' 'Hermione, it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "doesn't matter if he's done it to get me there or not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "- they've taken McGonagall to St Mungo's, there isn't anyone from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Order left at Hogwarts who we can tell, and if we don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "go, Sirius is dead!' 'But Harry - what if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "your dream was - was just that, a dream?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry let out a roar of frustration. Hermione actually stepped back from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "him, looking alarmed. 'You don't get it!' Harry shouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "at her, 'I'm not having nightmares, I'm not just dreaming! What d'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "think all the Occlumency was for, why d'you think Dumbledore wanted me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "prevented from seeing these things? Because they're REAL, Hermione - Sirius is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "trapped, I've seen him. Voldemort's got him, and no one else knows,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and that means we're the only ones who can save him, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "if you don't want to do it, fine, but I'm going, understand?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "And if I remember rightly, you didn't have a problem with my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "saving-people thing when it was you I was saving from the Dementors,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "or - ' he rounded on Ron - when it was your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sister I was saving from the Basilisk - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'I never said I had a problem!' said Ron heatedly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'But Harry, you've just said it,' said Hermione fiercely, 'Dumbledore wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you to learn to shut these things out of your mind, if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you'd done Occlumency properly you'd never have seen this - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'IF YOU THINK I'M JUST GOING TO ACT LIKE I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "HAVEN'T SEEN - ' 'Sirius told you there was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "nothing more important than you learning to close your mind!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'WELL, I EXPECT HE'D SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF HE KNEW WHAT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I'D JUST - ' The classroom door opened. Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Ron and Hermione whipped around. Ginny walked in, looking curious, closely followed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "by Luna, who as usual looked as though she had drifted in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "accidentally. 'Hi,' said Ginny uncertainly. 'We recognised Harry's voice.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "What are you yelling about?' 'Never you mind,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry roughly. Ginny raised her eyebrows. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'There's no need to take that tone with me,' she said coolly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "T was only wondering whether I could help.' 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you can't,' said Harry shortly. 'You're being rather rude,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you know,' said Luna serenely. Harry swore and turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "away. The very last thing he wanted now was a conversation with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Luna Lovegood. 'Wait,' said Hermione suddenly. 'Wait . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". Harry, they can help.' Harry and Ron looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "at her. 'Listen,' she said urgently, 'Harry, we need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to establish whether Sirius really has left Headquarters.' 'I've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "told you, I saw - ' 'Harry, I'm begging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you, please!' said Hermione desperately. 'Please let's just check that Sirius isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "at home before we go charging off to London. If we find","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "out he's not there, then I swear I won't try to stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you. I'll come, I'll d - do whatever it takes to try","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and save him.' 'Sirius is being tortured NOW!' shouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry. 'We haven't got time to waste.' 'But if","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "this is a trick of Voldemort's, Harry, we've got to check, we've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "got to.' 'How?' Harry demanded. 'How're we going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "check?' 'We'll have to use Umbridge's fire and see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "if we can contact him, said Hermione, who looked positively terrified at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the thought. 'We'll draw Umbridge away again, but we'll need lookouts, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "that's where we can use Ginny and Luna.' Though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "clearly struggling to understand what was going on, Ginny said immediately, 'Yeah,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "we'll do it,' and Luna said, 'When you say `Sirius`, are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "talking about Stubby Boardman?' Nobody answered her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'OK,' Harry said aggressively to Hermione, 'OK, if you can think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of a way of doing this quickly, I'm with you, otherwise I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "going to the Department of Mysteries right now.' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Department of Mysteries?' said Luna, looking mildly surprised. 'But how are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "going to get there?' Again, Harry ignored her. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Right,' said Hermione, twisting her hands together and pacing up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and down between the desks. 'Right . . . well . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". one of us has to go and find Umbridge and -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and send her off in the wrong direction, keep her away from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "her office. They could tell her - I don't know - that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Peeves is up to something awful as usual . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I'll do it,' said Ron at once. 'I'll tell her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Peeves is smashing up the Transfiguration department or something, it's miles away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "from her office. Come to think of it, I could probably persuade","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Peeves to do it if I met him on the way.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " It was a mark of the seriousness of the situation","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "that Hermione made no objection to the smashing up of the Transfiguration","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "department. 'OK,' she said, her brow furrowed as she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "continued to pace. 'Now, we need to keep students right away from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "her office while we force entry, or some Slytherin's bound to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and tip her off. 'Luna and I can stand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "at either end of the corridor,` said Ginny promptly, 'and warn people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "not to go down there because someone's let off a load of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Garrotting Gas.' Hermione looked surprised at the readiness with which Ginny had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "come up with this lie; Ginny shrugged and said, 'Fred and George","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "were planning to do it before they left.' 'OK,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said Hermione. 'Well then, Harry, you and I will be under the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Invisibility Cloak and we'll sneak into the office and you can talk","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to Sirius - ' 'He's not there, Hermione!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I mean, you can - can check whether Sirius is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "at home or not while I keep watch, I don't think you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "should be in there alone, Lee's already proved the windows a weak","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "spot, sending those Nifflers through it.' Even through his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "anger and impatience, Harry recognised Hermione's offer to accompany him into Umbridge's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "office as a sign of solidarity and loyalty. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . OK, thanks,' he muttered. 'Right, well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "even if we do all of that, I don't think we're going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to be able to bank on more than five minutes,' said Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "looking relieved that Harry seemed to have accepted the plan, 'not with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Filch and the wretched Inquisitorial Squad floating around.' 'Five","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "minutes'll be enough,' said Harry 'C'mon, let's go - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Now?' said Hermione, looking shocked. 'Of course now!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said Harry angrily. 'What did you think, we're going to wait until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "after dinner or something? Hermione, Sirius is being tortured right now!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I - oh, all right,' she said desperately. 'You go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and get the Invisibility Cloak and we'll meet you at the end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of Umbridge's corridor, OK?' Harry didn't answer, but flung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "himself out of the room and began to fight his way through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the milling crowds outside. Two floors up he met Seamus and Dean,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "who hailed him jovially and told him they were planning a dusk-till-dawn","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "end-of-exams celebration in the common room. Harry barely heard them. He scrambled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "through the portrait hole while they were still arguing about how many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "black-market Butterbeers they would need and was climbing back out of it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the Invisibility Cloak and Sirius's knife secure in his bag, before they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "noticed he had left them. 'Harry, d'you want to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "chip in a couple of Galleons? Harold Dingle reckons he could sell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "us some Firewhisky - ' But Harry was already","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "tearing away back along the corridor, and a couple of minutes later","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "was jumping the last few stairs to join Ron, Hermione, Ginny and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Luna, who were huddled together at the end of Umbridge's corridor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Got it,' he panted. 'Ready to go, then?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " All right, whispered Hermione as a gang of loud sixth-years passed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "them. 'So Ron - you go and head Umbridge off . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". Ginny, Luna, if you can start moving people out of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "corridor . . . Harry and I will get the Cloak on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and wait until the coast is clear . . .` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " Ron strode away, his bright-red hair visible right to the end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of the passage; meanwhile Ginny's equally vivid head bobbed between the jostling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "students surrounding them in the other direction, trailed by. Luna's blonde one.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Get over here,' muttered Hermione, tugging at Harry's wrist","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and pulling him back into a recess where the ugly stone head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of a medieval wizard stood muttering to itself on a column. 'Are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "- are you sure you're OK, Harry? You're still very pale.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I'm fine,' he said shortly, tugging the Invisibility Cloak from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "out of his bag. In truth, his scar was aching, but not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "so badly that he thought Voldemort had yet dealt Sirius a fatal","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "blow; it had hurt much worse than this when Voldemort had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "punishing Avery . . . 'Here,' he said; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "threw the Invisibility Cloak over both of them and they stood listening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "carefully over the Latin mumblings of the bust in front of them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'You can't come down here!' Ginny was calling to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the crowd. 'No, sorry, you're going to have to go round by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the swivelling staircase, someone's let off Garrotting Gas just along here -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "' They could hear people complaining; one surly voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said, 'I can't see no gas.' That's because it's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "colourless,' said Ginny in a convincingly exasperated voice, 'but if you want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to walk through it, carry on, then we'll have your body as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "proof for the next idiot who doesn't believe us.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Slowly, the crowd thinned. The news about the Garrotting Gas seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "have spread; people were not coming this way any more. When at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "last the surrounding area was quite clear, Hermione said quietly, 'I think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "that's as good as we're going to get, Harry - cone on,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "let's do it.' They moved forwards, covered by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Cloak. Luna was standing with her back to them at the far","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "end of the corridor. As they passed Ginny, Hermione whispered, 'Good one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . . don't forget the signal.' 'What's the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "signal?' muttered Harry, as they approached Umbridge's door. 'A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "loud chorus of `Weasley is our King` if they see Umbridge coming,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "replied Hermione, as Harry inserted the blade of Sirius's knife in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "crack between door and wall. The lock clicked open and they entered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the office. The garish kittens were basking in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "late-afternoon sunshine that was warming their plates, but otherwise the office was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "as still and unoccupied as last time. Hermione breathed a sigh of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "relief. 'I thought she might have added extra security","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "after the second Niffler.' They pulled off the Cloak;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Hermione hurried over to the window and stood out of sight, peering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "down into the grounds with her wand out. Harry dashed over to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the fireplace, seized the pot of Floo powder and threw a pinch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "into the grate, causing emerald flames to burst into life there. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "knelt down quickly, thrust his head into the dancing fire and cried,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'Number twelve, Grimmauld Place!' His head began to spin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "as though he had just got off a fairground ride though his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "knees remained firmly planted on the cold office floor. He kept his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "eyes screwed up against the whirling ash and when the spinning stopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "he opened them to find himself looking out at the long, cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "kitchen of Grimmauld Place. There was nobody there. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "had expected this, yet was not prepared for the molten wave of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "dread and panic that seemed to burst through his stomach at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sight of the deserted room. 'Sirius?' he shouted. 'Sirius,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "are you there?' His voice echoed around the room,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "but there was no answer except a tiny scuffing sound to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "right of the tire. 'Who's there?' he called, wondering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "whether it was just a mouse. Kreacher the house-elf","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "crept into view. He looked highly delighted about something, though he seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to have recently sustained a nasty injury to both hands, which were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "heavily bandaged. 'It's the Potter boys head in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "fire,' Kreacher informed the empty kitchen, stealing furtive, oddly triumphant glances at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry. 'What has he come for, Kreacher wonders?' 'Where's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Sirius, Kreacher?' Harry demanded. The house-elf gave a wheezy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "chuckle. 'Master has gone out, Harry Potter.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Where's he gone? Where's he gone, Kreacher?' Kreacher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "merely cackled. 'I'm warning you!' said Harry, fully aware","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "that his scope for inflicting punishment upon Kreacher was almost non-existent in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "this position. 'What about Lupin? Mad-Eye? Any of them, are any of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "them there?' 'Nobody here but Kreacher!' said the elf","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "gleefully, and turning away from Harry he began to walk slowly towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the door at the end of the kitchen. 'Kreacher thinks he will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "have a little chat with his mistress now, yes, he hasn't had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a chance in a long time, Kreacher's master has been keeping him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "away from her - ' 'Where has Sirius gone?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry yelled after the elf. 'Kreacher, has he gone to the Department","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of Mysteries?' Kreacher stopped in his tracks. Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "just make out the back of his bald head through the forest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of chair legs before him. 'Master does not tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "poor Kreacher where he is going,' said the elf quietly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'But you know!' shouted Harry. 'Don't you? You know where he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "is!' There was a moment's silence, then the elf","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "let out his loudest cackle yet. 'Master will not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "come back from the Department of Mysteries!' he said gleefully. 'Kreacher and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "his mistress are alone again!' And he scurried forwards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and disappeared through the door to the hall. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "- '!' But before he could utter a single","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "curse or insult, Harry felt a great pain at the top of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "his head; he inhaled a lot of ash and, choking, found himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "being dragged backwards through the flames, until with a horrible abruptness he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "was staring up into the wide, pallid face of Professor Umbridge who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "had dragged him backwards out of the fire by the hair and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "was now bending his neck back as far as it would go,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "as though she were going to slit his throat. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'You think,' she whispered, bending Harry's neck back even further, so that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "he was looking up at the ceiling, 'that after two Nifflers ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " I was going to let one more foul, scavenging little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "creature enter my office without my knowledge? I had Stealth Sensoring Spells","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "placed all around my doorway after the last one got in, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "foolish boy. Take his wand,' she barked at someone he could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "see, and he felt a hand grope inside the chest pocket of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "his robes and remove the wand. 'Hers, too.' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "heard a scuffle over by the door and knew that Hermione had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "also just had her wand wrested from her. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "want to know why you are in my office,' said Umbridge, shaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the fist clutching his hair so that he staggered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'I was - trying to get my Firebolt!' Harry croaked. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Liar.' She shook his head again. 'Your Firebolt is under strict","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "guard in the dungeons, as you very well know, Potter. You had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "your head in my fire. With whom have you been communicating?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'No one - ' said Harry, trying to pull away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "from her. He felt several hairs part company with his scalp. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Liar!' shouted Umbridge. She threw him from her and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "slammed into the desk. Now he could see Hermione pinioned against the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "wall by Millicent Bulstrode. Malfoy was leaning on the windowsill, smirking as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "he threw Harry's wand into the air one-handed and caught it again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " There was a commotion outside and several large Slytherins","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "entered, each gripping Ron, Ginny, Luna and - to Harry's bewilderment -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Neville, who was trapped in a stranglehold by Crabbe and looked in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "imminent danger of suffocation. All four of them had been gagged. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Got 'em all,' said Warrington, shoving Ron roughly forwards into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the room. That one,' he poked a thick finger at Neville, 'tried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to stop me taking her,' he pointed at Ginny, who was trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to kick the shins of the large Slytherin girl holding her, 'so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I brought him along too.' 'Good, good,' said Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "watching Ginny's struggles. 'Well, it looks as though Hogwarts will shortly be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a Weasley-free zone, doesn't it?' Malfoy laughed loudly and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sycophantically. Umbridge gave her wide, complacent smile and settled herself into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "chintz-covered armchair, blinking up at her captives like a toad in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "flowerbed. 'So, Potter,' she said. 'You stationed lookouts around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "my office and you sent this buffoon,' she nodded at Ron -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Malfoy laughed even louder - 'to tell me the poltergeist was wreaking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "havoc in the Transfiguration department when I knew perfectly well that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "was busy smearing ink on the eyepieces of all the school telescopes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "- 'Mr Filch having just informed me so. 'Clearly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "it was very important for you to talk to somebody. Was it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Albus Dumbledore? Or the half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " Malfoy and a few of the other members of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Inquisitorial Squad laughed some more at that. Harry found he was so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "full of rage and hatred he was shaking. 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "none of your business who I talk to,' he snarled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " Umbridge's slack face seemed to tighten. 'Very well,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "she said in her most dangerous and falsely sweet voice. 'Very well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Mr Potter . . . I offered you the chance to tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "me freely. You refused. I have no alternative but to force you.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Draco ' - fetch Professor Snape.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Malfoy slowed Harry's wand inside his robes and left the room smirking,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "but Harry hardly noticed. He had just realised something; he could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "believe he had been so stupid as to forget it. He had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "thought that all the members of the Order, all those who could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "help him save Sirius, were gone - but he had been wrong.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "There was still a member of the Order of the Phoenix at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Hogwarts - Snape. There was silence in the office","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "except for the fidgetings and scufflings resulting from the Slytherins' efforts to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "keep Ron and the others under control. Ron's lip was bleeding on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to Umbridge's carpet as he struggled against Warrington's half-nelson; Ginny was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "trying to stamp on the feel of the sixth-year girl who had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "both her upper arms in a tight grip; Neville was turning steadily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "more purple in the face while lugging at Crabbe's arms; and Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "was attempting, in vain, to throw Millicent Bulstrode off her. Luna, however,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "stood limply by the side of her captor, gazing vaguely out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the window as though rather bored by the proceedings. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry looked back at Umbridge, who was watching him closely. He kept","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "his face deliberately smooth and blank as footsteps were heard in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "corridor outside and Draco Malfoy entered the room, closely followed by Snape.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'You wanted to see me, Headmistress?' said Snape, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "around at all the pairs of struggling students with an expression of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "complete indifference. 'Ah, Professor Snape,' said Umbridge, smiling widely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and standing up again. 'Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "as quick as you can, please.' 'You took my","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "last bottle to interrogate Potter,' he said, surveying her coolly through his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "greasy curtains of black hair. 'Surely you did not use it all?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I told you that three drops would be sufficient.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Umbridge flushed. 'You can make some more, can't you?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "she said, her voice becoming more sweetly girlish as it always did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "when she was furious. 'Certainly,' said Snape, his lip","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "curling. 'It takes a full moon-cycle to mature, so I should have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "it ready for you in around a month.' 'A","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "month?' squawked Umbndge, swelling toadishly. 'A month! But I need it this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "with a person or persons unknown!' 'Really?' said Snape,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "showing his first, faint sign of interest as he looked round at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry. 'Well, it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to follow school rules.' His cold, dark eyes were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "boring into Harry's, who met his gaze unflinchingly, concentrating hard on what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "he had seen in his dream, willing Snape to read it in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "his mind, to understand . . . 'I wish","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to interrogate him!' repeated Umbridge angrily, and Snape looked away from Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "back into her furiously quivering lace. 'I wish you to provide me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I have already told you,' said Snape smoothly, 'that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I have no further stocks of Veritaserum. Unless you wish to poison","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Potter - 'and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "with you if you did - I cannot help you. The only","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "much lime for truth-telling.' Snape looked back at Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "who stared at him, frantic to communicate without words. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Voldemort's got Sirius in the Department of Mysteries, he thought desperately. Voldemorts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "got Sirius - ' 'You are on probation!' shrieked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Professor Umbridge, and Snape looked back at her, his eyebrows slightly raised.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'You arc being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "most highly of you! Now get out of my office!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " Snape gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "knew his last chance of letting the Order know what was going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "on was walking out of the door. 'He's got","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Padfoot!' he shouted. 'He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " Snape had stopped with his hand on Umbridge's door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "handle. 'Padfoot?' cried Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly from Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to Snape. 'What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "mean, Snape?' Snape looked round at Harry. His face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "was inscrutable. Harry could not tell whether he had understood or not,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "but he did not dare speak more plainly in front of Umbridge.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I have no idea,' said Snape coldly. 'Potter, when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "for a job.' He closed the door behind him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "with a snap, leaving Harry in a state of worse turmoil than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "before: Snape had been his very last hope. He looked at Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "who seemed to be feeling the same way; her chest was heaving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "with rage and frustration. 'Very well,' she said, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "she pulled out her wand. 'Very well . . . I am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "left with no alternative . . . this is more than a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "matter of school discipline . . . this is an issue of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Ministry security . . . yes . . . yes . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ".' She seemed to be talking herself into something.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "She was shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot, staring at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry, beating her wand against her empty palm and breathing heavily As","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "he watched her, Harry felt horribly powerless without his own wand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'You are forcing me, Potter . . . I do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "not want to,' said Umbridge, still moving restlessly on the spot, 'but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sometimes circumstances justify the use . . . I am sure the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Minister will understand that I had no choice . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " Malfoy was watching her with a hungry expression on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "face. The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said Umbridge quietly. 'No!' shrieked Hermione. 'Professor Umbridge -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "it's illegal.' But Umbridge took no notice. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a nasty eager, excited look on her face that Harry had never","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "seen before. She raised her wand. The Minister wouldn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "want you to break the law, Professor Umbridge!' cried Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him,' said Umbridge, who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "now panting slightly as she pointed her wand at different parts of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry's body in turn, apparently trying to decide where it would hurt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "most. 'He never knew I ordered Dementors to go after Potter last","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "him, all the same.' 'It was you?' gasped Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'You sent the Dementors after me?' 'Somebody had to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "act,' breathed Umbridge, as her wand came to rest pointing directly at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Harry's forehead. They were all bleating about silencing you somehow - discrediting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you - but I was the one who actually did something about","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "it . . . only you wriggled out of that one, didn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you, Potter? Not today though, not now - ' And taking a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "deep breath, she cried, 'Cruc- 'NO!' shouted Hermione in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "a cracked voice from behind Millicent Bulstrode. 'No - Harry - we'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "have to tell her!' 'No way!' yelled Harry, staring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "at the little of Hermione he could see. 'We'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "have to, Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" ". . what's the point?' And Hermione began to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "cry weakly into the back of Millicent Bulstrode's robes. Millicent stopped trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to squash her against the wall immediately and dodged out of her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "way looking disgusted. 'Well, well, well!' said Umbridge, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "triumphant. 'Little Miss Question-all is going to give us some answers! Come","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "on then, girl, come on!' 'Er - my -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "nee - no!' shouted Ron through his gag. Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "was staring at Hermione as though she had never seen her before.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Neville, still choking for breath, was gazing at her, too. But Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "had just noticed something. Though Hermione was sobbing desperately into her hands,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "there was no trace of a tear. 'I'm -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I'm sorry everyone,' said Hermione. 'But - I can't stand it -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "' That's right, that's right, girl!' said Umbridge, seizing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Hermione by the shoulders, thrusting her into the abandoned chintz chair and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "leaning over her. 'Now then . . . with whom was Potter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "communicating just now?' 'Well,' gulped Hermione into her hands,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'well, he was trying to speak to Professor Dumbledore.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Ron froze, his eyes wide; Ginny stopped trying to stamp on her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Slytherin captor's toes; and even Luna looked mildly surprised. Fortunately, the attention","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of Umbridge and her minions was focused too exclusively upon Hermione to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "notice these suspicious signs 'Dumbledore?' said Umbridge eagerly. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "know where Dumbledore is, then?' 'Well . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "no!' sobbed Hermione. 'We've tried the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the Three Broomsticks and even the Hog's Head - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Idiot girl - Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the whole Ministry's looking for him!' shouted Umbridge, disappointment etched in every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "sagging line of her face. 'But - but we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "needed to tell him something important!' wailed Hermione, holding her hands more","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "tightly over her face, not, Harry knew, out of anguish, but to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "disguise the continued absence of tears. 'Yes?' said Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "with a sudden resurgence of excitement. 'What was it you wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "tell him?' 'We . . . we wanted to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "tell him it's r - ready!' choked Hermione. 'What's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "ready?' demanded Umbridge, and now she grabbed Hermione's shoulders again and shook","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "her slightly. 'What's ready, girl?' The . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "the weapon,' said Hermione. 'Weapon? Weapon?' said Umbridge, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "her eyes seemed to pop with excitement. 'You have been developing some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "method of resistance? A weapon you could use against the Ministry? On","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Professor Dumbledore's orders, of course?' 'Y - y -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "yes,' gasped Hermione, 'but he had to leave before it was finished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and n - n - now we've finished it for him, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "we c - c - can't find him t - t -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to tell him!' 'What kind of weapon is it?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said Umbridge harshly, her stubby hands still tight on Hermione's shoulders. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'We don't r - r - really understand it,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Hermione, sniffing loudly. 'We j - j - just did what P","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "- P - Professor Dumbledore told us t - t - to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "do.' Umbridge straightened up, looking exultant. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'Lead me to the weapon,' she said. 'I'm not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "showing . . . them,' said Hermione shrilly, looking around at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Slytherins through her fingers. 'It is not for you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "to set conditions,' said Professor Umbridge harshly. 'Fine,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Hermione, now sobbing into her hands again. Tine . . . let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "them see it, I hope they use it on you! In fact,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I wish you'd invite loads and loads of people to come and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "see! Th - that would serve you right - oh, I'd love","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "it if the wh - whole school knew where it was, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "how to u - use it, and then if you annoy any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "of them they'll, be able to s - sort you out!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " These words had a powerful impact on Umbridge: she glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "swiftly and suspiciously around at her Inquisitorial Squad, her bulging eyes resting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "for a moment on Malfoy, who was too slow to disguise the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "look of eagerness and greed that had appeared on his lace. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " Umbridge contemplated Hermione for another long moment, then spoke in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "what she clearly thought was a motherly voice. 'All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "right, dear, let's make it just you and me . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "and we'll take Potter, loo, shall we? Get up, now.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'Professor,' said Malfoy eagerly, 'Professor Umbridge, I think some of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Squad should come with you to look after - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" " 'I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "think I cannot manage two wandless teenagers alone?' asked Umbridge sharply. 'In","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "any case, it does not sound as though this weapon is something","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "I return and make sure none of these - she gestured around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "at Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna ' - escape.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "'All right,' said Malfoy, looking sulky and disappointed. 'And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "you two can go ahead of me and show me the way,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "said Umbridge, pointing at Harry and Hermione with her wand. 'Lead on.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-32" "Fight and FlightHarry had no idea what Hermione was planning, or even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "whether she had a plan. He walked half a pace behind her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "as they headed down the corridor outside Umbridge's office, knowing it would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "look very suspicious if he appeared not to know where they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "going. He did not dare attempt to talk to her; Umbridge was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "walking so closely behind them that he could hear her ragged breathing.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " Hermione led the way down the stairs into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Entrance Hall. The din of loud voices and the clatter of cutlery","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "on plates echoed from out of the double doors to the Great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Hall - it seemed incredible to Harry that twenty feet away were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "people who were enjoying dinner, celebrating the end of exams, not a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "care in the world . . . Hermione walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "straight out of the oak front doors and down the stone steps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "into the balmy evening air. The sun was falling towards the tops","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "of the trees in the Forbidden Forest now, and as Hermione marched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "purposefully across the grass - Umbridge jogging to keep up - their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "long dark shadows rippled over the grass behind them like cloaks. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'It's hidden in Hagrid's hut, is it?' said Umbridge eagerly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "in Harry's ear. 'Of course not,' said Hermione scathingly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'Hagrid might have set it off accidentally.' 'Yes,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Umbridge, whose excitement seemed to be mounting. 'Yes, he would have done,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "of course, the great half-breed oaf.' She laughed. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "felt a strong urge to swing round and seize her by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "throat, but resisted. His scar was throbbing in the soft evening air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "but it had not yet burned white-hot, as he knew it would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "if Voldemort had moved in for the kill. 'Then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" ". . . where is it? asked Umbridge, with a hint or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "uncertainty in her voice as Hermione continued to stride towards the Forest.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'In there, of course,' said Hermione, pointing into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "dark trees. 'It had to be somewhere that students weren't going to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "find it accidentally, didn't it?' 'Of course,' said Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "though she sounded a little apprehensive now. 'Of course . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "very well, then . . . you two stay ahead of me.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Can we have your wand, then, if we're going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "first?' Harry asked her. 'No, I don't think so,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Mr Potter,' said Umbridge sweetly, poking him in the back with it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "The Ministry places a rather higher value on my life than yours,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "I'm afraid.' As they reached the cool shade of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the first trees, Harry tried to catch Hermione s eye; walking into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the Forest without wands seemed to him to be more foolhardy than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "anything they had done so far this evening. She, however, merely gave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Umbridge a contemptuous glance and plunged straight into the trees, moving at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "such a pace that Umbridge, with her shorter legs, had difficulty in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "keeping up. 'Is it very far in?' Umbridge asked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "as her robe ripped on a bramble. 'Oh yes,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "said Hermione, 'yes, it's well hidden.' Harry's misgivings increased.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Hermione was not taking the path they had followed to visit Grawp,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "but the one he followed three years ago to the lair of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the monster Aragog. Hermione had not been with him on that occasion;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "he doubted she had any idea what danger lay at the end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "of it. 'Er - are you sure this is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the right way?' he asked her pointedly. 'Oh yes,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "she said in a steely voice, crashing through the undergrowth with what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "he thought was a wholly unnecessary amount of noise. Behind them, Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "tripped over a fallen sapling. Neither of them paused to help her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "up again; Hermione merely strode on, calling loudly over her shoulder, 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "a bit further in!' 'Hermione, keep your voice down,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Harry muttered, hurrying to catch up with her. 'Anything could be listening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "in here - ' 'I want us heard,' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "answered quietly, as Umbridge jogged noisily after them. 'You'll see . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" ".' They walked on for what seemed a long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "time, until they were once again so deep into the Forest that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the dense tree canopy blocked out all light. Harry had the feeling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "he had had before in the Forest, one of being watched by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "unseen eyes. 'How much further?' demanded Umbridge angrily from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "behind him. 'Not far now!' shouted Hermione, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "emerged into a dim, dank clearing. 'Just a little bit - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " An arrow flew through the air and landed with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "a menacing thud in the tree just over her head. The air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "was suddenly full of the sound of hooves; Harry could feel the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Forest floor trembling; Umbridge gave a little scream and pushed him in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "front of her like a shield - ' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "wrenched himself free of her and turned. Around fifty centaurs were emerging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "on every side, their bows raised and loaded, pointing at Harry, Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and Umbridge. They backed slowly into the centre of the clearing, Umbridge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "uttering odd little whimpers of terror. Harry looked sideways at Hermione. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "was wearing a triumphant smile. 'Who are you?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "a voice. Harry looked left. The chestnut-bodied centaur called","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Magorian was walking towards them out of the circle: his bow, like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "those of the others, was raised. On Harry's right, Umbridge was still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "whimpering, her wand trembling violently as she pointed it at the advancing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "centaur. 'I asked you who are you, human,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Magorian roughly. 'I am Dolores Umbridge!' said Umbridge in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "a high-pitched, terrified voice. 'Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Headmistress and High Inquisitor of Hogwarts!' 'You are from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the Ministry of Magic?' said Magorian, as many of the centaurs in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the surrounding circle shifted restlessly. 'That's right!' said Umbridge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "in an even higher voice, 'so be very careful! By the laws","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "laid down by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Creatures, any attack by half-breeds such as yourselves on a human -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "' 'What did you call us?' shouted a wild-looking black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "centaur, whom Harry recognised as Bane. There was a great deal of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "angry muttering and tightening of bowstrings around them. 'Don't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "call them that!' Hermione said furiously, but Umbridge did not appear to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "have heard her. Still pointing her shaking wand at Magorian, she continued,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'Law Fifteen `B` states clearly that `any attack by a magical creature","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "who is deemed to have near-human intelligence, and therefore considered responsible for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "its actions - ' ' `Near-human intelligence`?' repeated Magorian,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "as Bane and several others roared with rage and pawed the ground.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'We consider that a great insult, human! Our intelligence, thankfully, far outstrips","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "your own.' 'What are you doing in our Forest?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "bellowed the hard-faced grey centaur Harry and Hermione had seen on their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "last trip into the Forest. 'Why are you here?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'Your Forest?' said Umbridge, shaking now not only with fright but also,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "it seemed, with indignation. 'I would remind you that you live here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "only because the Ministry of Magic permits you certain areas of land","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "- ' An arrow flew so close to her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "head that it caught at her mousy hair in passing: she let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "out an ear-splitting scream and threw her hands over her head, while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "some of the centaurs bellowed their approval and others laughed raucously. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "sound of their wild, neighing laughter echoing around the dimly lit clearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and the sight of their pawing hooves was extremely unnerving. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Whose Forest is it now, human?' bellowed Bane. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'Filthy half-breeds!' she screamed, her hands still tight over her head. 'Beasts!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Uncontrolled animals!' 'Be quiet!' shouted Hermione, but it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "too late: Umbridge pointed her wand at Magorian and screamed, 'Incarcerous!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " Ropes flew out of midair like thick snakes, wrapping themselves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "tightly around the centaur's torso and trapping his arms: he gave a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "cry of rage and reared on to his hind legs, attempting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "free himself, while the other centaurs charged. Harry grabbed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Hermione and pulled her to the ground; face down on the Forest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "floor, he knew a moment of terror as hooves thundered around him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "but the centaurs leapt over and around them, bellowing and screaming with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "rage. 'Nooooo!' he heard Umbridge shriek. 'Noooooo . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" ". I am Senior Undersecretary . . . you cannot - Unhand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "me, you animals . . . nooooo!' Harry saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "a flash of red light and knew she had attempted to Stun","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "one of them; then she screamed very loudly. Lifting his head a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "few inches, Harry saw that Umbridge had been seized from behind by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Bane and lifted high into the air, wriggling and yelling with fright.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Her wand fell from her hand to the ground, and Harry's heart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "leapt. If he could just reach it - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "But as he stretched out a hand towards it, a centaur's hoof","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "descended upon the wand and it broke cleanly in half. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Now!' roared a voice in Harry's ear and a thick hairy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "arm descended from thin air and dragged him upright. Hermione, too, had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "been pulled to her feet. Over the plunging, many-coloured backs and heads","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "of the centaurs, Harry saw Umbridge being borne away through the trees","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "by Bane. Screaming non-stop, her voice grew fainter and fainter until they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "could no longer hear it over the trampling of hooves surrounding them.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'And these?' said the hard-faced, grey centaur holding Hermione.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'They are young,' said a slow, doleful voice from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "behind Harry. 'We do not attack foals.' 'They brought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "her here, Ronan,' replied the centaur who had such a firm grip","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "on Harry. 'And they are not so young . . . he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "is nearing manhood, this one.' He shook Harry by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the neck of his robes. 'Please,' said Hermione breathlessly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'please, don't attack us, We don't think like her, we aren't Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "of Magic employees! We only came in here because we hoped you'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "drive her off for us.' Harry knew at once,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "from the look on the face of the grey centaur holding Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "that she had made a terrible mistake in saying this. The grey","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "centaur threw back his head, his back legs stamping furiously, and bellowed,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'You see, Ronan? They already have the arrogance of their kind! So","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "we were to do your dirty work, were we, human girl? We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "were to act as your servants, drive away your enemies like obedient","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "hounds?' 'No!' said Hermione in a horrorstruck squeak. 'Please","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "- I didn't mean that! I just hoped you'd be able to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "- to help us - ' But she seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "to be going from bad to worse. 'We do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "not help humans!' snarled the centaur holding Harry, tightening his grip and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "rearing a little at the same time, so that Harry's feet left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the ground momentarily. 'We are a race apart and proud to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "so. We will not permit you to walk from here, boasting that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "we did your bidding!' 'We're not going to say","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "anything like that!' Harry shouted. 'We know you didn't do what you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "did because we wanted you to - ' But","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "nobody seemed to be listening to him. A bearded","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "centaur towards the back of the crowd shouted, They came here unasked,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "they must pay the consequences!' A roar of approval","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "met these words and a dun-coloured centaur shouted, 'They can join the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "woman!' 'You said you didn't hurt the innocent!' shouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Hermione, real tears sliding down her face now. 'We haven't done anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "to hurt you, we haven't used wands or threats, we just want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "to go back to school, please let us go back - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'We are not all like the traitor Firenze, human","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "girl!' shouted the grey centaur, to more neighing roars of approval from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "his fellows. 'Perhaps you thought us pretty talking horses? We are an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "ancient people who will not stand wizard invasions and insults! We do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "not recognise your laws, we do not acknowledge your superiority, we are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "- ' But they did not hear what else centaurs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "were, for at that moment there came a crashing noise on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "edge of the clearing so loud that all of them, Harry, Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and the fifty or so centaurs filling the clearing, looked around. Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "centaur let him fall to the ground again as his hands flew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "to his bow and quiver of arrows. Hermione had been dropped, too,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and Harry hurried towards her as two thick tree trunks parted ominously","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and the monstrous form of Grawp the giant appeared in the gap.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " The centaurs nearest him backed into those behind; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "clearing was now a forest of bows and arrows waiting to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "fired, all pointing upwards at the enormous greyish face now looming over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "them from just beneath the thick canopy of branches. Grawp's lopsided mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "was gaping stupidly; they could see his bricklike yellow teeth glimmering in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the half-light, his dull sludge-coloured eyes narrowed as he squinted down at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the creatures at his feet. Broken ropes trailed from both ankles. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " He opened his mouth even wider. 'Hagger.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " Harry did not know what 'hagger' meant, or what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "language it was from, nor did he much care; he was watching","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Grawp's feet, which were almost as long as Harry's whole body. Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "gripped his arm tightly; the centaurs were quite silent, staring up at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the giant, whose huge, round head moved from side to side as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "he continued to peer amongst them as though looking for something he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "had dropped. 'Hagger!' he said again, more insistently. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Get away from here, giant!' called Magorian. 'You are not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "welcome among us!' These words seemed to make no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "impression whatsoever on Grawp. He stooped a little (the centaurs' arms tensed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "on their bows), then bellowed, 'HAGGER!' A few of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the centaurs looked worried now. Hermione, however, gave a gasp. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Harry!' she whispered. 'I think he's trying to say `Hagrid`!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " At this precise moment Grawp caught sight of them, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "only two humans in a sea of centaurs. He lowered his head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "another foot or so, staring intently at them. Harry could feel Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "shaking as Grawp opened his mouth wide again and said, in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "deep, rumbling voice, 'Hermy.' 'Goodness,' said Hermione, gripping Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "arm so tightly it was growing numb and looking as though she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "was about to faint, 'he - he remembered!' 'HERMY!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "roared Grawp. 'WHERE HAGGER?' 'I don't know!' squealed Hermione,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "terrified. 'I'm sorry, Grawp, I don't know!' 'GRAWP WANT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "HAGGER!' One of the giants massive hands reached down.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Hermione let out a real scream, ran a few steps backwards and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "fell over. Devoid of a wand, Harry braced himself to punch, kick,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "bite or whatever else it took as the hand swooped towards him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and knocked a snow-white centaur off his legs. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "was what the centaurs had been waiting for - Grawp's outstretched fingers","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "were a foot from Harry when fifty arrows soared through the air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "at the giant, peppering his enormous face, causing him to howl with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "pain and rage and straighten up, rubbing his face with his enormous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "hands, breaking off the arrow shafts but forcing the arrowheads in still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "deeper. He yelled and stamped his enormous feet and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the centaur; scattered out of the way; pebble-sized droplets of Grawp's blood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "showered Harry as he pulled Hermione to her feet and the pair","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "of them ran as fast as they could for the shelter of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the trees. Once there they looked back; Grawp was snatching blindly at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the centaurs as blood ran down his face; they were retreating in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "disorder, galloping away through the trees on the other side of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "clearing. Harry and Hermione watched Grawp give another roar of fury and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "plunge after them, smashing more trees aside as he went. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Oh no,' said Hermione, quaking so badly that her knees gave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "way. 'Oh, that was horrible. And he might kill them all.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'I'm not that fussed, to be honest,' said Harry bitterly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " The sounds of the galloping centaurs and the blundering","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "giant grew fainter and fainter. As Harry listened to them, his scar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "gave another great throb and a wave of terror swept over him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " They had wasted so much time - they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "even further from rescuing Sirius than they had been when he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "had the vision. Not only had Harry managed to lose his wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "but they were stuck in the middle of the Forbidden Forest with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "no means of transport whatsoever. 'Smart plan,' he spat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "at Hermione, having to release some of his fury. 'Really smart plan.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Where do we go from here?' 'We need to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "get back up to the castle,' said Hermione faintly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'By the time we've done that, Sirius'll probably be dead!' said Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "kicking a nearby tree in temper. A high-pitched chattering started up overhead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and he looked up to see an angry Bowtruckle flexing its long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "twiglike fingers at him. 'Well, we can't do anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "without wands,' said Hermione hopelessly, dragging herself up again. 'Anyway, Harry, how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "exactly were you planning to get all the way to London?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Yeah, we were just wondering that.' said a familiar voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "from behind her. Harry and Hermione moved together instinctively","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "and peered through the trees. Ron came into sight,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "closely followed by Ginny, Neville and Luna. All of them looked a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "little the worse for wear - there were several long scratches running","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the length of Ginny's cheek; a large purple lump was swelling above","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Neville's right eye; Ron's lip was bleeding worse than ever - but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "all were looking rather pleased with themselves. 'So,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Ron, pushing aside a low-hanging branch and holding out Harry's wand, 'had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "any ideas?' 'How did you get away?' asked Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "in amazement, taking his wand from Ron. 'Couple of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville brought off a really nice little Impediment","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Jinx,' said Ron airily, now handing back Hermione's wand, too. 'But Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "was best, she got Malfoy - Bat Bogey Hex - it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "superb, his whole face was covered in the great flapping things. Anyway, we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "saw you out of the window heading into the Forest and followed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "What've you done with Umbridge?' 'She got carried away,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "said Harry. 'By a herd of centaurs.' 'And they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "left you behind?' asked Ginny, looking astonished. 'No, they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "got chased off by Grawp,' said Harry. 'Who's Grawp?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Luna asked interestedly. 'Hagrid's little brother,' said Ron promptly.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'Anyway, never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the fire? Has You-Know-Who got Sirius or - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'Yes,' said Harry, as his scar gave another painful prickle, 'and I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "to get there to help him.' They all fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "silent, looking rather scared; the problem facing them seemed insurmountable. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Well, we'll have to fly, won't we?' said Luna, in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "closest thing to a matter-of-fact voice Harry had ever heard her use.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'OK,' said Harry irritably, rounding on her. 'First of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "all, `we` aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "second of all, Ron's me only one with a broomstick that isn't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "being guarded by a security troll, so - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'I've got a broom!' said Ginny. 'Yeah, but you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "not coming,' said Ron angrily. 'Excuse me, but I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!' said Ginny,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "her jaw set so that her resemblance to Fred and George was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "suddenly striking. 'You're too - ' Harry began, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Ginny said fiercely, 'I'm three years older than you were when you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "fought You-Know-Who over the Philosophers Stone, and it's because of me that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Malfoy's stuck back in Umbridge's office with giant flying bogies attacking him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "- ' 'Yeah, but - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'We were all in the DA together,' said Neville quietly. 'It was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the first chance we've had to do something real - or was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "that all just a game or something?' 'No -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "of course it wasn't - ' said Harry impatiently. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "'Then we should come too,' said Neville simply. 'We want to help.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'That's right,' said Luna, smiling happily. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Harry's eyes met Ron's. He knew Ron was thinking exactly what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "was: if he could have chosen any members of the DA, in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "addition to himself, Ron and Hermione, to join him in the attempt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "to rescue Sirius, he would not have picked Ginny, Neville or Luna.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Well, it doesn't matter, anyway,' said Harry through gritted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "teeth, 'because we still don't know how to get there - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'I thought we'd settled that,' said Luna maddeningly. 'We're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "flying!' 'Look,' said Ron, barely containing his anger, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "might be able to fly without a broomstick but the rest of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "us can't sprout wings whenever we - ' There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "are ways of flying other than with broomsticks,' said Luna serenely. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'I s'pose we're going to ride on the back of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the Kacky Snorgle or whatever it is?' Ron demanded. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "The Crumple-Horned Snorkack can't fly,' said Luna in a dignified voice, 'but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "they can, and Hagrid says they're very good at finding places their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "riders are looking for.' Harry whirled round. Standing between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "two trees, their white eyes gleaming eerily, were two Thestrals, watching the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "whispered conversation as though they understood every word. 'Yes!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "he whispered, moving towards them. They tossed their reptilian heads, throwing back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "long black manes, and Harry stretched out his hand eagerly and patted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the nearest one's shining neck; how could he ever have thought them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "ugly? 'Is it those mad horse things?' said Ron","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "uncertainly, staring at a point slightly to the left of the Thestral","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Harry was patting. 'Those ones you can't see unless you've watched someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "snuff it?' 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'How","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "many?' 'Just two.' 'Well, we need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "three,' said Hermione, who was still looking a little shaken, but determined","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "just the same. 'Four, Hermione,' said Ginny, scowling. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'I think there are six of us, actually,' said Luna","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "calmly, counting. 'Don't be stupid, we can't all go!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "said Harry angrily. 'Look, you three - ' he pointed at Neville,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Ginny and Luna, 'you're not involved in this, you're not - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " They burst into more protests. His scar gave another,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "more painful, twinge. Every moment they delayed was precious; he did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "have time to argue. 'OK, fine, it's your choice,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "he said curtly, 'but unless we can find more Thestrals you're not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "going to be able - ' 'Oh, more of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "them will come,' said Ginny confidently, who like Ron was squinting in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "quite the wrong direction, apparently under the impression that she was looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "at the horses. 'What makes you think that?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'Because, in case you hadn't noticed, you and Hermione are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "both covered in blood,' she said coolly, 'and we know Hagrid lures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Thestrals with raw meat. That's probably why these two turned up in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "the first place.' Harry felt a soft tug on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "his robes at that moment and looked down to see the closest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Thestral licking his sleeve, which was damp with Grawp's blood. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'OK, then,' he said, a bright idea occurring, 'Ron and I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione can stay here","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "with you three and she'll attract more Thestrals - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'I'm not staying behind!' said Hermione furiously. There's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "no need,' said Luna, smiling. 'Look, here come more now . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" ". you two must really smell . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "Harry turned: no fewer than six or seven Thestrals were picking their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "way through the trees, their great leathery wings folded tight to their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "bodies, their eyes gleaming through the darkness. He had no excuse now.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" " 'All right,' he said angrily, 'pick one and get on, then.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-33" "The DepartmentOf MysteriesHarry wound his hand tightly into the mane of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "nearest Thestral, placed a foot on a stump nearby and scrambled clumsily","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "on to the horse's silken back. It did not object, but twisted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "its head around, fangs bared, and attempted to continue its eager licking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of his robes. He found there was a way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of lodging his knees behind the wing joints that made him feel","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "more secure, then looked around at the others. Neville had heaved himself","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "over the back of the next Thestral and was now attempting to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "swing one short leg over the creature's back. Luna was already in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "place, sitting side-saddle and adjusting her robes as though she did this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "every day. Ron, Hermione and Ginny, however, were still standing motionless on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the spot, open-mouthed and staring. 'What?' he said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'How're we supposed to get on?' said Ron faintly. 'When","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "we can't see the things?' 'Oh, it's easy,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Luna, sliding obligingly from her Thestral and marching over to him, Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and Ginny. 'Come here . . .' She pulled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "them over to the other Thestrals standing around and one by one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "managed to help them on to the back of their mount. All","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "three looked extremely nervous as she wound their hands into their horses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "mane and told them to grip tightly before she got back on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "to her own steed. This is mad,' Ron murmured,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horses neck. 'Mad","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ". . . if I could just see it - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'You'd better hope it stays invisible,' said Harry darkly. 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "all ready, then?' They all nodded and he saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "live pairs of knees tighten beneath their robes. 'OK","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ". . .' He looked down at the back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of his Thestral's glossy black head and swallowed. 'Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of Magic, visitors' entrance, London, then,' he said uncertainly. 'Er . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ". if you know . . . where to go . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ".' For a moment Harry's Thestral did nothing at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "all; then, with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated him, the wings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "on either side extended; the horse crouched slowly, then rocketed upwards so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "fast and so steeply that Harry had to clench his arms and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "legs tightly around the horse to avoid sliding backwards over its bony","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "rump. He closed his eyes and pressed his face down into the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "horses silky mane as they burst through the topmost branches of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "trees and soared out into a blood-red sunset. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "did not think he had ever moved so fast: the Thestral streaked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "over the castle, its wide wings hardly beating; the cooling air was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "slapping Harry's face; eyes screwed up against the rushing wind, he looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "round and saw his five fellows soaring along behind him, each of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "them bent as low as possible into the neck of their Thestral","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "to protect themselves from his slipstream. They were over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the Hogwarts grounds, they had passed Hogsmeade; Harry could see mountains and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "gullies below them. As the daylight began to fail, Harry saw small","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "collections of lights as they passed over more villages, then a winding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "road on which a single car was beetling its way home through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the hills . . . This is bizarre!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "barely heard Ron yell from somewhere behind him, and he imagined how","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "it must feel to be speeding along at this height with no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "visible means of support. Twilight fell: the sky was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "turning to a light, dusky purple littered with tiny silver stars, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "soon only the lights of Muggle towns gave them any clue of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "how far from the ground they were, or how very fast they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "were travelling. Harry's arms were wrapped tightly around his horse's neck as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he willed it to go even faster. How much time had elapsed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "since he had seen Sirius lying on the Department of Mysteries floor?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "How much longer would Sirius be able to resist Voldemort? All Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "knew for sure was that his godfather had neither done as Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "wanted, nor died, for he was convinced that either outcome would have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "caused him to feel Voldemort's jubilation or fury course through his own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "body, making his scar sear as painfully as it had on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "night Mr Weasley was attacked. On they flew through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the gathering darkness; Harry's face felt stiff and cold, his legs numb","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "from gripping the Thestral's sides so tightly, but he did not dare","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "shift his position lest he slip . . . he was deaf","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "from the thundering rush of air in his ears, and his mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was dry and frozen from the cold night wind. He had lost","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "all sense of how far they had come; all his faith was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "in the beast beneath him, still streaking purposefully through the night, barely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "flapping its wings as it sped ever onwards. If","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "they were too late . . . He's still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "alive, he's still fighting, I can feel it . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " If Voldemort decided Sirius was not going to crack .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ". . I'd know . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Harry's stomach gave a jolt; the Thestral's head was suddenly pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "towards the ground and he actually slid forwards a few inches along","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "its neck. They were descending at last . . . he thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he heard a shriek behind him and twisted around dangerously, but could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "see no sign of a falling body . . . presumably they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "had all received a shock from the change of direction, just as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he had. And now bright orange lights were growing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "larger and rounder on all sides; they could see the tops of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "buildings, streams of headlights like luminous insect eyes, squares of pale yellow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "that were windows. Quite suddenly, it seemed, they were hurtling towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "pavement; Harry gripped the Thestral with every last ounce of his strength,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "braced for a sudden impact, but the horse touched the dark ground","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "as lightly as a shadow and Harry slid from its back, looking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "around at the street where the overflowing skip still stood a short","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "way from the vandalised telephone box, both drained of colour in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "flat orange glare of the streetlights. Ron landed a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "short way off and toppled immediately from his Thestral on to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "pavement. 'Never again,' he said, struggling to his feet.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "He made as though to stride away from his Thestral, but, unable","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "to see it, collided with its hindquarters and almost tell over again.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Never, ever again . . . that was the worst - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Hermione and Ginny touched down on either side of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "him: both slid off their mounts a little more gracefully than Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "though with similar expressions of relief at being back on firm ground;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Neville jumped down, shaking; and Luna dismounted smoothly. 'Where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "do we go from here, then?' she asked Harry in a politely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "interested voice, as though this was all a rather interesting day-trip. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Over here,' he said. He gave his Thestral a quick,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "grateful pat, then led the way quickly to the battered telephone box","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and opened the door. 'Come on!' he urged the others, as they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "hesitated. Ron and Ginny marched in obediently; Hermione, Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and Luna squashed themselves in after them; Harry took one glance back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "at the Thestrals, now foraging for scraps of rotten food inside the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "skip, then forced himself into the box after Luna. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'Whoever's nearest the receiver, dial six two four four two!' he said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Ron did it, his arm bent bizarrely to reach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the dial; as it whirred back into place the cool female voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "sounded inside the box. 'Welcome to the Ministry of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Magic. Please state your name and business.' 'Harry Potter,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger,' Harry said very quickly, 'Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Luna Lovegood . . . we're here to save someone, unless your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Ministry can do it first!' Thank you,' said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "cool female voice. 'Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the front of your robes.' Half a dozen badges","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "slid out of the metal chute where returned coins normally appeared. Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "scooped them up and handed them mutely to Harry over Ginny's head;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he glanced at the topmost one, Harry Potter, Rescue Mission. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'Visitors to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and present your wands for registration at the security desk, which is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "located at the far end of the Atrium.' 'Fine!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Harry said loudly, as his scar gave another throb. 'Now can we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "move?' The floor of the telephone box shuddered and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the pavement rose up past its glass windows; the scavenging Thestrals were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "sliding out of sight; blackness closed over their heads and with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "dull grinding noise they sank down into the depths of the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of Magic. A chink of soft golden light hit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "their feet and, widening, rose up their bodies. Harry bent his knees","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and held his wand as ready as he could in such cramped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "conditions as he peered through the glass to see whether anybody was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "waiting for them in the Atrium, but it seemed, to be completely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "empty. The light was dimmer than it had been by day; there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "were no fires burning under the mantelpieces set into the walls, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "as the lift slid smoothly to a halt he saw that golden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "symbols continued to twist sinuously in the dark blue ceiling. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant evening,' said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "woman's voice. The door of the telephone box burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "open; Harry toppled out of it, closely followed by Neville and Luna.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "The only sound in the Atrium was the steady rush of water","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "from the golden fountain, where jets from the wands of the witch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and wizard, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "goblin's hat and the house-elf's ears continued to gush into the surrounding","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "pool. 'Come on, said Harry quietly and the six","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of them sprinted off down the hall, Harry in the lead, past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the fountain towards the desk where the watchwizard who had weighed Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "wand had sat, and which was now deserted. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "felt sure there ought to be a security person there, sure their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "absence was an ominous sign, and his feeling of foreboding increased as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "they passed through the golden gates to the lifts. He pressed the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "nearest 'down' button and a lift clattered into sight almost immediately, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "golden grilles slid apart with a great, echoing clanking and they dashed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "inside. Harry stabbed the number nine button; the grilles closed with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "bang and the lift began to descend, jangling and rattling. Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "not realised how noisy the lifts were on the day he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "come with Mr Weasley; he was sure the din would raise every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "security person within the building, yet when the lilt halted, the cool","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "female voice said, 'Department of Mysteries,' and the grilles slid open. They","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "stepped out into the corridor where nothing was moving out but the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "nearest torches, flickering in the rush of air from the lift. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Harry turned towards the plain black door. After months and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "months of dreaming about it, he was here at last. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Let's go,' he whispered, and he led the way down the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "corridor, Luna right behind him, gazing around with her mouth slightly open.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'OK, listen,' said Harry, stopping again within six feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of the door. 'Maybe . . . maybe a couple of people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "should stay here as a - as a lookout, and - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'And how're we going to let you know something's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "coming?' asked Ginny, her eyebrows raised. 'You could be miles away.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'We're coming with you, Harry,' said Neville. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'Let's get on with it,' said Ron firmly. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "still did not want to take them all with him, but it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "seemed he had no choice. He turned to face the door and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "walked forwards . . . just as it had in his dream,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "it swung open and he marched over the threshold, the others at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "his heels. They were standing in a large, circular","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "room. Everything in here was black including the floor and ceiling; identical,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "unmarked, handleless black doors were set at intervals all around the black","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "walls, interspersed with branches of candles whose flames burned blue; their cool,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "shimmering light reflected in the shining marble floor made it look as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "though there was dark water underfoot. 'Someone shut the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "door,' Harry muttered. He regretted giving this order the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "moment Neville had obeyed it. Without the long chink of light from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the torchlit corridor behind them, the place became so dark that for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "a moment the only things they could see were the bunches of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "shivering blue flames on the walls and their ghostly reflections in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "floor. In his dream, Harry had always walked purposefully","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "across this room to the door immediately opposite the entrance and walked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "on. But there were around a dozen doors here. Just as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was gazing ahead at the doors opposite him, trying to decide which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was the right one, there was a great rumbling noise and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "candles began to move sideways. The circular wall was rotating. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Hermione grabbed Harry's arm as though frightened the floor might move,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "too, but it did not. For a few seconds, the blue flames","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "around them were blurred to resemble neon lines as the wall sped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "around; then, quite as suddenly as it had started, the rumbling stopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and everything became stationary once again. Harry's eyes had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "blue streaks burned into them; it was all he could see. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'What was that about?' whispered Ron fearfully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'I think it was to stop us knowing which door we came","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "in through,' said Ginny in a hushed voice. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "realised at once she was right: he could no sooner identify the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "exit door than locate an ant on the jet-black floor; and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "door through which they needed to proceed could be any one of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the dozen surrounding them. 'How're we going to get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "back out?' said Neville uncomfortably. 'Well, that doesn't matter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "now,' said Harry forcefully, blinking to try to erase the blue lines","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "from his vision, and clutching his wand tighter than ever, 'we won't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "need to get out till we've found Sirius - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Don't go calling for him, though!' Hermione said urgently; but Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "had never needed her advice less, his instinct was to keep as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "quiet as possible. 'Where do we go, then, Harry?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Ron asked. 'I don't - ' Harry began. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "swallowed. 'In the dreams I went through the door at the end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of the corridor from the lifts into a dark room - that's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "this one - and then I went through another door into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "room that kind of . . . glitters. We should try a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "few doors,' he said hastily, 'I'll know the right way when I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "see it. C'mon.' He marched straight at the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "now facing him, the others following close behind him, set his left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "hand against its cool, shining surface, raised his wand ready to strike","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the moment it opened, and pushed. It swung open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "easily. After the darkness of the first room, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "lamps hanging low on golden chains from this ceiling gave the impression","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "that this long rectangular room was much brighter, though there were no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "glittering, shimmering lights as Harry had seen in his dreams. The place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was quite empty except for a few desks and, in the very","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "middle of the room, an enormous glass tank of deep green liquid,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "big enough for all of them to swim in; a number of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "pearly-white objects were drifting around lazily in it. 'What're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "those things?' whispered Ron. 'Dunno,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Are they fish?' breathed Ginny. 'Aquavirius Maggots!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Luna excitedly. 'Dad said the Ministry were breeding - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'No,' said Hermione. She sounded odd. She moved forward to look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "through the side of the tank. They're brains.' 'Brains?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Yes . . . I wonder what they're doing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "with them?' Harry joined her at the tank. Sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "enough, there could be no mistake now he saw them at close","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "quarters. Glimmering eerily, they drifted in and out of sight in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "depths of the green liquid, looking something like slimy cauliflowers. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Let's get out of here,' said Harry. This isn't right, we need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "to try another door.' There are doors here, too,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "said Ron, pointing around the walls. Harry's heart sank; how big was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "this place? 'In my dream I went through that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "dark room into the second one,' he said. 'I think we should","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "go back and try from there.' So they hurried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "back into the dark, circular room; the ghostly shapes of the brains","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "were now swimming before Harry's eyes instead of the blue candle flames.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Wait!' said Hermione sharply, as Luna made to close","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the door of the brain room behind them. 'Flagrate!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "She drew with her wand in midair and a fiery 'X' appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "on the door. No sooner had the door clicked shut behind them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "than there was a great rumbling, and once again the wall began","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "to revolve very fast, but now there was a great red-gold blur","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "in amongst the faint blue and, when all became still again, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "fiery cross still burned, showing the door they had already tried. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Good thinking,' said Harry. 'OK, let's try this one -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "' Again, he strode directly at the door facing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "him and pushed it open, his wand still raised, the others at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "his heels. This room was larger than the last,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "dimly lit and rectangular, and the centre of it was sunken, forming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "a great stone pit some twenty feet deep. They were standing on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the topmost tier of what seemed to be stone benches running all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "around the room and descending in steep steps like an amphitheatre, or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the courtroom in which Harry had been tried by the Wizengamot. Instead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of a chained chair, however, there was a raised stone dais in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the centre of the pit, on which stood a stone archway that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "looked so ancient, cracked and crumbling that Harry was amazed the thing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was still standing. Unsupported by any surrounding wall, the archway was hung","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "with a tattered black curtain or veil which, despite the complete stillness","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of the cold surrounding air, was fluttering very slightly as though it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "had just been touched. 'Who's there?' said Harry, jumping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "down on to the bench below. There was no answering voice, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the veil continued to flutter and sway. 'Careful!' whispered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Hermione. Harry scrambled down the benches one by one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "until he reached the stone bottom of the sunken pit. His footsteps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "echoed loudly as he walked slowly towards the dais. The pointed archway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "looked much taller from where he now stood than it had when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he'd been looking down on it from above. Still the veil swayed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "gently, as though somebody had just passed through it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'Sirius?' Harry spoke again, but more quietly now that he was nearer.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " He had the strangest feeling that there was someone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "standing right behind the veil on the other side of the archway.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Gripping his wand very tightly, he edged around the dais, but there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was nobody there; all that could be seen was the other side","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of the tattered black veil. 'Let's go,' called Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "from halfway up the stone steps. This isn't right, Harry, come on,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "let's go.' She sounded scared, much more scared than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "she had in the room where the brains swam, yet Harry thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the archway had a kind of beauty about it, old though it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was. The gently rippling veil intrigued him; he felt a very strong","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "inclination to climb up on the dais and walk through it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Marry, lets go, OK? Said Hermione more forcefully. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'OK,' he said, but did not move. He had just heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "something. There were faint whispering, murmuring noises coming from the other side","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of the veil. 'What are you saying?' he said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "very loudly, so that his words echoed all around the stone benches.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Nobody's talking, Harry!' said Hermione, now moving over to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "him. 'Someone's whispering behind there,' he said, moving out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of her reach and continuing to frown at the veil. 'Is that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "you, Ron?' 'I'm here, mate,' said Ron, appearing around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the side of the archway. 'Can't anyone else hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "it?' Harry demanded, for the whispering and murmuring was becoming louder; without","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "really meaning to put it there, he found his foot was on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the dais. 'I can hear them too,' breathed Luna,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "joining them around the side of the archway and gazing at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "swaying veil. 'There are people in there!' 'What do","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "you mean, `in there`?' demanded Hermione, jumping down from the bottom step","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and sounding much angrier than the occasion warranted, 'there isn't any `in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "there`, it's just an archway, there's no room for anybody to be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "there. Harry, stop it, come away - ' She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "grabbed his arm and pulled, but he resisted. 'Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "we are supposed to be here for Sirius!' she said in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "high-pitched, strained voice. 'Sirius,' Harry repeated, still gazing, mesmerised,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "at the continuously swaying veil. 'Yeah . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Something finally slid back into place in his brain; Sirius, captured, bound","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and tortured, and he was staring at this archway . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " He took several paces back from the dais and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "wrenched his eyes from the veil. 'Let's go,' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "said. That's what I've been trying to - well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "come on, then!' said Hermione, and she led the way back around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the dais. On the other side, Ginny and Neville were staring, apparently","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "entranced, at the veil too. Without speaking, Hermione took hold of Ginny's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "arm, Ron grabbed Neville's, and they marched them firmly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "back to the lowest stone bench and clambered all the way back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "up to the door. 'What d'you reckon that arch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was?' Harry asked Hermione as they regained the dark circular room. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'I don't know, but whatever it was, it was dangerous,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "she said firmly, again inscribing a fiery cross on the door. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Once more, the wall span and became still again. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "approached another door at random and pushed. It did not move. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'What's wrong?' said Hermione. 'It's . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ". locked . . .' said Harry, throwing his weight at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "door, but it didn't budge. This is it, then,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "isn't it?' said Ron excitedly, joining Harry in the attempt to force","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the door open. 'Bound to be!' 'Get out of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the way!' said Hermione sharply. She pointed her wand at the place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "where a lock would have been on an ordinary door and said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'Alohomora!' Nothing happened. 'Sirius's knife!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Harry. He pulled it out from inside his robes and slid it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "into the crack between the door and the wall. The others all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "watched eagerly as he ran it from top to bottom, withdrew it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and then flung his shoulder again at the door. It remained as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "firmly shut as ever. What was more, when Harry looked down at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the knife, he saw the blade had melted. 'Right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "we're leaving that room,' said Hermione decisively. 'But what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "if that's the one?' said Ron, staring at it with a mixture","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of apprehension and longing. 'It can't be, Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "get through all the doors in his dream,' said Hermione, marking the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "door with another fiery cross as Harry replaced the now-useless handle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Sirius's knife in his pocket. 'You know what could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "be in there?' said Luna eagerly, as the wall started to spin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "yet again. 'Something blibbering, no doubt,' said Hermione under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "her breath and Neville gave a nervous little laugh. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "The wall slid to a halt and Harry, with a feeling of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "increasing desperation, pushed the next door open. This is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "it!' He knew it at once by the beautiful,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "dancing, diamond-sparkling light. As Harry's eyes became accustomed to the brilliant glare,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he saw clocks gleaming from every surface, large and small, grandfather and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "carriage, hanging in spaces between the bookcases or standing on desks ranging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the length of the room, so that a busy, relentless ticking filled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the place like thousands of minuscule, marching footsteps. The source of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "dancing, diamond-bright light was a towering crystal bell jar that stood at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "far end of the room. 'This way!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Harry's heart was pumping frantically now that he knew they were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "on the right track; he led the way down the narrow space","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "between the lines of desks, heading, as he had done in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "dream, for the source of the light, the crystal bell jar quite","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "as tall as he was that stood on a desk and appeared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "to be full of a billowing, glittering wind. 'Oh,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "took!' said Ginny, as they drew nearer, pointing at the very heart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of the bell jar. Drifting along in the sparkling","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "current inside was a tiny, jewel-bright egg. As it rose in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "jar, it cracked open and a hummingbird emerged, which was carried to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the very top of the jar, but as it fell on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "draught its feathers became bedraggled and damp again, and by the time","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "it had been borne back to the bottom of the jar it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "had been enclosed once more in its egg. 'Keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "going!' said Harry sharply, because Ginny showed signs of wanting to stop","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "and watch the egg's progress back into a bird. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'You dawdled enough by that old arch!' she said crossly, but followed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "him past the bell jar to the only door behind it. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " This is it,' Harry said again, and his heart was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "now pumping so hard and fast he felt it must interfere with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "his speech, 'it's through here - ' He glanced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "around at them all; they had their wands out and looked suddenly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "serious and anxious. He looked back at the door and pushed. It","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "swung open. They were there, they had found the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "place: high as a church and full of nothing but towering shelves","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "covered in small, dusty glass orbs. They glimmered dully in the light","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "issuing from more candle-brackets set at intervals along the shelves. Like those","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "in the circular room behind them, their flames were burning blue. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "room was very cold. Harry edged forward and peered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "down one of the shadowy aisles between two rows of shelves. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "could not hear anything or see the slightest sign of movement. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'You said it was row ninety-seven,' whispered Hermione. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Yeah,' breathed Harry, looking up at the end of the closest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "row. Beneath the branch of blue-glowing candles protruding from it glimmered the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "silver figure fifty-three. 'We need to go right, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "think,' whispered Hermione, squinting to the next row. 'Yes . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "that's fifty-four . . . ' 'Keep your wands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "ready,' Harry said softly. They crept forward, glancing behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "them as they went on down the long alleys of shelves, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "further ends of which were in near-total darkness. Tiny, yellowing labels had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "been stuck beneath each glass orb on the shelves. Some of them","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "had a weird, liquid glow; others were as dull and dark within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "as blown light bulbs. They passed row eighty-four .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ". . eighty-five . . . Harry was listening hard for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "slightest sound of movement, but Sirius might be gagged now, or else","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "unconscious . . . or, said an unbidden voice inside his head,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he might already be dead . . . I'd","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "have felt it, he told himself, his heart now hammering against his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Adam's apple, I'd already know . . . 'Ninety-seven!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "whispered Hermione. They stood grouped around the end of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the row, gazing down the alley beside it. There was nobody there.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'He's right down at the end,' said Harry, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "mouth had become slightly dry. 'You can't see properly from here.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " And he led them between the towering rows of glass","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "balls, some of which glowed softly as they passed . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'He should be near here,' whispered Harry, convinced that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "every step was going to bring the ragged form of Sirius into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "view on the darkened floor. 'Anywhere here . . . really close","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" ". . .' 'Harry?' said Hermione tentatively, but he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "did not want to respond. His mouth was very dry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Somewhere about . . . here . . .' he said.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " They had reached the end of the row and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "emerged into more dim candlelight, There was nobody there. All was echoing,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "dusty silence. 'He might be . . .' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "whispered hoarsely, peering down the next alley. 'Or maybe . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "He hurried to look down the one beyond that. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'Harry?' said Hermione again. 'What?' he snarled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'I . . . I don't think Sirius is here.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " Nobody spoke. Harry did not want to look at any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of them. He felt sick. He did not understand why Sirius was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "not here. He had to be here. This was where he, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "had seen him . . . He ran up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the space at the end of the rows, staring down them. Empty","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "aisle after empty aisle flickered past. He ran the other way, back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "past his staring companions. There was no sign of Sirius anywhere, nor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "any hint of a struggle. 'Harry?' Ron called. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'What?' He did not want to hear","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "what Ron had to say; did not want to hear Ron tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "him he had been stupid or suggest that they ought to go","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "back to Hogwarts, but the heat was rising in his face and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "h; felt as though he would like to skulk down here in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the darkness for a long while before facing the brightness of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Atrium above and the others' accusing stares . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " 'Have you seen this?' said Ron. 'What?' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Harry, but eagerly this time - it had to be a sign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "that Sirius had been there, a clue. He strode back to where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "they were all standing, a little way down row ninety-seven, but found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "nothing except Ron staring at one of the dusty glass spheres on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the shelf. 'What?' Harry repeated glumly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'It's - it's got your name on,' said Ron. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Harry moved a little closer. Ron was pointing at one of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "small glass spheres that glowed with a dull inner light, though it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "was very dusty and appeared not to have been touched for many","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "years. 'My name?' said Harry blankly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "He stepped forwards. Not as tall as Ron, he had to crane","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "his neck to read the yellowish label affixed to the shelf right","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "beneath the dusty glass ball. In spidery writing was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "written a date of some sixteen years previously, and below that:S.P.T. to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "A.P.W.B.D.Dark Lordand (?)Harry PotterHarry stared at it. 'What is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "it?' Ron asked, sounding unnerved. 'What's your name doing down here?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " He glanced along at the other labels on that stretch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "of shelf. 'I'm not here,' he said, sounding perplexed.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'None of the rest of us are here.' 'Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "I don't think you should touch it,' said Hermione sharply, as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "stretched out his hand. 'Why not?' he said. 'It's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "something to do with me, isn't it?' 'Don't, Harry,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "said Neville suddenly. Harry looked at him. Neville's round face was shining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "slightly with sweat. He looked as though he could not take much","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "more suspense. 'It's got my name on,' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" " And feeling slightly reckless, he closed his fingers around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "the dusty ball's surface. He had expected it to feel cold, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "it did not. On the contrary, it felt as though it had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "been lying in the sun for hours, as though the glow of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "light within was warming it. Expecting, even hoping, that something dramatic was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "going to happen, something exciting that might make their long and dangerous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "journey worth while after all, Harry lifted the glass ball down from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "its shelf and stared at it. Nothing whatsoever happened.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "The others moved in closer around Harry, gazing at the orb as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "he brushed it free of the clogging dust. And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "then, from right behind them, a drawling voice spoke. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "'Very good, Potter. Now turn around, nice and slowly, and give that to me.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-34" "Beyond the VeilBlack shapes were emerging out of thin air all around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "them, blocking their way left and right; eyes glinted through slits in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hoods, a dozen lit wand tips were pointing directly at their hearts;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Ginny gave a gasp of horror. 'To me, Potter,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "repeated the drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy as he held out his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hand, palm up. Harry's insides plummeted sickeningly. They were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "trapped, and outnumbered two to one. 'To me,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Malfoy yet again. 'Where's Sirius?' Harry said. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Several of the Death Eaters laughed; a harsh female voice from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the midst of the shadowy figures to Harry's left said triumphantly, The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Dark Lord always knows!' 'Always,' echoed Malfoy softly. 'Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "give me the prophecy, Potter.' 'I want to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "where Sirius is!' 'I want to know where Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "is!' mimicked the woman to his left. She and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "her fellow Death Eaters had closed in so that they were mere","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "feet away from Harry and the others, the light from their wands","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "dazzling Harry's eyes. 'You've got him,' said Harry, ignoring","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the rising panic in his chest, the dread he had been fighting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "since they had first entered the ninety-seventh row. 'He's here. I know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he is.' 'The little baby woke up fwightened and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fort what it dweamed was twoo,' said the woman in a horrible,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "mock baby voice. Harry felt Ron stir beside him. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Don't do anything,' Harry muttered. 'Not yet - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "The woman who had mimicked him let out a raucous scream of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "laughter. 'You hear him? You hear him? Giving instructions","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to the other children as though he thinks of fighting us!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Oh, you don't know Potter as I do, Bellatrix,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Malfoy softly. 'He has a great weakness for heroics; the Dark Lord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "understands this about him. Now give me the prophecy, Potter.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'I know Sirius is here,' said Harry, though panic was causing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his chest to constrict and he felt as though he could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "breathe properly. 'I know you've got him!' More of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the Death Eaters laughed, though the woman laughed loudest of all. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'It's time you learned the difference between life and dreams,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Potter,' said Malfoy. 'Now give me the prophecy, or we start using","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "wands.' 'Go on, then,' said Harry, raising his own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "wand to chest height. As he did so, the five wands of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna rose on either side of him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "The knot in Harry's stomach tightened. If Sirius really was not here,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he had led his friends to their deaths for no reason at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "all . . . But the Death Eaters did","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "not strike. 'Hand over the prophecy and no one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "need get hurt,' said Malfoy coolly. It was Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "turn to laugh. 'Yeah, right!' he said. 'I give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "you this - prophecy, is it? And you'll just let us skip","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "off home, will you?' The words were hardly out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of his mouth when the female Death Eater shrieked: 'Accio proph- ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Harry was just ready for her: he shouted 'Protego' before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "she had finished her spell, and though the glass sphere slipped to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the tips of his fingers he managed to cling on to it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Potter,' she said, her mad eyes staring through the slits in her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hood. 'Very well, then - ' 'I TOLD YOU,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "NO!' Lucius Malfoy roared at the woman. 'If you smash it -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "!' Harry's mind was racing. The Death Eaters wanted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "this dusty spun-glass sphere. He had no interest in it. He just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "wanted to get them all out of this alive, to make sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "none of his friends paid a terrible price for his stupidity .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". . The woman stepped forward, away from her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fellows, and pulled off her hood. Azkaban had hollowed Bellatrix Lestrange's face,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "making it gaunt and skull-like, but it was alive with a feverish,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fanatical glow. 'You need more persuasion?' she said, her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "chest rising and falling rapidly. 'Very well - take the smallest one,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "she ordered the Death Eaters beside her. 'Let him watch while we","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "torture the little girl. I'll do it.' Harry felt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the others close in around Ginny; he stepped sideways so that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "was right in front of her, the prophecy held up to his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "chest. 'You'll have to smash this if you want","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to attack any of us,' he told Bellatrix. 'I don't think your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "boss will be too pleased if you come back without it, will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he?' She did not move; she merely stared at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him, the tip of her tongue moistening her thin mouth. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'So,' said Harry, 'what kind of prophecy are we talking about,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "anyway?' He could not think what to do but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to keep talking. Neville's arm was pressed against his, and he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "feel him shaking; he could feel one of the others' quickened breath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "on the back of his head. He was hoping they were all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "thinking hard about ways to get out of this, because his mind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "was blank. 'What kind of prophecy?' repeated Bellatrix, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "grin fading from her face. 'You jest, Harry Potter.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Nope, not jesting,' said Harry, his eyes flicking from Death Eater to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eater, looking for a weak link, a space through which they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "could escape. 'How come Voldemort wants it? Several of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the Death Eaters let out low hisses. 'You dare","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "speak his name?' whispered Bellatrix. 'Yeah,' said Harry, maintaining","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his tight grip on the glass ball, expecting another attempt to bewitch","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "it from him. 'Yeah, I've got no problem with saying Vol- ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Shut your mouth!' Bellatrix shrieked. 'You dare speak his name","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "with your unworthy lips, you dare besmirch it with your half-blood's tongue,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "you dare - ' 'Did you know he's a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "half-blood too?' said Harry recklessly. Hermione gave a little moan in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "ear. 'Voldemort? Yeah, his mother was a witch but his dad was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a Muggle - or has he been telling you lot he's pure-blood?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'STUPEF-' 'NO!' A jet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of red light had shot from the end of Bellatrix Lestrange's wand,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "but Malfoy had deflected it; his spell caused hers to hit the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "shelf a foot to the left of Harry and several of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "glass orbs there shattered. Two figures, pearly-white as ghosts,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fluid as smoke, unfurled themselves from the fragments of broken glass upon","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the floor and each began to speak; their voices vied with each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "other, so that only fragments of what they were saying could be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "heard over Malfoy and Bellatrix's shouts. '. . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "at the solstice will come a new . . .' said the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "figure of an old, bearded man. 'DO NOT ATTACK!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "WE NEED THE PROPHECY!' 'He dared - he dares","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "- ' shrieked Bellatrix incoherently, 'he stands there - filthy half-blood -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "' 'WAIT UN'I'LL WE'VE GOT THE PROPHECY!' bawled Malfoy.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " '. . . and none will come after .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". .' said the figure of a young woman. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "The two figures that had burst from the shattered spheres had melted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "into thin air. Nothing remained of them or their erstwhile homes but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fragments of glass upon the floor. They had, however, given Harry an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "idea. The problem was going to be conveying it to the others.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'You haven't told me what's so special about this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "prophecy I'm supposed to be handing over,' he said, playing for time.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "He moved his foot slowly sideways, feeling around for someone else's. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Do not play games with us, Potter,' said Malfoy. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'I'm not playing games,' said Harry, half his mind on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the conversation, half on his wandering foot. And then he found someone's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "toes and pressed down upon them. A sharp intake of breath behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him told him they were Hermione's. 'What?' she whispered.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Dumbledore never told you the reason you bear that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "scar was hidden in the bowels of the Department of Mysteries?' Malfoy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "sneered. 'I - what?' said Harry. And for a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "moment he quite forgot his plan. 'What about my scar?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'What?' whispered Hermione more urgently behind him. 'Can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "this be?' said Malfoy, sounding maliciously delighted; some of the Death Eaters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "were laughing again, and under cover of their laughter, Harry hissed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Hermione, moving his lips as little as possible, 'Smash shelves - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Dumbledore never told you?' Malfoy repeated. 'Well, this explains","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "why you didn't come earlier, Potter, the Dark Lord wondered why -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "' ' - when I say now - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " ' - you didn't come running when he showed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "you the place where it was hidden in your dreams. He thought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "natural curiosity would make you want to hear the exact wording .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". .' 'Did he?' said Harry. Behind him he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "felt rather than heard Hermione passing his message to the others and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he sought to keep talking, to distract the Death Eaters. 'So he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "wanted me to come and get it, did he? Why?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Why?' Malfoy sounded incredulously delighted. 'Because the only people who are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "permitted to retrieve a prophecy from the Department of Mysteries, Potter, are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "those about whom it was made, as the Dark Lord discovered when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he attempted to use others .o steal it for him.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'And why did he want to steal a prophecy about me?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'About both of you, Potter, about both of you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". . . haven't you ever wondered why the Dark Lord tried","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to kill you as a baby?' Harry stared into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the slitted eye-holes through which Malfoy's grey eyes were gleaming. Was this","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "prophecy the reason Harry's parents had died, the reason he carried his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "lightning-bolt scar? Was the answer to all of this clutched in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hand? 'Someone made a prophecy about Voldemort and me?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he said quietly, gazing at Lucius Malfoy, his fingers tightening over the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "warm glass sphere in his hand. It was hardly larger than a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Snitch and still gritty with dust. 'And he's made me come and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "get it for him? Why couldn't he come and get it himself?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Get it himself?' shrieked Bellatrix, over a cackle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "mad laughter. The Dark Lord, walk into the Ministry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of Magic, when they are so sweetly ignoring his return? The Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Lord, reveal himself to the Aurors, when at the moment they are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "wasting their time on my dear cousin?' 'So, he's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "got you doing his dirty work for him, has he?' said Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Like he tried to get Sturgis to steal it - and Bode?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Very good, Potter, very good . . .' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Malfoy slowly. 'But the Dark Lord knows you are not unintell- ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'NOW!' yelled Harry. Five different voices behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him bellowed, 'REDUCTO!' Five curses flew in five different directions and the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "shelves opposite them exploded as they hit; the towering structure swayed as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a hundred glass spheres burst apart, pearly-white figures unfurled into the air","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and floated there, their voices echoing from who knew what long-dead past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "amid the torrent of crashing glass and splintered wood now raining down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "upon the floor - ' 'RUN!' Harry yelled, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the shelves swayed precariously and more glass spheres began to fall from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "above. He seized a handful of Hermione's robes and dragged her forwards,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "holding one arm over his head as chunks of shelf and shards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of glass thundered down upon them. A Death Eater lunged forwards through","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the cloud of dust and Harry elbowed him hard in the masked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "face; they were all yelling, there were cries of pain, and thunderous","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "crashes as the shelves collapsed upon themselves, weirdly echoing fragments of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Seers unleashed from their spheres - ' Harry found","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the way ahead clear and saw Ron, Ginny and Luna sprint past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him, their arms over their heads; something heavy struck him on the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "side of the face but he merely ducked his head and sprinted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "onwards; a hand caught him by the shoulder; he: heard Hermione shout,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Stupefy!' The hand released him at once - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "They were at the end of row ninety-seven; Harry turned right and began","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to sprint in earnest; he could hear footsteps right behind him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Hermione's voice urging Neville on; straight ahead, the door through which they","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "had come was ajar; Harry could see the glittering light of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "bell jar; he pelted through the doorway, the prophecy still clutched tight","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and safe in his hand, and waited for the others to hurtle","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "over the threshold before slamming the door behind them - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Colloportus!' gasped Hermione and the door sealed itself with an","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "odd squelching noise. 'Where - where are the others?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "gasped Harry. He had thought Ron, Luna and Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "were ahead of them, that they would be waiting in this room,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "but there was nobody there. 'They must have gone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the wrong way!' whispered Hermione, terror in her face. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Listen!' whispered Neville. Footsteps and shouts echoed from behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the door they had just sealed; Harry put his ear close to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the door to listen and heard Lucius Malfoy roar, 'Leave Nott, leave","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him, I say - his injuries will be nothing to the Dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Lord compared to losing that prophecy. Jugson, come back here, we need","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to organise! We'll split into pairs and search, and don't forget, be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "gentle with Potter until we've got the prophecy, you can kill the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "others if necessary - 'Bellatrix, Rodolphus, you take the left; Crabbe, Rabastan,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "go right - 'Jugson, Dolohov, the door straight ahead - Macnair and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Avery, through here - Rookwood, over there - Mulciber, come with me!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'What do we do?' Hermione asked Harry, trembling from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "head to foot. 'Well, we don't stand here waiting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "for them to find us, for a start,' said Harry. 'Let's get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "away from this door.' They ran as quietly as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "they could, past the shimmering bell jar where the tiny egg was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hatching and unhatching, towards the exit into the circular hallway at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "far end of the room. They were almost there when Harry heard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "something large and heavy collide with the door Hermione had charmed shut.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Stand aside!' said a rough voice. 'Alohomora!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " As the door flew open, Harry, Hermione and Neville dived under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "desks. They could see the bottom of the two Death Eaters' robes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "drawing nearer, their feet moving rapidly. They might've run","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "straight through to the hall,' said the rough voice. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Check under the desks,' said another. Harry saw the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "knees of the Death Eaters bend; poking his wand out from under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the desk, he shouted, 'STUPEFY!' A jet of red","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "light hit the nearest Death Eater; he fell backwards into a grandfather","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "clock and knocked it over; the second Death Eater, however, had leapt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "aside to avoid Harry's spell and was pointing his own wand at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Hermione, who was crawling out from under the desk to get a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "better aim. 'Avada -' Harry launched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "himself across the floor and grabbed the Death Eater around the knees,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "causing him to topple and his aim to go awry. Neville overturned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a desk in his anxiety to help; and pointing his wand wildly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "at the struggling pair, he cried: 'EXPELLIARMUS!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Both Harry's and the Death Eater's wands flew out of their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hands and soared back towards the entrance to the Hall of Prophecy;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "both scrambled to their feet and charged after them, the Death Eater","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "in front, Harry hot on his heels, and Neville bringing up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "rear, plainly horrorstruck by what he had done. 'Get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "out of the way, Harry!' yelled Neville, clearly determined to repair the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "damage. Harry flung himself sideways as Neville took aim","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "again and shouted: 'STUPEFY!' The jet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of red light flew right over the Death Eaters shoulder and hit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a glass-fronted cabinet on the wall full of variously shaped hour-glasses; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "cabinet fell to the floor and burst apart, glass flying everywhere, sprang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "back up on to the wall, fully mended, then fell down again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and shattered - ' The Death Eater had snatched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "up his wand, which lay on the floor beside the glittering bell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "jar. Harry ducked down behind another desk as the man turned; his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "mask had slipped so that he couldn't see. He ripped it off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "with his free hand and shouted: 'STUP-' 'STUPEFY!' screamed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Hermione, who had just caught up with them. The jet of red","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "light hit the Death Eater in the middle of his chest: he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "froze, his arm still raised, his wand fell to the floor with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a flatter and he collapsed backwards towards the bell jar. Harry expected","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to hear a clunk, for the man to hit solid glass and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "slide off the jar on to the floor, but instead, his head","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "sank through the surface of the bell jar as though it were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "nothing but a soap bubble and he came to rest, sprawled on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his back on the table, with his head lying inside the jar","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "full of glittering wind. 'Accio wand!' cried Hermione. Harry's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "wand flew from a dark corner into her hand and she threw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "it to him. 'Thanks,' he said. 'Right, let's get","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "out of - ' 'Look out!' said Neville, horrified.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "He was staring at the Deati Eater's head in the bell jar.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " All three of them raised their wands again, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "none of them struck: they were all gazing, open-mouthed, appalled, at what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "was happening to the man's head. It was shrinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "very fast, growing balder and balder, the black hair and stubble retracting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "into his skull; his cheeks becoming smooth, his skull round and covered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "with a peachlike fuzz . . . A baby's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "head now sat grotesquely on top of the thick, muscled neck of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the Death Eater as he struggled to get up again; but even","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "as they watched, their mouths open, the head began to swell to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "its previous proportions again; thick black hair was sprouting frori the pate","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and chin . . . 'It's Time,' said Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "in an awestruck voice. Time . . .' The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eater shook his ugly head again, trying to clear it, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "before he could pull himself together it began to shrink back to babyhood","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "once more . . . There was a shout","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "from a room nearby, then a crash and a scream. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'RON?' Harry yelled, turning quickly from the monstrous transformation taking place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "before them. 'GINNY? LUNA?' 'Harry!' Hermione screamed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " The Death Eater had pulled his head out of the bell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "jar. His appearance was utterly bizarre, his tiny baby's head bawling loudly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "while his thick arms flailed dangerously in all directions, narrowly missing Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "who had ducked. Harry raised his wand but to his amazement Hermione","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "seized his arm. 'You can't hurt a baby!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " There was no time to argue the point; Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hear more footsteps growing louder from the Hall of Prophecy and knew,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "too late, that he ought not to have shouted and given away","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "their position. 'Come on!' he said, and leaving the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "ugly baby-headed Death Eater staggering behind them they took off for the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "door that stood open at the other end of the room, leading","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "back into the black hallway. They had run halfway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "towards it when Harry saw through the open door two more Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Eaters running across the black room towards them; veering left, he burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "instead into a small, dark, cluttered office and slammed the door behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "them. 'Collo - ' began Hermione, but before she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "could complete the spell the door had burst open and the two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eaters had come hurtling inside. With a cry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of triumph, both yelled: 'IMPEDIMENTA.' Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Hermione and Neville were all knocked backwards off their feet; Neville was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "thrown over the desk and disappeared from view; Hermione smashed into a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "bookcase and was promptly deluged in a cascade of heavy books; the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "back of Harry's head slammed into the stone wall behind him, tiny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "lights burst in front of his eyes and for a moment he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "was too dizzy and bewildered to react. 'WE'VE GOT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "HIM!' yelled the Death Eater nearest Harry. 'IN AN OFFICE OFF -'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Silencio!' cried Hermione and the man's voice was extinguished.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "He continued to mouth through the hole in his mask, but no","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "sound came out. He was thrust aside by his fellow Death Eater.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Petrificus Totalus!' shouted Harry, as the second Death Eater","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "raised his wand. His arms and legs snapped together and he fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "forwards, face down on to the rug at Harry's feet, stiff as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a board and unable to move. 'Well done, Ha-'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " But the Death Eater Hermione had just struck dumb","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "made a sudden slashing movement with his wand; a streak of what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "looked like purple flame passed right across Hermione's chest. She gave a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "tiny 'Oh!' as though of surprise and crumpled on to the floor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "where she lay motionless. 'HERMIONE!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fell to his knees beside her as Neville crawled rapidly towards her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "from under the desk, his wand held up in front of him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "The Death Eater kicked out hard at Neville's head as he emerged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "- his foot broke Neville's wand in two and connected with his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "face. Neville gave a howl of pain and recoiled, clutching his mouth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and nose. Harry twisted around, his own wand held high, and saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "that the Death Eater had ripped off his mask and was pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his wand directly at Harry, who recognised the long, pale, twisted face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "from the Daily Prophet: Antonin Dolohov, the wizard who had murdered the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Prewetts. Dolohov grinned. With his free hand, he pointed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "from the prophecy still clutched in Harry's hand, to himself, then at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Hermione. Though he could no longer speak, his meaning could not have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "been clearer. Give me the prophecy, or you get the same as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "her . . . 'Like you won't kill us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "all anyway, the moment I hand it over!' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " A whine of panic inside his head was preventing him thinking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "properly: he had one hand on Hermione's shoulder, which was still warm,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "yet did not dare look at her properly. Don't let her be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "dead, don't let her be dead, it's my fault if she's dead","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". . . `Whaddever you do, Harry,' said Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fiercely from under the desk, lowering his hands to show a clearly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "broken nose and blood pouring down his mouth and chin, 'don'd gib","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "it to him!' Then there was a crash outside","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the door and Dolohov looked over his shoulder - the baby-headed Death","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Eater had appeared in the doorway, his head bawling, his great fists","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "still flailing uncontrollably at everything around him. Harry seized his chance: ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'PETRIF1CUS TOTALUS!' The spell hit Dolohov before","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he could block it and he toppled forwards across his comrade, both","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of them rigid as boards and unable to move an inch. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Hermione,' Harry said at once, shaking her as the baby-headed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eater blundered out of sight again. 'Hermione, wake up ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Whaddid he do to her?' said Neville, crawling out from under","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the desk to kneel at her other side, blood streaming from his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "rapidly swelling nose. 'I dunno . . . '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Neville groped for Hermione's wrist. 'Dat's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a pulse, Harry, I'b sure id is.' Such a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "powerful wave of relief swept through Harry that for a moment he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "felt light-headed. 'She's alive?' 'Yeah, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "dink so.' There was a pause in which Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "listened hard for the sound of more footsteps, but all he could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hear were the whimpers and blunderings of the baby-headed Death Eater in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the next room. 'Neville, we're not far from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "exit,' Harry whispered, 'we're right next to that circular room . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". if we can just get you across it and find the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "right: door before any more Death Eaters come, I'll bet you can","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "get Hermione up the corridor and into the lift . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "then you could find someone . . . raise the alarm .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". .' 'And whad are you going do do?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "said Neville, mopping his bleeding nose with his sleeve and frowning at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Harry. 'I've got to find the others,' said Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Well, I'b going do find dem wid you,' said Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "firmly. 'But Hermione - ' 'We'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "dake her wid us,' said Neville firmly. 'I'll carry her - you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "bedder at fighding dem dan I ab - He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "stood up and seized one of Hermione's arms, glaring at Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hesitated, then grabbed the other and helped hoist Hermione's limp form over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Neville's shoulders. 'Wait,' said Harry, snatching up Hermione's wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "from the floor and shoving it into Neville's hand, 'you'd better take","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "this.' Neville kicked aside the broken fragments of his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "own wand as they walked slowly towards the door. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'My gran's going do kill be,' said Neville thickly, blood spattering from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his nose as he spoke, 'dat was by dad's old wand.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Harry stuck his head out of the door and looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "around cautiously. The baby-headed Death Eater was screaming and banging into things,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "toppling grandfather clocks and overturning desks, bawling and confused, while the glass-fronted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "cabinet that Harry now suspected had contained Time-Turners continued to fall, shatter","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and repair itself on the wall behind them. 'He's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "never going to notice us, he whispered. 'C'mon . . . keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "close behind me . . .' They crept out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of the office and back towards the door into the black hallway,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "which now seemed completely deserted. They walked a few steps forwards, Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "tottering slightly due to Hermione's weight; the door of the Time Room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "swung shut behind them and the walls began to rotate once more.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "The recent blow on the back of Harry's head seemed to have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "unsteadied him; he narrowed his eyes, swaying slightly, until the walls stopped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "moving again. With a sinking heart, Harry saw that Hermione's fiery crosses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "had faded from the doors. 'So which way d'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "reck-?' But before they could make a decision as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to which way to try, a door to their right sprang open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and three people fell out of it. 'Ron!' croaked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Harry, dashing towards them. 'Ginny - are you all - ?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Harry,' said Ron, giggling weakly, lurching forwards, seizing the front","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of Harry's robes and gazing at him with unfocused eyes, 'there you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "are . . . ha ha ha . . . you look","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "funny, Harry . . . you're all messed up . . .'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Ron's face was very white and something dark was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "trickling from the corner of his mouth. Next moment his knees had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "given way, but he still clutched the front of Harry's robes, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "that Harry was pulled into a kind of bow. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Ginny?' Harry said fearfully. 'What happened?' But Ginny shook","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "her head and slid down the wall into a sitting position, panting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and holding her ankle. 'I think her ankle's broken,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "I heard something crack,' whispered Luna, who was bending over her and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "who alone seemed to be unhurt. 'Four of them chased us into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a dark room full of planets; it was a very odd place,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "some of the time we were just floating in the dark -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "' 'Harry, we saw Uranus up close!' said Ron,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "still giggling feebly. 'Get it, Harry? We saw Uranus - ha ha","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "ha - ' A bubble of blood grew at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the corner of Ron's mouth and burst. ' -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "anyway, one of them grabbed Ginny's foot, I used the Reductcr Curse","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and blew up Pluto in his face, but . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Luna gestured hopelessly at Ginny, who was breathing in a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "very shallow way, her eyes still closed. 'And what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "about Ron?' said Harry fearfully, as Ron continued to giggle, still hanging","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "off the front of Harry's robes. 'I don't know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "what they hit him with,' said Luna sadly, 'but he's gone a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "bit funny, I could hardly get him along at all.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Harry,' said Ron, pulling Harry's ear down to his mouth and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "still giggling weakly, 'you know who this girl is, Harry? She's Loony","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". . . Loony Lovegood . . . ha ha ha .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". .' 'We've got to get out of here,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "said Harry firmly. 'Luna, can you help Ginny?' 'Yes,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "said Luna, sticking her wand behind her ear for safekeeping, then putting","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "an arm around Ginny's waist and pulling her up. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'It's only my ankle, I can do it myself!' said Ginny impatiently,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "but next moment she had collapsed sideways and grabbed Luna for support.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Harry pulled Ron's arm over his shoulder just as, so many months","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "ago, he had pulled Dudley's. He looked around: they had a one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "in twelve chance of getting the exit right first time - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " He heaved Ron towards a door; they were within","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "a few feet of it when another door across the hall burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "open and three Death Eaters sped in, led. by Bellatrix Lestrange. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'There they are!' she shrieked. Stunning Spells","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "shot across the room: Harry smashed his way through the door ahead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "flung Ron unceremoniously from him and ducked back to help Neville in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "with Hermione: they were all over the threshold just in time to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "slam the door against Bellatrix. 'Colloportus!' shouted Harry, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he heard three bodies slam into the door on the other side.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'It doesn't matter!' said a man's voice. There are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "other ways in - WE'VE GOT THEM, THEY'RE HERE!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Harry span around; they were back in the Brain Room and, sure","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "enough, there were doors all around the walls. He could hear footsteps","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "in the hall behind them as more Death Eaters came running to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "join the first. 'Luna - Neville - help me!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " The three of them tore around the room, sealing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the doors as they went; Harry crashed into a tbale and rolled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "over the top of it in his haste to reach the next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "door: 'Colloportus!' There were footsteps running","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "along behind the doors, every now and then another heavy body would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "launch itself against one, so it creaked and shuddered; Luna and Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "were bewitching the doors along the opposite wall - then, as Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "reached the very top of the room, he heard Luna cry: ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Collo- aaaaaaaaargh . . .' He turned in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "time to see her flying through the air; five Death Eaters were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "surging into the room through the door she had not reached in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "time; Luna hit a desk, slid over its surface and on to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the floor on the other side where she lay sprawled, as still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "as Hermione. 'Get Potter!' shrieked Bellatrix, and she ran","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "at him; he dodged her and sprinted back up the room; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "was safe as long as they thought they might hit the prophecy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "- ' 'Hey!' said Ron, who had staggered to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his feet and was now tottering drunkenly towards Harry, giggling. 'Hey, Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "there are brains in here, ha ha ha, isn't that weird, Harry?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Ron, get out of the way, get down -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "' But Ron had already pointed his wand at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the tank. 'Honest, Harry, they're brains - look -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Accio brain!' The scene seemed momentarily frozen. Harry, Ginny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and Neville and each of the Death Eaters turned in spite of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "themselves to watch the top of the tank as a brain burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "from the green liquid like a leaping fish: for a moment it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "seemed suspended in midair, then t soared towards Ron, spinning as it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "came, and what looked like ribbons of moving images flew from it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "unravelling like rolls of film - 'Ha ha ha,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Harry, look at it - ' said Ron, watching it disgorge its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "gaudy innards, 'Harry, come and touch it; bet it's weird - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'RON, NO!' Harry did not know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "what would happen if Ron touched the tentacles of thought now flying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "behind the brain, but he was sure it would not be anything","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "good. He darted forwards but Ron had already caught the brain in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his outstretched hands. The moment they made contact with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his skin, the tentacles began wrapping themselves around Ron's arms like ropes.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Harry, look what's happen- No - no - I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "don't like it - no, stop - stop - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " But the thin ribbons were spinning around Ron's chest now; he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "tugged and tore at them as the brain was pulled tight against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him like an octopus's body. 'Diffindo!' yelled Harry, trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to sever the feelers wrapping themselves tightly around Ron before his eyes,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "but they would not break. Ron fell over, still thrashing against his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "bonds. 'Harry, it'll suffocate him!' screamed Ginny, immobilised by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "her broken ankle on the floor - then a jet of red","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "light flew from one of the Death Eater's wands and hit her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "squarely in the face. She keeled over sideways and lay there unconscious.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'STUBEFY!' shouted Neville, wheeling around and waving Hermione's wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "at the oncoming Death Eaters, 'STUBEFY, STUBEFY!' But nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "happened. One of the Death Eaters shot their own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Stunning Spell at Neville; it missed him by inches. Harry and Neville","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "were now the only two left fighting the five Death Eaters, two","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of whom sent off streams of silver light like arrows which missed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "but left craters in the wall behind them. Harry ran for it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "as Bellatrix Lestrange raced right at him: holding the prophecy high above","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his head, he sprinted back up the room; all he could think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of doing was to draw the Death Eaters away from the others.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " It seemed to have worked; they streaked after him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "knocking chairs and tables flying but not daring to bewitch him in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "case they hurt the prophecy, and he dashed through the only door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "still open, the one through which the Death Eaters themselves had come;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "inwardly praying that Neville would stay with Ron and find some way","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of releasing him. He ran a few feet into the new room","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and felt the floor vanish - ' He was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "falling down steep stone step after steep stone step, bouncing on every","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "tier until at last, with a crash that knocked all the breath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "out of his body, he landed flat on his back in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "sunken p t where the stone archway stood on its dais. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "whole room was ringing with the Death Eater's laughter: he looked up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and saw the five who had been in the Brain Room descending","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "towards him, while as many more emerged through other doorways and began","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "leaping from bench to bench towards him. Harry got to his feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "though his legs were trembling so badly they barely supported him: the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "prophecy was still miraculously unbroken in his left hand, his wand clutched","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "tightly in his right. He backed away, looking around, trying to keep","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "all the Death Eaters within his sight. The back of his legs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hit something solid: he had reached the dais where the archway stood.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "He climbed backwards onto it. The Death Eaters all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "halted, gazing at him. Some were panting as hard as he was.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "One was bleeding badly; Dolohov, freed of the Body-Bind Curse, was leering,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his wand pointing straight at Harry's face. 'Potter, your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "race is run,' drawled Lucius Malfoy, pulling off his mask, 'now hand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "me the prophecy like a good boy.' 'Let -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "let the others go, and I'll give it to you!' said Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "desperately. A few of the Death Eaters laughed. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'You are not in a position to bargain, Potter,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Lucius Malfoy, his pale face flushed with pleasure. 'You see, there are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "ten of us and only one of you . . . or","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hasn't Dumbledore ever taught you how to count?' 'He's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "dot alone!' shouted a voice from above them. 'He's still god be!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Harry's heart sank: Neville was scrambling down the stone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "benches towards them, Hermione's wand held fast in his trembling hand. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Neville - no - go back to Ron - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'STUBEFY!' Neville shouted again, pointing his wand at each","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eater in turn. 'STUBEFY! 'STUBE - ' One","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of the largest Death Eaters seized Neville from behind, pinioning his arms","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to his sides. He struggled and kicked; several of the Death Eaters","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "laughed. 'It's Longbottom, isn't it?' sneered Lucius Malfoy. 'Well,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "your grandmother is used to losing family members to our cause . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". your death will not come as a great shock.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Longbottom?' repeated Bellatrix, and a truly evil smile lit her gaunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "face. 'Why, I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents, boy.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'I DOE YOU HAB!' roared Neville, and he fought","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "so hard against his captor's encircling grip that the Death Eater shouted,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Someone Stun him!' 'No, no, no,' said Bellatrix. She","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "looked transported, alive with excitement as she glanced at Harry, then back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "at Neville. 'No, let's see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "like his parents . . . unless Potter wants to give us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the prophecy.' 'DON'D GIB ID DO DEM!' roared Neville,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "who seemed beside himself, kicking and writhing as Bellatrix drew nearer to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him and his captor, her wand raised. 'DON'D GIB ID DO DEM,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "HARRY!' Bellatrix raised her wand. 'Crucio!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Neville screamed, his legs drawn up to his chest so that the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eater holding him was momentarily holding him off the ground. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eater dropped him and he fell to the floor, twitching and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "screaming in agony. 'That was just a taster!' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Bellatrix, raising her wand so that Neville's screams stopped and he lay","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "sobbing at her feet. She turned and gazed up at Harry. 'Now,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Potter, either give us the prophecy, or watch your little friend die","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the hard way!' Harry did not have to think;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "there was no choice. The prophecy was hot with the heat of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his clutching hand as he held it out. Malfoy jumped forwards to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "take it. Then, high above them, two more doors","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "burst open and five more people sprinted into the room: Sirius, Lupin,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Moody, Tonks and Kingsley. Malfoy turned, and raised his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "wand, but Tonks had already sent a Stunning Spell right at him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Harry did not wait to see whether it had made contact, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "dived off the dais out of the way. The Death Eaters were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "completely distracted by the appearance of the members of the Order, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "were now raining spells down upon them as they jumped from step","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to step towards the sunken floor. Through the darting bodies, the flashes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of light, Harry could see Neville crawling along. He dodged another jet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of red light and flung himself flat on the ground to reach","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Neville. Are you OK? he yelled, as another spell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "soared inches over their heads. 'Yes,' said Neville, trying","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "to pull himself up. 'And Ron?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'I dink he's all righd - he was still fighding de brain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "when I lefd - ' The stone floor between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "them exploded as a spell hit it, leaving a crater right where","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Neville's hand had been only seconds before; both scrambled away from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "spot, then a thick arm came out of nowhere, seized Harry around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the neck and pulled him upright, so that his toes were barely","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "touching the floor. 'Give it to me,' growled a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "voice in his ear, 'give me the prophecy - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " The man was pressing so tightly on Harry's windpipe that he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "could not breathe. Through watering eyes he saw Sirius duelling with a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Death Eater some ten feet away; Kingsley was fighting two at once;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Tonks, still halfway up the tiered seats, was firing spells down at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Bellatrix - nobody seemed to realise that Harry was dying. He turned","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his wand backwards towards the man's side, but had no breath to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "utter an incantation, and the man's free hand was groping towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hand in which Harry was grasping the prophecy - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'AARGH!' Neville had come lunging out of nowhere;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "unable to articulate a spell, he had jabbed Hermione's wand hard into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the eyehole of the Death Eater's mask. The man relinquished Harry at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "once with a howl of pain. Harry whirled around to face him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and gasped: 'STUPEFY!' The Death Eater","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "keeled over backwards and his mask slipped off: it was Macnair, Buckbeak's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "would-be killer, one of his eyes now swollen and bloodshot. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Thanks!' Harry said to Neville, pulling him aside as Sirius and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his Death Eater lurched past, duelling so fiercely that their wands were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "blurs; then Harry's foot made contact with something round and hard and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he slipped. For a moment he thought he had dropped the prophecy,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "but then he saw Moody's magical eye spinning away across the floor.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Its owner was lying on his side, bleeding from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the head, and his attacker was now bearing down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "upon Harry and Neville: Dolohov, his long pale face twisted with glee.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Tarantallegra!' he shouted, his wand pointing at Neville, whose","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "legs went immediately into a kind of frenzied tap-dance, unbalancing him and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "causing him to fall to the floor again. 'Now, Potter - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " He made the same slashing movement with his wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "that he had used on Hermione just as Harry yelled, 'Protego!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Harry felt something streak across his face like a blunt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "knife; the force of it knocked him sideways and he fell over","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Neville's jerking legs, but the Shield Charm had stopped the worst of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the spell. Dolohov raised his wand again. 'Accio proph-'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Sirius had hurtled out of nowhere, rammed Dolohov with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his shoulder and sent him flying out of the way. The prophecy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "had again flown to the tips of Harry's fingers but he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "managed to cling on to it. Now Sirius and Dolohov were duelling,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "their wands flashing like swords, sparks flying from their wand-tips - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Dolohov drew back his wand to make the same","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "slashing movement he had used on Harry and Hermione. Springing up, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "yelled, 'Petrificus Totalus!' Once again, Dolohov's arms and legs snapped together and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "he keeled over backwards, landing with a crash on his back. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Nice one!' shouted Sirius, forcing Harry's head down as a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "pair of Stunning Spells flew towards them. 'Now I want you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "get out of- ' They both ducked again; a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "jet of green light had narrowly missed Sirius. Across the room Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "saw Tonks fall from halfway up the stone steps, her limp form","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "toppling from stone seat to stone seat and Bellatrix, triumphant, running back towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the fray. 'Harry, take the prophecy, grab Neville and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "run!' Sirius yelled, dashing to meet Bellatrix. Harry did not see what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "happened next: Kingsley swayed across his field of vision, battling with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "pockmarked and no longer masked Rookwood; another jet of green light flew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "over Harry's head as he launched himself towards Neville - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Can you stand?' he bellowed in Neville's ear, as Neville's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "legs jerked and twitched uncontrollably. 'Put your arm round my neck -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Neville did so - Harry heaved - Neville's legs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "were still lying in every direction, they would not support him, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "then, out of nowhere, a man lunged at them: both fell backwards,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Neville's legs waving wildly like an overturned beetle's, Harry with his left","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "arm held up in the air to try to save the small","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "glass ball from being smashed. 'The prophecy, give me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the prophecy, Potter!' snarled Lucus Malfoy's voice in his ear, and Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "felt the tip of Malfoy's wand pressing hard between his ribs. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'No - get - off - me . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Neville - catch it!' Harry flung the prophecy across","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the floor, Neville span himself around on his back and scooped the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "ball to his chest. Malfoy pointed the wand instead at Neville, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Harry jabbed his own wand back over his shoulder and yelled, 'Impedimenta!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Malfoy was blasted off his back. As Harry scrambled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "up again he looked around and saw Malfoy smash into the dais","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "on which Sirius and Bellatrix were now duelling. Malfoy aimed his wand","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "at Harry and Neville again, but before he could draw breath to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "strike, Lupin had jumped between them. 'Harry, round up","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the others and GO!' Harry seized Neville by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "shoulder of his robes and lifted him bodily on to the first","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "tier of stone steps; Neville's legs twitched and jerked and would not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "support his weight; Harry heaved again with all the strength he possessed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and they climbed another step - ' A spell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "hit the stone bench at Harry's heel; it crumbled away and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fell back to the step below. Neville sank to the ground, his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "legs still jerking and thrashing, and he thrust the prophecy into his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "pocket. 'Come on!' said Harry desperately, hauling at Neville's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "robes. 'Just try and push with your legs -' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "He gave another stupendous heave and Neville's robes tore all along the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "left seam - the small spun-glass ball dropped from his pocket and,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "before either of them could catch it, one of Neville's floundering feet","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "kicked it: it flew some ten feet to their right and smashed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "on the step beneath them. As both of them stared at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "place where it had broken, appalled at what had happened, a pearly-white","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "figure with hugely magnified eyes rose into the air, unnoticed by any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "but them. Harry could see its mouth moving, but in all the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "crashes and screams and yells surrounding them, not one word of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "prophecy could he hear. The figure stopped speaking and dissolved into nothingness.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Harry, I'b sorry!' cried Neville, his face anguished as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his legs continued to flounder. Tb so sorry, Harry, I didn'd bean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "do - ' 'It doesn't matter!' Harry shouted. 'Just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "try and stand, let's get out of - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "'Dubbledore!' said Neville, his sweaty face suddenly transported, staring over Harry's shoulder.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'What?' 'DUBBLEDORE!' Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "turned to look where Neville was staring. Directly above them, framed in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the doorway from the Brain Room, stood Albus Dumbledore, his wand aloft,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "his face white and furious. Harry felt a kind of electric charge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "surge through every particle of his body - they were saved. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " Dumbledore sped down the steps past Neville and Harry, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "had no more thoughts of leaving. Dumbledore was already at the foot","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "of the steps when the Death Eaters nearest realised he was there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "and yelled to the others. One of the Death Eaters ran for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "it, scrabbling like a monkey up the stone steps opposite. Dumbledore's spell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "pulled him back as easily and effortlessly as though he had hooked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "him with an invisible line - ' Only one","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "pair was still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: he was laughing at her.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Come on, you can do better than that!' he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. The","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "eyes widened in shock. Harry released Neville, though he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "was unaware of doing so. He was jumping down the steps again,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "pulling out his wand, as Dumbledore, too, turned towards the dais. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " It seemed to take Sirius an age to tall: his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "ragged veil hanging from the arch. Harry saw the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfathers wasted, once-handsome face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind, then","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "fell back into place. Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "scream, but knew it meant nothing - Sirius had only just fallen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". . . But Sirius did not reappear. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'SIRIUS!' Harry yelled. 'SIRIUS!' He had reached","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "the floor, his breath coming in searing gasps. Sirius must be just","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "behind the curtain, he, Harry, would pull him back out . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" ". But as he reached the ground and sprinted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "towards the dais, Lupin grabbed Harry around the chest, holding him back.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " There's nothing you can do, Harry - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " 'Get him, save him, he's only just gone through!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" " ' - it's too late, Harry.' 'We","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "can still reach him - ' Harry struggled hard and viciously, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "Lupin would not let go . . . There's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "nothing you can do, Harry . . . nothing . . . he's gone.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-35" "The Only OneHe Ever Feared'He hasn't gone!' Harry yelled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "He did not believe it; he would not believe it; still he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "fought Lupin with every bit of strength he had. Lupin did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "understand; people hid behind that curtain; Harry had heard them whispering the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "first time he had entered the room. Sirius was hiding, simply lurking","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "out of sight - ' 'SIRIUS!' he bellowed. 'SIRIUS!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'He can't come back, Harry,' said Lupin, his voice","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "breaking as he struggled to contain Harry. 'He can't come back, because","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "he's d- 'HE - IS - NOT - DEAD!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "roared Harry. 'SIRIUS!' There was movement going on around","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "them, pointless bustling, the flashes of more spells. To Harry it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "meaningless noise, the deflected curses flying past them did not matter, nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "mattered except that Lupin should stop pretending that Sirius - who was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "standing feet from them behind that old curtain - was not going","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "to emerge at any moment, shaking back his dark hair and eager","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "to re-enter the battle. Lupin dragged Harry away from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the dais. Harry still staring at the archway, was angry at Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "now for keeping him waiting - ' But some","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "part of him realised, even as he fought to break free from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Lupin, that Sirius had never kept him waiting before . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Sirius had risked everything, always, to see Harry to help him .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". . if Sirius was not reappearing out of that archway when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Harry was yelling for him as though his life depended on it,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the only possible explanation was that he could not come back .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". . that he really was - ' Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "had most of the remaining Death haters grouped in the middle of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the room, seemingly immobilised by invisible ropes; Mad-Eye Moody had crawled across","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the room to where Tonks lay, and was attempting to revive her;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "behind the dais there were still flashes of light, grunts and cries","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "- Kingsley had run forward to continue Sirius's duel with Bellatrix. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'Harry?' Neville had slid down the stone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "benches one by one to the place where Harry stood. Harry was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "no longer struggling against Lupin, who maintained a precautionary grip on his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "arm nevertheless. 'Harry . . . I'b really sorry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". . .' said Neville. His legs were still dancing uncontrollably. 'Was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "dad man - was Sirius Black a - a friend of yours?'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " Harry nodded. 'Here,' said Lupin quietly,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "and pointing his wand at Neville's legs he said, 'Finite.' The spell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "was lifted: Neville's legs fell back to the floor and remained still.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Lupin's face was pale. 'Let's - let's find the others. Where are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "they all, Neville?' Lupin turned away from the archway","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "as he spoke. It sounded as though every word was causing him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "pain. 'Dey're all back dere,' said Neville. 'A brain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "addacked Ron bud I dink he's all righd - and Herbione's unconscious,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "bud we cou'.d feel a bulse - ' There","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "was a loud bang and a yell from behind the dais. Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "saw Kingsley hit the ground yelling in pain: Bellatrix Lestrange turned tail","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "and ran as Dumbledore whipped around. He aimed a spell at her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "but she deflected it; she was halfway up the steps now -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "' 'Harry - no!' cried Lupin, but Harry had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "already ripped his arm from Lupin's slackened grip. 'SHE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "KILLED SIRIUS!' bellowed Harry. 'SHE KILLED HIM - 'I'LL KILL HER!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " And he was off, scrambling up the stone benches; people","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "were shouting behind him but he did not care. The hem of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Bellatrix's robes whipped out of sight ahead and they were back in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the room where the brains were swimming . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " She aimed a curse over her shoulder. The tank rose into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the air and tipped. Harry was deluged in the foul-smelling potion within:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the brains slipped and slid over him and began spinning their long","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "coloured tentacles, but he shouted, `Wingardium Leviosa!' and they flew off him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "up into the air. Slipping and sliding, he ran on towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "door; he leapt over Luna, who was groaning on the floor, past","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Ginny, who said, 'Harry - what - ?', past Ron, who giggled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "feebly, and Hermione, who was still unconscious. He wrenched open the door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "into the circular black hall and saw Bellatrix disappearing through a door","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "on the other side of the room; beyond her was the corridor","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "leading back to the lifts. He ran, but she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "had slammed the door behind her and the walls were already rotating.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Once more, he was surrounded by streaks of blue light from the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "whirling candelabra. 'Where's the exit?' he shouted desperately, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the wall rumbled to a halt again. 'Where's the way out?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " The room seemed to have been waiting for him to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "ask. The door right behind him flew open and the corridor towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the lifts stretched ahead of him, torch-lit and empty. He ran .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". . He could hear a lift clattering ahead;","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "he sprinted up the passageway, swung around the corner and slammed his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "fist on to the button to call a second lift. It jangled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "and banged lower and lower; the grilles slid open and Harry dashed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "inside, now hammering the button marked 'Atrium'. The doors slid shut and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "he was rising . . . He forced his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "way out of the lift before the grilles were fully open and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "looked around. Bellatrix was almost at the telephone lift at the other","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "end of the hall, but she looked back as he sprinted towards","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "her and aimed another spell at him. He dodged behind the Fountain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "of Magical Brethren: the spell zoomed past him and hit the wrought-gold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "gates at the other end of the Atrium so that they rang","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "like bells. There were no more footsteps. She had stopped running. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "crouched behind the statues, listening. 'Come out, come out,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "little Harry!' she called in her mock baby voice, which echoed off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the polished wooden floors. 'What did you come after me for, then?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "I thought you were here to avenge my dear cousin!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "'I am!' shouted Harry, and a score of ghostly Harry's seemed to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "chorus I am! I am! I am! all around the room. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'Aaaaaah . . . did you love him, little baby","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Potter? Hatred rose in Harry such as he had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "never known before; he flung himself out from behind the fountain and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "bellowed, 'Crucio!' Bellatrix screamed: the spell had knocked her","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "off her feet, but she did not writhe and shriek with pain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "as Neville had - she was already back on her feet, breathless,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "no longer laughing. Harry dodged behind the golden fountain again. Her counter-spell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "hit the head of the handsome wizard, which was blown off and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "landed twenty feet away, gouging long scratches into the wooden floor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, boy?' she","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "yelled. She had abandoned her baby voice now. 'You need to mean","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "them, Potter! You need to really want to cause pain - to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "enjoy it - righteous anger won't hurt me for long - I'll","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "show you how it is done, shall I? I'll give you a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "lesson - ' Harry was edging around the fountain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "on the other side when she screamed, 'Crucio!' and he was forced","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "to duck down again as the centaur's arm, holding its bow, span","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "off and landed with a crash on the floor a short distance","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "from the golden wizard's head. 'Potter, you cannot win","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "against me!' she cried. He could hear her moving","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "to the right, trying to get a clear shot of him. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "backed around the statue away from her, crouching behind the centaur's legs,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "his head level with the house-elf's. 'I was and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "am the Dark Lord's most loyal servant. I learned the Dark Arts","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "from him, and I know spells of such power that you, pathetic","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "little boy, can never hope to compete - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "'Stupefy!' yelled Harry. He had edged right around to where the goblin","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "stood beaming up at the now headless wizard and taken aim at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "her back as she peered around the fountain. She reacted so fast","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "he barely had time to duck. 'Protege!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " The jet of red light, his own Stunning Spell, bounced back","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "at him. Harry scrambled back behind the fountain and one of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "goblin's ears went flying across the room. 'Potter, I'm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "going to give you one chance!' shouted Bellatrix. 'Give me the prophecy","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "- roll it out towards me now - and I may spare","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "your life!' 'Well, you're going to have to kill","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "me, because it's gone!' Harry roared and, as he shouted it, pain","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "seared across his forehead; his scar was on fire again, and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "felt a surge of fury that was quite unconnected with his own","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "rage. 'And he knows!' said Harry, with a mad laugh to match","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Bellatrix's own. 'Your dear old mate Voldemort knows it's gone! He's not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "going to be happy with you, is he?' 'What?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "What do you mean?' she cried, and for the first time there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "was fear in her voice. The prophecy smashed when","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "I was trying to get Neville up the steps! What do you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "think Voldemort'll say about that, then?' His scar seared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "and burned . . . the pain of it was making his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "eyes stream . . . 'LIAR!' she shrieked, but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "he could hear the terror behind the anger now. 'YOU'VE GOT IT,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "POTTER, AND YOU WILL GIVE IT TO ME! Accio prophecy! ACCIO PROPHECY!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " Harry laughed again because he knew it would incense","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "her, the pain building in his head so badly he thought his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "skull might burst. He waved his empty hand from behind the one-eared","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "goblin and withdrew it quickly as she sent another jet of green","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "light flying at him. 'Nothing there!' he shouted. 'Nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "to summon! It smashed and nobody heard what it said, tell your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "boss that!' 'No!' she screamed. 'It isn't true, you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "lying! MASTER, I TRIED, I TRIED - DO NOT PUNISH ME -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "' 'Don't waste your breath!' yelled Harry, his eyes","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "screwed up against the pain in his scar, now more terrible than","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "ever. 'He can't hear you from here!' 'Can't I,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Potter?' said a high, cold voice. Harry opened his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "eyes. Tall, thin and black-hooded, his terrible snakelike face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "white and gaunt, his scarlet, slit-pupilled eyes staring . . . Lord","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Voldemort had appeared in the middle of the hall, his wand pointing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "at Harry who stood frozen, quite unable to move. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "'So, you smashed my prophecy?' said Voldemort softly, staring at Harry with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "those pitiless red eyes. 'No, Bella, he is not lying . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". I see the truth looking at me from within his worthless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "mind . . . months of preparation, months of effort . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". and my Death Eaters have let Harry Potter thwart me again","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". . .' 'Master, I am sorry, I knew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "not, I was fighting the Animagus Black!' sobbed Bellatrix, flinging herself down","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "at Voldemort's feet as he paced slowly nearer. 'Master, you should know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "- ' 'Be quiet, Bella,' said Voldemort dangerously. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "shall deal with you in a moment. Do you think I have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "entered the Ministry of Magic to hear your snivelling apologies?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'But Master - he is here - he is below -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "' Voldemort paid no attention. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "have nothing more to say to you, Potter,' he said quietly. 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "have irked me too often, for too long. AVADA KEDAVRA!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " Harry had not even opened his mouth to resist; his mind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "was blank, his wand pointing uselessly at the floor. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "But the headless golden statue of the wizard in the fountain had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "sprung alive, leaping from its plinth to land with a crash on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the floor between Harry and Voldemort. The spell merely glanced off its","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "chest as the statue flung out its arms to protect Harry. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'What - ?' cried Voldemort, staring around. And then he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "breathed, 'Dumbledore!' Harry looked behind him, his heart pounding. Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "was standing in front of the golden gates. Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "raised his wand and another jet of green light streaked at Dumbledore,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "who turned and was gone in a whirling of his cloak. Next","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "second, he had reappeared behind Voldemort and waved his wand towards the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "remnants of the fountain. The other statues sprang to life. The statue","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "of the witch ran at Bellatrix, who screamed and sent spells streaming","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "uselessly off its chest, before it dived at her, pinning her to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the floor. Meanwhile, the goblin and the house-elf scuttled towards the fireplaces","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "set along the wall and the one-armed centaur galloped at Voldemort, who","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "vanished and reappeared beside the pool. The headless statue thrust Harry backwards,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "away from the fight, as Dumbledore advanced on Voldemort and the golden","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "centaur cantered around them both. 'It was foolish to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "come here tonight, Tom,' said Dumbledore calmly. The Aurors are on their","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "way - ' 'By which time I shall be","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "gone, and you will be dead!' spat Voldemort. He sent another killing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "curse at Dumbledore but missed, instead hitting the security guard's desk, which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "burst into flame. Dumbledore flicked his own wand: the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "force of the spell that emanated from it was such that Harry,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "though shielded by his golden guard, felt his hair stand on end","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "as it passed and this time Voldemort was forced to conjure a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "shining silver shield out of thin air to deflect it. The spell,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "whatever it was, caused no visible damage to the shield, though a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "deep, gong-like note reverberated from it - an oddly chilling sound. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?' called Voldemort,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "his scarlet eyes narrowed over the top of the shield. 'Above such","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "brutality, are you?' 'We both know that there are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "other ways of destroying a man, Tom,' Dumbledore said calmly, continuing to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "walk towards Voldemort as though he had not a fear in the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "world, as though nothing had happened to interrupt his stroll up the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "hall. 'Merely taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "' There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!' snarled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Voldemort. 'You are quite wrong,' said Dumbledore, still closing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "in upon Voldemort and speaking as lightly as though they were discussing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the matter over drinks. Harry felt scared to see him walking along,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "undefended, shieldless; he wanted to cry out a warning, but his headless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "guard kept shunting him backwards towards the wall, blocking his every attempt","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "to gel out from behind it. 'Indeed, your failure to understand that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "weakness - ' Another jet of green light flew","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "from behind the silver shield. This time it was the one-armed centaur,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "galloping in front of Dumbledore, that took the blast and shattered into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "a hundred pieces, but before the fragments had even hit the floor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Dumbledore had drawn back his wand and waved it as though brandishing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "a whip. A long thin flame flew from the tip; it wrapped","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "itself around Voldemort, shield and all. For a moment, it seemed Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "had won, but then the fiery rope became a serpent, which relinquished","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "its hold on Voldemort at once and turned, hissing furiously, to face","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Dumbledore. Voldemort vanished; the snake reared from the floor,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "ready to strike - ' There was a burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "of flame in midair above Dumbledore just as Voldemort reappeared, standing on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the plinth in the middle of the pool where so recently the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "five statues had stood. 'Look out!' Harry yelled. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " But even as he shouted, another jet of green light","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "flew at Dumbledore from Voldemort's wand and the snake struck - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " Fawkes swooped down in front of Dumbledore, opened his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "beak wide and swallowed the jet of green light whole: he burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "into flame and fell to the floor, small, wrinkled and flightless. At","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the same moment, Dumbledore brandished his wand in one long, fluid movement","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "- the snake, which had been an instant from sinking its fangs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "into him, flew high into the air and vanished in a wisp","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "of dark smoke; and the water in the pool rose up and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "covered Voldemort like a cocoon of molten glass. For","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "a few seconds Voldemort was visible only as a dark, rippling, faceless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "figure, shimmering and indistinct upon the plinth, clearly struggling to throw off","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the suffocating mass - ' Then he was gone","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "and the water fell with a crash back into its pool, slopping","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "wildly over the sides, drenching the polished floor. 'MASTER!'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "screamed Bellatrix. Sure it was over, sure Voldemort had","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "decided to flee, Harry made to run out from behind his statue","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "guard, but Dumbledore bellowed: 'Stay where you are, Harry!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "For the first time, Dumbledore sounded frightened. Harry could not see why:","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the hall was quite empty but for themselves, the sobbing Bellatrix still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "trapped under the witch statue, and the baby phoenix Fawkes croaking feebly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "on the floor - ' Then Harry's scar burst","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "open and he knew he was dead: it was pain beyond imagining,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "pain past endurance - ' He was gone from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the hall, he was locked in the coils of a creature with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "red eyes, so tightly bound that Harry did not know where his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "body ended and the creatures began: they were fused together, bound by","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "pain, and there was no escape - ' And","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "when the creature spoke, it used Harry's mouth, so that in his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "agony he felt his jaw move . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "'Kill me now, Dumbledore . . .' Blinded and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "dying, every part of him screaming for release, Harry felt the creature","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "use him again . . . 'If death is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy . . .' Let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the pain stop, thought Harry . . . let him kill us","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". . . end it, Dumbledore . . . death is nothing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "compared to this . . . And I'll see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Sirius again . . . And as Harry's heart","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "filled with emotion, the creatures coils loosened, the pain was gone; Harry was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "lying face down on the floor, his glasses gone, shivering as though","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "he lay upon ice, not wood . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "And there were voices echoing through the hall, more voices than there","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "should have been . . . Harry opened his eyes, saw his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "glasses lying by the heel of the headless statue that had been","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "guarding him, but which now lay flat on its back, cracked and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "immobile. He put them on and raised his head a little to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "find Dumbledore's crooked nose inches from his own. 'Are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "you all right, Harry?' 'Yes,' said Harry, shaking so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "violently he could not hold his head up properly. 'Yeah, I'm -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "where's Voldemort, where - who are all these - what's - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " The Atrium was full of people; the floor was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "reflecting the emerald green flames that had burst into fire in all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the fireplaces along one wall; and streams of witches and wizards were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "emerging from them. As Dumbledore pulled him back to his feet, Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "saw the tiny gold statues of the house-elf and the goblin, leading","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "a stunned-looking Cornelius Fudge forward. 'He was there!' shouted","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "a scarlet-robed man with a ponytail, who was pointing at a pile","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "of golden rubble on the other side of the hall, where Bellatrix","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "had lain trapped only moments before. 'I saw him, Mr Fudge, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "swear it was You-Know-Who, he grabbed a woman and Disapparated!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'I know, Williamson, I know, I saw him too!' gibbered Fudge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "who was wearing pyjamas under his pinstriped cloak and was gasping as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "though he had just run miles. 'Merlin's beard - here - here!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "- in the Ministry of Magic! - great heavens above - it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "doesn't seem possible - my word - how can this be -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "?' 'If you proceed downstairs into the Department of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Mysteries, Cornelius,' said Dumbledore - apparently satisfied that Harry was all right,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "and walking forwards so that the newcomers realised he was there for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the first time (a few of them raised their wands; others simply","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "looked amazed; the statues of the elf and goblin applauded and Fudge","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "jumped so much that his slipper-clad feet left the floor) - 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "will find several escaped Death Eaters contained in the Death Chamber, bound","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "by an Anti-Disapparation Jinx and awaiting your decision as to what to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "do with them.' 'Dumbledore!' gasped Fudge, beside himself with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "amazement. 'You - here - I - I - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " He looked wildly around at the Aurors he had brought with","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "him and it could not have been clearer that he was in","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "half a mind to cry, 'Seize him!' 'Cornelius, I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "am ready to fight your men - and win, again!' said Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "in a thunderous voice. 'But a few minutes ago you saw proof,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "with your own eyes, that I have been telling you the truth","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "for a year. Lord Voldemort has returned, you have been chasing the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "wrong man for twelve months, and it is time you listened to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "sense!' 'I - don't - well -' blustered Fudge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "looking around as though hoping somebody was going to tell him what","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "to do. When nobody did, he said, 'Very well - Dawlish! Williamson!","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Go down to the Department of Mysteries and see . . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Dumbledore, you - you will need to tell me exactly - the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Fountain of Magical Brethren - what happened?' he added in a kind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "of whimper, staring around at the floor, where the remains of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "statues of the witch, wizard and centaur now lay scattered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " 'We can discuss that after I have sent Harry back to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Hogwarts,' said Dumbledore. 'Harry - Harry Potter?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " Fudge wheeled around and stared at Harry, who was still standing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "against the wall beside the fallen statue that had guarded him during","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Dumbledore and Voldemort's duel. 'He - here?' said Fudge,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "goggling at Harry. 'Why - what's all this about?' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "'I shall explain everything,' repeated Dumbledore, 'when Harry is back at school.'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " He walked away from the pool to the place","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "where the golden wizard's head lay on the floor. He pointed his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "wand at it and muttered, 'Portus.' The head glowed blue and trembled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "noisily against the wooden floor for a few seconds, then became still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "once more. 'Now see here, Dumbledore!' said Fudge, as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Dumbledore picked up the head and walked back to Harry carrying it.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "'You haven't got authorisation for that Portkey! You can't do things like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "that right in front of the Minister for Magic, you - you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "- ' His voice faltered as Dumbledore surveyed him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "magisterially over his half-moon spectacles. 'You will give the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "order to remove Dolores Umbridge from Hogwarts,' said Dumbledore. 'You will tell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "your Aurors to stop searching for my Care of Magical Creatures teacher","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "so that he can return to work. I will give you .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" ". .' Dumbledore pulled a watch with twelve hands from his pocket","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "and surveyed it. . . half an hour of my time tonight,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "in which I think we shall be more than able to cover","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "the important points of what has happened here. After that, I shall","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "need to return to my school. If you need more help from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "me you are, of course, more than welcome to contact me at","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Hogwarts. Letters addressed to the Headmaster will find me.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "Fudge goggled worse than ever; his mouth was open and his round","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "face grew pinker under his rumpled grey hair. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "- you - ' Dumbledore turned his back on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "him. 'Take this Portkey, Harry.' He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "held out the golden head of the statue and Harry placed his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "hand on it, past caring what he did next or where he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "went. 'I shall see you in half an hour,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "said Dumbledore quietly 'One . . . two . . . three","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" " Harry felt the familiar sensation of a hook being","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "jerked behind his navel. The polished wooden floor was gone from beneath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "his feet; the Atrium, Fudge and Dumbledore had all disappeared and he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "was flying forwards in a whirlwind of colour and sound . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-36" "The Lost ProphecyHarry's feet hit solid ground; his knees buckled a little","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "and the golden wizard's head fell with a resounding clunk to the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "floor. He looked around and saw that he had arrived in Dumbledore's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "office. Everything seemed to have repaired itself during the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Headmasters absence. The delicate silver instruments stood once more on the spindle-legged","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "tables, puffing and whirring serenely. The portraits of the headmasters and headmistresses","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "were snoozing in their frames, heads lolling back in armchairs or against","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the edge of the; picture. Harry looked through the window. There was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "a cool line of pale green along the horizon: dawn was approaching.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " The silence and the stillness, broken only by the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "occasional grunt or snuffle of a sleeping portrait, was unbearable to him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "If his surroundings could have reflected the feelings inside him, the pictures","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "would have been screaming in pain. He walked around the quiet, beautiful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "office, breathing quickly, trying not to think. But he had to think","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". . . there was no escape . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " It was his fault Sirius had died; it was all his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "fault. If he, Harry, had not been stupid enough to fall for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Voldemort's trick, if he had not been so convinced that what he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "had seen in his dream was real, if he had only opened","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "his mind to the possibility that Voldemort was, as Hermione had said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "banking on Harry's love of playing the hero . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " It was unbearable, he would not think about it, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "could not stand it . . . there was a terrible hollow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "inside him he did not want to feel or examine, a dark","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "hole where Sirius had been, where Sirius had vanished; he did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "want to have to be alone with that great, silent space, he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "could not stand it - ' A picture behind","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "him gave a particularly loud grunting snore, and a cool voice said,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "'Ah . . . Harry Potter . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Phineas Nigellus gave a long yawn, stretching his arms as he surveyed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Harry out of shrewd, narrow eyes. 'And what brings","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "you here in the early hours of the morning?' said Phineas eventually.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "This office is supposed to be barred to all but the rightful","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Headmaster. Or has Dumbledore sent you here? Oh, don't tell me .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". .' He gave another shuddering yawn. 'Another message for my worthless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "great-great-grandson?' Harry could not speak. Phineas Nigellus did not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "know that Sirius was dead, but Harry could not tell him. To","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "say it aloud would be to make it final, absolute, irretrievable. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " A few more of the portraits had stirred now. Terror","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "of being interrogated made Harry stride across the room and seize the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "doorknob. It would not turn. He was shut in.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'I hope this means,' said the corpulent, red-nosed wizard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "who hung on the wall behind the Headmasters desk, 'that Dumbledore will","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "soon be back among us?' Harry turned. The wizard","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "was surveying him with great interest. Harry nodded. He tugged again on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the doorknob behind his back, but it remained immovable. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "'Oh good,' said the wizard. 'It has been very dull without him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "very dull indeed.' He settled himself on the throne-like","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "chair on which he had been painted and smiled benignly upon Harry.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'Dumbledore thinks very highly of you, as I am","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "sure you know,' he said comfortably. 'Oh yes. Holds you in great","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "esteem.' The guilt filling the whole of Harry's chest","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "like some monstrous, weighty parasite, now writhed and squirmed. Harry could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "stand this, he could not stand being himself any more . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". he had never felt more trapped inside his own head and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "body, never wished so intensely that he could be somebody, anybody else","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". . . The empty fireplace burst into emerald","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "green flame, making Harry leap away from the door, staring at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "man spinning inside the grate. As Dumbledore's tall form unfolded itself from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the fire, the wizards and witches on the surrounding walls jerked awake,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "many of them giving cries of welcome. Thank you,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "said Dumbledore softly. He did not look at Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "at first, but walked over to the perch beside the door and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "withdrew, from an inside pocket of his robes, the tiny, ugly, featherless","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Fawkes, whom he placed gently on the tray of soft ashes beneath","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the golden post where the full-grown Fawkes usually stood. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "'Well, Harry,' said Dumbledore, finally turning away from the baby bird, 'you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "will be pleased to hear that none of your fellow students are","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "going to suffer lasting damage from the night's events.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Harry tried to say, 'Good,' but no sound came out. It seemed","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "to him that Dumbledore was reminding him of the amount of damage","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "he had caused, and although Dumbledore was for once looking at him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "directly, and although his expression was kindly rather than accusatory, Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "not bear to meet his eyes. 'Madam Pomfrey is","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "patching everybody up,' said Dumbledore 'Nymphadora Tonks may need to spend a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "little time in St Mungos, but it seems she will make a","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "full recovery.' Harry contented himself with nodding at the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "carpet, which was growing lighter as the sky outside grew paler. He","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "was sure all the: portraits around the room were listening closely to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "every wore! Dumbledore spoke, wondering where Dumbledore and Harry had been, and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "why there had been injuries. 'I know how you're","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "feeling, Harry,' said Dumbledore very quietly. 'No, you don't,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "said Harry, and his voice was suddenly loud and strong; white-hot anger","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "leapt inside him; Dumbledore knew nothing about his feelings. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "'You see, Dumbledore?' said Phineas Nigellus slyly. 'Never try to understand the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "students. They hate it. They would much rather be tragically misunderstood, wallow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "in self-pity, stew in their own - ' That's","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "enough, Phineas,' said Dumbledore. Harry turned his back on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Dumbledore and stared determinedly out of the window. He could see the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Quidditch stadium in the distance. Sirius had appeared there once, disguised as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the shaggy black dog, so he could watch Harry play . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". he had probably come to see whether Harry was as good","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "as James had been . . . Harry had never asked him","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". . . There is no ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "shame in what you are ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "feeling, Harry,' said Dumbledore's voice. 'On the contrary . .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". the fact that you can feel pain like this is your","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "greatest strength.' Harry felt the white-hot anger lick his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "insides, blazing in the terrible emptiness, filling him with the desire to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "hurt Dumbledore for his calmness and his empty words. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "'My greatest strength, is it?' said Harry, his voice shaking as he","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "stared out at the Quidditch stadium, no longer seeing it. 'You haven't","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "got a clue . . . you don't know . . .`","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'What don't I know?' asked Dumbledore calmly. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " It was too much. Harry turned around, shaking with rage. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'I don't want to talk about how I feel, all","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "right?' 'Harry, suffering like this proves you are still","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "a man! This pain is part of being human - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'THEN - I - DON'T - WANT - TO - BE","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "- HUMAN!' Harry roared, and he seized the delicate silver instrument from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the spindle-legged table beside him and flung it across the room; it","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "shattered into a hundred tiny pieces against the wall. Several of the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "pictures let out yells of anger and fright, and the portrait of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Armando Dippet said, 'Really!' 'I DON'T CARE!' Harry yelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "'I'VE HAD ENOUGH, I'VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "TO END, I DON'T CARE ANY MORE - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "He seized the table on which the silver instrument had stood and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "threw that, too. It broke apart on the floor and the legs","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "rolled in different directions. 'You do care,' said Dumbledore.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "He had not flinched or made a single move to stop Harry","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "demolishing his office. His expression was calm, almost detached. 'You care so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "pain of it.' 'I - DON'T!' Harry screamed, so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "loudly that he felt his throat might tear, and for a second","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "he wanted to rush at Dumbledore and break him, too; shatter that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "calm old face, shake him, hurt him, make him feel some tiny","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "part of the horror inside himself. 'Oh, yes, you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "do,' said Dumbledore, still more calmly. 'You have now lost your mother,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "your father, and the closest thing to a parent you have ever","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "known. Of course you care.' 'YOU DON'T KNOW HOW","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "I FEEL!' Harry roared. 'YOU - STANDING THERE - YOU - '","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " But words were no longer enough, smashing things was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "no more help; he wanted to run, he wanted to keep running","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "and never look back, he wanted to be somewhere he could not","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "see the clear blue eyes staring at him, that hatefully calm old","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "face. He turned on his heel and ran to the door, seized","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the doorknob again and wrenched at it. But the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "door would not open. Harry turned back to Dumbledore.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'Let me out,' he said. He was shaking from","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "head to foot. 'No,' said Dumbledore simply. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " For a few seconds they stared at each other. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'Let me out,' Harry said again. 'No,' Dumbledore","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "repeated. 'If you don't - if you keep me","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "in here - if you don't let me - ' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'By all means continue destroying my possessions,' said Dumbledore serenely. 'I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "daresay I have too many.' He walked around his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "desk and sat down behind it, watching Harry. 'Let","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "me out,' Harry said yet again, in a voice that was cold","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "and almost as calm as Dumbledore's. 'Not until I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "have had my say,' said Dumbledore. 'Do you -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "do you think I want to - do you think I give","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "a - I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY!' Harry roared.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "'I don't want to hear anything you've got to say!' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'You will,' said Dumbledore steadily. 'Because you are not nearly as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "angry with me as you ought to be. If you are to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "attack me, as I know you are close to doing, I would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "like to have thoroughly earned it.' 'What are you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "talking - ?' 'It is my fault that Sirius","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "died,' said Dumbledore clearly. 'Or should I say, almost entirely my fault","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "- I will not be so arrogant as to claim responsibility for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the whole. Sirius was a brave, clever and energetic man, and such","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "men are not usually content to sit at home in hiding while","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "they believe others to be in danger. Nevertheless, you should never have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "believed for an instant that there was any necessity for you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "go to the Department of Mysteries tonight. If I had been open","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "with you, Harry, as I should have been, you would have known","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "a long time ago that Voldemort might try and lure you to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the Department of Mysteries, and you would never have been tricked into","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "going there tonight. And Sirius would not have had to come after","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "you. That blame lies with me, and with me alone.' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " Harry was still standing with his hand on the doorknob but","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "was unaware of it. He was gazing at Dumbledore, hardly breathing, listening","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "yet barely understanding what he was hearing. 'Please sit","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "down,' said Dumbledore. It was not an order, it was a request.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " Harry hesitated, then walked slowly across the room now","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "littered with silver cogs and fragments of wood, and took the seat","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "facing Dumbledore's desk. 'Am I to understand,' said Phineas","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Nigellus slowly from Harry's left, 'that my great-great-grandson - the last of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the Blacks - is dead?' 'Yes, Phineas,' said Dumbledore.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'I don't believe it,' said Phineas brusquely. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " Harry turned his head in time to see Phineas marching out","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "of his portrait and knew that he had gone to visit his","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "other painting in Grimmauld Place. He would walk, perhaps, from portrait to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "portrait, calling for Sirius through the house . . . ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'Harry, I owe you an explanation,' said Dumbledore. 'An explanation of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "an old man's mistakes. For I see now that what I have","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "done, and not done, with regard to you, bears all the hallmarks","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "of the failings of age. Youth cannot know how age thinks and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "to be young . . . and I seem to have forgotten,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "lately . . .' The sun was rising properly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "now; there was a rim of dazzling orange visible over the mountains","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "and the sky above it was colourless and bright. The light fell","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "upon Dumbledore, upon the silver of his eyebrows and beard, upon the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "lines gouged deeply into his lace. 'I guessed, fifteen","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "years ago,' said Dumbledore, 'when I saw the scar on your forehead,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "what it might mean. I guessed that it might be the sign","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "of a connection forged between you and Voldemort.' 'You've","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "told me this before, Professor,' said Harry bluntly. He did not care","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "about being rude. He did not care about anything very much any","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "more. 'Yes,' said Dumbledore apologetically. 'Yes, but you see","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "- it is necessary to start with your scar. For it became","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "apparent, shortly after you rejoined the magical world, that I was correct,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "and that your scar was giving you warnings when Voldemort was close","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "to you, or else feeling powerful emotion.' 'I know,'","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "said Harry wearily. 'And this ability of yours -","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "to detect Voldemort's presence, even when he is disguised, and to know","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "what he is feeling when his emotions are roused - has become","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "more and more pronounced since Voldemort returned to his own body and","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "his full powers.' Harry did not bother to nod.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "He knew all of this already. 'More recently,' said","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Dumbledore, 'I became concerned that Voldemort might realise that this connection between","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "you exists. Sure enough, there came a time when you entered so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "far into his mind and thoughts that he sensed your presence. I","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "am speaking, of course, of the night when you witnessed the attack on","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Mr Weasley' 'Yeah, Snape told me,' Harry muttered. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'Professor Snape, Harry' Dumbledore corrected him quietly. 'But did you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "not wonder why it was not I who explained this to you?","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Why I did not teach you Occlumency? Why I had not so","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "much as looked at you for months?' Harry looked","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "up. He could see now that Dumbledore looked sad and tired. ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " 'Yeah,' Harry mumbled. 'Yeah, I wondered.' 'You","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "see,' Dumbledore continued, 'I believed it could not be long before Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "attempted to force his way into your mind, to manipulate and misdirect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "your thoughts, and I was not eager to give him more incentives","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "to do so. I was sure that if he realised that our","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "relationship was - or had ever been - closer than that of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "headmaster and pupil, he would seize his chance to use you as","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "a means to spy on me. I feared the uses to which","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "he would put you, the possibility that he might try and possess","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "you. Harry, I believe I was right to think that Voldemort would","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "have made use of you in such a way. On those rare","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "occasions when we had close contact, I thought I saw a shadow","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "of him stir behind your eyes . . .' ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Harry remembered the feeling that a dormant snake had risen in him,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "ready to strike, in those moments when he and Dumbledore had made","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "eye-contact. 'Voldemort's aim in possessing you, as he demonstrated","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "tonight, would not have been my destruction. It would have been yours.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "He hoped, when he possessed you briefly a short while ago, that","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "I would sacrifice you in the hope of killing him. So you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "see, I have been trying, in distancing myself from you, to protect","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "you, Harry. An old man s mistake . . .` ","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" " He sighed deeply. Harry was letting the words wash over him.","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "He would have been so interested to know all this a few","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "months ago, but now it was meaningless compared to the gaping chasm","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "inside him that was the loss of Sirius; none of it mattered","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". . . 'Sirius told me you felt Voldemort","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "awake inside you the very night that you had the vision of","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "Arthur Weasley's attack. I knew at once that my worst fears were","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "correct: Voldemort had realised he could use you. In an attempt to","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "arm you against Voldemort s assaults on your mind, I arranged Occlumency","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "lessons with Professor Snape.' He paused. Harry watched the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "sunlight, which was sliding slowly across the polished surface of Dumbledore's desk,","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "illuminate a silver ink pot and a handsome scarlet quill. Harry could","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "tell that the portraits all around them were awake and listening raptly","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "to Dumbledore's explanation; he could hear the occasional rustle of robes, the","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "slight clearing of a throat. Phineas Nigellus had still not returned .","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" ". . 'Professor Snape discovered,' Dumbledore resumed, 'that you","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "had been dreaming about the door to the Department of Mysteries for","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "months. Voldemort, of course, had been obsessed with the possibility of hearing","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "the prophecy ever since he regained his body; and as he dwelled","Book 5: Order of the Phoenix","chap-37" "on the door, so did you, though you did not